Tempelhof Airways
Encyclopedia
Tempelhof Airways was an airline based in West Berlin during the time when it was under the jurisdiction of the western nations. It operated from 1981 until the reunification of Germany in 1990.
from West Berlin's Tempelhof airport. At the time West Berlin could only have operations by airline of the United States, France and Great Britain (it was technically an occupied city since the end of WWII).
In January 1985 scheduled flight operations began between Berlin and Paderborn
using Nord 262 aircraft. Most of these flights were for the massive Siemens company based there. Operations were later expanded to Dortmund, Luxembourg, Augsburg and Braunschweig. In 1988 the Saab 340
was put into service for the Berlin-Hamburg route.
They also operated an ambulance/medivac aircraft for many years, doing patient transport as well as organ transplant. They used a Lear 25 at first then expanded to a Lear 35. This was undertaken for the DeutscheRettungslugwacht (German Air Rescue) organization in Stuttart. After the Berlin Wall fell German pilots were then allowed to fly to and from Berlin and the operation was absorbed into the parent company. Several of the old TAUSA medivac pilots were hired to remain with the operation and one of them still flies with them today.
Following the reunification of Germany, Tempelhof Airways found itself not being able to compete with other German carriers and at the end of October 1990 all flights ceased.
Company history
Tempelhof Airways USA, (not to be confused with Tempelhof Express) was founded in Fort Lauderdale, FL in 1981 by Knut Kramer, a Berliner living in both Florida and Berlin. In April 1982 it began Air Taxi operations with a Piper NavajoPiper PA-31 Navajo
The Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
from West Berlin's Tempelhof airport. At the time West Berlin could only have operations by airline of the United States, France and Great Britain (it was technically an occupied city since the end of WWII).
In January 1985 scheduled flight operations began between Berlin and Paderborn
Paderborn
Paderborn is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, capital of the Paderborn district. The name of the city derives from the river Pader, which originates in more than 200 springs near Paderborn Cathedral, where St. Liborius is buried.-History:...
using Nord 262 aircraft. Most of these flights were for the massive Siemens company based there. Operations were later expanded to Dortmund, Luxembourg, Augsburg and Braunschweig. In 1988 the Saab 340
Saab 340
The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...
was put into service for the Berlin-Hamburg route.
They also operated an ambulance/medivac aircraft for many years, doing patient transport as well as organ transplant. They used a Lear 25 at first then expanded to a Lear 35. This was undertaken for the DeutscheRettungslugwacht (German Air Rescue) organization in Stuttart. After the Berlin Wall fell German pilots were then allowed to fly to and from Berlin and the operation was absorbed into the parent company. Several of the old TAUSA medivac pilots were hired to remain with the operation and one of them still flies with them today.
Following the reunification of Germany, Tempelhof Airways found itself not being able to compete with other German carriers and at the end of October 1990 all flights ceased.
Fleet details
- Piper NavajoPiper PA-31 NavajoThe Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
- Cessna 441
- Learjet 25 & 35
- Nord 262A
- Saab 340ASaab 340The Saab 340 is a discontinued Swedish two-engine turboprop aircraft designed and initially produced by a partnership between Saab and Fairchild Aircraft in a 65:35 ratio...