Trans-Florida Airlines
Encyclopedia
Trans-Florida Airlines is an American
airline
based in Daytona Beach
, Florida
, USA
. It was established and started operations in 1966 and operates passenger and cargo charters.
. They received Part 121 airline operation status in 1966 and developed a fleet of five Douglas DC-3
aircraft. In May 1972, two Lockheed Model 49 Constellation
aircraft were added and operated until 1976. During this time, a Vickers Viscount 745D
was acquired, but was too expensive to operate and was sold off as scrap. The DC-3 fleet was sold off one at a time. In 1977 the airline purchased its first Convair and eventually increased its fleet to eight, two of which were operated as passenger airliners as late as 1993. Currently, two Convairs are in continuous service as Air Freighters.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
airline
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
based in Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was established and started operations in 1966 and operates passenger and cargo charters.
History
The airline was established in 1962 as Daytona Aviation, based at what was known as Daytona Beach Regional Airport. The airport has since been renamed to Daytona Beach International AirportDaytona Beach International Airport
Daytona Beach International Airport is a public county-owned airport located three miles southwest of the central business district of Daytona Beach, adjacent to the Daytona International Speedway, in Volusia County, Florida, United States. The airport has 3 runways, a six-gate domestic terminal,...
. They received Part 121 airline operation status in 1966 and developed a fleet of five Douglas DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
aircraft. In May 1972, two Lockheed Model 49 Constellation
Lockheed Constellation
The Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
aircraft were added and operated until 1976. During this time, a Vickers Viscount 745D
Vickers Viscount
The Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
was acquired, but was too expensive to operate and was sold off as scrap. The DC-3 fleet was sold off one at a time. In 1977 the airline purchased its first Convair and eventually increased its fleet to eight, two of which were operated as passenger airliners as late as 1993. Currently, two Convairs are in continuous service as Air Freighters.
Incidents and accidents
- 1 June 1998 - Trans-Florida Airlines Convair 240-17Convair 240The Convair CV-240 was an American airliner produced by Convair from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement of the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. While featuring a more modern design, the 240 series was able to make some inroads as a commercial airliner and also had a long development cycle...
(N87949) was written off at Aguadilla-Borinquen Airport, Puerto RicoPuerto RicoPuerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, when gear up was selected during a touch and go landing instead of full flaps. As a result, the aircraft settled onto the runway and skidded. There were no injuries. - 24 September 1998 - Trans-Florida Airlines Convair 240-13Convair 240The Convair CV-240 was an American airliner produced by Convair from 1947 to 1954, initially as a possible replacement of the ubiquitous Douglas DC-3. While featuring a more modern design, the 240 series was able to make some inroads as a commercial airliner and also had a long development cycle...
(N91237) when taking off from Luis Muñoz Marín International AirportLuis Muñoz Marín International AirportLuis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
had an engine problem. It attempted to return to the airport, but lost altitude and was force landed in a saltwater lagoonLagoonA lagoon is a body of shallow sea water or brackish water separated from the sea by some form of barrier. The EU's habitat directive defines lagoons as "expanses of shallow coastal salt water, of varying salinity or water volume, wholly or partially separated from the sea by sand banks or shingle,...
some 2 miles short of the runway. The aircraft was written off, but the two crew and one passenger were uninjured.
Previously operated
Aircraft previously operated by Trans-Florida Airlines include:- 5 Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
- 2 Lockheed Model 49 ConstellationLockheed ConstellationThe Lockheed Constellation was a propeller-driven airliner powered by four 18-cylinder radial Wright R-3350 engines. It was built by Lockheed between 1943 and 1958 at its Burbank, California, USA, facility. A total of 856 aircraft were produced in numerous models, all distinguished by a...
- 1 Vickers Viscount 745DVickers ViscountThe Vickers Viscount was a British medium-range turboprop airliner first flown in 1948 by Vickers-Armstrongs, making it the first such aircraft to enter service in the world...
External links
- Ailiners.net - Photos of current fleet and information about the individual airplanes.