Air Tahoma

Infobox Airline
airline=Air Tahoma
logo=Air Tahoma logo.pnglogo_size=200
fleet_size=12
destinations=
IATA=-
ICAO=HMA
callsign=TAHOMA
parent=
founded=1995
headquarters= Building 597 Rickenbacker International Airport Columbus, OH 43217
key_people= Noel Rude, Bud Rude, Donna Rude, Kathy Rude
hubs=Rickenbacker International Airport, Miami International Airport, Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, Subic Bay International Airport
focus_cities=
alliance=
website= http://www.airtahoma.com

Air Tahoma is an American cargo airline (Part 121) based in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Noel Rude established and started operations in 1996 in San Diego then later moved to Indianapolis in 1998 and now to its present location main base Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbuscite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 67 | date= 2007-03-27] . Air Tahoma operates contract cargo flights internationally to the Caribbean, Mexico, Vietnam, Philippines and the United States. It is subcontracted with FedEx Express.

History

The Rude Family has had many investments over the years including a gold mine in Alaska. Bud Rude founded an operation in Washington State called Cool Air Inc. in 1986, which later branched out and became Air Tahoma Inc in 1996 by his son Noel Rude. In all the father and son team make up R & R Holdings, but other family members also hold various postions in the company.

Routes

*Miami to Cancun to Merida
*Miami to Guatemala to San Pedro Sula
*Subic Bay to Saigon
*Aguadilla (Borinquen) to Port of Spain
*San Juan to various other countries in the West Indies

Fleet

The Air Tahoma fleet includes the following aircraft (as of September 2007) :

*8 Convair CV-580
*3 Convair CV-240
*1 BAe 146

Pilot Salary & Benefits

Pilots are pay according to location or aircraft type. Convair 240 Co-Pilots are paid $90 and Convair 580 Co-Pilots are paid $125 per run. Captains have independent contracts which vary in salary and negotiated with company's president Noel Rude. Employees receive no benefits whatsoever. Pilot's with A&P mechanic licences are highly valued due to lack of mechanics with Convair experience at Air Tahoma destinations.

Incidents and accidents

*Federal records indicate that the FAA has cited the company due to safety and maintenance problems several times.
*In October 2003, an Air Tahoma aircraft caught fire upon landing.
*Janurary 7, 2004, one of the Convair 580's lost all oil pressure from one engine and was forced to make an emergency landing while landing in Memphis.
*Air Tahoma Flight 185 crashed during approach to landing just 1 1/4 mile short of the runway at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on the 13 August 2004. The crash killed the First Officer Ray Gelwicks and the Captain received minor injuries. NTSB ruled that the crash was due to a dual engine flameout as a result of the Captain being distracted with preflight planing during the flight, Captain didn't follow proper crossfeeding procedures, and Flight Crew didn't monitor the fuel gauges. There was sufficient fuel on board and nothing was wrong with the aircraft systems.

*Air Tahoma Flight 587

On September 1, 2008 an Air Tahoma Convair 580 crashed in Pickaway County, OH shortly after taking off from Rickenbacker International Airport. The 3 occupants of the aircraft are confirmed dead. The FAA and NTSB are investigating. Rickenbacker International Airport is 16 miles southwest of Columbus, OH. The crash happened around the Noon hour.

External links

* [http://www.airtahoma.com Air Tahoma]
* [http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2004/08/14/loc_crashtahoma14.html Articule on Air Tahoma crashes and incidents]
* [http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/09/01/piccrash.html?sid=101 Columbus Dispatch Article Flight 587]

References