Kato Airline

Infobox Airline
airline=Kato Air
logo=Kato_Airline_Logo.pnglogo_size=143
IATA=6S
ICAO=KAT
callsign=KATO-AIR
parent=
founded=1995
hubs=Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes
focus_cities=Bodø Airport
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
fleet_size=4
destinations=2
headquarters=Evenes
key_people=
website= http://www.katoair.no

Kato Airline was an airline based in Evenes, Norway. The airline, using the brand name Kato Air operates scheduled passenger and cargo services, as well as daily freight services for the National Mail company, northern Norway. Its main base is Harstad/Narvik Airport, Evenes.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 100 | date= 2007-04-03]

The name is derived from the name of the founders "Ka"rl Johan Karlsen and "To"rlaug Karlsen, who are also husband and wife.

History

The airline was established in 1995 and started operations on 2 February 1995 , with a Piper PA-31 Navajo flying newspapers. Later a Cessna 172 was added to the fleet. Since then the airline has been operating charter flights, aerial photography and seismological surveys.

In 1998 the airline started flying Bodø-Harstad/Narvik-Tromsø in cooperation with Heli-Trans. In May 1999 Kato Air bought Heli-Trans' fixed-wing division, but the route was closed after one year due to lack of passengers. From April 1 2003 the airline has been operating the public service obligation routes Bodø-Røst and Bodø-Narvik (Framnes), though the latter route was recaptured by Widerøe from April 1 2006. [ [http://www.hangar.no/articles/1150/1/NarvikFramnes-Trafikken-doblet/Inspirerende-sier-AFIS-leder-Ovaa.html Trafikken doblet] Traffic Doubled, Hangar.no, published June 16 2006]

Late August 2008 the [http://www.luftfartstilsynet.no Norwegian Civil Aviation Authority] discontinued the company's maintenance authorization issued to Kato Air Service, and all Kato Airs four planes were grounded. The company therefore decided to cancel all operations as of 2 September 2008.

Destinations

At the time of closure, Kato Air operated scheduled passenger flights between Røst (Røst Airport) and Bodø (Bodø Airport). Fact|date=June 2007

Fleet

As of March 2007 the Kato Airline fleet included :

*2 Dornier 228-212
*2 Cessna Caravan 675

Incidents and accidents

The airline has been involved in two incidents, both with Dornier 228 airplanes, and neither of them fatal.
* The first happened on the morning of December 4 2003, when LN-HTE en route from Røst to Bodø was struck by lightning, During the landing at Bodø the plane hit the ground hard, destroying the undercarriage. [ [http://www.vg.no/pub/vgart.hbs?artid=204425 Elevator hit by lightning, sheared off] Verdens Gang article December 5 2003. In Norwegian. ]
* The second incident happened on September 29 2004 when a deranged asylum seeker entered the cockpit of LN-BER and, in a suicide attempt, attacked the pilots with an axe. Thanks to intervention from the other passengers on board, the crew was able to regain control of the aircraft, saving the airplane. [ [http://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/2004/09/29/409735.html Attacked the pilots with an axe] Dagbladet, September 29 2004, in Norwegian. ] The assailant was sentenced to 15 years in prison. [ [http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article1066668.ece 15 years in prison in the Kato Air case] NTB article in Aftenposten June 23, 2005, in Norwegian.]

External links

* [http://www.katoair.no/ Kato Airline]

References