Rich International Airways

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Rich International Airways Inc.
Rich International Airways logo
Lockheed L-1011-1 Tristar of Rich International Airways
IATA code : JN
ICAO code : RIA
Call sign : RICHAIR
Founding: 1969
Operation stopped: 1997
Seat: Miami , United StatesUnited StatesUnited States 
Home airport : Miami International Airport
Company form: Corporation
Management: William Meenan (President)
Number of employees: 50
Fleet size: about 23
Aims: National and international
Rich International Airways Inc. ceased operations in 1997. The information in italics refer to the last status before the end of operation.

Rich International Airways was an American airline whose flight operations were discontinued in 1997 due to bankruptcy .

history

A Douglas DC-8-62 operated by Rich International Airways in Lisbon in 1993.

1969 - foundation and first years

Rich International Airways was founded in 1969 as a cargo airline by Jean Rich after their separation by a loan of 10,000 dollars a Curtiss C-46 purchased. She was one of the first women in the United States to own and run her own airline. The headquarters were in Miami .

In 1981, three former C-118A of the United States Air Force bought and in civilian DC-6A converted. In the spring of 1982, Rich International got permission for charter flights with passengers and entered the passenger business. Two DC-8-55CF were purchased to be able to operate passenger flights from Florida and New York to Europe, the Caribbean and Hawaii starting in July . She also bought some Douglas DC-8s , mainly from Braniff .

In June 1983, Rich International placed itself under Chapter 11 of American bankruptcy law for the first time , and flight operations continued.

1984 - lack of maintenance

In the spring of 1984 the American aviation authority FAA found serious deficiencies in the maintenance at Rich International and revoked the flight license . Rich International used the bankruptcy protection to undertake restructuring . Also in the spring of 1984, Rich International found a financially strong partner in George Edward Batchelor and was released from Chapter 11. At the end of 1984 a new beginning was finally dared with new management and a smaller fleet.

To increase passenger capacity, Rich International Airways, led by Jean Rich, leased some long-haul aircraft from George Batchelor. In January 1991, the two business partners signed a joint venture agreement, the Batchelors company, International Air Leases, Inc. , a majority of the profits of its aircraft in addition to the lease fees . In return, Batchelor accepted to cover the operational loss of its aircraft. The first wide-body jets in the fleet were the Lockheed L-1011 TriStar . These aircraft were used for European routes and complemented the Douglas DC-8 . Rich International later operated 11 L-1011 machines.

1996 - flight ban

On June 27, 1996, FAA inspectors found a total of 75 unchecked parts in six Rich International aircraft. As a result, Rich International was fined two million euros and all 21 aircraft were banned from flying around the world . The on-board computer as well as parts of the landing gear and the rudder came from a Peruvian L-1011 that had previously been bought and cannibalized. In addition, irregular maintenance and unreliable pilot training were suspected . Also were rest periods provided the crew in question. The suspicion was confirmed in September 1996 when the FAA discovered significant maintenance deficiencies, which ultimately led to the complete cessation of flight operations. In November 1996, Rich International placed itself under bankruptcy protection for the second time to narrowly avoid bankruptcy.

1997 - bankruptcy

The US aviation authority FAA wanted to allow flight operations until February 1997, but the US Department of Transportation refused to approve and made a license dependent on numerous conditions. In February 1997, Rich International announced its bankruptcy and was dissolved. It was no longer economically able to meet the requirements of the Ministry of Transport. The aircraft and all their inventory were auctioned in July 1997.

fleet

Rich International had several types of aircraft:

Route network

From North America was Hawaii served and Florida were charter flights to the Caribbean performed.

North Atlantic flights to Europe were also offered: In Germany, Frankfurt am Main was served by California ( San Francisco and Los Angeles ). The airline also flew charter flights for German tour operators.

Incidents

From 1971 until the end of operations in 1997, Rich International Airways suffered two total write-offs of aircraft (1975 and 1979). None of them killed people.

criticism

Apart from the poor maintenance, the services on board and various cost-saving measures were also criticized. On long-haul flights , for example, there was often a lack of food or blankets, the check-in counters , gates and flight numbers changed at short notice and the check-in procedure was done by hand without a computer.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ The New York Times Rich Airways Files Under Chapter 11 , accessed August 25, 2015
  2. ↑ aerotransport.org Rich International Airways , accessed on August 25, 2015
  3. ↑ a b c miaminewtimes.com The Last Flight Plan , accessed August 5, 2015
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h airlines-airliners.de Rich International , accessed on August 5, 2015
  5. ↑ a b worldhistory.biz RICH INTERNATIONAL AIRWAYS: United States (1970-1997) , accessed on August 25, 2015
  6. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j l-1011.de Rich International , accessed on August 5, 2015
  7. ↑ a b c d e focus.de Guest in the Fliegerfalle , accessed on August 5, 2015
  8. ^ Accident statistics from Rich International Airways , Aviation Safety Network (English), accessed on August 31, 2020.

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