1948 - present

For the first time in a long while, the “spotting community” at EuroAirport Basel had another rare but highly interesting visitor to look forward to!

On Monday, 16 April 2012, at 17:40 sharp, the Boeing/MD-11F (N275WA) on a World Airways ferry flight from Baku, Azerbaijan, touched down on the rain-soaked runway 33, setting many an aviation enthusiast’s heart racing!

Despite the poor weather, the increasingly rare MD-11s are still well worth a few great photos. Following this stopover at BSL, the N275WA, loaded with pharmaceutical products, departed in the early hours of the following day bound for Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, with a further stopover in Memphis, Tennessee. According to as yet unconfirmed sources available to WINGS-AVIATION, further flights are expected to take place over EuroAirport Basel in the coming days.

Reason enough to introduce this small but long-established charter airline – serving the US government – to you in a little more detail in a photo report.

McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) MD-11CF, N275WA (c/n 48631/579), EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg (EAP) 16. April 2012 (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

History

Founded in 1948, the fledgling World Airways began its charter operations with a Boeing 314 flying boat off the US East Coast. Just one year later, the company acquired two Curtis C-46 Commandos and expanded its charter business. From 1950 onwards, the airline purchased several Douglas DC-4s, which offered passengers greater comfort and the company increased cargo capacity.

In 1951, World Airways received its first contract from the US government; this laid the foundation for its continued economic success, which remains secured by government contracts to this day. The volume of contracts from the government, as well as from civilian companies, rose steadily, and World Airways was soon in a position to acquire larger and more modern aircraft such as the Douglas DC-6 and the Lockheed 1049 Constellation.

As early as 1963, it received its first Boeing 707-331, which was primarily used on scheduled flights to Europe, South America and the Caribbean.

The golden years were undoubtedly the 1960s, 70s and 80s. During this period, various aircraft were added to the fleet, including the Boeing 727, Douglas DC-8-63CF, Douglas DC-10-30 and three Boeing B747-200s. From a financial perspective, the contracts with the US government were among the most lucrative in the company’s history. During the Vietnam War, World Airways flew thousands of tonnes of supplies and soldiers to the front lines in South-East Asia. The transport of troops and supplies during the First Gulf War (1990–91) continued to require the deployment of World Airways crews and their aircraft.

This special cargo flight by SKY LEASE CARGO, operated by a McDonnell MD-11F, was a colourful and unique sight as it graced us with its presence in Basel on 25 April 2012! Arriving from the Turkish-American base at Incirlik, Turkey, the N950AR landed at EAP-Basel at 18:49. After an overnight stop, the MD-11F will depart the following morning at around 09:00, fully loaded with pharmaceutical products, bound for Memphis, Tennessee, USA. Sky Lease Cargo (formerly Tradewinds Airlines) currently operates a fleet of 6 MD-11Fs and 2 A300BF4s for its worldwide charter operations. Founded in 1969, the company is headquartered at Piedmont International Airport, USA

In 1988, however, following a restructuring, World Airways abruptly withdrew from scheduled air services and focused on the ‘ad hoc’ charter business. Thanks to profitable contracts with the US military during the Second Gulf War, the company acquired several Boeing/MD-11Fs, which remain in service to this day.

All older aircraft types have long since been phased out, with the last flight of a Douglas DC-10-30 taking place in spring 2011.

The current fleet comprises:
(as of March 2012)

7 Boeing/MD-11(passenger version)
9 Boeing/MD-11F (Cargo Version)
4 Boeing B747-400F (Cargo Version)

Boeing 747-4H6 N740WA Oktober 2008 (Picture courtesy collection Paul Bannwarth)

Boeing 747-4H6 N741WA 9. April 2011 (Picture courtesy Paul Bannwarth)

Boeing 747-4H6 N741WA 9. April 2011 (Picture courtesy Paul Bannwarth)

McDonnell Douglas MD-11CF N275WA (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Mc Donnell Douglas  DC-10-30 CF N106WA 3. August 1986 (Picture courtesy Paul Bannwarth)

Mc Donnell Douglas DC-8-63 (CF) N803WA 8. April 1979 (Picture courtesy Paul Bannwarth)

Boeing 707-331 N704PA August 1972 (Picture courtesy Paul Bannwarth)

McDonnell Douglas MD-11F N276WA Februar 1999 (Picture courtesy collection Paul Bannwarth)

McDonnell Douglas MD-11CF N275WA 13. Juli 1996 (Picture courtesy Paul Bannwarth)

McDonnell Douglas MD-11F N272WA Mai 2003 (Picture courtesy collection Paul Bannwarth)

McDonnell Douglas MD-11P N271WA (Picture courtesy collection Paul Bannwarth)

(Bis auf ein paar Exemplare die- bedingt durch die Wirtschaftslage und den bestehenden Gläubigerschutz- zurzeit einen sogenannten „Beton-Urlaub“ geniessen. Anmerkung des Autors)

Der heutige Eigentümer der World Airways ist die Global Aviation Holding, mit Sitz in Peachtree City, Georgia/USA. Heimatflughafen ist jedoch noch immer Oakland, Kalifornien.Als logistisches Drehkreuz für Europa dient World Airways seit einigen Jahren der Flughafen Leipzig/Halle.

Die momentane Weltwirtschaftslage und die explosionsartig gestiegenen Treibstoffpreise, so wie der Rückgang der lukrativen Frachtaufträge, auch vom US-Militär, gingen an World Airways nicht spurlos vorbei! Im Februar 2012 beantragte World Airways (Global Aviation Holdings) in New York den Gläubigerschutz nach (Chapter 11) um das Unternehmen und die Finanzen neu reorganisieren zu können.

Es bleibt zu hoffen, dass es World Airways gelingen wird, sich auf dem hart umkämpften Markt neu zu positionieren, damit all die Fracht MD-11’s uns Spottern noch ein paar Jahre erhalten bleiben!

Written 22. April 2011

Report No 062