This copyrighted ATI story from last year may help...
Veteran McElroy heads proposed US cargo carrier Omega
Mary Kirby, Washington DC (20Jul04, 19:37 GMT, 458 words)
A new US company, headed up by industry veteran and People Express Airlines founder David McElroy, is planning to launch all-cargo wet-lease charter operations with Boeing 747-200 freighter aircraft.
The company - dubbed Omega Air Holdings and registered in Delaware - is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merced Partners, a private investment partnership claiming assets of about $750 million.
In an application to US regulators, Omega Air seeks certification to provide 747-200 freighter service both domestically and internationally under ACMI (aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance) contracts with “airlines throughout the world”.
Merced will provide funding for the initial operational costs of Omega Air, estimated to be about $15 million for the first three months.
“A key market for us will be Asia and the Pacific Rim. We expect to operate our aircraft over long-haul intercontinental routes with average flight segments in excess of six hours flying time,” says Omega Air.
The company had originally intended to fly under the brand Omega Air, but a company called Omega Air Inc - which has aircraft leasing and modification operations in Ireland, and an aviation refueling division - contested the US company’s use of the name.
Consequently, Omega Air intends to operate services under the trade name Focus Air.
Omega Air claims it has entered into a verbal agreement with an unspecified company to acquire two 747 freighter aircraft, and expects the aircraft purchase to close next week.
The company says it has already acquired a Boeing 747SR-100 (registration N219BA) for use as spare parts. Omega Air’s application to the US DOT reveals the company acquired the 747SR on 24 May, but the seller’s name has been kept confidential from the public.
However, according to AvSoft’s ACAS database, the General Electric CF6-powered 747SR, which was built in 1980 and formerly operated by All Nippon Airways, has been owned by Boeing since 11 May.
Omega Air says it has made “much progress” in its certification efforts, having already hired several key personnel.
It notes that president and CEO David McElroy is a 30-year veteran of the industry. McElroy worked as VP of development and transition COO at Arrow Air from 2002 to 2003 during which he supported the reorganization of Arrow Air from the remnants of bankrupt Fine Air. Previously, he held senior positions at Atlas Air and Santa Barbara, California-based Lucas Aviation.
McElroy also is one of the eight founding members of pioneering New York-based low-fare airline People Express, which consolidated with Continental Airlines in the late-1980s.
Omega Air also recently appointed Alexander Vanek as assistant director of operations. Vanek is a former director of operations at Casino Express Airlines.
Omega Air asks the DOT to tentatively approve its application by 25 August in order to begin necessary US FAA proving runs.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news