FOCUS AIR Another Ocean Air?????
 

Does anybody have any info on the U.S. Startup FOCUSAIR??
The B743F was done up at AMS and ferried to FLL where it sits
currently, but no one I know has any information on what or where the airline intends to do business. Is FOCUSAIR destined to become the U.S. version of OCEAN AIR????

DD

Thanks for the web link, but if you search it, it doesnt provide very much information. I would think somebody must know
about this company?

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

Thank you Algy!!!
That is the first in depth information I've been able to
read about them. Makes the picture much clearer now.

first class is in Feb.

Any new info on them?

Mayday

It has been reported that the FAA is taking a very close look at the whole operation, and any planned start is way in the future.

I think they have to redo all the manuals as they were not up to snuff.
A common occurance.

Just curious where you are getting your information.

Anybody else know anything about them?

Mayday

Focus has two classes in progress now and a third to begin within the next week. They have been steadily interviewing and plan to hold interviews for the forseeable future. Interviews are held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and classes are being held in Miami.

Projected certification is rumored to be somewhere between the middle and end of June. One airfraft is located in Ft. Lauderdale/Miami and the second is presently in Amsterdam waiting to be flown to Miami. Two other aircraft have recently been purchased and will join the fleet by the end of summer.

The first crews to be qualified were spotted doing their "bounces" with the FAA last week.

Certification is on a very fast pace and everything seems to be looking good. Manuals are expected to be approved with the latest revision.:ok:

fr8box,

Sent you a pm. Let me know if you can help.
Thanks and regards,
SFD

They are currently interviewing for their 5th class for Aug steady hiring throughout the year and many airplanes coming!! Certification is looking like end of June early July. FAA is not taking a hard look at manuals this is normal governmental "WARP" speed. Progress is normal for the ATOS compliant certificate process for those that know how intensive the new process is to get an airline in the air. Expect to see those Blue Tail Beauties coming to an airport near you soon.

:D I recently heard rumors that at least a couple of contracts have been signed. If so, that's definitely good news for the Focus folks. Anybody hear anything as to where they will be flying?

SFD

"Does anybody have any info on the U.S. Startup FOCUSAIR??
The B743F was done up at AMS and ferried to FLL where it sits
currently, but no one I know has any information on what or where the airline intends to do business. Is FOCUSAIR destined to become the U.S. version of OCEAN AIR????"

don't know what Focusair will ever be but Ocean Air is not doing too bad. They now have two 747's and it seems they will get a third before the end of 2005.
cheers

Focus Air now has four aircraft. One 747-300 and three 747-200s. More aircraft are rumored to be on the way.

fr8box,

Has the certification process been completed yet?

Where are the aircraft currently? The B743 has not been
seen at FLL for a few weeks and have not seen any
B742's yet.

focus
 

747-200 N535MC made a test flight today at Amsterdam

The 747-300 has been parked in Miami recently and as previously stated, the 200 is currently located in Amsterdam. At least two other 200s have been recently purchased. One is in a heavy check and the other has been dry leased to another carrier for the time being. All aircraft are expected to be operating for Focus by the Fall.

The ATOS certification procedure has turned out to be a paperwork nightmare but is moving along in good time regardless. The proving runs are currently scheduled for the mid July time frame and final certification following soon after.

Best of luck to them!!

Word is that another initial class starts Monday, 27 June. :ooh:

thats true about class four, class five will be mid to latter part of July

With these 5 classes, is there a 'shortage' of type rated folks out there for them?

CF

Not a shortage of type rated crew.
Everyone is just scared to go with a startup.

An FE friend of mine just got a job offer from them and the word he got at the interview was, they were very happy with the quality of FE's applying, but were having difficulty finding "Qualified Pilots". Not much "heavy time" applying.

Qaulity of the F/E always been to a high standard.
Qauntity of the F/E is diminishing rapidly for wide body time qualified crew.
Just not making them anymore.
Low time crews are affecting the system everywhere.
Low time pilots and F/E are a dime a dozen.
You get what you pay for!

Yes 2Bad2Sad, isn't that the truth. Now if we could only convince airline management of that. It's sad that the professional flight engineers are a dying group and there just aren't that many left, especially the good ones. I know a couple that are at Focus and they are among the good ones. I will always prefer having an experienced flight engineer over those newfangled black boxes.:ok:

I believe the fact that it's a startup is scaring people away. If you have a stable job, why leave to go with someone who doesn't even have a certificate?

A friend is there (in one of the first couple of classes) and he is very optimistic.TC

Proving runs start Friday!!!!!!!!!

From all indications, the FAA table top exercises are now in progress with the proving runs slated to begin very shortly. There are currently four classes in progress and the fifth one rumored to begin around the middle of this month. More interviews pending.

A B747-200 has been rumored to have been purchased from Lufthansa...:ok:

Does anyone have any contact information for the hiring of Ground Ops personnel or Loadmasters?

Their website has a careers section which simply opens one's email program, addressed to a generic place that acts like a black hole:(

Please feel free to pm me.

May the Matatu be with you.

Matatu Man:cool:

The eamil address is the proper site to attach your resume in a Microsoft Word format. No cover letter needed, just the body of your resume. After sending it you will receive an automated response that they have received your resume....

It seems to have worked for all those that have been hired so far!

First proving flight left FLL today.

Things seem to be going well at Focus. Table top exercises are rumored to be complete, company manuals have been approved and the proving runs are going well so far. Proving runs could be completed by this weekend if not sooner. Looks like we will have a new 747 operator with us real soon.....:ok:

FOCUS AIR IS NOW A CERTIFIED 121 CARRIER!!!!!!!!!!!!

First revenue trip will be flown on Tuesday. No confirmations of the routing or the customer. Congratulations Focus on what seems to be an excellent certification process...:ok:

Any word on the customers or routes?

Mayday

At present, the customers and routing seem to be highly classified. The routes are rumored to be from Europe into the former Soviet Block countries and then on into North and South East Asia...all rumor at the present.

For those interested in applying...go to WWW.focusaircargo.com. They have a new website up and running. After opening the website go the "contact us" section and look under employment. You will be asked to attach a Word format resume to the email page that opens up there.

First scheduled runs are to begin on September 1. Ad-hoc business until then.:ok:

Have heard that the first contract will start Sept 1st for a
major "European" operator based in the center of Europe
with one plane for sure and possible two aircraft on a 6 month contract.
Aircraft # 3 & 4 are currently undergoing "D" checks in Malaysia and will be operational before the end of the year.

I see the cat is slowly coming out of the bag... :eek:

Focus Air B743F was seen operating through BAH on behalf of Kallita in the past few days.

Aircraft is currently parked in Newark. Trips and destinations unknown...

As stated above, scheduled ACMI contract is scheduled to begin on Sept. 1. Central Europe to the Far East....more to come!:ok: