Sky Lease Cargo


Sky Lease Cargo is an American cargo airline based in Greensboro, North Carolina.

History

The airline was established in 1969, as Wrangler Aviation and started operations in 1973, using Lockheed Constellation aircraft under FAA Part 91. It became a Part 121 carrier in 1978 and became an all-cargo airline in 1981.
Circa 1991–1992, issues of citizenship, ownership, and compliance with federal airline laws resulted in the conclusion and finding that through the unregulated use of "Delaware Company Law" and the practice of subsidiaries being parts of other subsidiaries," Wrangler Aviation did not meet the fitness requirements of a certificated airline of the United States. The conclusions resulted in restructuring changes to the company to continue operating.

Tradewinds Airlines

The Tradewinds name was adopted in 1991. In December 2007, Donald Watkins, a lawyer from Alabama bought part of the company. On June 6, 2008, the airline reduced its staff by 70% and parked all 5 B747 and 3 A300.
During 2006, explorative attempts were made by Valiant Airways to contract Tradewinds Airlines for "start-up" operations, but these attempts failed to result in services coming to fruition.
Further press releases on June 3, 2008 indicate that Tradewinds returned five Boeing 747-200F aircraft to the lessor and furloughed employees that operated the lines. On July 25, 2008, Tradewinds Airlines filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for the third time. The company cited rising fuel costs and low demand, but plans to continue to operate flights during reorganization. In December 2008 Tradewinds Airlines was purchased by Sky Lease One, based out of Florida.

Sky Lease Cargo

Tradewinds Airlines was renamed Sky Lease Cargo in 2011 and also changed its IATA and ICAO codes, The company operates a 2 747-400s to various points in South America from Miami International Airport.

Destinations

As of January 2012, Sky Lease Cargo operates the following services:
CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
Buenos AiresMinistro Pistarini International Airport
CampinasViracopos–Campinas International Airport
ManausEduardo Gomes International Airport
Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro–Galeão International Airport
SantiagoComodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport
BogotáEl Dorado International Airport
MedellínJosé María Córdova International Airport
QuitoMariscal Sucre International Airport
AmsterdamAmsterdam Airport Schiphol
Ciudad del EsteGuaraní International Airport
LimaJorge Chávez International Airport
MiamiMiami International Airport
MontevideoCarrasco International Airport
CaracasSimón Bolívar International Airport

Fleet

As of March 2020, Sky Lease Cargo's fleet includes:

AircraftIn ServiceStoredNotes-
AircraftIn ServiceStoredNotesTotal
Boeing 747-400ERF2—Leased from AerCap
McDonnell Douglas MD-111—
Total:3

Incidents and accidents

On June 7, 2006, a Boeing 747-200F by the registration of N922FT had an engine failure on takeoff at José María Córdova International Airport. The pilot aborted, but the plane overran the runway. None of the 6 on board were injured. However, the plane was substantially damaged.
On November 7, 2018, a Boeing 747-400F with registration N908AR overran the 2350 meters/7700 feet runway at Halifax Stanfield International Airport, went down a slope and through the localizer antenna and came to a stop about 200 meters past the end of the runway. The plane was performing flight GG-4854 from Chicago O'Hare International Airport. The four crew received minor injuries, while the aircraft received substantial damage with all gear collapsed, engines #2 and #3 separated, engines #1 and #4 damaged and creases in the fuselage skin. The aircraft was written off.