Air Asia (Taiwan)
Encyclopedia
Air Asia Company Limited is a provider of aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services headquartered on the island of Taiwan
in the Republic of China
. It is now located in the Tainan Airport
. It is the only surviving member of the Pacific Corporation
, but currently it is owned by Taiwan Aerospace Corporation and is no longer related to the CIA.
(CAT) in 1955 as Air America's aircraft service unit.
In 1949, CAT, in order to prepare for the ROC government's evacuation from the mainland, bought two ships to house all aircraft maintenance equipment and parts to evacuate to Taiwan. From 1949 to 1962, these two ships were docked in Kaohsiung
, and the aircraft to be serviced had to land at Tainan Airport, its parts of concern dismounted, transferred to the two ships for repair, and then brought back to the airport to remount it on the aircraft. It was only until 1962 when it its current location was opened and aircraft can be serviced directly at the airport.
Despite such inconvenience, its relationship with the United States
has made it the largest air service center in the east Asia, servicing all United States Air Force
aircraft deployed in East Asia, and all covert operation
aircraft from Pacific Corporation
companies. It has serviced more than 12,000 USAF aircraft and retrofitted 8,000 aircraft engines during this period. At the peak of its existence, it operated another service facility at Tachikawa
, Japan.
In February 1975, it was sold to E-Systems, and in 1987 transferred to Precision Airmotive. Taiwan Aerospace Corporation (TAC) acquired Air Asia in 1994.
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
in the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. It is now located in the Tainan Airport
Tainan Airport
Tainan Airport is a commercial airport located in South District, Tainan City, Taiwan. It is shared with Republic of China Air Force Tainan AFB. In January 2011, the Civil Aeronautics Administration approved the airport to handle international flights in the future.It is the third busiest...
. It is the only surviving member of the Pacific Corporation
Pacific Corporation
The Pacific Corporation , was a holding company that the Central Intelligence Agency used to control several aviation front companies.Former US Army pilot George Doole created Pacific as a Delaware corporation in 1950...
, but currently it is owned by Taiwan Aerospace Corporation and is no longer related to the CIA.
History
Air Asia was created out of Civil Air TransportCivil Air Transport
Civil Air Transport was a Chinese airline, later owned by the CIA, that supported United States covert operations throughout East and Southeast Asia...
(CAT) in 1955 as Air America's aircraft service unit.
In 1949, CAT, in order to prepare for the ROC government's evacuation from the mainland, bought two ships to house all aircraft maintenance equipment and parts to evacuate to Taiwan. From 1949 to 1962, these two ships were docked in Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung
Kaohsiung is a city located in southwestern Taiwan, facing the Taiwan Strait on the west. Kaohsiung, officially named Kaohsiung City, is divided into thirty-eight districts. The city is one of five special municipalities of the Republic of China...
, and the aircraft to be serviced had to land at Tainan Airport, its parts of concern dismounted, transferred to the two ships for repair, and then brought back to the airport to remount it on the aircraft. It was only until 1962 when it its current location was opened and aircraft can be serviced directly at the airport.
Despite such inconvenience, its relationship with the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
has made it the largest air service center in the east Asia, servicing all United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
aircraft deployed in East Asia, and all covert operation
Covert operation
A covert operation is a military, intelligence or law enforcement operation that is carried clandestinely and, often, outside of official channels. Covert operations aim to fulfill their mission objectives without any parties knowing who sponsored or carried out the operation...
aircraft from Pacific Corporation
Pacific Corporation
The Pacific Corporation , was a holding company that the Central Intelligence Agency used to control several aviation front companies.Former US Army pilot George Doole created Pacific as a Delaware corporation in 1950...
companies. It has serviced more than 12,000 USAF aircraft and retrofitted 8,000 aircraft engines during this period. At the peak of its existence, it operated another service facility at Tachikawa
Tachikawa, Tokyo
is a city located in western Tokyo, Japan.As of February 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 178,064 and the density of 7,303.69 people per km². The total area is 24.38 km²...
, Japan.
In February 1975, it was sold to E-Systems, and in 1987 transferred to Precision Airmotive. Taiwan Aerospace Corporation (TAC) acquired Air Asia in 1994.