West African Airways Corporation
Encyclopedia
West African Airways Corporation, or WAAC for short, was a 12-year lived airline
jointly owned and operated by four West Africa
n governments of the British Empire
, namely The Gambia
, the Gold Coast
(now Ghana
), Nigeria
, and Sierra Leone
. The carrier was headquartered at the Airways House in Ikeja
, Nigeria, and operated from its hub
in Lagos Airport. The company operated under the IATA airline code WT. It was dissolved on , after all the shareholder countries but Nigeria set up their own national airlines following their independence. Having found itself as the only stockholder of the airline, the government of Nigeria succeeded WAAC with WAAC (Nigeria), that was eventually renamed Nigeria Airways and became the flag carrier
of the country.
(BOAC), and economically supported by four West African British colonies, Nigeria being the major shareholder (68%), followed by the Gold Coast (29.5%), Sierra Leone (2%), and The Gambia holding the balance. It began operations in October 1947, following the delivery of its first aircraft, an event that took place on .
The company was aimed at providing the British West Africa
with air transport facilities, to connecting it with Dakar
and Khartoum
in order to provide passengers with a gateway to the Americas
and the Middle East
, respectively, and to operating feeder flights that connected with the Europe
-bound BOAC Hermes
services at Accra
, Lagos and Kano
. The close ties with BOAC were evidenced by the fact that WAAC actually acted as an agent for the British state carrier in Nigeria and the Gold Coast.
WAAC became very popular in the early 1950s
for offering at least four Bristol Freighter
-operated second-class services at discounted airfares, cheaper than any other mean of transportation. Two of them were the “Coastal Flyer”, that covered the 250 miles (402.3 km) between Accra and Lagos in 1¾ hours for £
4.00 at 1951 prices, and the “Hausa Flyer” that covered the Accra–Lagos–Ibadan
–Jos
–Kano route, for which the Lagos–Kano leg took 4 hours —against an almost two-day journey by train— and was £3 (1951 prices) cheaper than the train.
As the member states gained Commonwealth
status from the United Kingdom
, they set up their own carriers—Ghana Airways
, Sierra Leone Airways, and Gambia Air Shuttle. WAAC was formally dissolved in 1958, as Nigeria was the only state eventually having a participation in the airline. WAAC assets and liabilities were inherited by WAAC (Nigeria), that operated as “Nigerian Airways” effective . WAAC (Nigeria) was later rebranded Nigeria Airways
.
consisted of a green cheatline bordered by thinner gold lines. An airborne green elephant named Skypower, was painted in a golden circle background at both sides, in the forward part of each aircraft.
three-letter code (IATA airport code
) and its International Civil Aviation Organization
four-letter code (ICAO airport code
). Current names have been adopted wherever possible.
, the airline experienced two accidents/incidents throughout its history, one of them leading to fatalities.
, registration
VR-NAD, that was operating a domestic scheduled Enugu Airport–Calabar Airport passenger service, crashed into a hillside 84 kilometres (52.2 mi) northwest of Calabar after it uncontrollably descended from about 4000 feet (1,219.2 m). All 13 occupants of the aircraft lost their lives. Structural failure of the left-hand side mainplane was officially determined to be the cause of the accident.
VR-NAX, landed short of the runway at Kaduna Airport.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
jointly owned and operated by four West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n governments of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, namely The Gambia
The Gambia
The Republic of The Gambia, commonly referred to as The Gambia, or Gambia , is a country in West Africa. Gambia is the smallest country on mainland Africa, surrounded by Senegal except for a short coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west....
, the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
(now Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
), Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, and Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
. The carrier was headquartered at the Airways House in Ikeja
Ikeja
Ikeja is an outer-ring suburb of the city of Lagos and capital of Lagos State. It is also one of Nigeria's 774 Local Government Areas . The Murtala Mohammed International Airport is located there...
, Nigeria, and operated from its hub
Airline hub
An airline hub is an airport that an airline uses as a transfer point to get passengers to their intended destination. It is part of a hub and spoke model, where travelers moving between airports not served by direct flights change planes en route to their destinations...
in Lagos Airport. The company operated under the IATA airline code WT. It was dissolved on , after all the shareholder countries but Nigeria set up their own national airlines following their independence. Having found itself as the only stockholder of the airline, the government of Nigeria succeeded WAAC with WAAC (Nigeria), that was eventually renamed Nigeria Airways and became the flag carrier
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
of the country.
History
The origins of the airline can be traced back to 1946, when it was established by the British Overseas Airways CorporationBritish Overseas Airways Corporation
The British Overseas Airways Corporation was the British state airline from 1939 until 1946 and the long-haul British state airline from 1946 to 1974. The company started life with a merger between Imperial Airways Ltd. and British Airways Ltd...
(BOAC), and economically supported by four West African British colonies, Nigeria being the major shareholder (68%), followed by the Gold Coast (29.5%), Sierra Leone (2%), and The Gambia holding the balance. It began operations in October 1947, following the delivery of its first aircraft, an event that took place on .
The company was aimed at providing the British West Africa
British West Africa
British West Africa was the collective name for British colonies in West Africa during the colonial period, either in the general geographical sense or more specifically those comprised in a formal colonial administrative entity...
with air transport facilities, to connecting it with Dakar
Dakar
Dakar is the capital city and largest city of Senegal. It is located on the Cap-Vert Peninsula on the Atlantic coast and is the westernmost city on the African mainland...
and Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
in order to provide passengers with a gateway to the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, respectively, and to operating feeder flights that connected with the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
-bound BOAC Hermes
Handley Page Hermes
The Handley Page HP 81 Hermes was a British civilian airliner built by Handley Page in the 1940s and 50s. Closely related to Handley Page's Hastings military transport, the Hermes was a low-wing monoplane powered by four piston engines...
services at Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, Lagos and Kano
Kano
Kano is a city in Nigeria and the capital of Kano State in Northern Nigeria. Its metropolitan population is the second largest in Nigeria after Lagos. The Kano Urban area covers 137 sq.km and comprises six Local Government Area - Kano Municipal, Fagge, Dala, Gwale, Tarauni and Nassarawa - with a...
. The close ties with BOAC were evidenced by the fact that WAAC actually acted as an agent for the British state carrier in Nigeria and the Gold Coast.
WAAC became very popular in the early 1950s
1950s
The 1950s or The Fifties was the decade that began on January 1, 1950 and ended on December 31, 1959. The decade was the sixth decade of the 20th century...
for offering at least four Bristol Freighter
Bristol Freighter
The Bristol Type 170 Freighter was a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner, although its best known use is as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively short distances.-Design and development:The...
-operated second-class services at discounted airfares, cheaper than any other mean of transportation. Two of them were the “Coastal Flyer”, that covered the 250 miles (402.3 km) between Accra and Lagos in 1¾ hours for £
Nigerian pound
The pound was the currency of Nigeria between 1907 and 1973. Until 1958, Nigeria used the British West African pound, after which it issued its own currency. The pound was subdivided into 20 shillings, each of 12 pence...
4.00 at 1951 prices, and the “Hausa Flyer” that covered the Accra–Lagos–Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
–Jos
Jos
Jos is a city in the Middle Belt of Nigeria.The city has a population of about 1.5 million residents. Popularly called "J-town" or "Jesus Our Saviour" by the residents, it is the administrative capital of Plateau State....
–Kano route, for which the Lagos–Kano leg took 4 hours —against an almost two-day journey by train— and was £3 (1951 prices) cheaper than the train.
As the member states gained Commonwealth
Commonwealth
Commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has sometimes been synonymous with "republic."More recently it has been used for fraternal associations of some sovereign nations...
status from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, they set up their own carriers—Ghana Airways
Ghana Airways
Ghana Airways Limited was the national airline of the Republic of Ghana with its main base of operation, and hub, at Kotoka International Airport in Accra....
, Sierra Leone Airways, and Gambia Air Shuttle. WAAC was formally dissolved in 1958, as Nigeria was the only state eventually having a participation in the airline. WAAC assets and liabilities were inherited by WAAC (Nigeria), that operated as “Nigerian Airways” effective . WAAC (Nigeria) was later rebranded Nigeria Airways
Nigeria Airways
Nigeria Airways Ltd., more commonly known as Nigeria Airways, is a defunct Nigerian airline. The company was founded in 1958 after the dissolution of West African Airways Corporation. It was wholly owned by the Government of Nigeria, and served as the country's flag carrier. The airline was...
.
Livery
The WAAC liveryAircraft livery
Aircraft livery is a paint scheme applied to an aircraft, generally to fuselage, wings, empennage , or jet engines. Most airlines have a standard paint scheme for their aircraft fleet, usually prominently displaying the airline logo or name. From time to time special liveries are introduced, for...
consisted of a green cheatline bordered by thinner gold lines. An airborne green elephant named Skypower, was painted in a golden circle background at both sides, in the forward part of each aircraft.
Destinations
Following is a list of destinations served by WAAC, grouped by country served. Each destination is provided with the city served, the name of the airport and both its International Air Transport AssociationInternational Air Transport Association
The International Air Transport Association is an international industry trade group of airlines headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, where the International Civil Aviation Organization is also headquartered. The executive offices are at the Geneva Airport in SwitzerlandIATA's mission is to...
three-letter code (IATA airport code
IATA airport code
An IATA airport code, also known an IATA location identifier, IATA station code or simply a location identifier, is a three-letter code designating many airports around the world, defined by the International Air Transport Association...
) and its International Civil Aviation Organization
International Civil Aviation Organization
The International Civil Aviation Organization , pronounced , , is a specialized agency of the United Nations. It codifies the principles and techniques of international air navigation and fosters the planning and development of international air transport to ensure safe and orderly growth...
four-letter code (ICAO airport code
ICAO airport code
The ICAO airport code or location indicator is a four-character alphanumeric code designating each airport around the world. These codes are defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization, and published in ICAO Document 7910: Location Indicators.The ICAO codes are used by air traffic...
). Current names have been adopted wherever possible.
| City | Airport Code | Airport Name | Refs | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IATA | ICAO | ||||
| Tiko Tiko Tiko, Originally called ‘Keka’ by the Bakweris, is a town and important port in the southwest region of Cameroon. The settlement grew as a market town for Duala fishermen, Bakweri farmers and hunters from Molyko, Bwenga, Bulu and Bokova... |
TKC | FKKC | Tiko Airport Tiko Airport Tiko Airport is an airport serving Tiko, a town in the Southwest Province of Cameroon.... |
||
| Abidjan Abidjan Abidjan is the economic and former official capital of Côte d'Ivoire, while the current capital is Yamoussoukro. it was the largest city in the nation and the third-largest French-speaking city in the world, after Paris, and Kinshasa but before Montreal... |
ABJ | DIAP | Port Bouet Airport Port Bouet Airport Port Bouet Airport , also known as Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport, is located 16 kilometres southeast of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.The airport was one of many hubs for multi-national airline Air Afrique.- Airlines and destinations:... |
||
| Bathurst Banjul -Transport:Ferries sail from Banjul to Barra. The city is served by the Banjul International Airport. Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau, and will eventually provide a paved highway link to 11 other nations of ECOWAS.Banjul International Airport... |
BJL | GBYD | Yundum International Airport | ||
| Accra | ACC | DGAA | Kotoka International Airport Kotoka International Airport Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana, is the country's premier international airport and has the capacity for large aircraft such as the Boeing 747-800... |
||
| Kumasi Kumasi Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea... |
KMS | DGSI | Kumasi Airport Kumasi Airport Kumasi Airport is an airport serving Kumasi, a city in southern central Ghana.-Airlines and scheduled destinations:|Antrak Air|Accra|CTK – CiTylinK|Accra|Starbow Airlines|Accra... |
||
| Takoradi Sekondi-Takoradi Sekondi-Takoradi, population 335,000 , comprising the twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi, is the capital of the Western Region of Ghana. It is Ghana's fourth largest city and an industrial and commercial center. The chief industries are timber, plywood, shipbuilding and railroad repair and... |
TKD | DGTK | Takoradi Airport Takoradi Airport Takoradi Airport is an airport in Sekondi-Takoradi, a city in the Western Region of Ghana.During World War II, Takoradi Airport was a major stop on the United States Army Air Force Air Transport Command Trans-Africa Ferry Route, as an intermediate stop between Monrovia-Roberts Field, Liberia and... |
||
| Tamale Tamale A tamale — or more correctly tamal — is a traditional Latin American dish made of masa , which is steamed or boiled in a leaf wrapper. The wrapping is discarded before eating... |
TML | DGLE | Tamale Airport Tamale Airport Tamale Airport is an airport serving Tamale, a city the Northern Region of Ghana.The Tamale Airport has now been upgraded to the status of an international airport, with all the necessary facilities. It gained international status in December 2008... |
||
| Monrovia Monrovia Monrovia is the capital city of the West African nation of Liberia. Located on the Atlantic Coast at Cape Mesurado, it lies geographically within Montserrado County, but is administered separately... |
ROB | GLRB | Robertsfield Roberts International Airport -Accidents and incidents:*On 5 March 1967: Varig flight 837, a Douglas DC-8-33 registration PP-PEA flying from Rome-Fiumicino to Rio de Janeiro-Galeão via Roberts International Airport, caught fire after a mistaken approach to Monrovia, missing the threshold of the runway by 6,023 ft... |
||
| Benin Benin City Benin City, is a city and the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria. It is a city approximately twenty-five miles north of the Benin River. It is situated 200 miles by road east of Lagos... |
BNI | DNBE | Benin Airport Benin Airport Benin Airport is an airport serving Benin, a city in the Edo State of Nigeria.-Airlines and destinations:... |
||
| Bida | — | DNBI | Bida Airstrip | ||
| Calabar Calabar Calabar is a city in Cross River State, southeastern Nigeria. The original name for Calabar was Atakpa, from the Jukun language.... |
CBQ | DNCA | Calabar Airport | ||
| Enugu Enugu Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in the southeastern area of Nigeria and is largely populated by members of the Igbo ethnic group. The city has a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. The name Enugu is derived from the two Igbo words Enu Ugwu... |
ENU | DNEN | Enugu Airport | ||
| Gusau Gusau Gusau is a city and Local Government Area located in northwestern Nigeria. It is the capital of Zamfara State.The LGA has an area of 3,364 km² and a population of 383,162 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 880.-Geography:... |
QUS | DNGU | Gusau Airstrip Gusau Airstrip Gusau Airstrip or Gusau Airfield is an airstrip located in Gusau, the capital city of the Zamfara State in Nigeria.-Facilities:The airstrip resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. The runway is designated 05/23 and has a laterite surface measuring .... |
||
| Ibadan | IBA | DNIB | Ibadan Airport Ibadan Airport Ibadan Airport is an airport serving Ibadan, a city in the Oyo State of Nigeria.-Airlines and destinations:*Overland Airways *Associated Aviation... |
||
| Jos | JOS | DNJO | Jos Airport | ||
| Kaduna Kaduna Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-central Nigeria. The city, located on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. The population of Kaduna is at 760,084 as of the 2006 Nigerian census... |
KAD | DNKA | Kaduna Airport Kaduna Airport Kaduna Airport is an airport serving Kaduna, a city in the Kaduna State of Nigeria. The airport consists of a single terminal.Kaduna also has an older airport located southeast of this newer airport.)-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:... |
||
| Kano | KAN | DNKN | Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport is located in Kano, a city in the Kano State of Nigeria. It is the main airport serving northern Nigeria and was named after Nigerian politician Aminu Kano. The airport consists of an international and a domestic terminal. Both terminals share the same... |
||
| Lagos Lagos Lagos is a port and the most populous conurbation in Nigeria. With a population of 7,937,932, it is currently the third most populous city in Africa after Cairo and Kinshasa, and currently estimated to be the second fastest growing city in Africa... |
LOS | DNMM | Murtala Muhammed International Airport | ||
| Maiduguri Maiduguri Maiduguri, also fondly called Yerwa by its locals, is the capital and the largest city of Borno State in north-eastern Nigeria. The city sits along the seasonal Ngadda River which disappears into the Firki swamps in the areas around Lake Chad... |
MIU | DNMA | Maiduguri International Airport Maiduguri International Airport Maiduguri International Airport is an airport serving Maiduguri, a city in the Borno State of Nigeria.-Airlines and destinations:... |
||
| Makurdi Makurdi Makurdi is the capital of Benue State in Nigeria. The city is located in central Nigeria along the Benue river bank and was the base for the Nigerian Air Force's MiG 21 and SEPECAT Jaguar aircraft squadrons... |
MDI | DNMK | Makurdi Airport Makurdi Airport Makurdi Airport is an airport serving Makurdi, the capital city of the Benue State of Nigeria.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 05/23 with a concrete surface measuring .... |
||
| Oshogbo | — | DNOS | Osogbo Airstrip | ||
| Port Harcourt | PHC | DNPO | Port Harcourt International Airport Port Harcourt International Airport Port Harcourt International Airport is an international airport located in Omagwa, a suburb of Port Harcourt city in Rivers State, Nigeria. The airport consists of a single terminal with separate facilities for international and domestic flights... |
||
| Sokoto Sokoto Sokoto is a city located in the extreme northwest of Nigeria, near to the confluence of the Sokoto River and the Rima River. As of 2006 it has a population of 427,760... |
SKO | DNSO | Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport Sadiq Abubakar III International Airport or Sultan Saddik Abubakar Airport is an airport serving Sokoto, a city in the Sokoto State of Nigeria.-Airlines and destinations:... |
||
| Yola Yola, Nigeria Yola is the capital city and administrative center of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Located on the Benue River, it has a population of 88,500 . Established in 1841, Yola was the capital of a Fulani state until it was taken by the British in 1901. Daytime temperatures can easily exceed during the dry... |
YOL | DNYO | Yola Airport Yola Airport Yola Airport is an airport serving Yola, a city in the Adamawa State of Nigeria. During 2007, this airport had 46,489 passengers movements, a decrease of 38.3% from previous year.-Airlines and destinations:... |
||
| Zaria Zaria Zaria may refer to:*Zaria, a city in Kaduna State, Nigeria*Zaria , or Zoria, the Slavic goddess of beauty*Countess Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg, a member of the Dutch royal family... |
ZAR | DNZA | Zaria Airport Zaria Airport Zaria Airport is an airport serving Zaria, a city in the Kaduna State of Nigeria.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 06/24 with an asphalt surface measuring .... |
||
| Dakar | DKR | GOOY | Yoff Airport | ||
| Freetown Freetown Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of... |
FNA | GFLL | Lungi International Airport Lungi International Airport -Incidents and accidents:On August 11th, 2004 at around 2:30 p.m. a Boeing 737 plane operated by Air Guinee Express crashed while failing to take off at Lungi Airport. None of the 70 passengers aboard were killed.... |
||
| El Geneina Geneina Geneina is the capital of West Darfur state in Sudan.... |
EGN | HSGN | Geneina Airport Geneina Airport -External links:... |
||
| Khartoum | KRT | HSSS | Khartoum International Airport Khartoum International Airport Khartoum International Airport is an airport in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan.It will be replaced with a new airport 40 kilometers south of the centre of Khartoum by 2012... |
||
Fleet
WAAC operated the following equipment all through its history:- Bristol Freighter
- Bristol Wayfarer
- de Havilland DoveDe Havilland DoveThe de Havilland DH.104 Dove was a British monoplane short-haul airliner from de Havilland, the successor to the biplane de Havilland Dragon Rapide and was one of Britain's most successful post-war civil designs...
- de Havilland HeronDe Havilland HeronThe de Havilland DH.114 Heron was a small, propeller-driven British airliner that first flew on 10 May 1950. It was a development of the twin-engine de Havilland Dove, with a stretched fuselage and two more engines. It was designed as a rugged, conventional low-wing monoplane with tricycle...
- Douglas DC-3Douglas DC-3The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
- Handley Page MarathonHandley Page Marathon-See also:-References:NotesBibliographys* Amos, Peter. and Don Lambert Brown. Miles Aircraft Since 1925, Volume 1. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 2000. ISBN 0-85177-787-0....
Accidents and incidents
According to Aviation Safety NetworkAviation Safety Network
-External links:**...
, the airline experienced two accidents/incidents throughout its history, one of them leading to fatalities.
Fatal accidents
: A Bristol 170 Freighter 21EBristol Freighter
The Bristol Type 170 Freighter was a British twin-engine aircraft designed and built by the Bristol Aeroplane Company as both a freighter and airliner, although its best known use is as an air ferry to carry cars and their passengers over relatively short distances.-Design and development:The...
, registration
Aircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
VR-NAD, that was operating a domestic scheduled Enugu Airport–Calabar Airport passenger service, crashed into a hillside 84 kilometres (52.2 mi) northwest of Calabar after it uncontrollably descended from about 4000 feet (1,219.2 m). All 13 occupants of the aircraft lost their lives. Structural failure of the left-hand side mainplane was officially determined to be the cause of the accident.
Non-fatal hull-losses
: A Bristol 170 Freighter 21E, tail numberAircraft registration
An aircraft registration is a unique alphanumeric string that identifies a civil aircraft, in similar fashion to a licence plate on an automobile...
VR-NAX, landed short of the runway at Kaduna Airport.