Joseph and Bruce Salerno, with later assistance from their father Paul, establish Salair at Seattle, Washington, in 1980, originally to fly fresh fish to market from Alaska. Within four years, the company’s fleet is increased from 1 to 4 Douglas DC-3s and, in addition to charter and contract service flights, regularly scheduled all-cargo services are undertaken to Portland and Spokane.
The carrier receives its all-cargo certificate from the DOT on June 27, 1984.
During the remainder of the decade, general charters are expanded to destinations throughout the western regions of the U. S. and Canada. The fleet is increased by the addition of 3 more DC-3s and 3 Convair CV-440s. In 1985, the company is prominently featured in the PBS television special devoted to the DC-3 The Plane That Changed the World. Four years later, in 1989, a DC-3C that first entered service with the U. S. 8th Air Force on January 7, 1944, is acquired from a Canadian firm and returned to the U. S. for restoration.
As the company enters the 1990s, it establishes a Classic Airlines subsidiary, which employs two DC-3s to fly all first-class scenic, special demonstration, and nostalgia services. A total of 10,708 tons of freight are hauled in 1991. Revenues are $3.06 million and expenses are $3 million, leaving a $64,344 net profit.
In 1992, due largely to the recession, tonnage carried falls off to 3,160. Revenues drop to $1.73 million and expenses jump to $1.85 million, producing a loss of $124,845. The DC-3C acquired in 1989 is sold to ERA Aviation.
Airline employment in 1993 totals 47 and the fleet now includes 3 Convair CV-440s and 1 DC-3. On June 28, Salair receives DOT certification to offer scheduled passenger, cargo, and mail transportation anywhere in the U. S. The authority will not, in the end, be used.
Just after takeoff from Spokane on March 18, 1994, for a service to Portland, a DC-3C with two crew suffers the loss of power to its No. 2 engine, which is shut down. The aircraft descends into the ground 3,450 ft. from the end of the runway and there are no survivors.
While en route from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on a June 27, 1995, all-cargo service, a CV-440 with two crew develops engine problems and starts to return to its point of origin, but explodes and crashes near La Ramona; there are no survivors.
While on final approach to Spokane on January 5, 1996, after a ferry service from Deer Valley, a CV-440F with two crew loses power to both engines at 500 ft. A forced landing is made in a nearby field and there are no fatalities.
The fleet at the beginning of 1997 includes 2 CV-440s and 2 DC-3Cs. On May 5, Salair ceases operations. It is advised by the DOT that its certificates have been temporarily suspended. They can be reinstated within a year if fitness to fly is determined; if no action is taken by the airline to reclaim its operational status, they will be declared dormant and revoked.
In December, Salair informs the DOT that it has been acquired by Air Alaska Cargo and that it is preparing to file a notice of intent to resume operations. On December 19, the carrier registers with the DOT as an air taxi operator and is given a PART 298 certificate.
On May 4, 1998, the DOT receives word from Salair that it has officially changed its name to Air Alaska Cargo, but that it does not intend to seek a waiver of the revocation-for-dormancy provisions applicable to its previous certificates. Instead, it promises to file a new application for interstate scheduled passenger authority within the next three months. Accordingly, its two earlier certificates are revoked on May 12.
SALMON AIR: 29 Hamner Drive, Salmon, Idaho 83467, United States; Phone (208) 756-6211; Fax (208) 756-6219: Http://www. salmonair. com; Year Founded 1981. Located in an area between the Bitterroot and Salmon Mountain ranges and the Continental Divide, Salmon Air is incorporated at Boise in 1981 as Mountain Bird. Bush services for fishermen, hunters, and local residents begin with a fleet of 4 small Cessnas. Within a few months, the company is purchased by a husband and wife team and is renamed.
Flights continue over the next 19 years, highlighted by the addition of weekday return scheduled flights to Boise and McCall and charter services to Salt Lake City, Hailey in Sun Valley, and other points in Idaho and surrounding states, including Challis and Idaho Falls. The fleet in 2000 includes 5 each twin-engine and single-engine aircraft and the queen of the fleet, a newly received Pilatus PC-12.
SALPANAVI, S. p.A.: Italy (1947-1948). With financial backing from the Salpanavi shipping concern, this carrier is formed at Milan on July 19, 1947. Employing ex-military Douglas C-47s converted to DC-3 civil standard, it begins service from Milan to Bari and Rome.
Early in 1948, the company purchases and merges competing Aerea Teseo, S. p.A. and assumes its aircraft, personnel, and routes. As is the case with several other postwar independent carriers, Salpanavi is not a successful operation and ceases operations in April.
World History
