DAK FAR EASTERN AVIATION (KHABAROVSK UNITED AIR DETACHMENT): Russia (1993-1999). Based at Khabarovsk in the far east of the nation, this Aeroflot Soviet Airlines directorate is reformed in 1992, achieving autonomous status. The fleet includes 20 Ilyushin Il-62s, 25 Tupolev Tu-154s, 20 Antonov An-24s, 40 Yakovlev Yak-40s, and 25 LET 410s. Orders are placed for 2 Il-96Ms.
I. V. Nagorny is director and his organization continues to operate as before, providing trunk and regional services throughout Siberia and to Moscow and other destinations in the new CIS.
Enplanements total 3,415,101.
Continuing to fly from Khabarovsk Airport in 1993 and provide regional domestic services as part of the Far Eastern Detachment of Aeroflot Russian International Airlines (ARIA), the company will soon gain its independence and become the parent of many of the airlines operating from Khabarovsk. Igor N. Spichenko is now general manager and revenue services are operated with a mixed fleet of 8 Antonov An-24s and An-26s, 8 Tupolev Tu-154A/B/Cs, and 14 Ilyushin Il-62Ms.
Due to the country’s uncertain economic situation, passenger boardings decline 33.2% to 2,563,890 while freight traffic falls 28.2% to 675.5 million FTKs.
Operations are continued to East Siberian destinations in 1994. Aerial work is undertaken in the area employing a fleet of Mil helicopters. The company also flies scheduled services from the Far East to Anchorage and other points in Alaska, complementing the flights offered by Alaska Airlines.
Customer bookings decline again, dropping by 29.8% to 1.8 million. Cargo, on the other hand, recovers, growing by 18.7% to 801.8 million FTKs.
The radar station at Sovetskaya Gavan is destroyed by a hurricane in November 1995. Partially as a result, the worst of 17 CIS fatal accidents this year occurs on December 7. While en route from Yushno to Khabarovsk, the company’s Flight 3949, a Tu-154B with 8 crew and 89 passengers, disappears. The aircraft’s wreckage is found 11 days later at a point 50 km. W of Grossevichi, near Tartar Strait; there are no survivors.
Enplanements are off again this year, down 29.4% to 778,200. Freight carriage also drops, falling 23.3% to 54.18 million FTKs.
The company’s fleet in 1996 includes 19 An-24s, 10 An-26s, 22 Il-62Ms, and 25 Tu-154A/B/Cs. Orders are outstanding for 2 Il-96Ms. Passenger boardings plunge 25.9% to 576,650.
On May 7, 1997, an Mi-8 with five aboard crashes three km. from Katen village, near Khabarovsk (one dead). A search-and-rescue helicopter picks up the survivors the next day.
Following a safety incident in Seattle late in the year, inspectors from the FAA find that the company is still flying on Aeroflot’s operating certificate, having failed to obtain its own from the U. S. A temporary permit is issued as Washington protests the situation.
Customer bookings fall another 11.4% to 511,000.
Service is maintained in 1998 with the matter of the company’s operating certificate satisfactorily resolved. Another horrendous traffic year, passenger boardings drop 21.2% to 393,000.
In January 1999, the carrier is renamed Dalavia.
DAKONO AIR: 9 Bolshoi Sawinsky per 9, Moscow Zone, 121019, Russia; Phone 7 (095) 248-0740; Fax 7 (095) 248-0690; Code DCA; Year Founded 1993. DA is established at Moscow on May 20, 1993 to offer ad hoc passenger and cargo charters to destinations in Europe, Asia, and the Mideast. General Director F. D. Zolotarev begins services in April 1994 with a fleet of 3 Yakovlev Yak-42s and 1 Ilyushin Il-76TD.
One Yak-42 is removed and another Il-76TD is acquired in 1995 and flights continue in 1996-2000.
World History
