MELILLIAN JET, S. p. A. See PAN AIR LINEAS AEREAS, S. A

MEMPHIS JET: Memphis International Airport, Memphis, Tennessee 38116, United States; Phone (901) 346-7111; Fax (901) 3466622; Http://www. memphisjet. com; Year Founded 1995. Following its takeover of Air Path and its single Learjet 55 Longhorn, Memphis Jet is set up by Kristi Jernigan and her brother-in-law Cecil Jernigan at the Memphis International Airport in August 1995 to provide domestic executive and cargo charters and patient transport. President Kristi and General Manager Cecil bring former AMR Combs pilot Buzz Carter into the company as chief operating officer. A business license is sought in September, a Learjet 35 and a Beech Super King Air 200 are acquired in October, and with the license in hand, flights commence in December.

Flights continue apace in 1996-2000. Among the special charters operated are those on behalf of local sports teams and for visitors wishing to view the Masters Golf tournament at Augusta, Georgia. New Orleans proves a popular destination.

MERCER AIRLINES: United States (1948-1976). Formed at Burbank, California, in 1948, this supplemental undertakes intrastate passenger and cargo services with a fleet of 3 war-surplus Douglas C-47s. Important to the company’s long-term survival are contract service arrangements made with the USN for flights to Point Mugu, San Nicholas Island, Long Beach, San Diego, and San Clemente Island in California.

Operations continue apace during the remainder of the decade and throughout the 1950s. As DC-6s become available, USN-chartered frequencies are also inaugurated between Honolulu, Christmas Island, and Tarawa. The DC-6A prototype (the former military type XC-112A) is converted to civilian standard in July 1959 and acquired.

By the 1960s-1970s, President Thomas G. Vander Molen and his fellow owners operate a fleet of 3 DC-3s, 3 DC-6s, 1 DC-6A, and 1 BAC 1-11-400.

A DC-3 makes an emergency landing at Point Mugu, California, on August 4, 1972 and catches fire; although the aircraft must be withdrawn, there are no fatalities.

Just after takeoff from Burbank on a February 8, 1976 ferry service, Flight 901, the DC-6A with five crew and one passenger suffers propeller blade separation from the No. 3 engine. The plane attempts to divert to Van Nuys, but crashes onto a golf course a mile short of the runway (three dead).

The company is now reformed and its corporate identity is changed to Pacific American Airlines.

MERCHANT EXPRESS AVIATION SERVICES, LTD.: Nigeria 1990-1995). MEASL is established at Lagos on May 11, 1990 to offer on-demand and contract freight flights to destinations throughout Africa. The concern is a subsidiary of the air freight forwarder Merchant Express Aviation Services UK, Ltd. and Elvis Emecheta is chairman, with Capt. Shina Akinfenwa as managing director.

Regular revenue services commence from a base at Ostend, Belgium, on October 4, 1994, with a single leased Boeing 707-323C first flown by American Airlines. During the remainder of the year and into 1995, the company offers ad hoc subcharter services for a number of government and airline customers, including the UN Department of Humanitarian Affairs.

Following several years of political turmoil in Nigeria that has ended constitutional government, the Commonwealth suspends the country. The economic impact of this move dooms the airline.