The FBO at Binghampton Regional Airport in western New York. The company over the next 20 years also undertakes a wide variety of executive and small group passenger charters.
By 2000, Doug Chamberlain schedules aircraft at four different airports. From Binghampton, Miller flies 1 each British Aerospace BAe (HS) 125-700 Hawker, Cessna 550 Citation II, and Learjet 35A Century III, plus 2 Cessna 441 Conquest II turboprops and a piston-engined C-T303 Crusader.
Another Citation II is based at Syracuse, a third is stationed at Teter-boro, New Jersey, while 1 each Hawker, Learjet 55 Longhorn, and a second Century III are flown from White Plains, New York.
MILLION AIR: United States (1983-1997). Juan B. Million establishes this all-cargo carrier at Miami in 1983 to operate contract and charter services to destinations within the U. S., the Caribbean, and South America. Once operating authority is received and a fleet of 1 Douglas DC-7CF and 2 Canadair CL-44Ds is assembled, Million inaugurates services to Colombia in July 1984. The privately owned airline does not choose to release either traffic or financial data as its operations continue apace during 1985-1986.
The 31-employee company files a petition with the DOT in 1987 seeking authority to inaugurate scheduled cargo flights to Central and South America. These services are duly launched with one each chartered Boeing 707-323C and B-707-355C.
Statistics are initially released showing that the company has flown a total of 158.9 million FTKs on the year. Revenues reach $4.4 million, but expenses are high and big losses are suffered: $207,000 (operating) and $249,000 (net).
Although the traffic picture deteriorates in 1988, the bottom line improves significantly. Cargo plunges 47.6% to 8.33 million FTKs and revenues drop 41.2% to $2.58 million. Still, costs are low enough to allow an $8,000 operating profit and net gain of $7,000.
Given a new livery, one B-707-323C, the Vanessa, remains in service during 1989, but is able to greatly increase cargo traffic as 30.97 million FTKs are flown. Income exceeds costs and profits of $134,790 (operating) and $104,959 (net) are generated.
The 32-employee company returns its B-707-355C to service during 1990 and leases a B-707-331C from Florida West Airlines.
As a result, freight increases 64.5% to 50.96 million FTKs. Revenues jump 69% to $10.96 million, but expenses climb 77.9% to $11.3 million. Consequently, a $336,577 operating loss is suffered, along with a net loss of $444,592.
The workforce is cut by 19.4% in 1991 to 25, the B-707-331C is returned, and the B-707-355C is replaced by a B-707-321C.
Still, the two-plane cargo operator is able to increase its freight traffic by 6.1% to 544.06 million FTKs. Revenues skyrocket 93.3% to $14 million, expenses are $13.72 million, and operating income totals $283,187. There is a net profit of $255,147.
Operations continue apace in 1992. Airline employment is still 25 and the fleet includes only 1 Boeing 707-321C and 1 B-707-323C.
Cargo increases another 38.3% to 74.77 million FTKs, but revenues decrease to $12.4 million. Profits slip to $156,299 (operating) and $130,524 (net).
Company employment skyrockets 120% in 1993 to 55 and the fleet is doubled to 4 aircraft, including 1 leased B-707-321C, 1 chartered B-707-369C, 1 leased B-707-323C, and 1 Douglas DC-8-54F leased from American International Airways (3).
Freight jumps 8.6% to 81.17 million FTKs and revenues slide ahead by 4.6% to $12.94 million. Expenses fall 2.1% to $11.96 million and allow operating income to climb up to $973,000. Net gain hits $943,892.
The workforce is cut a drastic 54.5% in 1994 to 25 as cargo declines by 19.3% to 65.53 million FTKs. Revenues jump 24.7% to $15.85 million as expenses increase 30% to $15.18 million. There is a decline in operating income to $674,000, while net profit slides to $710,000.
The workforce is increased dramatically in 1995 to 175. After landing at Guatemala City on April 28 on a flight from Miami, a DC-8-54F with three crew skids off the end of a wet runway and collides with approach lights and the perimeter fence before plunging down a steep incline into a residential area. Although none of the crew are badly injured, six people are killed on the ground and the aircraft is destroyed by a post-crash fire.
The carrier’s 7 aircraft operate 119.62 million freight FTKs, a giant 67.9% growth. Costs exceed revenues and there are losses: $15,000 operating and $54,000 (net).
There is no change in the employee population during 1996. On approach to Miami on February 22, a B-707-323C freighter loses all hydraulic fluid after its main gear is down. Unable to manually lower the nose gear, the aircraft lands in this condition and is severely damaged; none of the four crewmen aboard are badly hurt.
On October 22, just after takeoff from Manta, Ecuador, some 390 miles SE of Quito, Miami-bound Flight 406, a B-707-323C with three crew and one passenger, bursts into flames, clips the top of a church tower, and crashes. The entire neighborhood surrounding the crash site is set afire and 34 people die, including all 3 of the Boeing’s crewmen, with another 50 injured.
In the aftermath, the company, on October 29, voluntarily stops flying in order to make equipment and personnel available to FAA and NTSB investigators, who assist the Direccion General de Aviacion Civil with its post-crash review.
Cargo traffic rises 13% to 135.13 million FTKs, but operating income falls 9.3% to $17.01 million. Expenses also decline, dropping 11.1% to $16.69 million. The previous year’s losses now become gain as equal $319,000 operating and net profits are reported.
The company’s operating certificate is suspended early in 1997 and the concern is dormant through July. It then shuts its doors.
MILLION AIR INTERLINK: Teterboro Airport, 485 Industrial Ave., Teterboro, New Jersey 07608, United States; Phone (201) 2885040; Fax (201) 288-4430; Http://www. millionair. com; Year Founded 1984. Million Air is not really an airline. Instead, during the 16 years since its 1984 founding, it has developed into the largest independent FBO chain in the world, with facilities throughout the U. S. and at Toronto, Canada. This concern is listed here because one of its many services since 1985 has been the provision of lightplane charter and flight training services from its many locations.
In 2000, Million Air franchises are located at Stratford, Connecticut, Chicago (MDW), Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Oklahoma City, Owensboro, Palm Springs, Pontiac, Provo, Dallas (Addison Airport), Evansville, Hartford, Houston (HOU), La Quinta, Long Beach, Richmond, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, St. Louis, St. Paul, Teterboro, Long Island (Republic Airport), Monterey, Nassau, New Orleans, Topeka, Toronto, and Van Nuys.
MILLIONAIR CHARTER (PTY.), LTD.: P. O. Box 6119, Rivonia, Johannesburg, 2128, South Africa; Phone 27 (11) 390 2710; Fax 27 (11) 390 2715; Http://www. millionair. co. za; Code MACT; Year Founded 1994. Exclusive Air Charter (Pty.), Ltd., owned by its Managing Director Kenneth Geldenhuis, sells its licenses to Phoenix Airways in 1994, while Gary van der Merwe, owner of Million Air Aviation, purchases a 50% stake in the charter operation. Exclusive is transferred to the Million Air Group facility at Lanseria Airport and is renamed.
In the fall of 1995, former Managing Director Geldenhuis purchases the Million Air Group’s stake and once again becomes the lone shareholder in the company he had founded as Exclusive back in 1986. In December, MAC enters into an agreement with Zimbabwe Express Airlines, Ltd. to lease a B-727-23.
Public passenger charters for tourist groups, incentive programs, product launches, and companies, as well as regional airline replacement flights begin in early 1996. John J. Botha is named general manager and he begins revenue services with the Boeing 727-23. Charters are operated to a variety of destinations with Cessna 404 Titans, a Beech Super King Air 200, and several helicopters. Branch offices are opened at Johannesburg and Cape Town.
In 1997-1998, the company leases 2 more B-727-100s and operates scheduled and charter flights for and on behalf of 11 different African airlines, such as South African Airways (Pty.), Ltd., Kenya Airways, Ltd., and LAM Mozambique Airlines, S. A.
Flights continue in 1999. In February, it is announced that the company will launch an initial public offering on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange during the second quarter; it makes its debut on April 8. Majority shareholding (65.7%) in the company continues to be held by its management. As the company had earlier issued its shares by way of a private placing to raise capital for aircraft payments, no capital is raised by the listing.
The company adopts a new corporate image and livery on August 1, 2000. The DC-9-32 is now repainted.
On October 4, a company Cessna 402C transports the body of an African man known as “El Negro” from Johannesburg International Airport to Botswana. It was stolen by 2 Frenchmen 170 years earlier and placed on display in Europe, where it remained until arrangements were completed in 1997 for its return.
World History
