FAIR AIR COMPANY, LTD.: Sendai, Japan; Year Founded 2000

Fair is established by former Skymark Airlines, Ltd. executives at Sendai in the late spring of 2000 to offer scheduled regional passenger services. Employing a pair of used Canadair CRJ100LRs, the new concern launches thrice-daily return flights to Osaka (KIX) on August 7.

FAIRBANKS AIR SERVICE: United States (1946-1975). FAS is established at Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1946 as the flight division of an FBO founded during World War II. Lightplane passenger and cargo charter services are offered to various local destinations and to Anchorage.

During the next two decades, the company also elects to provide larger all-freight flights, particularly in support of military construction projects. A fleet of 7 Curtiss C-46 Commandos and 1 Douglas DC-3 are placed into service.

Two decades later, on February 16, 1965, the company begins to employ certain of its Beech 18s, Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders, and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters to provide scheduled third-level flights to its previously nonscheduled stops. Commuter and cargo services continue apace for another decade.

During the early 1970s, a Lockheed L-188A first operated by National Airlines is purchased and converted into a freighter.

Following its landing at Deadhorse on December 11, 1974, the aircraft, with three crew and a load of diesel fuel, veers off the left side of the cargo and catches fire. Although the aircraft must be written off, there are no injuries reported.

A C-46A, with two crew aboard, is destroyed as the result of a bad landing at Deadhorse, on March 28, 1975; there are no fatalities.

During the spring, a Lockheed L-188CF, first flown by Northwest Airlines, is leased and four L-188PFs are purchased. The aircraft will be employed to support the North Slope oil industry and Alaska pipeline project. In July, the carrier is renamed Great Northern Airlines.

FAIRCHILD AVIATION COMPANY, LTD.: Canada (1927-1929). Formed in 1927, this company (not related to any of the U. S. enterprises of Sherman Fairchild) begins the operation of a mail service from Hai-leyburg to Rouyn.

Passenger and freight services are offered in 1928 over a route from Chibougamau to Oskelaneo River. On October 1, weekday mail flights are initiated from Montreal-Toronto under subcontract to Canadian Airways, Ltd.