KOMIAVIATRANS: Pervomaiskaya Str. 53, Syktyvkar, Komi Zone ATD, Republic of Komi, 167610, Russia; Phone 7 (82122) 22 797; Fax 7 (82122) 25 583; Http://www. komi. com/ki_avia; Code KMA; Year Founded 1992. Komi Avia: (Komiavia Kontsem), the former Aeroflot Soviet Airline Komi directorate established in 1967, is reformed in 1992. The new Komiavia State United Aviation Enterprise, better known by its marketing name of Komiaviatrans is upgraded to provide both international scheduled and charter services from the autonomous region in north central Russia. Oleg G. Chernov is director general and he undertakes operations to Africa, Asia, and Europe with a fleet that includes 30 Tupolev Tu-134s, 5 Antonov An-12s, 5 An-26s, and 10 An-28s, all retaining their Aeroflot livery. Enplanements for this initial year of independence total 1,731,634.
En route from Luena to Catumbela, Angola, on April 26, 1993, a chartered An-12 with two crew is hit in its No. 4 engine by a surface-to-air missile; the aircraft crash-lands in a field in Moxico province. Climbing out of the wreck, the uninjured pilots begin to walk out when they step on land mines; one is killed and the other severely injured.
While on initial climb away from Slavgorod, Russia, on August 20, an An-12V with six crew collides with a flock of birds that take out the No. 2 and 4 engines; a safe gears-up landing is carried out, after which the aircraft catches fire. There are no fatalities as all aboard escape safely.
The uncertain Russian economy brings an enormous turndown in traffic. Passenger boardings plunge 49.6% to 1,157,510 while freight falls 52.6% to 116.7 million FTKs.
Managing Director Chernov’s fleet is expanded in 1994 by the acquisition of 12 Tu-134s. The additional capacity cannot increase traffic as customer bookings decline another 19.3% to 935,200 while cargo drops 12.8% to 102 million FTKs.
The traffic picture is no brighter in 1995. Enplanements fall 12.7% to 816,000 and cargo drops 9.5% to 9.5 million ton-kilometers. The Russian carrier suffers a bad 1996 as passenger boardings plunge 30.7% to 566,160.
Although flights continue in 1997, the company comes to emphasize charters and wet-lease services over scheduled flights. A fleet of 19 PZL-Mielec An-28s made under license in Poland is employed.
Customer bookings decline 24.1% to 429,730.
Service is maintained in 1998-1999 with a fleet of 12 Polish-built An-28s. The Russian currency crisis has a severe impact upon the airline, nearly driving it out of business. On May 19 of the latter year, a court grants it the time necessary to restructure and avoid bankruptcy.
KOMIINTERAVIA: Sovetskaya Street 69, Syktyvkar, Komi Zone ATD, Republic of Komi, 167619, Russia; Phone 7 (8212) 216732; Fax 7 (8212) 216716; Http://www. komicom. ru; Code 8J; Year Founded 1996. This joint stock company is established at Syktyvkar in May 1996 to provide domestic scheduled flights within Russia and charters to both domestic and international destinations. Mikhail Kutuzov is named director general and after a year of planning and preparation, he is able to launch revenue services in July 1997.
Flights continue during 1998-1999, during which years the fleet comes to total 9 Tupolev Tu-134As and 1 Tu-134B. A workforce of 664 is employed at the beginning of 2000. Scheduled points visited include Moscow, St. Petersburg, Ukhta, and Usinsk.
KOMSOMOLSK NAARMURE APO (KOMSMOISK-ON-AMUR AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION): Komsomolsk na Amure APO, 681018, Russia; Phone (42172) 28504; Fax (42172) 29851; Http://www. ceebd. co. uk/ceebd; Code KOMS; Year Founded 1995. Under the leadership of General Director Victor Merkulov, KNAA is founded at Komsomolsk na Amure in 1995 to fly international and domestic all-cargo charters, plus executive passenger flights. Services begin with a fleet that comprises 3 Antonov An-12s, 2 each An-32s, Tupolev Tu-134As, Ilyushin Il-76TDs, and 1 An-26.
TwoMil Mi-8 helicopters are also employed by this concern, which also manufacturers military aircraft, light planes, and motor boats.