FORD-AIRE. See SUSQUEHANNAAIRLINES

FOREMOST AVIATION, LTD.: Nigeria (1992-1994). Foremost is established by Chief Oluwolw Alani Adeosun at Lagos in the summer of 1992 to provide all-cargo services. In October, the Irish lessor, Omega Air, Ltd., provides under charter a Boeing 707-351C, first flown by Northwest Airlines years earlier and now christened Latter Rain. Flying from an operational base at Ostend, Belgium, the Stratofreighter brings in pineapples from Africa during the winter, while also flying humanitarian missions on behalf of Doctors without Borders.

After a busy winter schedule, the company continues to provide ad hoc freighter flights during 1993 and the first three-quarters of 1994. In October of the latter year, the Boeing is returned to its lessor and the company shuts its doors.

FORMOSA AIRLINES CORPORATION, LTD.: Taiwan (19661999). Formed by U. T. Wei as an agricultural support service (aerial spraying, etc.) at Taichung in January 1966, this company is reconfigured during the early 1970s into Yung Shing (“Forever Prosperous”) Airlines, Ltd. Provided with a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, it undertakes nonscheduled passenger and charter flights about the nation.

Scheduled service is inaugurated in 1976 from Taichung and Tainan to Makung in the Pescadores Islands.

On July 15, 1978, the carrier is purchased by ex-banker Y. L. Wang and is restructured as a third-level commuter carrier, which is also known by its marketing name, Formosa Airlines.

Flying three Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders and three Cessna 404s, the company establishes a domestic route network for scheduled and charter passenger and cargo flights. Emphasis is placed upon the delivery of tourist and shuttle flights to offshore islands. Destinations visited include Kao-hsiung, Orchid Island, Taichung, Taitung, Chimay, Makung, Hualine, and Green Island.

Chairman Kuo-Hsiung Kao’s airline changes its fleet throughout the 1980s, moving from an organization dominated by such light types as the Cessna 404 and BN-2 Islander to the new Dornier turboprop, with two 228-212s entering service, beginning on February 11, 1983. Passenger traffic accelerates slowly in 1984-1986. China Airlines, Ltd. (CAL) becomes a major shareholder.

In 1987, the carrier is reformed and given its current name. Ch. H. Hsin is named chairman and an order is placed for two SAAB 340As.

In 1988, the workforce grows 32.6% to 256 and the fleet now includes 4 Islanders, 1 Titan, 5 Dornier 228-212s, 2 newly delivered SAAB 340As, and 5 Bell UH-12E helicopters. Orders are outstanding for 1 Shorts 360, 2 more SAABs, and 2 Airbus Industrie A300-600s. En-planements for the year reach 295,824, an 11.4% boost over 1987, and revenues increase by 23.6% to $11.5 million.

Operations continue apace in 1989 and in 1990 the company is the nation’s largest third-level operator. Over 125 daily flights are operated with a fleet that now includes 1 Cessna Skywagon, 3 Islanders, 3 SAAB 340As,1 Shorts 360-300, and 7 Dornier 228-200s.

Among services operated are four-times-per-day roundtrips between the company base and the island of Matsu.

A Dornier 228-201 freighter, with two crew, undershoots the runway while landing at Orchid Island on August 14, 1991; the undercarriage collapses and the plane slides 400 ft. There are no injuries reported.

The carrier is successful and employs 271 workers in 1992. In October, orders are placed for five SAAB 340As.

The fleet in 1993 comprises 4 Dornier 228-212s, 1 Dash-202, and 1 Dash-201 in addition to 3 Pilatus-Britten-Norman PBN-2 Islanders, and 1 Bell UH-12E helicopter.

While on final approach to Orchid Island in heavy rain on February 28, a Dornier 228-201 with two crew and four passengers plunges into the sea off Green Island; there are no survivors.

While landing at Green Island on June 14 after a service from Taitung, a Dornier 118-201 with 2 crew and 20 passengers undershoots the runway; its right main landing gear strikes the raised lip of the runway and collapses. There are no fatalities.

The first two SAAB 340As are delivered in April and May.

Passenger boardings this year total 380,000.

With deliveries to begin a year hence, five Dornier 328-100s are ordered in January 1994. Meanwhile, two more Dornier 228-212s enter service along with three more SAAB 340As. Two Fokker 50s are ordered in December.

The arrival of the Dornier 328s and Fokker 50s is delayed during much of 1995.

With the government unwilling to fund the construction of a new airport on Matsu Island, the airline requests permission to withdraw its services. Political requirements will, however, require that the daily schedule be maintained.

Following a June 15 service from Green Island, a Dornier 228-202 with 2 crew and 17 passengers, belly-lands at Taitung Airport; although the aircraft is badly damaged, there are no fatalities.

While taxiing out for takeoff from Green Island on June 18, the pilot of a Dornier 228-201 with another crewman and 17 passengers loses control and drives his aircraft into a ditch. There are no fatalities.

The first two new Fokker 50s are delivered in September and October, with a Fokker 100 arriving in December.

A second Fokker 100 is delivered in March 1996 while the first of five Dornier 328-100s arrives during the spring.

Having arrived in the Matsu Island area following an April 5 service from Taipei, a Dornier 228-212 with 2 crew and 15 passengers is forced into a holding pattern due to poor visibility. The turboprop subsequently crashes into the sea (6 dead).

Enplanements for the year total 1,887,632 on 57,575 scheduled departures.

In 1997, the largest commuter carrier in Taiwan visits 24 points from Taipei’s Sung Shan Airport.

On August 10, Flight 7601, a Dornier 228-221 with 2 crew and 14 passengers from Taipei fails its first approach to the runway on Matsu Island in high wind and rain. The aircraft attempts a second approach, but this time hits the tops of trees and the water tower at a military base, before crashing in flames. There is just one survivor.

Later in the day, a weather observer with the duty of providing weather information to the airport control tower, commits suicide by self-immolation.

Passenger boardings accelerate to 2,141,258 on 60,262 scheduled departures.

Chairman James Liao and President H. H. Sun oversee the operations of a fleet which, at the beginning of 1998, includes 3 Dornier 228-221s, 5 Fokker 50s, 2 Fokker 100s, and 6 SAAB 340As.

Previously restricted for military use only, the Hsinchu to Kao-hsiung air corridor is opened to civil use on February 15. A month later, on March 15, Formosa inaugurates daily service over the new track.

En route from Hsinchu to Kao-hsiung on March 18, a SAAB 340A with five crew and eight passengers, crashes into the sea six miles off the northeast coast of Taiwan, just four minutes after takeoff. The tragedy, from which there are no survivors, is the sixth fatal accident in a decade for the company and leads to its immediate grounding. Local media speculate that the aircraft is the victim of errant antiaircraft fire during a military exercise; however, investigators later blame mechanical failure.

Although government authorities will not allow it to employ its six remaining SAAB 340As, they do grant the carrier permission to resume Dornier 228 flight operations during the second week of April. Safety will continue to be an issue. Just after landing at Matsu on August 5, a Dornier 228 runs off the runway; no injuries are reported. After a UNI Airlines, Ltd. Dornier 228 has a similar braking problem four days later, the Civil Air Transport Authority (CAA) orders the Dorniers of both companies grounded on August 10 for inspection.

At this point, China Airlines, Ltd. (CAL) announces that, during the following early summer, Formosa will be combined with Mandarin Airlines, Ltd. with the latter name surviving. The reformed company will emphasize domestic service with CAL operating all international flights.

Frequencies continue during the remainder of the year, but during the 12 months, passenger boardings plunge 31.4% to 1.47 million. Revenues fall 29.9% to $50.78 million, while costs drop 18.3% to $57.18 million. Although an operating loss of $6.4 million must be reported, there is a net gain of $17.84 million.

Service is maintained in 1999. The workforce is cut 12.9% to 595. The merger with Mandarin Airlines, Ltd. occurs on August 8, at which point the Formosa Airlines name fades into aviation history.