Cameroon Airlines was founded in 1971 (it was operating as early as 1973) in an effort to create a national Cameroonian airline, as until then domestic and international flight operations at the airports in the country were mostly executed by multi-national Air Afrique. Scheduled flights between Douala and Yaoundé were launched on 1 November of that year with an initial fleet of two Boeing 737-200 aircraft. Shortly thereafter, international flights to Rome and Paris commenced using an ex-Air FranceBoeing 707, which was replaced by a larger and more modern Boeing 747-200 in 1982. (This aircraft remained in service with Cameroon Airlines until 2000 when it was severely damaged in Flight 070, see below.)
Over the years, Cameroon Airlines was plagued by financial difficulties, which came along with a poor safety and maintenance record. On 16 September 2005, the airline was indefinitely banned by the French Civil Aviation Authority from operating its Paris route.[2]
In an effort to save the airline from bankruptcy, the Government of Cameroon signed an agreement with SN Airholding, the parent company of Brussels Airlines to ensure the future funding. The plans did not materialize, though. Instead, on 11 September 2006, the launch of Camair-Co as new national airline was announced.[3] Cameroon Airlines stayed operational until March 2008, though flight operations had only taken place during irregular intervals over these last years.
Route network
During the 1970s
At that time, the Cameroon Airlines fleet consisted of two Boeing 737-200 and two Douglas DC-4 aircraft for short haul flights, as well as one Boeing 707-300 for long haul flights to Europe. Scheduled destinations included:[4][5]
The entrance to the former Cameroon Airlines office in Paris as it appeared in 2010.
During the 1990s
Cameroon Airlines had scaled down the domestic route network in a cost-saving measure, relying on the larger sub-Saharan cities as well as some European destinations:[6]
On 31 October 1981, a Cameroon Airlines Twin Otter (registered TJ-CBC) did not gain sufficient altitude upon take-off at Bafoussam Airport because of a severe overload, causing the aircraft to crash, by which one passenger was killed. (There had been 22 passengers and two pilots on board).[8]
On 30 August 1984, Cameroon Airlines Flight 786, a Boeing 737-200 registered TJ-CBD, experienced an engine explosion when taxiing at Douala International Airport prior to departure for Yaoundé. A fire from the damaged fuel tank engulfed the aircraft. Two passengers were trapped by the flames and died. The remaining 107 passengers and seven crew members were able to evacuate the plane.[9]
On 28 June 1989 at 21:19 local time, a Cameroon Airlines Hawker Siddeley HS 748 (registered TJ-CCF) overshot the runway upon landing in stormy weather at Yaoundé International Airport following a scheduled flight from Douala and collided with an embankment, killing the two pilots and one of the 45 passengers on board.
On 3 December 1995 at 22:44 local time, Cameroon Airlines Flight 3701, which was operated by a Boeing 737-200 (registered TJ-CBE), crashed near Douala, killing 71 out of the 76 people on board in what marked the worst accident in the history of the airline. The aircraft had attempted to land at Douala International Airport following a flight from Cotonou, when it experienced a problem with the landing gear. During a go-around following a second landing attempt, the pilots chose a wrong thrust application for the engines, which led to the aircraft running out of control.[10]
On 5 November 2000 at 20:57 local time, Cameroon Airlines Flight 070 from Douala to Paris, which was operated by a Boeing 747-200 (registered TJ-CAB), veered off the runway upon landing at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, causing the front landing gear to be torn off and the aircraft being damaged beyond repair. All 187 passengers and 16 crew members could be evacuated. The cause for the accident was determined to be a differential thrust that had been caused by the failure of three of the four thrust reversers to deploy properly. Running against air accident regulations, the pilots had not stopped the cockpit voice recorder, so that the 30-minutes loop tape was overridden and vital information was lost for the investigators.[11][12]
On 4 February 2004 at approximately 20:00 local time, a Cameroon Airlines 737-200 (registered TJ-AIO) suffered a blown tire upon take-off at Cotonou Airport, which resulted in a small fire that could be put out following an emergency landing.[13]
cameroon, airlines, airline, from, cameroon, serving, flag, carrier, country, based, douala, operated, scheduled, services, within, africa, well, europe, middle, east, douala, international, airport, with, second, network, focus, yaoundé, nsimalen, internation. Cameroon Airlines was an airline from Cameroon serving as flag carrier of the country Based in Douala it operated scheduled services within Africa as well as to Europe and the Middle East out of its hub at Douala International Airport 1 with a second network focus on Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport The company was 96 43 percent state owned with the remaining shares having been held by Air France It ceased operations in March 2008 its role as Cameroon s flag carrier was taken over by Camair Co The company slogan was French Pour mieux vous servir To serve you better Cameroon AirlinesIATA ICAO CallsignQC UYC CAM AIRFounded1979Ceased operations2008HubsDouala International AirportFocus citiesYaounde Nsimalen International AirportHeadquartersDouala CameroonWebsitecameroon airlines net archived Contents 1 History 2 Route network 2 1 During the 1970s 2 2 During the 1990s 3 Fleet 4 Accidents and incidents 5 References 6 External linksHistory Edit A Cameroon Airlines Boeing 747 200 approaches Orly Airport in 1989 Cameroon Airlines was founded in 1971 it was operating as early as 1973 in an effort to create a national Cameroonian airline as until then domestic and international flight operations at the airports in the country were mostly executed by multi national Air Afrique Scheduled flights between Douala and Yaounde were launched on 1 November of that year with an initial fleet of two Boeing 737 200 aircraft Shortly thereafter international flights to Rome and Paris commenced using an ex Air France Boeing 707 which was replaced by a larger and more modern Boeing 747 200 in 1982 This aircraft remained in service with Cameroon Airlines until 2000 when it was severely damaged in Flight 070 see below Over the years Cameroon Airlines was plagued by financial difficulties which came along with a poor safety and maintenance record On 16 September 2005 the airline was indefinitely banned by the French Civil Aviation Authority from operating its Paris route 2 In an effort to save the airline from bankruptcy the Government of Cameroon signed an agreement with SN Airholding the parent company of Brussels Airlines to ensure the future funding The plans did not materialize though Instead on 11 September 2006 the launch of Camair Co as new national airline was announced 3 Cameroon Airlines stayed operational until March 2008 though flight operations had only taken place during irregular intervals over these last years Route network EditDuring the 1970s Edit At that time the Cameroon Airlines fleet consisted of two Boeing 737 200 and two Douglas DC 4 aircraft for short haul flights as well as one Boeing 707 300 for long haul flights to Europe Scheduled destinations included 4 5 BeninCotonou Cadjehoun AirportCameroonBafoussam Bafoussam Airport Bali Bali Airport Bangui Bangui M Poko International Airport Batouri Batouri Airport Bertoua Bertoua Airport Douala Douala International Airport hub Dschang Dschang Airport Garoua Garoua International Airport Koutaba Koutaba Airport Mamfe Mamfe Airport Maroua Maroua Airport Ngaoundere Ngaoundere Airport Tiko Tiko Airport Yagoua Yagoua Airport Yaounde Yaounde Nsimalen International Airport focus city ChadN Djamena N Djamena International AirportCongoBrazzaville Maya Maya Airport Equatorial GuineaMalabo Malabo International AirportFranceMarseille Marseille Marignane Airport Paris Paris Orly AirportGabonLibreville Libreville International AirportItalyRome Leonardo da Vinci Fiumicino AirportIvory CoastAbidjan Port Bouet AirportNigeriaLagos Lagos Ikeja AirportSenegalDakar Dakar Yoff International AirportSwitzerlandGeneva Geneva Cointrin Airport The entrance to the former Cameroon Airlines office in Paris as it appeared in 2010 During the 1990s Edit Cameroon Airlines had scaled down the domestic route network in a cost saving measure relying on the larger sub Saharan cities as well as some European destinations 6 BelgiumBrussels Brussels AirportBeninCotonou Cadjehoun AirportCameroonDouala Douala International Airport hub Garoua Garoua International Airport Yaounde Yaounde Nsimalen International AirportChadN Djamena N Djamena International AirportCongoBrazzaville Maya Maya AirportEquatorial GuineaMalabo Malabo International AirportFranceParis Charles de Gaulle Airport GabonLibreville Libreville International AirportKenyaNairobi Nairobi International AirportNigeriaLagos Murtala Muhammed International AirportSaudi ArabiaJeddah King Abdulaziz International AirportSouth AfricaJohannesburg Johannesburg International AirportUnited KingdomLondon Gatwick AirportZaireKinshasa N djili AirportZimbabweHarare Harare International Airport A Cameroon Airlines Boeing 737 300 at Charles de Gaulle Airport in 1998 A Boeing 767 200 of Cameroon Airlines at Charles de Gaulle Airport in 2001 Fleet Edit A Boeing 757 200 in 2002 again at Charles de Gaulle Airport the most important international destination of Cameroon Airlines A Boeing 747 300 the largest aircraft to have ever operated by the airline at Luxembourg Findel Airport in 2003 A Boeing 767 300 of Cameroon Airlines at Dubai International Airport in 2005 Over the years Cameroon Airlines operated the following aircraft types 7 This list is incomplete you can help by adding missing items June 2011 Aircraft Introduced RetiredBoeing 707 300 1971 1987Boeing 737 200 1971 2006Boeing 737 300 1996 2005Boeing 747 200 1981 2000Boeing 747 300 2001 2004Boeing 757 200 2002 2008Boeing 767 200 2001 2008Boeing 767 300 2000 2008Bombardier CRJ200 2001 2002Douglas DC 4 1961 1968Hawker Siddeley HS 748 1978 1989Twin Otter 1974 1981Embraer 145 2002 2002Accidents and incidents EditOn 31 October 1981 a Cameroon Airlines Twin Otter registered TJ CBC did not gain sufficient altitude upon take off at Bafoussam Airport because of a severe overload causing the aircraft to crash by which one passenger was killed There had been 22 passengers and two pilots on board 8 On 30 August 1984 Cameroon Airlines Flight 786 a Boeing 737 200 registered TJ CBD experienced an engine explosion when taxiing at Douala International Airport prior to departure for Yaounde A fire from the damaged fuel tank engulfed the aircraft Two passengers were trapped by the flames and died The remaining 107 passengers and seven crew members were able to evacuate the plane 9 On 28 June 1989 at 21 19 local time a Cameroon Airlines Hawker Siddeley HS 748 registered TJ CCF overshot the runway upon landing in stormy weather at Yaounde International Airport following a scheduled flight from Douala and collided with an embankment killing the two pilots and one of the 45 passengers on board On 3 December 1995 at 22 44 local time Cameroon Airlines Flight 3701 which was operated by a Boeing 737 200 registered TJ CBE crashed near Douala killing 71 out of the 76 people on board in what marked the worst accident in the history of the airline The aircraft had attempted to land at Douala International Airport following a flight from Cotonou when it experienced a problem with the landing gear During a go around following a second landing attempt the pilots chose a wrong thrust application for the engines which led to the aircraft running out of control 10 On 5 November 2000 at 20 57 local time Cameroon Airlines Flight 070 from Douala to Paris which was operated by a Boeing 747 200 registered TJ CAB veered off the runway upon landing at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport causing the front landing gear to be torn off and the aircraft being damaged beyond repair All 187 passengers and 16 crew members could be evacuated The cause for the accident was determined to be a differential thrust that had been caused by the failure of three of the four thrust reversers to deploy properly Running against air accident regulations the pilots had not stopped the cockpit voice recorder so that the 30 minutes loop tape was overridden and vital information was lost for the investigators 11 12 On 4 February 2004 at approximately 20 00 local time a Cameroon Airlines 737 200 registered TJ AIO suffered a blown tire upon take off at Cotonou Airport which resulted in a small fire that could be put out following an emergency landing 13 References Edit Flight International 3 April 2007 International Herald Tribune 17 September 2005 CAMAIRCO Begins Test Flights 26 May 2010 Retrieved 27 September 2010 Cameroon Airlines 1974 route map Cameroon Airlines 1976 route map Cameroon Airlines 1996 route map Cameroon Airlines Fleet Airfleets aviation airfleets net Retrieved 16 August 2017 Ranter Harro ASN Aircraft accident de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter 300 TJ CBC Bafoussam Airport BFX aviation safety net Retrieved 16 August 2017 Ranter Harro ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737 2H7C TJ CBD Douala Airport DLA aviation safety net Retrieved 16 August 2017 Ranter Harro ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737 2K9 TJ CBE Douala Airport DLA aviation safety net Retrieved 16 August 2017 Official BEA report on Flight 070 Archive Original French version Archive Ranter Harro ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 747 2H7B SCD TJ CAB Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport CDG aviation safety net Retrieved 16 August 2017 Ranter Harro ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737 229C TJ AIO Cotonou Airport COO aviation safety net Retrieved 16 August 2017 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cameroon Airlines Cameroon Airlines Archive Cameroon Airlines Archive in French Portals Cameroon Aviation Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cameroon Airlines amp oldid 1138237473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
