Karair was an airline from Finland. Initially having offered scheduled passenger flights, the company became a subsidiary of Finnair, mainly operating on holiday charter routes.
Originally called Karhumäki Airways, the company was founded in 1947 as a subsidiary of Veljekset Karhumäki Oy, an aircraft manufacturing and maintenance company owned by Niilo and Valto Karhumäki. In June 1951 scheduled services began between Helsinki and Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Vaasa and Sundsvall.[1] Initially operating on domestic routes with a fleet of four Douglas DC-3 and two Convair CV-440 Metropolitan airliners, the first international flight (to Stockholm) took place in 1951, which was followed by holiday flights to Málaga.
In 1956 the airline was reorganised as Kar-Air OY and started operations in January 1957.[1] A Swedish subsidiary was established, which from 1961 onwards operated a single Douglas DC-6 on chartered flights to Southern Europe. In 1962, Aero O/Y acquired a 27 percent stake in Kar-Air,[2] which was increased to 51 percent over the following years, since Kar-Air had encountered financial difficulties when its two Metropolitans were damaged in hard landings and had to be taken out of service for a period in 1963. The new majority owner demanded Kar-Air to cease domestic flying, concentrating on charter flights (mainly to the Mediterranean) holiday resorts instead. For this purpose, Aero O/Y handed over two of its own DC-6 aircraft, which Kar-Air also used for multiple stopover round-the-world flights.
The DC-6s remained the backbone of the Kar-Air passenger fleet until 1972, when the jet age was joined with the introduction of the 189-seat Douglas DC-8. One DC-6 was re-configured with a swing tail unit for cargo transport purposes and stayed with the airline until 1980, mainly operating freight flights for Finnair to the UK and other European destinations, when cargo flights were taken over by Finnair (as Aero O/Y was named by then). In the same year, the airline underwent another rebranding, being known as Karair, also styled KarAir henceforth.[2] Over the following years, Karair reduced its fleet, because charter contracts with Finnair had been terminated.
In 1986, two Airbus A300 wide-body airliners joined the Karair fleet,[3] which again were leased from Finnair and deployed on holiday charter flights. Finnair's plans with Karair changed from 1989, when the first of six ATR 72 short-haul turboprop aircraft was added to the fleet, and the A300s in turn left the following year.[3] From then, scheduled domestic passenger flights on behalf of Finnair were operated.
In 1990, Finnair acquired further shares to hold a total of 90 percent of the Karair stake,[2] which was further increased to 97.6 percent in 1993. These period saw financial problems because of the recession of the early 1990s, which led to Finnair announcing a full take-over of Karair in December 1995.[2] Subsequently, the Karair fleet and the airline's operations were merged into Finnair, a move which was completed in September 1996. In 2002, a court[which?] deemed the take-over illegal, and Finnair was forced to salvage the remaining Karair stocks.
Between 1950 and 1963 (when Aero O/Y had not yet acquired the majority stake), Kar-Air operated scheduled flights to the following destinations, with further ones accessible on co-operative flights of SAS and Aero O/Y:[4]
The Finnish Aviation Museum near the Helsinki-Vantaa airport had on display two Kar-Air planes, a Lockheed L-18 Lodestar OH-VKU, the “Golden Hoe”, and one of the oldest DC-3s in the world, the OH-VKB. A former Kar-Air DC-3 (OH-VKA), is to be seen at the Munich airport in Germany, however with Swissair registration, although the plane never flew for that company. A former Kar-Air Convair Metropolitan is still flying in Haiti (HH-VAH).[6]
A sister plane of the OH-VKN has been painted in the original Kar-Air livery at the Málaga Airport, for the 50th anniversary of the airport, since OH-VKN was the first plane ever to have landed there. This “replica” is at the Málaga Airport and is owned by the Málaga Aviation Museum.[7]
Accidents
On 13 March 1957 a Douglas DC-3D (OH-VKC) was damaged slightly, when a Pan AmDouglas DC-6B hit the plane's rudder. However, the plane was in use until 1964.[8]
On 8 February 1960 flight KR-100 from Helsinki to Joensuu: a Douglas DC-53 Skytrooper (OH-VKA) stalled while take-off and was slightly damaged. The plane remained in use by the company until 1969.[9]
On 19 August 1963 a Convair CV-440-98 Metropolitan (OH-VKM) was damaged during landing in Helsinki. The landing took place during a thunderstorm, and the plane bounced three times, and finally its nose landing gear gave in. The plane's nose dove, both propellers touched the ground, and the plane dragged on along the runway ca. 1 300 metres.
The plane was repaired by the following January, and it was used by the company until 1973.[10]
Karair Convair Metropolitan OH-VKN after it was damaged in landing at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport.
On 21 August 1963 a second Convair CV-440-98 Metropolitan (OH-VKN) was also damaged during landing in Helsinki. The plane bounced three times on the runway, and in the last bounce the nose landing gear suffered a fracture and the left wing was bent. The plane's nose dove and the propellers touched the ground, and finally it plane was dragged to the lawn left of the runway.
One of the factors in both Convair Metropolitan accidents was the policy that the air traffic control employees had been forbidden to give a complete disclosure of the airport’s weather conditions to approaching aircraft. The information disclosed concerned only wind direction and speed, not e.g. possible thunderstorms. The pilot of OH-VKN lost sight of the runway at a critical moment due to torrential rain and a flash of lightning, due to which he could not see for a moment.
The insurance company decided to buy the plane, but in the end it was repaired and commissioned again in January 1967, after it was “crossed” with a similar plane that was bought from Yugoslavia. The plane was used by the company until 1978.[11][12]
On 7 November 1969 a Douglas DC-3A-214 (OH-VKB) was damaged due to stalling during take-off, when it was supposed to go on an inspection flight to check the ILS system. The left outer wing had to be repaired. The plane was used by the company until 1979.[13]
On 5 February 1973 a De Havilland of Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter was damaged during an emergency landing at Iinattijärvi near Pudasjärvi. Both pilots and one passenger were injured. The right engine had broken due to incorrect maintenance job in Norway.[14][15]
On 10 August 1974 a Piper PA-18A 150 Super Cub was damaged in Hirvivaara, Juuka due to engine failure during take-off. The plane was repaired and used by the company until 1978.[16]
In September 1974, an Aero Commander S-2R-T34 Thrush Commander was badly damaged during an emergency landing in Hirvivaara, Juuka. The connecting rod of the engine had been broken.[17]
On 14 November 1988, an Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante the company had rented off to Wasawings was destroyed in a crash in Ilmajoki. The plane had two pilots and 10 passengers. The pilots and two passengers were killed. Wasawings had been breaking aviation rules repeatedly, and in the end their licence was revoked.[18][19]
On 21 August 1996 an Estonian Air loader was killed, when the blade of a propeller of an ATR 72 (OH-KRC) hit his head.[20]
^"Suihkukone olisi vastaavassa tilanteessa syttynyt tuleen" [‘A jet aircraft would have caught fire in a similar situation’]. Helsingin Sanomat. 23 August 2013.
karair, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, november, 2011, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, airline,. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations November 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Karair was an airline from Finland Initially having offered scheduled passenger flights the company became a subsidiary of Finnair mainly operating on holiday charter routes KarairIATA ICAO CallsignKR KARFounded1947Ceased operations1996 merged into Finnair HubsHelsinki AirportParent companyFinnair since 1963 HeadquartersHelsinki FinlandKey peopleNiilo and Valto Karhumaki founders Contents 1 History 2 Destinations 3 Fleet 3 1 Fleet of Karhumaki Brothers 3 2 Kar Air Fleet 3 3 Former Kar Air planes today 4 Accidents 5 Legacy 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksHistory Edit Niilo and Valto Karhumaki the later founders of the airline in 1927 Originally called Karhumaki Airways the company was founded in 1947 as a subsidiary of Veljekset Karhumaki Oy an aircraft manufacturing and maintenance company owned by Niilo and Valto Karhumaki In June 1951 scheduled services began between Helsinki and Joensuu Jyvaskyla Vaasa and Sundsvall 1 Initially operating on domestic routes with a fleet of four Douglas DC 3 and two Convair CV 440 Metropolitan airliners the first international flight to Stockholm took place in 1951 which was followed by holiday flights to Malaga In 1956 the airline was reorganised as Kar Air OY and started operations in January 1957 1 A Swedish subsidiary was established which from 1961 onwards operated a single Douglas DC 6 on chartered flights to Southern Europe In 1962 Aero O Y acquired a 27 percent stake in Kar Air 2 which was increased to 51 percent over the following years since Kar Air had encountered financial difficulties when its two Metropolitans were damaged in hard landings and had to be taken out of service for a period in 1963 The new majority owner demanded Kar Air to cease domestic flying concentrating on charter flights mainly to the Mediterranean holiday resorts instead For this purpose Aero O Y handed over two of its own DC 6 aircraft which Kar Air also used for multiple stopover round the world flights Douglas DC 6B of Kar Air with open swing tail Dusseldorf Airport in 1976 The DC 6s remained the backbone of the Kar Air passenger fleet until 1972 when the jet age was joined with the introduction of the 189 seat Douglas DC 8 One DC 6 was re configured with a swing tail unit for cargo transport purposes and stayed with the airline until 1980 mainly operating freight flights for Finnair to the UK and other European destinations when cargo flights were taken over by Finnair as Aero O Y was named by then In the same year the airline underwent another rebranding being known as Karair also styled KarAir henceforth 2 Over the following years Karair reduced its fleet because charter contracts with Finnair had been terminated In 1986 two Airbus A300 wide body airliners joined the Karair fleet 3 which again were leased from Finnair and deployed on holiday charter flights Finnair s plans with Karair changed from 1989 when the first of six ATR 72 short haul turboprop aircraft was added to the fleet and the A300s in turn left the following year 3 From then scheduled domestic passenger flights on behalf of Finnair were operated In 1990 Finnair acquired further shares to hold a total of 90 percent of the Karair stake 2 which was further increased to 97 6 percent in 1993 These period saw financial problems because of the recession of the early 1990s which led to Finnair announcing a full take over of Karair in December 1995 2 Subsequently the Karair fleet and the airline s operations were merged into Finnair a move which was completed in September 1996 In 2002 a court which deemed the take over illegal and Finnair was forced to salvage the remaining Karair stocks Destinations Edit A Kar Air Douglas DC 3 arriving at Stockholm Bromma Airport 1968 Between 1950 and 1963 when Aero O Y had not yet acquired the majority stake Kar Air operated scheduled flights to the following destinations with further ones accessible on co operative flights of SAS and Aero O Y 4 FinlandHelsinki Helsinki Airport hub Joensuu Joensuu Airport Kauhava Kauhava Airport Kokkola Kokkola Pietarsaari Airport Lappeenranta Lappeenranta Airport Tampere Tampere Pirkkala Airport Vaasa Vaasa AirportLuxemburgLuxembourg Findel AirportSpainBarcelona Barcelona El Prat Airport Malaga Malaga Airport Tenerife Los Rodeos AirportSwedenGothenburg Gothenburg City Airport Stockholm Stockholm Bromma Airport focus city Sundsvall Sundsvall Harnosand AirportKar Air was not only operating passenger and cargo services but until also ore finding flights using a Lockheed Lodestar until 1972 a Douglas DC 3 1972 1980 and after that a de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter Fleet Edit Kar Air Lockheed Lodestar at Helsinki Airport in 1980 Karair Convair CV 440 prior delivery California in 1957 Karair Douglas DC 8 at Birmingham Airport in 1979 Karair Airbus A300 at Faro Airport in 1991 Karair ATR 72 at Helsinki Airport in 1990 Fleet of Karhumaki Brothers Edit Listing of the fleet of Karhumaki Brothers Oy during 1949 2002 according to Tervonen 5 Fleet of Karhumaki BrothersAircraft type Registration Built Commissioned Decommissioned Further information Removed fromFinnish registerKarhu 48 38b Tavi OH VKL OH KUA 1949 1959 1961 sold Currently in the Finnish Aviation Museum 1973VL Viima II IIB OH VKS OH VIA 1951 1951 1959 Sold 1964Lockheed L 18 56 Lodestar OH VKU 1940 1953 1972 In the Finnish Aviation Museum 1972Douglas C 53 Skytrooper OH VKA 1941 1954 1957 Transferred to Kar Air 1969Douglas DC 3A 214 OH VKB 1945 46 1954 1957 Transferred to Kar Air 1971Douglas DC 3D OH VKC 1945 46 1954 1957 Transferred to Kar Air 1971Piper PA 18A 150 Super Cub OH VKV 1960 1960 1975 Used as towing aircraftLockheed L 18 56 Lodestar 1940 1961 1961 Used for spare partsAero Commander S 2R T34 Thrush Commander OH VKY 1973 1973 1974 Sold to Sweden 1978Cessna A188B Agtruck OH VKZ 1974 1974 1976 Destroyed 1977Cessna A188B Agtruck OH VKT OH CIX 1975 1975 1976 Sold to Finnaviation 1985Cessna T188C AgHusky OH VKW 1980 1981 1987 SoldPiper PA 25 235 Pawnee B OH PDW 1965 1984 1988 Owned by the Finnish Sports Aviation SchoolPiper PA 25 235 Pawnee B OH PDZ 1966 1984 2002 2004 Cessna A188B Agtruck OH CIY 1982 1989 1999 2001Kar Air Fleet Edit Listing of the Kar Air fleet during 1957 96 according to Tervonen 2004 2007 5 Kar Air fleetAircraft type Registration Built Commissioned Decommissioned Further information Removed fromFinnish registerDouglas C 53 Skytrooper OH VKA 1941 1957 1969 Sold to Norway 1969Douglas DC 3A 214 OH VKB 1945 46 1957 1979 In Finnish Aviation Museum 1971Douglas DC 3D OH VKC 1945 46 1957 1964 Sold to Sweden 1971Convair CV 440 98 Metropolitan OH VKM 1957 1957 1973 Destroyed in 1995 1973Convair CV 440 98 Metropolitan OH VKN OH LRH 1958 1958 1978 Sold to Norway 1977Douglas C 47 DL OH VKD 1942 1960 1964 Sold to Norway 1969Douglas DC 6B OH KDC SE BDX 1953 1961 1971 Sold to Belgium 1972Douglas DC 6B OH KDB 1958 1965 1972 Sold to Belgium 1972Douglas DC 6B D6BST OH KDA 1957 1964 1981 Destroyed in Alaska 1982De Havilland of Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter OH KOA 1968 1972 1973 Scrapped 1973Douglas DC 8 51 OH KDM 1961 1972 1985 Sold to Belgium 1985De Havilland of Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter Mk 300 OH KOG 1979 1979 1996 Transferred to FinnairDouglas DC 8 62 OH LFZ 1968 1984 1987 Sold to United States 1987Airbus A300B4 OH LAA 1984 1986 1994 Transferred to Finnair 1998Airbus A300B4 OH LAB 1984 1987 1994 Transferred to Finnair 1998Aerospatiale ATR 72 OH KRA 1989 1990 1996 Transferred to Finnair 2005Aerospatiale ATR 72 OH KRB 1989 1990 1996 Transferred to Finnair 2005Aerospatiale ATR 72 OH KRC 1989 1990 1996 Transferred to Finnair 2005Aerospatiale ATR 72 OH LTR OH KRD 1990 1990 1996 Transferred to Finnair later toAero Airlines 2005Aerospatiale ATR 72 OH KRE 1990 1990 1996 Transferred to Finnair later toAero Airlines 2005Aerospatiale ATR 72 OH LTE 1987 1990 1990 Sold to France 1990Aerospatiale ATR 72 OH KRF 1992 1992 1996 Transferred to Finnair later toAero Airlines 2005Former Kar Air planes today Edit The Finnish Aviation Museum near the Helsinki Vantaa airport had on display two Kar Air planes a Lockheed L 18 Lodestar OH VKU the Golden Hoe and one of the oldest DC 3s in the world the OH VKB A former Kar Air DC 3 OH VKA is to be seen at the Munich airport in Germany however with Swissair registration although the plane never flew for that company A former Kar Air Convair Metropolitan is still flying in Haiti HH VAH 6 A sister plane of the OH VKN has been painted in the original Kar Air livery at the Malaga Airport for the 50th anniversary of the airport since OH VKN was the first plane ever to have landed there This replica is at the Malaga Airport and is owned by the Malaga Aviation Museum 7 Accidents EditOn 13 March 1957 a Douglas DC 3D OH VKC was damaged slightly when a Pan Am Douglas DC 6B hit the plane s rudder However the plane was in use until 1964 8 On 8 February 1960 flight KR 100 from Helsinki to Joensuu a Douglas DC 53 Skytrooper OH VKA stalled while take off and was slightly damaged The plane remained in use by the company until 1969 9 On 19 August 1963 a Convair CV 440 98 Metropolitan OH VKM was damaged during landing in Helsinki The landing took place during a thunderstorm and the plane bounced three times and finally its nose landing gear gave in The plane s nose dove both propellers touched the ground and the plane dragged on along the runway ca 1 300 metres The plane was repaired by the following January and it was used by the company until 1973 10 dd Karair Convair Metropolitan OH VKN after it was damaged in landing at the Helsinki Vantaa airport On 21 August 1963 a second Convair CV 440 98 Metropolitan OH VKN was also damaged during landing in Helsinki The plane bounced three times on the runway and in the last bounce the nose landing gear suffered a fracture and the left wing was bent The plane s nose dove and the propellers touched the ground and finally it plane was dragged to the lawn left of the runway One of the factors in both Convair Metropolitan accidents was the policy that the air traffic control employees had been forbidden to give a complete disclosure of the airport s weather conditions to approaching aircraft The information disclosed concerned only wind direction and speed not e g possible thunderstorms The pilot of OH VKN lost sight of the runway at a critical moment due to torrential rain and a flash of lightning due to which he could not see for a moment The insurance company decided to buy the plane but in the end it was repaired and commissioned again in January 1967 after it was crossed with a similar plane that was bought from Yugoslavia The plane was used by the company until 1978 11 12 dd On 7 November 1969 a Douglas DC 3A 214 OH VKB was damaged due to stalling during take off when it was supposed to go on an inspection flight to check the ILS system The left outer wing had to be repaired The plane was used by the company until 1979 13 On 5 February 1973 a De Havilland of Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter was damaged during an emergency landing at Iinattijarvi near Pudasjarvi Both pilots and one passenger were injured The right engine had broken due to incorrect maintenance job in Norway 14 15 On 10 August 1974 a Piper PA 18A 150 Super Cub was damaged in Hirvivaara Juuka due to engine failure during take off The plane was repaired and used by the company until 1978 16 In September 1974 an Aero Commander S 2R T34 Thrush Commander was badly damaged during an emergency landing in Hirvivaara Juuka The connecting rod of the engine had been broken 17 On 14 November 1988 an Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante the company had rented off to Wasawings was destroyed in a crash in Ilmajoki The plane had two pilots and 10 passengers The pilots and two passengers were killed Wasawings had been breaking aviation rules repeatedly and in the end their licence was revoked 18 19 On 21 August 1996 an Estonian Air loader was killed when the blade of a propeller of an ATR 72 OH KRC hit his head 20 Legacy EditTwo aircraft formerly owned by Karair a Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar and one of the oldest surviving Douglas DC 3s is currently on display at the Finnish Aviation Museum in Vantaa Another former Karair DC 3 is exhibited at Munich Airport though painted in the colors of Swissair References Edit a b Endres Gunter G 1982 World Airline Fleets 1983 Feltham The Aviation Data Centre p 383 ISBN 0946141029 a b c d Information about Karair at the Aero Transport Data Bank a b Karair Airbus and ATR fleet list at airfleets net Selection of Kar Air timetables at timetableimages com a b Tervonen 2004 p 210 226 Tervonen 2007 p 194 202 Kar Airin entinen Convair Haitissa A former Kar Air Convair in Haiti 6 September 2019 Legendaarinen Kar Air palasi Malagaan The legendary Kar Air returned to Malaga 26 May 2014 Tervonen 2004 s 213 Tervonen 2004 s 212 Tervonen 2004 s 94 95 215 Tervonen 2004 s 94 96 216 Suihkukone olisi vastaavassa tilanteessa syttynyt tuleen A jet aircraft would have caught fire in a similar situation Helsingin Sanomat 23 August 2013 Tervonen 2004 p 214 Tervonen 2004 s 222 1973 accident at the Aviation Safety Network Tervonen 2004 s 218 Tervonen 2004 s 224 Tervonen 2007 s 82 204 Kar Air Finland Aviation Safety Network Retrieved 2019 01 24 Tervonen 2007 s 200 Sources EditIsmo Tervonen Veljekset Karhumaki Suomen ilmailun pioneereina 1924 1956 Apali 2002 ISBN 952 5026 25 6 Ismo Tervonen Kar Air tilauslentoliikenteen edellakavijana 1957 1980 Apali 2004 ISBN 952 5026 40 X Ismo Tervonen Karair matkustajalentoliikenteen perinteiden vaalijana 1980 1996 Apali 2007 ISBN 978 952 5026 64 1External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Karair The Karhumaki brothers Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Karair amp oldid 1060722317, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
