What Happed To The L1011 For An African Co.? — Civil Aviation Forum

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What Happed To The L1011 For An African Co.?

Falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5671 posts, RR: 29
Posted (4 years 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1865 times:

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I remember a couple of years ago that a former DL L1011 was being prepared for use by some start up African company. I think they were from Nigeria and the airline was something called "Trans Atlantic" (sounds like a 1980s TV show airline name). I remember reading that a lot of people thought it was some kind of scam. What ever happened to that plane? I would bet it is still sitting at VCV. What ever happened to that airline, did the they ever really exist?

My mug slaketh over on Falstaff N503

6 replies: All unread, jump to last

Antonovman From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 719 posts, RR: 0
Reply 1, posted (4 years 1 week 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1807 times:

There used to be one sitting in Tripoli, a sickly yellow coloured one.
Dont know if its still there or not

474218 From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 6340 posts, RR: 10
Reply 2, posted (4 years 1 week 20 hours ago) and read 1711 times:

Quoting Falstaff (Thread starter):
I remember a couple of years ago that a former DL L1011 was being prepared for use by some start up African company.

The airline was called Trans Atlantic Airlines. The deal fell through and the aircraft is still in VCV. The project was doomed from the start as an L-1011-1 does not have the range to operate the proposed route.

Falstaff From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 5671 posts, RR: 29
Reply 3, posted (4 years 1 week 14 hours ago) and read 1623 times:

Quoting 474218 (Reply 2):
The project was doomed from the start as an L-1011-1 does not have the range to operate the proposed route.

I remember reading that the route had several stops in it. The entire airline made no sense to me. Did the people at VCV get paid for the work they did on the L1011? Who paid?

My mug slaketh over on Falstaff N503

L1011dal From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 134 posts, RR: 0
Reply 4, posted (4 years 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 1516 times:

I knew someone close to this venture. The aircraft was going to be ferried however time expired on the aircraft engines and the aricraft was grounded. The aircraft was prepared and close to flying and even a temporary livery was added as seen at:

http://www.l1011.homestead.com/flytaair.html

There's also some older photos at

http://www.l1011.homestead.com/TransAtlantic-Airlines.html

The aircraft is still at VCV and to the best of my knowledge there's no plans for this aircraft at this time.

Alibo5NGN From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 772 posts, RR: 1
Reply 5, posted (4 years 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 1484 times:

The addition of Sierra Leone into the list of countries blacklisted by US FAA and Europe, together with the arrival of Arik Air, Virgin Nigeria and Bellview Airlines (to Sierra Leone) killed this scam. The promoter of this ill fated project had planned to connect JFK with Lagos via Freetown Sierra Leone. His goal was to set up Trans Atlantic Airlines as a Sierra Leone incorporated entity.

Even if he got approval, very few Nigerians and probably no foreigner would have flown on this aircraft. High running and maintenance costs added to extremely low fares to attract passengers would have doomed the airline. Nigerian passengers are notorious for petitioning their Government to force foreign airlines to use newer aircraft. Recently DL was forced to upgrade it's equipment into LOS and next month into Abuja from older B763s to newer B777s.

It takes knowledge to make a career. It takes wisdom to live a life.

Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16888 posts, RR: 51
Reply 6, posted (4 years 1 week 2 hours ago) and read 1482 times:

There's a few shots of it in the DB:

View Large View Medium
Click here for bigger photo!

Not surprised that this airline never got off of the ground. Why some of these start-up charter airlines are choosing a/c this old and maintenance intensive (The airlines that previously operated these stored bird rode them hard and put them up wet.) is definitely questionable. The costs of keeping them in service is why the number of operators is so small these days. TZ was replacing their L-1011s with DC-10s right before they went under. They might be able to get a TriStar on the cheap, but the cost a lot more to get flying.

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