Scibe Airlift
| |||||||
| Founded | 1976 (as SBZ Cargo) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | 1998 | ||||||
| Hubs | N'djili Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | max. 15 aircraft (in 1987) | ||||||
| Destinations | Hub : Kinshasa. Flying to many domestic cities (Goma, Mbuji Mayi, Tshikapa, etc) + Brussels once a week. | ||||||
| Headquarters | Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | ||||||
| Key people | Jeannot Bemba Saolona, President Jose Numes, Chief Pilot[1][2] | ||||||
Scibe Airlift is an airline based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire). It operates from N'Djili Airport, Kinshasa.[3]
The airline was on the List of air carriers banned in the European Union, as were all airlines regulated by the authorities in the DRC.
The airline started activities in November 1976 as SBZ Cargo with a single Vickers Viscount. Due to problems concerning the national airline, Air Zaire, Scibe Airlift became the first passenger airline in the country. After covering the whole country, it bought a Boeing 707 to fly the European route. In the early 1990s Scibe Airlift was at its peak, flying to many destinations and even leasing its aircraft to European airlines. In 1992 it was flying DC-10-30 on its Kinshasa (FIH) - Brussels (BRU) route.
The political instability of the country and the poor financial management of the company brought it to an end. Scibe Airlift ceased its operations on 29 September 1998 when the last aircraft was stored at London Southend Airport.[4]
Accidents and incidents
- On 13 December 1992 a Fokker F-27-400M operated by Scibe Airlift Cargo crashed with 37 fatalities about 10 km (6.3 mls) from Goma
- On 18 January 1994 a Learjet 24D operated by Scibe Airlift Cargo ran out of fuel and crashed on approach on a repositioning flight from Cotonou Airport (COO/DBBB), Benin to Kinshasa-N'djili Airport (FIH/FZAA) killing two crew.[5]
- The 1996 Air Africa crash killed an estimated 297, mostly on the ground. It was a lease from Scibe.[2][6]
Aircraft
- Beechcraft Super King Air 200
- Boeing 707-320 und 707-320C
- Boeing 727-100 und 727-100C
- Canadair CL-601-3A
- de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300
- Fokker 27-400M und Fokker 27-500
- Learjet 24D
- Lockheed L-100-30
- McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10 und DC-10-30
- Pilatus PC-6/B Turbo Porter
- Vickers Viscount 757 und 880C
Further reading
- J Rupert, "Zaïre reportedly selling arms to Angolan ex-rebels", The Washington Post, 21 March 1997.
- "Chaos am Himmel ueber Afrika", Die Zeit, May 1996. Template:De icon
- Ben R. Guttery (1998). Encyclopedia of African airlines (illustrated ed.). p. 43. ISBN 978-0-7864-0495-7.
References
- ^ World Airline Directory Flight International 23–29 March 1994, page 116
- ^ a b The logistics of sanctions busting: the airborne component, Johan Peleman, page 303
- ^ "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-03-27. pp. 58–59.
- ^ Boeing 707-329C (20200/828) [1]
- ^ Flight International, 18–24 January 1994, page 38
- ^ "Le Crash d’un Avian cargo sur un marche au Zaïre fait pres de 250 morts", Le Monde, 10 January 1996.
External links
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