New vintage Airline in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands a club is allowed to offer, more recently, commercial flights in a Douglas DC-3. For the air travel of the country, the vintage was not insignificant.
Who wants to start an Airline, you must have these three letters: AOC. The Air Operator Certificate (English: air operator's certificate) is a Must-have for any airline is an absolute must. Because if an aviation authority not to issue the certificate, you may fly any passengers.
This important step has now made the Dutch DDA Classic Airlines, according to the newspaper Flevopost. Your future passengers not to take however, place aboard an Airbus A320 or a Boeing 737. The new and sixth airline of the Netherlands operates the only still airworthy Douglas DC-3 of the country – year 1944.
Hard times for classic car
DDA Classic Airlines was previously, since 1982, as a club, has written the receipt of the DC-3 on the Flag. For the elaborate maintenance of the Association was instructed to work alone on the voluntary work of members and donations. As with the operation permit now also the commercial Offer of sightseeing flights are allowed with the old-timers, can claim the Association with additional revenue.
The revenue could be urgently needed. The preservation of classic cars of this era is becoming increasingly difficult. Not only spare parts are in Short supply, also the age of the machine. After the crash of a historical Junkers Ju-52 of the Swiss Ju-Air, in which 20 people died, was discovered by investigators "serious structural damage". To the rest of the fleet is renewed, has to sit out the Reundfluganbieterin to 2021 the operation. In addition, you may fly only members of the Association.
Important aircraft for the Netherlands
Another project has to be abandoned in Switzerland also. Because for the Overhaul of the wings, not enough money could be raised, it will no longer be able to withdraw a Lockheed Super Constellation, probably. And in Germany, too, there'll soon be a historic plane less. After the German Lufthansa Foundation had ceased funding, will land the former Junkers Ju-52 Lufthansa is now in a Museum.
In the Netherlands, is pleased that the receipt of the PH-PBA seems to be backed up. Because the propeller plane has a turbulent history. During the Second world war, the Douglas DC-3 was still in the English Royal Air Force as a Transport aircraft in use, before it was in 1946, for the first government pilot of the Netherlands and the registration PH-got PBA. In 1961, they had to make way for a more modern Turboprop plane of type Fokker F27. In the 1970s, she made a career as a surveying plane, before you had to stay on the ground.
Prince took care of himself
From the sleeping beauty, the PH was kissed-PBA of a Prince. Willem-Alexander, now king, and earlier anonymous Fokker-Pilot at KLM, launched in 1994, the restoration of the DC-3 in the paths. Since 1998, the Propeller plane flies again, whose sponsorship of the state-owned airline, took over KLM. Accordingly, the PH-PBA first flew a KLM livery of the 1950's-years before the DDA Classic Airlines, painted your sweetheart Recently returned to the former colors of the government plane.
You can see in the above pictures in the gallery shots of the Douglas DC-3 of DDA Classic Airlines.