Air Transport International's N71CX

Our September edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to November 2004, with Air Transport International's DC-8-62H-CF, N71CX (c/n 45961, l/n 361), seen above on Taxiway RT. The ATI DC-8-62H-CFs were the backbone of their military charter service to AWK [Wake Island Airfield, WQ] and SUU [Travis AFB, Fairfield , CA] up until 2013, when 757-200Cs took over.

45961 was originally delivered to Alitalia Cargo System in June 1968 as I-DIWQ "Ciclope", it was also painted in the 1970s livery, and flew with them until June 1981. Sea & Sun Aviation purchased this DC-8 for Flying Tiger Line as N3931A. In 1986, it also flew for Air Cargo Spain. In June 1987, IAC Leasing Corporation purchased N3931A, and leased it to Hawaiian Airlines. Three months later, it was sold to First Security Bank of Utah, lease transferred, until February 1993. Hawaiian had the interior configured for 204 passengers. Later that October, it was sold to Trans American Express, and leased to Advance Air Charters as C-FHAA "The Spirit of Calgary". In November 1995, this DC-8 was acquired by Kalitta American International Airways, and re-registered as N818CK three months later. In February 1999, it was transferred to their Kitty Hawk International subsidiary for 15 months. ATI purchased this DC-8 in March 2003, registered as N71CX, and configured the interior to a combi (with 32 seats in the aft section).  In December 2009, it was sold to Cargo Aircraft Management (ATI's parent company), and leased back. It flew with ATI until January 2013. Sadly, N71CX was scrapped at MHV in April 2014.

Air Transport International's N799AL

Our February edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to April 2005, with Air Transport International's DC-8-62, N799AL (c/n 45922, l/n 335), departing HNL's Runway 8R.

N799AL was retired by ATI in May 2013. It is now one of the main attractions at the Naval Air Museum at Barbers Point, as ATI donated the DC-8-62CF to the museum.

ATI's N820BX

Our December edition of "HNL RareBirds Classic" goes back to March 2005, with Air Transport International's DC-8-71, N820BX (c/n 46065, l/n 460), seen above on Taxiway RT.

46065 was originally delivered to United Airlines as a DC-8-61, in June 1969 as N8098U. In November 1983, the JT3D-3B power plants were replaced with CFM56-2C1s, and upgraded to a DC-8-71. It remained with United until the early 90s. In January 1993, ATI acquired this airframe, and converted it into a freighter, as N820BX. ATI operated it for Burlington Air Express (BAX) and BAX Global. This DC-8 is currently owned by ATI's parent company Cargo Air Management (CAM), and continues to fly for ATI.

ATI's N754CX

Starting today, Air Transport International (ATI) has switched their SUU-HIK-KWA flight from the venerable DC-8-62CFs to the 757-200Cs. The last DC-8-62CF flight was operated on October 24th. N754CX (c/n 26154, l/n 486) made the first 757-2Y0C flight as ATN430. It's seen above taxiing to HIK, on Taxiway A.

N799AL Hand Over Ceremony

Air Transport International participated in a hand-over ceremony, in which their former N799AL, was formally handed over to the Naval Air Museum at Barbers Point. The Kalaeloa Airport-based museum hosted the event which was attended by Hawai‘i Governor Neil Abercrombie, Pat Rodgers (relative of John Rodgers, whom the airport's field is named after), ATI's Lance Houser, and a few dozen invited guests.

Photos and more information to follow ...

N799AL's New Home

N799AL's new home is now at the Naval Air Museum Barbers Point on the west end of JRF. Presently, it's parked near the row of former US Navy jets. It will be a "living display", as the the DC-8-62CF is still airworthy, and the museum will work to keep it so.

The Hawaii DC-8 Display has their own Facebook page.

HNL RareBirds extends a big mahalo to the Naval Air Museum Barbers Point for the opportunity to photograph N799AL.

more photos to follow ...

ATI's N799AL

Air Transport International (ATI) [8C/ATN] is donating one of their DC-8s to the Naval Air Museum Barbers Point. N799AL (c/n 45922, l/n 335), a DC-8-62CF, made its final flight from HIK to JRF as ATN799. It's seen above after arriving at JRF.

A screenshot of the FlightAware routing of ATN799.

45922 was originally delivered to SAS Scandinavian Airlines in February 1968 as OY-KTE "Skjold Viking". During its time with SAS, it leased to a number of airlines (with the same registry): Scanair "Turid Viking" [DK/VKG] (October 1979 - January 1983); Arista International Airlines (AIA) "Maro" [RY/---] (January 1983 - November 1983); Northeastern International Airways [--/---] (December 1983 - September 1984); and Thai Airways International [TG/THA] (October 1984), and was re-registered as HS-TGQ. The Royal Thai Air Force was the next owner as it was registered as 60-112, in September 1985. International Air Leases (IAL) acquired 45922 in 1989 registered it as N799AL, and leased it to Arrow Air [JW/APW] in September, then to Hawaiian Air in December. In September 1991, Air Marshall Islands [CW/MRS] was the next lessee, with crews from Hawaiian (September 1991 - August 1992) and Arrow until October 1996. Zantop International Airlines [--/ZAN] was the next lessee from October 1996 - August 1997. ATI was the next and last lessee from July 1998, until today's final flight. Cargo Air Management was the last owner of N799AL.

Mahalo to blog fan Hiroshi for the photos!

Air Transport International's N364CM

Air Transport International (ATI) [BC/ATN] has acquired a 767-338ER, N364CM (c/n 24531, l/n 278), from Qantas Airways. It was registered as VH-OGE "City of Orange", when the Australian flag carrier purchased the 767, and was delivered in September 1989. It arrived from SYD last night, as ATN364, and is now en route to ILN (Wilmington Air Park Airport, Wilmington, OH).

ATI To Provide 767-200 For Mokulele

Air Transport International (ATI) [BC/ATN] will provide the chartered 767-200ER for the new Mokulele Airlines venture to RFD and STN (London-Stansted, UK) that will launch in April. The airline received government approval for the flights.

ATI is known more for government and private charter work. It's one of the few airlines remaining that operate the DC-8-60 and -70. One of ATI's DC-8-60s operates a military charter out of HIK.

More information in this NYCAviation.com article.

ATI DC-8-71F

This ATI DC-8F, N830BX, arrived early on March 2nd, before the DHL DC-8F. It taxied over from Hickam to the North Ramp soon after the DHL DC-8F taxied over to Hickam. ATI DC-8Fs are quite regular visitors to Hickam, but we don't always see them.