Air Transport International


Air Transport International, Inc. is an airline based in Wilmington, Ohio, United States. It operates worldwide cargo charters and combi charters for the express package industry and freight forwarders, as well as for the United States Department of Defense. It also wet-leases aircraft. Its main base is Wilmington. It is part of the Air Transport Services Group.
In March 2016, Amazon.com announced that it would be using ATI to provide transport services for the Amazon Prime network. The deal under ATI's parent company will result in an increase in aircraft, frequencies, and jobs for the airline.

History

The airline was established in 1978 and started operations in 1979. It was formed as US Airways and later known as Interstate Airlines. The current name was adopted in 1988. On October 1, 1994 International Cargo Express was merged into Air Transport International, which was itself acquired by the Brink's Company in February 1998. ATI was sold in 2006 to Cargo Holdings International. It has 495 employees.
Cargo Aircraft Management was the lead customer for the Boeing 767 freighter conversion program. In the 12 months after ATI's sale by Brinks to CHI, worldwide airline profits fell significantly; however, ATI continued to negate this trend. Delivery of fully modernized and fuel efficient Boeing 767 was on track for June 2008.
On November 2, 2007, Cargo Holdings International, the parent company of ATI entered into an agreement to be acquired by Wilmington, OH-based ABX Holdings, Inc. The company along with sister company Capital Cargo International Airlines were run as separate companies under the Air Transport Services Group umbrella.
In March 2013 Capital Cargo merged with Air Transport.
ATI currently operates cargo flights for DHL Aviation and military charters for AMC. ATI is the primary carrier serving Amazon Air.

Fleet

The Air Transport International fleet includes the following aircraft :
AircraftIn serviceNotes
Boeing 757-200F4operated for DHL Aviation
Boeing 757-200C4used for passenger charters
Boeing 767-200SF7operated for Amazon Air
20operated for Amazon Air
Total35

Accidents and incidents


FlightDateAircraftRoutingLocationDescriptionInjuriesProbable cause
?
March 12, 1991DC-8-62FNew York, NY to Brussels, BelgiumNew York, NYCaptain aborted takeoff and skidded to the right; the aircraft struck ILS equipment, the nose landing gear collapsed and all 4 engines were ripped off; plane was destroyed by fire5 minorImproper preflight planning/preparation, flight engineer misjudged aircraft weight and balance, improper airspeed by flight engineer and improper supervision by pilot
805 opf. Burlington Air Express
February 15, 1992DC-8-63FSeattle, WA to Toledo, OHSwanton, OHAfter the First Officer made two unsuccessful ILS approach attempts, the Captain took control, became spatially disoriented and accidentally caused the plane to enter a bank and attitude from which the plane would not recover4 fatalAircraft control not maintained by the pilot
782
February 16, 1995DC-8-63FKansas City-Westover Air Reserve Base/Metropolitan AirportKansas City International AirportWhile departing for a ferry flight with the #1 engine inoperative the plane started to veer to the left; the plane continued its takeoff roll with the tail striking the ground; the plane was able to lift off but subsequently crashed, left wing first3 fatalDecision to continue takeoff below rotation airspeed, lack of understanding of a three-engine takeoff procedure and failure of the company to ensure that flight crew received proper training

Negligent in freight of macaques from China

In an inspection report, the United States Department of Agriculture stated that Air Transport International had shipped 1,148 crab-eating macaques to Houston from the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou and failed to provide the animals with food and water for over 24 hours, in violation of the Animal Welfare Act. This was the second time Air Transport International had "run afoul of the law" for transporting animals from China for laboratory research.