With just a few days after the arrival of the leased plane from Dubai, Air Tanzania now plans to bring another plane in the next three to six weeks.
According statements from the CEO, ATCL need to win back the lost glory as a national carrier that is committed to safety and top service as
its services were severely affected when its only aircraft in service a DASH-8 was ivolved in an accident at Kigoma Airport recently during take off.
To be able to achieve this, ATCL will acquring another Boeing plane and negotiation have already begun.
* * *
Boeing 737-2R8C(Adv), 5H-ATC c/n 21710 "Kilimanjaro" delivered in December 1978 wearing the attractive colours of Air Tanzania which were based on the national flag. Here seen at Kilimanjaro International Airport, November 6, 1982.
Photo: Tony Edlind collection
History
Air Tanzania Corporation (ATC)
the Tanzanian flag-carrier, was established on 11 March, 1977, to operate the services suspended
following the collapse of East African Airways (EAA), which was owned jointly by Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.
In the initial moment, the airline leased one Douglas DC-9-32 5Y-ALR from Kenya Airways and one Boeing 707-331 YN-BWL (exN762TW) from Areo Nica. Regular and domesic flights followed by useing Boeings 737-200s and Fokkker F27s and adding de Havilland Twin Otters to its fleet for domestic services from Kilimanjaro.
The fleet was gradually upgraded by two Boeing 737-200s, four Fokker F27s and four DHC 6 Twin Otter. Due to decreased traffic, two of the F27s (reg. unknown)were removed from services in 1981, but were returned two years later only to be removed again in 1984. The airline leased a single Boeing 767-200 1991/1992 from Ethiopian Airlines but this aircraft was to large and the airline had to dispose it. The carrier also leased a McDonnell Douglas MD-83, G-BNSA during 1989.
The airline has also had in its fleet two Boeing 737-33As, XA-SWO (leased from TAESA on a short term contract 1998), 5H-TAC 1999-2003 and a single Dornier 208-201 ZS-OVM leased from South African Airways.
Initial Flights
During 1980/81 the airline operated international/regional flights from Dar es Salaam to Athens (707), Antanarivo (737), Bombay (707) Bujumbura (737, Cairo (707), Frankfurt (707), Kigali (737), London-Gatwick (707), Mahe(737), Maputo (737), Mauritius (737), Moroni (FKF), Muscat (737) and Rome (707).
(From summer schedules 1981 flights to Egypt-Europe, U.A.E.-Pakistan-India operated by the Boeing 707 were cancelled due to that the aircraft was involved in an accident at Dar es Salaam. Details of this accident are unknown).
Domestic flights from Dar es Salam to Bukoba (DHT), Dodoma (DHT/FKF), Iringa (DHT), Kigoma (737), Kilimanjaro (707/737/DHT/FKF), Kilwa (DHT/FKF), Lindi (FKF), Mafia (DHT), Masasi (DHT), Mbeya (DHT), Mtwara (737/DHT/FKF), Musoma (FKF), Mwanza (737/FKF), Nachingwea (FKF), Njombe (DHT), Pemba (DHT/FKF), Songea (FKF), Tabora (FKF), Zanzibar (DHT/FKF).
Initial Fleet 1977 - 1980
YN-BWL/N762TW Boeing 707-331 c/n 17675, scrapped DAR
OO-SBU Boeing 707-373 c/n 19442
N62215 Boeing 720-022 c/n 18080, scrapped JRO
SX-DBM Boeing 720-051 c/n 18687
N735US/SX-DBN/YN-BYI Boeing 720-051 c/n 18688
5Y-ALR Douglas DC9-32 c/n 47468
5H-ATC Boeing 737-2R8C Adv c/n 21710/546
5H-MRK Boeing 737-2R8C Adv c/n 21711/573
1982
26 February 1982. 5H-ATC Boeing 737-2R8C. Five (5) haijackers demanded on a flight from Mwanza to Dar es Salaam to be taken to th UK. The aircraft was refuled at Jeddah and in Athens (two passengers were released) Final destination was UK, Stansted. Fatalities: 0/ Occupants 89.
In December Air Tanzania lunched their inagurationflight, a new service to Muscat, Oman by useing their Boeing 737 5H-ATC
Fleet 1982
5H-ATC Boeing 737-2R8C Adv c/n 21710/546
5H-MRK Boeing 737-2R8C Adv c/n 21711/573
1984
20 Deember 1984. 5H-MRD Twin Otter. The aircraft went into a spin and crashed on the approch to Kerge. The pilot had lost control possibly due to attention diverted t no engine fire.
Fatalities: 3/ Occupants 3. The aircraft was written off.
1988
13 February 1988. Boeing 737-2R8C. Two (2) hijackers demanded on a flight from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi to be taken to the UK, Stanstead. The plane was stormed and the haijacers were arrested. Duration of the haijack was two days.
Fatalities: 0/ Occupants 2.
1990
3 May 1990. 5H-MRB Twin Otter involved in a minor accident at Dodoma.
Fatalities: 0/Occupants 3.
1993
12 December 1993. 5H-MPT Fokker F27. The undercarriage collappsed on touchdown following a flapless approach to land on Dar es Sallam International Airport. The aircraft sustained major structrual damage to the fuselage and was witdrawn from use and used for spares.
Fatalities: 0/Occupants 2. The aircraft was written off.
1994
In May 1994, Shannon Aerospace of Ireland was hired to maintain the two Boeing-200s including work of the aircraft interior and repainting. The fleet include one Boeing 767-200ER (leased from Ethiopian Airlines), two Boeing 737-200Cs, three de Havilland DHC-6 Twinn Otter 300s and three Fokker F27-600s. The airline's intention was to replace the older 737 with newer models and replace the F-27s with two Fokker 50s.
International destinations included: Bujumbura, Djibouti, Entebbe, Gaborone, Harare, Johannesburg, Kigali, Lilongwe, London, Lusaka and Muscat. Operations to Johannesburg were operated by Air Malawi for the airline.
Air Tanzania participates in discussion to be a 10 percent shareholder in the Alliance Partnership, Alliance Air later known as SA Alliance, an airline based at Entebbe International Airport in Entebbe/Kampala, Uganda. It was set up in 1994 as an entity jointly owned airline by Air Tanzania, South African Airways and Uganda Airlines in order to compete with major international airlines. The carrier operated a singel Boeing 747SP leased from South African Airlines between East Africa and Europe.
Boeing 747SP-44, ZS-SPA cn 211321/280 at Entebbe Int. Airport, Uganda
on April 1997.
Photo: Richard Vandervord.
1998
Air Tanzania was privatized late 1998 and the plans
to be fully merged into Alliance Air failded. Alliance Air operations ended in 1999 due to heavy depts. Alliance Air served Dar es Salaam, Kiliminjaro and London-Heathrow from Entebbe.
Due to this, the plans were cancelled and the airline remained state-owned. The airline was originally wholly owned by the Tanzanian government via Air Tanzania Corporation (ATC).
Boeing 707-320, N762TW c/n 17675 "Ngorongoro Crater" 1980 at Zurich International Airport. This is flight TC 610 DAR - ZRH - LGW. The a/c was written of after an accident at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 1981 and was broken up, 1994.
Photo: Tony Edlind collection
Boeing 737-2R8C(Adv), 5H-MRK c/n 21711 "Serengeti" 1981 at Mahe International Airport, Seyshelles. The aircraft flies by
Transair Cargo, South Africa as ZS-OWM since December 2002.
Photo: Tony Edlind
Fokker F27-600, PH-EXC c/n 10566 prior delivery to
Air Tanzania as 5H-MPT. Here seen at Schiphol, Amsterdam 1977.
Photo: Werner Fishdick
Fokker F27-600, 5H-MPT c/n 10566 "Rufiji" 1991 at Mombasa Intenational Airport, Kenya. The a/c is WFU at Dar es Salaam airport and beyond repair in a landing accident (flapless approach) at Dar es Salamm December 12, 1993.
Photo: Rolf Wallner
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 5H-MRB c/n 579. prior
delivery to Air Tanzania.
Here seen at Shoreham ESH/ EGKA UK - England in May 1978.
Photo: Richard Vandervord
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 5H-MRB c/n 579 1991 at Malta.
Photo: Joseph Tonna
Boeing 767-200, ET-AIZ c/n 23916 leased from Ethiopian Airlines 1991/92 the aircraft that ditched into the Indian Ocean off
the Comoros in 1996 following the hijack.
Photo: Tony Edlind collection
Boeing 737-200Adv., 5H-MRK c/n 21711 "Serengeti" 1993 at Athens/Hellinikon (HEW/LGAT).
Photo: George Pantalos
Boeing 737-300, XA-SWO c/n 27284 "Ngorongoro" 1999 at Dubai International Airport leased from TAESA 1998/1999.
Photo: Chris Doggett
Boeing 737-300, 5H-TCA c/n 24790 "Ngorongoro" 2001 at Kilimanjaro Intenational Airport. This aircraft flies by the Egyptian Karthago Airlines as TS-IEE since June, 2003.
Photo: Tony Edlind
Dornier 208-201 ZS-OVM c/n 8056, 2002 at Zanzibar Intenational Airport.
Photo: G. Paulo Colombo
Air Tanzania Boeing 707-320 N762TW cn 17675
Stored at Kilimanjaro International Airport,
Boeing 720-022, N62215 cn19442, 1985. DHC 6 Twin Otter 5H-MRC, cn 580. In the background Boeing 707-331 cn 17675, YN-BWL/N762TW.
Photo: Savvas Garozis collection
Odd aircrafts:
This former - Olympic Airways - Boeing 720-051B, SX-DBN
cn18668 here seen at Athens/Hellinikon (HEW/LGAT) was due
for lease to Air Tanzania and Air Guinee Express 1980 - 1981 but
it seems that the contract was probably cancelled by both carriers. The aircraft was stored in Athens to 1981 and sold to Aeronica and was ferried to MIA and was broken up in 1991.
Photo: George Pantalos collection
This former British Island Airways McDonnell Douglas MD-83 cn 49643/1423 was leased by Air Tanzania during 1989. Here seen as N-945AS Aero Mexico at Phonix - Sky - Harbour Int. (PHX/KPHX) in 2005.
Photo: Robin Guess AZ Action, Photo collection
* * *
The venture Air Tanzania/South African Airways
Boeing 737-236 Adv. 5H-MUZ c/n 22029 in the new SAA-group subsidiary colour scheme at Johannesburg, South Africa 2003.
Photo: Ringo Chui
2002
In February 2002, the government began the process of privatizing the airline and advertisments were placed in the local, regional and international media inviting potential bidders. Four airlines of eight bidders carried out diligence; South African Airways (SAA), Kenya Airways, Comair and Nationwide. The government selected SAA as the winning bidder.In December the same year, SAA signed an agreement with the government and purchased a 49% stake in ATC.
The two Boeing 737-2R8C(Adv) aircrafts 5H-ATC and 5H-MRK were withdrawn from service and was stored in South Africa. SAAs plans were to renew the fleet by Boeing 737-800s but the fleet was "renewed" by four old Boeing 737-200s, two Fokker F-28s and two De Haviland Dash 8-315.
The SAA-plans were to renew the fleet by Boeing 737-800s
but the fleet was instead updated by four old Boeing-737-200s.
One of the domestic carrier, Fokker F-28 4000 Fellowship
ZS-JAS c/n 11225 here seen at Dar es Salaam International
Airport on 10th August 2004.
Photo: Hannes Meyer
De Haviland Dash 8-315 ZS-NMA c/n 358 one of the domestic carriers prior to delivery to Air Tanzania at Johannesburg, Jan Smutz International airport, South Africa on 10th April 2004.
Photo: Hannes Meyer
Was this possibly the future of Air Tanzania Boeing 767-300 in a smart ATC/SAA livery.
Design: peteking design
2005
On 31st Januari 2005, Air Tanzanaia suspended one of its few regional services from Dar es Salaam to Nairobi, Kenya, following intense competition from Kenya Airways on the route.
The same year Air Tanzania recorded a pre-tax loss of almost USD 7,3 million in its first year of the privatisation and part ownership by SAA. The loss was mainly attributed to the inability to expand the network as quickly and extensively as originaly planned. It had been hoped to launch services to Dubai, India and Europe but these had been delayed as there were only Boeing 737-200s in the fleet. The development of Dar es Salaam International Airport as a hub for SAA alliance had also not proceeded as planned.
2006
The government of Tanzania bought back on 7th September 2006 the 49 per cent stake in ATC for USD 1 million, hence officially terminating its partnership with SAA. The venture collapsed due to the partners different interests in the business.
Two Boeing 737-247 Adv, 5H-MVV and 5H-MVZ were leased from Celtic Capital Air Corporation, Canada on a two years contract at 50 000 US dollars each per month.
Boeing 737-247 Adv. 5H-MVV c/n 23602 at Johannesburg, South Africa Feb.3, 2008.
Photo: Jacobus Saayman
Boeing 737-2R8C(Adv), 5H-ATC c/n 21710 "Kilimanjaro" seen here stored at Johannesburg - Lanseria, March 20, 2009. In 2007 the fin was repainted in allwhite colour but the SAA-loggo "Air Tanzania" was kept. In 2010 the aircraft was again repainted in an allwhite coulour with a smart light blue strip and reregistred ZS-SMX, Bionic Aviation. The aircraft was last seen in Lagos/Angola in JED titles (cargo) 2011 with the registration 5N-BMS.
Photo: Maarten Visser.
The sistership, Boeing 737-2R8C (Adv), 5H-MRK c/n 21711 "Ngorongoro" was reregistered as ZS-OWM and leased to Air Namibia in 1999. In 2002 it was transfered to Trans Air Congo and in 2004 to Executive Aerospace. In 2004 it was sold to Falconbridge Ltd, Canada as C-FFAL and then in 2007 to Xstrata Nickel after the take-over from Falconbridge. The aircraft is based at Toronto International Airport.
* * *
2007
Air Tanzania "Wings of Kilimanjaro"
Airbus A320-214. 5H-MWH c/n 630 at Johannesburg, South Africa Feb.3, 2008.
Photo: Sean Mowatt
Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL "Wings of Kilimanjaro" was relaunched in September 2007 after the dissulution of the partnership with South African Airways (SAA). The "new" airlines inagural flight went to Mwanza from Dar es Salaam via Kilimanjaro.
The introduction of the airline's new logo bears the image of the national symbol, "The Giraffe", to replace the SAA flag symbol. The "new" aircraft in the fleet, the Airbus A320 was leased from Wallis Trading Company on a six years contract.
Ilustration of a Boeing 737-247 Adv. in the new liverey.
Ilustration from Internet
De Havilland Canada DHC-8-311Q Dash 8, 5H-MWG c/n 462.
Photo: Jari Alanko
Fleet 2008
5H-MWH Airbus A320-214 c/n 363
5H-MVV Boeing 737-247 Adv c/n 23520
5H-MVZ Boeing 737-247 Adv c/n 23607
5H-MWF De Havilland Canada DHC-8 311Q DASH 8 c/n 474
5H-MWG De Havilland Canada DHC-8-311Q DASH 8 c/n 462
2008 Future?
In February 2008, the carrier acquired two Dash Bombardier DHC 8-311, 5H-MWG and 5H-MWF from NAC, Nordic Aviation Conractor A/S. These aircrafts were previosly operated by Flybe/BA. The two aircrafts commenced service, after having been repainted in the livery of Tanzania´s national airline.
In August the Tanzanian government held secret talks with the Chinese Development Bank to sell the 49% shares acquired back from SAA to a Hong Kong base private firm with a view to reviving the airline. The bureaucrazy within the government has delayed the takeover. During October ATCL replaced the Airbus A320 on the Dar es Salaam - Moroni, Comoros Islands route by Dash-8-311Q aircrafts.
Dark Skies - Temporary Suspension of Service
ATCL had leased two B737-200 but as time went by the carrier stopped useing one of them. The Boeing 737 5H-MVV was returned to the lessor. The two remaining major aircrafts, the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737-200 were due for undergoing major mechanical checks, technically known as "Check C" and they were going to be grounded at Dar es Salaam International Airport.
Later in the same month, the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) withdraw the Air Operator Certificate for Air Tanzania for reasons accruing to mainly unsatisfactory safety and operational manuals. TAC decided to volontarily resign from IATA membership in order to preserve its status while preparing for the 105A audit which is a prerequisite for all member airlines.
The company was granted the Air Operator Certificate by TCAA two weeks later and was in a process to return to IATA.
2009
Then in January 2009, the two planes, the Airbus A320 and the Boeing 737 were allegedly taken for major maintenance in Mozambique and Mauritius, before one of them was flown to France for major repairs. Details from ATCL showed later that, the Airbus A320 had to undergo Check D — the heaviest check for the airplane, also known as a Heavy Maintenance visit (HMV) done approximately after every 4–5 years. In July the aircraft was returned to the lessor. The Boeing B737, 5H-MVZ was sent for overhauled in to SAA Technical SAT at JNB in South Africa for C-check and change of engine and was later back in service.
2010
ATCL signed in early 2010 a 18 month contract with the lessor for operating the remaining B737-200 5H-MVZ. The government of Tanzania took the decision to invite more international firms to vie for a stake in Air Tanzania even though the government enters the final stages of a two-year discussions with China Sonangol Internationl Holdings Ltd.
Five firms based in the US, the UK and the United Arab Emirates have also shown interests in running the airline.
Is this the final countdown?
1 March 2010. Air Tanzania, 5H-MVZ Boeing 737-247. Flight TC 100, while attemp- ting to land at Mwanza Airport (IATA: MWZ)RWY 30, the nosewheel collapsed during the skid, the aircraft swerved off the runway and skidded for about a kilometer before coming to a stop with both maingear on soft ground. The aircraft received damages to its nosegear and the righthand engine. All 39 passengers and crew of 7 escaped unhurt.
The black box, Flight Data Recoreder (DFR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder was sent abroad for analysis. The aircraft was written off by lack of adequate equipment at Mwanza to repair the aircraft and to get it flight readyness status for a ferry fligh to a maintenace facility for major repairs.
The government of Tanzania took up discussions with China Sonangol International Holdings Ltd. to acquire a majority stake four years ago Allmost half a billion US dollars would be needed to get the airline back on its feet.
But Tanzania may sever ties with China’s Sonangol International Ltd over failure by the company to invest and take over 49 per cent shares in the ailing Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL) as agreed. Efforts by the government to find a strategic investor failed for serveral years and left Air Tanzania in a financially precarious position.
This allowed Precision Air to rev up their market share and become Tanzania's predominant airline in recent years. The airline operates the largest fleet of ATR 42 and ATR 72 in Eastern Africa, besides which they flew a B737.
Boeing 737-247(Adv) 5H- MVZ, c/n 23607 stored at Mwanza Airport awaiting its fate. Hence the UN titled/registrated MIL Mi-8 helicopter to the right behind the aircraft.
Photo: Duncan Kirk
The Boeing 737-247 5H- MVZ at HTMW in front of 3 No. MIL MI-8s helicopters. Google Earth, July 2010.
The ATCL management stated in April, 2010 that it could not repair the B737 aircraft that crashed at Mwanza since the cost of doing so would be too high. ATCL said that the Insurence Broker has agreed to strike a deal and would take full charge of the damaged aircraft but the aggrement was not fullfilled. The only remaing air- craft in the fleet i one De Havilland Canada DHC-8-311Q DASH.
The De Havilland Canada DHC-8-311Q DASH 8 5H-MWG c/n 462 departing from HTDA in July 2010. Photo: Duncan Kirk.
2011
Air Tanzania's AOC was previously suspended by the Tanzanian Civil Aviation Authority on 1 March 2010, after its only jet aircraft, a Boeing 737-200, suffered an undercarriage collapse. The airline was subsequently allowed to resume domestic services with its one airworthy DHC-8, (reg 5H-MWF, serial 474)
until it went for heavey maintenance in March in South Africa.
The inaugural service for the relaunch was operated by the same aircraft on 1 November 2011, from Dar es Salaam to Kigoma and Tabora. The company's managing director and chief executive was quoted at the relaunch press conference as saying that four more aircraft would be acquired in the next few months through "lease purchase arrangements" and apparently with funding from the government.
Air Tanzania back in the skies - Air Tanzania yazindua ndege mpya na kuanza kuruka kwenda Tabora na Kigoma,
November 2, 2011
_ _ _ _ _
ATCL resumed its operations on November 2, 2011 after an eight-month hiatus. Here seen passengers boarding the aircraft at Julius Nyerere Int. Airport on the inagural flight bound to Kigoma and Tabora regions. Photo by: East African media.
_ _ _ _ _
Photo by: Tim Spearman, Air Britain Images Col. and Jari Alanko, Finnish Aviation Photographers.
The second Bombardier Q300 belived to be 5H-MWF will undergo service main- tainance, in Tanzania, over the next eight weeks at an extimated cost of US$250,000 and will re-enter service in early 2012. ACTL will in the meantime lease a Fokker 28 aircraft from JetLink Express on a standby basis, in case their only operational airplane is incapacitated. In January 2012 ATCL will lease a Canadian Regional Jet CRJ-200
from JetLink Express. Air Tanzania codeshares with Air Uganda and Air Zimbabwe.
Given its troubled recent history, Air Tanzania's return to the skies will have come as a surprise to those commentators that expected the country's leading airline, privately owned Precision Air (which is affiliated to Kenya Airways) and the second-ranked carrier, the multinational, Lonrho-backed, newcomer Fly540, to effectively take over the erstwhile flag carrier's limited route network in the aftermath of the most recent grounding
News 2012
De Havilland Canada DHC-8-311Q Dash 8, 5H-MWF c/n 472.
Air Tanzania's Plans for Self Maintenance Raises Serious Safety Concerns
30th January 2012. Source: Roboblogger: An announcement earlier in the week by financially crippled Air Tanzania that they were intending to maintain their presently single aircraft, a Bombardier Q300, at their home base in Dar es Salaam, has raised immediate concerns over compliance with Airworthiness Directives.
Background of the leased Airbus 320 affair
12th February, 2012. Source: Parts of GUARDIAN: ATCL leased aircraft A320-214 from Wallis Trading Inc. for a period of six years (72 months) but the plane remained in ATCL hands for 48 months, 41 of which it was grounded for major technical maintenance in France. The shoddy agreement stipulated that the leasing charges would remain the same whether the plane was flying or grounded for any reason.
An aircraft expert who spoke to this paper in November 2010 but preferred to remain anonymous said it was inconceivable that the lease rate of $370,000 per month remained the same when the plane was operating and during maintenance, as non-operational lease charges would have gone down as to $30,000 a month. There would be no chargeable effects on the plane as it would not be in operation.
The Airbus leasing in October 2007 was in line with preparations for what was expected to be a divestiture of ATCL, which was to be partly sold to Chinese company Sonangol, which never signed a formal contractual agreement with the Government. But it had pledged to buy ATCL not less than five Airbus aircrafts by 2012 as part of the proposed privatization scheme.
In line with an eagerly awaited ATCL take-over by Sonangol, the ATCL management rushed to lease A320-214 from Wallis Trading, a company said to have a close working relationship with Sonangol, headed by influential Hong Kong businessman, Sam Pa. The plane (A320) had been operated in Liberia where it was leased, before it was leased to El Salvador.
By the time ATCL entered into the lease agreement in October 2007 the aircraft was due to go for major technical maintenance, carried out every 12 years (known as ‘Check C’ plus 12 years in airline industry). But that fact was only established after the agreement was hastily penned down, leading to the aircraft to be grounded in France for seven months.
On its return from technical maintenance in May 2008, the plane remained in the air for seven months until December 2008 when was re-grounded for maintenance and never flown ever since, until it was released by ATCL in October 2011. That was two years before expiration of the lease agreement but the leasing bill stands as if the plane fully operated throughout the agreed period of lease.
“Following the continual deterioration of the ATCL (Air Tanzania Company Ltd) its steering committee held a meeting on 1st March 2010, and came out with the conclu- sion that to maintain the airbus contract is uneconomical because of the following:
(i) The Company has no maintenance facility for Airbus A320 aircrafts
(ii) It has no back up aircraft engine of the engineers or pilots to support the operation of the Air Bus
It needs about Sh13.9 billion in 8 months to operate it, noted the CAG report to the Parastatal Organisations Accounts Committee (POAC) that has never been made public.
Furthermore, whereas the ATCL report dated 14th December 2010, indicated that the aircraft was found painted in Air Guinea colours during inspection in September 2010, the statement of accounts submitted by Wallis Trading Inc. showed the lessor continued to bill ATCL and by 30th January 2010 the debt stood at Sh322,671, 841,580 as detailed below,” it further said.
However another report submitted last month to a Parliamentary committee shows that the total cost for leasing the used Airbus A320 is about $200 million, monies which are enough to buy two brand new aircraft of the same generation.
According to the Airbus website, a brand new A320 costs an average price of $88.3 million.
Strategic Joint venture Agreement is being signed between Air Tanzania and AEROVISTA
March 29, 2012. Source: Aerovista News. AEROVISTA will be leasing its B737-500 for Air Tanzania and will be sourcing more aircrafts depending upon the requirements in future. Aerovista is an airline based in Sharja, United Arab Emirates and has a fleet of nine aircrafts
4L-AJE. Photo:aerovista.aero
Not again, is this the final deathblow?
Photo: THE CITIZEN
9th of April, 2012. Source: DailyNews online Edition/THE CITIZEN.
Thirty five passengers and four crew members aboard a Dash 8-300 aircraft 5H-MWG escaped alive on Monday while takingoff when the crew attemted to abort the takeoff and the plane skidded off the runway at Tanzania's Kigoma airport. The aircraft, belonging to Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), was en-route to the commercial capital Dar es Salaam via Tabora. No one was injured but two elderly ladies were taken to the hospital for chock-treatment.
Aviation officials confirmed last Monday that the accident, which occurred in the morning, at 10.15am seriously damaged the plane, the one belonging to the national flag carrier. All the passengers and crew members were rescued shortly after flight TC 119 ran off the runway. It was said that the takeoff was probably aborted after one of its engines ceased and the plane skidded off the runway after its tyres got stuck in muddy potholes. The aircraft came to stop with the nose gear collapsed and the righthand maingear separated from the airframe. The aircraft is probably beyond repair and will be written off. Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority has started an air accident investigation with a team of technical experts being sent to Kigoma.
According Travel Blackboard: Air Tanzania has recruited the assistance of Precision Air to help carry already booked passenger for up to a week while the airline completes maintenance on a new plane expected to enter operations next month.
Air Tanzania back in the skies - Air Tanzania yazindua ndege mpya na kuanza kuruka kwenda Kilimanaro na Mwanza.
Air Tanzania Facebook: The Eagle has landed!
After two days delay the Air Tanzania (ATCL) Boeing 737-5H6 leased
from Aero Vista, Dubai arrived on last Saturday 13 th May 2012 to Julius Nyrere International Airport in Dar es Salaam
The aircraft branded in ATCL corporate colours is figured to carry 108 passengers, 12 passengers in the business as well as 96 passengers in the ecconomy class.
The "new" jet will however only be able to fly to such destinations like Kili-
manjaro, Dodoma, Mwanza or Zanzibar, as most other airports and aero- dromes
are only able to cater for the landing of smaller turboprop aircrafts,
like the Bombardier Dash Q400 is efficient especially in Tanzania where most airports are unpaved. The company’s mid-sized DASH-8 5H-MWF is
currently undergoing repairs at Terminal One will be ready in the next six weeks and will help boost the company’s service delivery.
The ATCL CEO told reporters a few that acquisition of the plane was a short-term plan to enhance the firm’s service delivery, adding that the airline has a long-term plan that will be implemented accordingly. The "new" 737
will start to operate flights on 18.05 2012 and would be flying on Dar es Salaam-Mwanza-Kilimanjaro routes as plans are being charted for using it for international flights to i.e. Lusaka, Harare, Comoros and Dubai.
Air Tanzania Boeing 737-5H6, 4L-AJB, cn 27354/2637 being towed into its hanger at Dar es Salaam International Airport. The aircraft is operated by VistaGeogia from 01.01.2012.
www.aerovista.aero
The new home for the Boeing 737-5H6
Previous registrations: 9M-MFG, VT-JAW, G-GFFH, 5N-PVA.
Photo by Aerovista: Air Tanzania B737-5H6, 4L-AJB at EgyptAir Maintenance & Engineering Hangar 8000, Cairo International Airport.
The Jointventure agreement: AEROVISTA will be leasing its B737-500 for Air Tanzania and will be sourcing more aircrafts depending upon the requirements in future, develop a fully fledged hanger with line maintenance facility in Dar es Salaam,training the crew and engineers for ATCL and cabin crew training for B737CL aircrafts.
AEROVISTA and Air Tanzania will work closely to develop routes and offer better commercial solutions for an improved yield management and operational results.
AEROVISTA with its new identity in Tanzania “Aerovista Tanzania Limited “ will be exploring similar avenues in the aviation industry to support the small and medium airline.
Boeing 737-500
The Boeing 737 is easily the most successful jet airliner out there, with well over 3000 in service. The original CFM-engined 737 family consisted of three planes, the 737-300, the 737-400 and the 737-500. All of these were basically the same plane with different fuselage lengths and thus different capacities. The 737-500 was the shortest of the three and was designed as a replacement for the older and noisier 737-200.
Air Tanzania started operations on JRO/MWZ routes on 18th May, 2012!
Air Tanzania Facebook: Air Tanzania back in the skies and here seen on the apron of Mwanza airport 18.05. 2012
On 18th May Air Tanzania started to operate service with a Boeing 737-5H6 leased from AEROVISTA, Dubai. The Dash DH8-311Q 5H-MWF is still undergoing heavy maintenance in AEROVISTA/ATCL hanger at Dar es Salaam Airport for at least six weeks.
Destinations
As of May 2012 Air Tanzania flies to the following destinations:
Status of aircraft
FLEET 2012:
Boeing 737-5H6, 4L-AJB, cn 27354/2637
De Havilland Dash 8-Q300, 5H-MWG cn 462 (written off)
De Haviland Dash 8, 5H-MWF cn 474 (undergoing service)
Interestnig from the WEB
Boeing 707-320, N762TW
Design: Tony Madge
Airbus A320-214, 5H-MWH.
Design: Aviation-design.net, Michel Gilliand.
Boeing 747-400, 5H-NBC.
Design: Aviation-design.net, Michel Gilliand.
A design of Air Tanzania Boeing 747-400 in ATC/SAA livery.
Design: Aviation-design.net, Michel Gilliand.
A design of Air Tanzania Airbus A330-200 in ATC/SAA livery.
Design: Aviation-design.net, Peter ten Thije.
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