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TRANSPORTATION - AirWays


Iraqi Airways began in 1945 using Dragon Rapide biplanes which was replaced a year later with a Viking twin.

 

 

 


In 1955 Vickers Viscounts replaced the Vikings allowing a London service to be established.

 


Tupolev Tu-124s were used in the 1960s on regional passenger services.

 


Three Trident 1Es were delivered from 1965 and were then used on the London service until the early 1970s.

 


Cargo operations - primarily for Iraqi Government use - were by AN-12 and then IL-76 aircraft.

 


From the 1970s Iraqi Airways began using Boeing 707s. Several Boeing 707s were operated by British carrier Donaldson International for Iraqi Airways in a modified green Iraqi livery based on the Donaldson scheme until the first Boeing 707-320C was delivered to Iraqi Airways in the mid 1970s.
 

 


Boeing 727-200s were used on regional and domestic routes from the mid 1970s replacing the Tridents and Viscounts.
 

 


Boeing 747-200s were introduced on the London route from 1976

 

 

Iraqi Airways was founded in 1945. The first planes used were Dragon Rapids. For the next fiscal decade, until 1955, these planes were alternated with Vickers Viscounts. By 1955, however, the Viscounts took over all of Iraqi Airways' services.
The 1960s arrived, and so did the jet age. Iraqi Airways was quick to modernize, buying Russian built Tupolev TU-124 planes as well as British built Tridents. These jets allowed Iraqi Airways to increase service across the Middle East, to Africa and Europe. During that time, cargo airplanes such as the Il-76 arrived.
During the 1970s, Iraqi Airways was granted a route to JFK International airport in New York, and because of that, it needed a bigger jet, so it went to (then) Seattle based Boeing and bought 707 jets. Soon after, the Boeing 747 also arrived.
Iraqi Airways kept flying during the 1980s to most cities where it had established routes to. The Iraq-Iran war did little to undermine the airline's activities. In what could be considered by some to be an ironic twist to the trend, in 1986, a Boeing 737 of Iraqi Airways, flying from Baghdad to Jordan, was attacked by terrorists. Although the plane tried to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, the terrorists threw a bomb into the plane's cockpit, and its destruction caused the plane to crash resulting in the deaths of 61 of the 93 people on board . Iraqi Airways has, to date, had ten air tragedies.
Since Iraq's invasion in 1991 of Kuwait, Iraqi Airways has been grounded by the United Nations’ sanctions against Iraq. Before the invasion started, Iraqi Airways had 17 jets, all of which were moved to secret locations, mainly in Jordan.
Through that ordeal, many of the airline’s 800 employees stayed faithful, and their mechanics supposedly even owned Iraq's only jet engine, where they would practice in hopes the airline would someday need their services as much as it once did.
Because Iraqi Airways was allowed to fly domestically, it continued service to smaller cities, such as Basra. However, domestic flights became a rarity too, because of the No-Fly Zone imposed by the United States and United Kingdom over Iraqi skies. On occasions, Iraqi Airways would also fly pilgrims to Saudi Arabian religious cities during the '90s.

Current Events
Iraqi Airways, it is rumored, only has three planes that are still considered usable: A Boeing 747, a Boeing 727 and an Il-76. Presumably, the 727 and Il-76 are the planes used on their domestic routes. But other rumors point to a possible future deal between Iraqi Airways and the Airbus company, where the Iraqi company would acquire some Airbus family jets, probably for use on their domestic flights.
On May 30, 2003, Iraqi Airways' management announced it plans to resume international service soon.
Iraqi Airways currently has contracts with Schabak and with Nostalgia to produce their airplane models. The airline's livery consists of an all white airplane's belly, but with a green cheat line and an aqua green scheme covering the top of their planes. The aqua color goes all the way to the end of the planes' tails. The tail logo consists of a green bird inside a white circle, with the name Iraqi Airways inscribed just below the circle, in white color and in Arabic. The same title is also inscribed over the passenger windows on the front part of the fuselage, using the same color but written in English.
 

The country’s three major international airports at Baghdad, Basra and Mosul are all under military control with no Iraqi personnel. DHL cargo deliveries take place in Baghdad and Mosul. There is some debate, however, as to whether Mosul qualifies as an international airport.

Recently due to the instability of security situation in Mosul, UNHAS has re-directed its flights to Erbil NW.

The CPA has recently issued an immigration form to record passenger movements in and out of both Baghdad and Basra Airports.

BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
At present Royal Air Force (RAF) is the authority running all airport activities at the Baghdad International. The airport is open for both commercial and humanitarian traffic.

BASRAH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
RAF is managing all airport activities at the moment, and is responsible for security at the airport. In addition to RAMCC slot request, prior number (PPR) request should also be made to RAF prior to arrival.

ERBIL NORTH WEST AIRPORT
There is no airport handling authority at the Erbil NW, consequently no cargo or passenger handling facilities are available. The agencies flying to Erbil NW are responsible for cargo and passenger assistance. In the absence of operating authority there are no safety and security measurements at the airfield.

The airport is situated 3 km from the UN-office; it is only open for aircraft up to C-130.
The runway is in bad condition as well with the grass growing through the shoulders up to 1,5 mtr. The shoulders will not be able to support medium weight aircraft.
Technical details
 

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