Air Tahoma

Air Tahoma

Company type	Private
Industry	Cargo airline
Founded	1996
Founder	Noel Rude
Defunct	2009
Headquarters	Columbus, Ohio , United States
Area served	Caribbean, Mexico, Vietnam, the Philippines, United States
Products	Contracted cargo services

Air Tahoma was a United States-based cargo airline operating under Part 121 regulations, headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Established in 1996 by entrepreneur Noel Rude, the airline initially launched operations out of San Diego. It later moved its base to Indianapolis in 1998 before ultimately settling at Rickenbacker International Airport. The carrier specialized in contracted cargo services covering regions such as the Caribbean, Mexico, Vietnam, the Philippines, and various locations within the United States. Operations were discontinued in 2009.

History

Noel Rude, who had prior involvement with Cool Air Inc.—a company founded in 1986 by himself and his father Bud Rude—created Air Tahoma as a dedicated cargo spin-off. Bud Rude contributed valuable aviation experience from his background in firefighting-related flight missions in Washington state. Air Tahoma’s business strategy focused on fulfilling FedEx contracts by servicing routes that did not generate enough demand to justify larger aircraft deployment.

The airline’s fleet primarily consisted of twin-engine turboprop Convair aircraft, specifically the 580 and 240 variants. In August 2004, Air Tahoma Flight 185 tragically crashed during its approach phase, which negatively impacted the airline’s safety standing.

Following an FAA inspection conducted after the accident in September 2008, Air Tahoma was presented with a list of alleged regulatory violations on November 7. This led the company to voluntarily halt its operations. In response, Air Tahoma submitted a detailed 150-page rebuttal and resumed flying while actively engaging with the FAA to address safety concerns. Initially, FAA inspectors continued with standard oversight procedures.

Nevertheless, on January 13, 2009, the FAA took the extraordinary step of revoking Air Tahoma’s operating certificate due to ongoing systemic compliance issues. Although the airline filed an appeal, it encountered operational limitations including restrictions on ferry flights and leasing aircraft to other carriers. Eventually, Air Tahoma withdrew its appeal under conditions set by the FAA that permitted repositioning of aircraft and collaboration with other operators.

An inquiry by the Office of Inspector General examined the circumstances surrounding the enforcement action. Two senior FAA officials familiar with the case expressed doubts about many of the cited violations, particularly those concerning maintenance practices. They suggested that if these allegations were contested in court, most would likely lack sufficient evidence. Subsequently, the Assistant United States Attorney chose not to pursue prosecution after being briefed on the matter.

Despite mounting a strong defense against FAA accusations and receiving internal support from inspectors questioning the robustness of the enforcement report, Air Tahoma was compelled to discontinue its appeals process. This situation underscores the complexities involved in regulatory adherence and enforcement that ultimately influenced the airline’s operational viability and expansion potential.

Destinations

• Miami – Cancún – Mérida
• Miami – Guatemala – San Pedro Sula
• Subic Bay – Saigon
• Aguadilla (Borinquen) – Port of Spain
• San Juan – multiple locations across the West Indies

Fleet

As of September 2007, Air Tahoma’s aircraft inventory included:

• 1 - BAe 146-300
• 3 - Convair CV-240
• 8 - Convair CV-580

Incidents and accidents

• October 2003: Following landing, a fire ignited in the right engine's augmenter; the situation was controlled without causing damage to the aircraft.
• January 7, 2004: During approach to Memphis, a Convair 580 experienced a complete loss of oil pressure in the right engine but managed to land safely.
• August 13, 2004: Air Tahoma Flight 185 crashed near Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, resulting in one death and minor injuries. The NTSB determined that the accident was due to both engines flaming out, attributed to pilot distraction and improper fuel management, despite adequate fuel levels and no mechanical faults.
• September 1, 2008: Shortly after departing Rickenbacker International Airport, a Convair 580 crashed, killing all three crew members on board. Investigators identified incorrect elevator trim settings and maintenance deficiencies as contributing factors.

See also

• List of defunct airlines of the United States