Namibia Commercial Aviation

Namibia Commercial Aviation developed from Hire and Fly, a Namibian aviation business founded in 1977 by Chris Schutte, a former South African Airways station engineer. The predecessor company operated single- and twin-engine Cessna aircraft and focused on charter-oriented flying. In 1989, it expanded by acquiring the Cessna fleet of Namib Air, which later became Air Namibia. By 1992, the fleet reportedly comprised seven Cessna 210s and up to eight twin-engine Cessna 310s. The company changed its name to Namibia Commercial Aviation as its activities broadened. Its work was not limited to tourism or local charter flying: in December 1990, it obtained a United Nations contract to provide airlift associated with Angola during that country’s conflict. NCA acquired a Douglas DC-6A for this purpose, registering it V5-NCB and beginning operations by June 1991. A second DC-6A was obtained in September 1991. Both were leased to a Zairean airline in October 1993, although one was repossessed in 1994 and later sold. NCA’s most distinctive historical role came through its Douglas DC-6B project. In September 1992, it acquired roughly 40 tons of DC-6 spare parts from the Zambian Air Force. The deal was tied to the purchase of two DC-6Bs that had been parked for around 15 years. They were eventually registered in Namibia as V5-NCF and V5-NCG. V5-NCF, carrying manufacturer’s serial number 45563, was the second-to-last DC-6B built and had been delivered in January 1958 as the fourth-to-last delivery of the type. It had previously served as the presidential aircraft of Yugoslav leader Josip Broz Tito, including during a 1959 state visit to India, and later transported Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda. After restoration by NCA, it made its first revenue flight on March 20, 1995. NCA subsequently sold the aircraft to fund restoration work on V5-NCG. The airframe later moved to Austria and appeared in Red Bull livery. V5-NCG, described in the reference material as the last Douglas DC-6B built, was restored by NCA and entered revenue service on March 31, 2001. The aircraft became closely associated with the company’s sightseeing-charter identity. The available historical account does not provide a definitive closure date, current ownership information, or evidence that the operator remains active. The brand is therefore best documented as a historically significant Namibian charter and heritage-aircraft operator with an unknown present status.

• 2001

  V5-NCG enters revenue service

  [1]Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The restored V5-NCG, identified as the last Douglas DC-6B built, completed its first revenue flight on March 31.

• 1995

  V5-NCF enters revenue service

  [1]Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The restored former presidential DC-6B V5-NCF completed its first revenue flight on March 20.

• 1992

  Adoption of the Namibia Commercial Aviation name

  [1]Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The expanding Cessna operation changed its name from Hire and Fly to Namibia Commercial Aviation.

• 1992

  Acquisition of DC-6 parts and aircraft

  [1]Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  NCA purchased approximately 40 tons of DC-6 parts from the Zambian Air Force and acquired two stored DC-6Bs.

• 1991

  Douglas DC-6A operations begin

  [1]Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  NCA acquired DC-6A V5-NCB and began flying it by June; a second DC-6A was acquired in September.

• 1990

  United Nations airlift contract

  [1]Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  The company received a United Nations contract for airlift connected with war-torn Angola.

• 1989

  Cessna fleet expansion

  [1]Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  Hire and Fly took over the Cessna fleet of Namib Air, later known as Air Namibia.

• 1977

  Hire and Fly founded

  [1]Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org

  Chris Schutte founded the predecessor business Hire and Fly, which operated single- and twin-engine Cessna aircraft.

A specialist Namibian charter operator combining light-aircraft services with unusual heavy-lift and heritage-aircraft capabilities, especially sightseeing operations using restored Douglas DC-6 aircraft.

• Charter aviation · 1977

  Cessna 210 charter operations

  The predecessor business operated Cessna 210 aircraft for charter and general commercial flying. By 1992, the fleet reportedly included seven Cessna 210s, reflecting the company’s role in Namibia’s light-aircraft charter market.

• Charter aviation · 1977

  Twin-engine Cessna 310 charter operations

  NCA’s light-aircraft fleet also included as many as eight twin-engine Cessna 310s by 1992. These aircraft supported charter and regional aviation work before the company became particularly known for its DC-6 operations.

• Airlift and charter aviation · 1991

  Douglas DC-6A airlift operations

  NCA acquired two Douglas DC-6A aircraft in 1991, initially in connection with a United Nations airlift contract involving Angola. The aircraft were later leased to a Zairean airline.

• Sightseeing aviation · 1995

  Douglas DC-6B sightseeing charters

  Restored Douglas DC-6B aircraft became NCA’s signature offering. V5-NCF entered revenue service in 1995, while V5-NCG entered service in 2001. The aircraft supported sightseeing and charter flying and gave the company a distinctive heritage-aviation profile.

• 1992

  Rebrand from Hire and Fly to Namibia Commercial AviationStrategy

  Background

  The predecessor operation had expanded its Cessna fleet and was undertaking broader charter and airlift activities.

  Action taken

  The company adopted the Namibia Commercial Aviation name.

  Aftermath

  The new identity accompanied the operator’s development into a wider charter business and its subsequent investment in DC-6 aircraft.

  Source

• 1992

  Investment in Douglas DC-6 heritage aircraftStrategy

  Background

  NCA sought parts and aircraft to support Douglas DC-6 operations after acquiring DC-6As for airlift work.

  Action taken

  The company bought approximately 40 tons of spare parts from the Zambian Air Force and acquired two stored DC-6Bs.

  Aftermath

  The project led to the restoration and revenue operation of V5-NCF and V5-NCG, establishing NCA’s association with historic sightseeing aircraft.

  Source

1. 1Namibia Commercial Aviationen.wikipedia.org