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| Founded | 1997 | ||||||
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| Ceased operations | 2011(merged intoNational Airways Corporation) | ||||||
| Operating bases | Wonderboom Airport | ||||||
| Headquarters | Pretoria,South Africa | ||||||
| Website | naturelink.co.za(defunct) | ||||||
Naturelink Aviation, also known asNaturelink Charter,[citation needed] was an airline fromSouth Africa, which offered corporate and private charter flights, as well as worldwideaircraft lease services. The company was based atWonderboom Airport inPretoria.[1]
Naturelink Aviation was founded in 1997 by Chris Briers. In mid-2004, 60 percent of the shares were acquired bySafair, through Imperial Holdings.[2] As Naturelink operated charter flights to possibly unsafe regions likeIraq orAfghanistan, the company participated in the testing ofCAMPS, a countermeasure againstportable anti-aircraft missiles developed bySaab.[3]
In September 2008, Naturelink was purchased byRunway Assets Management.[2] Another change of ownership happened in 2010 through the acquisition byNational Airways Corporation. Subsequently, Naturelink's fleet and operations were gradually merged into theLanseria-based company.[4] By mid-2011, this transition had been completed, and the Naturelink brand was shut down.
The fleet of eightEmbraer EMB 120 Brasilia[citation needed] that formed the backbone of the Naturelink fleet were transferred toNational Airways upon takeover.[4] Over the years, Naturelink also operated the larger aircraft typesBoeing 727,737-200,Douglas DC-3 andDC-9,[2] as well as smaller airplanes likeEmbraer EMB 110 Bandeirante,[5]Cessna 208,PAC 750XL orSocata TBM.[6]
