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| Founded | 2000; 25 years ago (2000) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AOC # | MJYA749T[1] | ||||||
| Operating bases | Addison Airport andWillow Run Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 13 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Dallas,Texas, United States | ||||||
| Key people | Tom Wachendorfer | ||||||
| Website | http://www.ameristarjet.com/ | ||||||
Ameristar Air Cargo, Inc. is an Americanpassenger andcargo airline based inDallas, Texas, United States. It operates passenger and cargo services in the Americas and acts as a broker to other cargo carriers. Its main base isAddison Airport in north Dallas, with hubs atWillow Run Airport andEl Paso International Airport.[2]
The airline started operations on 4 September 2000. It is wholly owned by Tom Wachendorfer (the airline’s president). Passenger operations began withBoeing 737-200 in September 2005.[2] Passengers include sports and entertainment industry celebrities, college athletic teams, and high-wealth individuals.
In 2008, an Ameristar 737-200 was painted for use in the filmThe Kingdom as aT-43.
The Ameristar Charters fleet comprises the following aircraft (as of February 2022):
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-200 | 2 | — | F56 | (as of August 2025)[3] |
| Douglas DC-9-15RC | 4 | — | Cargo | (as of August 2025)[3] |
| Dassault Falcon 20F | 7 | — | Cargo | |
| Total | 13 | |||
The Ameristar Air Cargo fleet previously included the following aircraft:[2]
Previously operated by Ameristar Jet Charters:
On August 24, 2001, an Ameristar Jet CharterLearjet 24, registration number N153TW, crashed after takeoff fromIthaca Tompkins Regional Airport destined forJackson-Reynolds Municipal Airport, killing both pilots. The probable cause of the accident was spatial disorientation due to low visibility night-time flight conditions.[4]
On September 29, 2003, an Ameristar Jet CharterLearjet 24, performing Flight 982 fromEl Paso International Airport toDel Rio International Airport overran the runway on landing. The probable cause of the accident was a higher than recommended landing speed. The plane plunged into flames after exhausting the length of the runway, killing one of two crew members.[5]
On January 9, 2007, an Ameristar Jet CharterLearjet 24, performing Flight 878 fromLaredo International Airport toMiguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport impacted terrain while on descent towards its destination, killing both pilots on board.[6]
On March 8, 2017, an Ameristar Jet CharterMcDonnell Douglas MD-83 (the same aircraft pictured above) performingFlight 9363 fromWillow Run Airport toWashington Dulles International Airport and carrying the University of Michigan basketball band, spirit staff, and team to the Big Ten Tournament overran the runway at Willow Run in Ypsilanti afteraborting takeoff in high wind and aboveV1 speed. During the takeoff roll, a fault with theelevator system prevented normal takeoffrotation, forcing the takeoff to be rejected at high speed once it became clear that the aircraft could not fly.[7] The aircraft ultimately came to a rest just past a perimeter road with the fuselage intact but with the undercarriage significantly damaged and the nose gear broken off. There was one minor injury sustained.[8]
