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According to inside sources at the company, USA jet has quietly and without much warning, parked its fleet of Falcon 20 aircraft. The airline cited lack of smaller cargo demand and not making money with the Falcon fleet as the reason for its sudden retirement. It is rumored that although now retired, the company will keep the aircraft type on its certificate in case the need for a smaller aircraft ever arises and they can be pulled from storage and reactivated. USA Jets Falcon 20 fleet consisted of 5 different aircraft. N811AA built in 1968, N822AA built in 1969 which was repainted in the new dots livery at the beginning of this year, N827AA which was built in 1974 and N962AA which was the oldest built in 1967 and also wears the new livery. All of which have cargo doors and can carry approximately 5000 pounds of cargo. The 5th Falcon aircraft in the USA Jet fleet is N957CJ, unlike the other 4 cargo aircraft, 957 was purchased and kept in its passenger configuration to fly the companies high ups as well as move flight crews. This aircraft was listed for sale last winter. The Willow Run airport based airline’s current fleet consists of 2 cargo configured Boeing 727-200s, the first of which was delivered to the company in May 2015, and its 7 McDonnell Douglas MD80s. Although it’s single MD83 has been in operation for a while, USA Jet took delivery of its first MD88 in December of 2021. The ex-Delta aircraft was also the first cargo configured MD88 after going through its passenger to freight conversion. After the deliveries of the MD88s, USA Jet retired its last aircraft in its fleet of 6 DC-9s February 2023. It is rumored that the airline will retire its 727s within the next few years in favor of the much more fuel efficient and lower operational cost Boeing 737. The 56 foot Falcon 20 has a range of about 2000 miles and the ability to hold 5-6 pallets of cargo. The small jet is popular amongst many cargo airlines in Michigan such as Kalitta Charters, IFL Group, Ameristar and Royal Air freight. Because of its size the aircraft can be operated under part 135 meaning pilots without an ATP can fly the aircraft as well as pilots that are over the retirement age for 121 carriers, making it easier to find pilots.
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