Sky Lease Cargo Inc. (legally Sky Lease I Inc) is an American cargo airline based in Miami, Florida, that provides transpacific and Latin American cargo services.
History
The airline was established in 1969, as Wrangler Aviation and started operations in 1973, using Lockheed Constellation aircraft under FAA Part 91. It became a Part 121 carrier in 1978 and became an all-cargo airline in 1981.
Between 1991 and 1992, issues of citizenship, ownership, and compliance with federal airline laws resulted in the conclusion and finding that through the unregulated use of "Delaware Company Law" and the practice of subsidiaries being parts of other subsidiaries," Wrangler Aviation did not meet the fitness requirements of a certificated airline of the United States.[2] The conclusions resulted in restructuring changes to the company to continue operating.
In 1991, the airline was renamed to Tradewinds Airlines. On February 28, 1994, Tradewinds was acquired by Florida West Airlines, although it was sold off a year later after filing for bankruptcy.[3] In December 2007, Donald Watkins, a lawyer from Alabama, bought part of the company. On June 6, 2008, the airline reduced its staff by 70% and parked all their fleet.