Kalitta Air began with a small group of dedicated employees, and a vision. 23 years and a lot of hard work later, it is a FAR Part 121 Air Carrier and one of the leading providers of air cargo transportation, providing scheduled and chartered transportation services to clients worldwide.
“It all started with our founder, Connie Kalitta and his love and passion for the industry, racing, and the employees that work for him,” says Christopher Barks, Director of Quality Control and Chief Inspector for the company. “Employees are treated more like family than just an employee with a number.”
Racing has remained a key part of Kalitta Air’s story from the very beginning, and only this year Connie’s nephew and Kalitta Charters owner, Doug Kalitta, carried on Connie’s legacy by winning the 2023 NHRA Top Fuel Racing Championship.
The Kalitta Group of companies is also racing ahead. It has grown to include Kalitta Air, Kalitta Maintenance, Kalitta Tire and Brake, Kalitta Turbine Leasing and Kalitta International Flight Academy, has partnered with DHL and does a great deal of work with the Department of Defence and the Postal Service.
As Barks tells us, “We can handle virtually anything – flying freight, pilot training, providing MRO airframe and powerplant maintenance, Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA), and everything in between.”
But while the company has grown, in structure it remains as compact and versatile as it has always been.
Kalitta is a small organization with a huge heart and a well-disciplined workforce, who deliver a top-shelf, quality product day in and day out,” Barks says. “We have the desire, willingness, and ability to accomplish just about any task.”
The firm has built a reputation as one that completes work on time, safely, and with the highest quality performance, exceeding all national standards. It all comes down to the company’s slogan – “On time, anytime, anywhere!”
Testing Their Mettle
That slogan has been put to the test by the challenges that have faced the entire aviation industry in recent years. The COVID pandemic was a huge challenge for Kalitta Air, forcing it to face unique circumstances and implement new protocols as an international air cargo provider. Many aviation firms placed challenges in their efforts to maintain global supply chains, but Kalitta Air had to go a step beyond.
“During the pandemic, we operated several diplomatic passenger evacuation missions out of Wuhan, China, and we were one of the first carriers to operate flights for the transportation of vital PPE supplies to and from the United States and other afflicted countries,” Barks tells us.
Kalitta Air’s management staff developed mitigation plans and safeguards to ensure missions were carried out effectively to destinations throughout the world. Fortunately, the company had relevant experience to draw upon.
“We had prior experience working with the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Medical Services Directorate of Operational Medicine during the Ebola outbreak. That helped prepare us for dealing with the strict protocols and mitigation strategies,” Barks says. “It meant that we could ensure the safety of our pilots, mechanics, and loadmasters who operated these flights through difficult challenges all over the world.”
As we talk to Barks, it is clear how proud he is of Kalitta’s employees and how they overcome these challenges, with many volunteering to be part of the most difficult missions.
“A well-trained and supported staff are always key to any company’s success. We ensure that our employees have every possible advantage and utilise the best training and tools available to help them succeed,” Barks insists.
To this end, Kalitta Air has an internal apprenticeship program approved by the U.S. Department of Labor to provide the airline and its repair station with a skilled workforce of certified Airframe and Powerplant Technicians. It provides them with formal and on-the-job practical training in a full-time, paid apprenticeship program.
“Apprentices learn through hands-on experience with state-of-the-art aircraft, facilities, and equipment,” says Barks.
Flying Into a Greener Future
Kalitta Air’s work takes the company and its people all around the world, which gives them a unique perspective on how important it is to protect that world. The company has already begun its transition to the use of more efficient aircraft, and its strategy includes a range of steps, large and small, to reduce the company’s carbon footprint and be part of a movement towards a more sustainable world.
This includes a recycling program for Kalitta Air’s 747 aircraft, where retired aircraft are scrapped and disassembled, with their parts repurposed as spare parts or scrap. The company also recycles its oils and maintenance rags regularly, while its parts washers also use a recycle and reuse system.
At the same time, Kalitta is moving in the direction of more efficient aircraft as it expands its fleet, moving away from the 747-400 to upgrade to the more fuel-efficient 777. Even the fuel inside the planes is being made more efficient, as Kalitta transitions to using SAF – fuels that can be made from vegetable oils, sugars, animal fats and waste biomass. This is mixed with conventional jet fuel and can be used with aircraft engines without any equipment modifications.
“The 777 aircraft is the future of the company. We are the launch customer for the first P to F (Passenger to Freighter) converted 777ERSF,” Barks says.
The aircraft, called “the Big Twin”, will offer operators 25% more capacity than today’s smaller twin-engined long-haul freighters, and it is anticipated that the Big Twin will achieve up to 21% lower fuel-burn per tonne than ageing four-engine freighters.
“New technologies and innovations are being deployed in all areas of the company to ensure that we are on the cutting edge in the industry,” Barks says. “We are going to continuously improve our services and provide the best experience for our customers.”
