CATC (Central Air Transport Corporation)

  March 1943 to December 1949

  China

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TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: -- / ---

HEADQUARTERS: Shanghai

PREVIOUS NAME: Euravia Aviation Corporation

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

CATC was formed out of Euravia Aviation Corporation in March 1943, with 80% ownership by the Chinese government and the rest by provate Chinese private interests. The airline focused on domestic passenger service from its Shanghai hub, initially with a dozen Douglas C-47s purchased from war surplus in India. In July 1946, another 150 aircraft - a mix of C-47 and Commandos - were purchased from the Chungking, Sichuan, China surplus stocks, and participated to fleet expansion even though many of them were used for parts. In 1948, five ex-Northwest Airlines Douglas DC3s were added along with six brand new Convair 240s.

CATC's operations were halted by the Communist advance. Just like CNAC's, CATC's management joined the Communists on 10 November 1949. At that time, much of the fleet had been flown to Hong Kong for safety. Colonel Tai was appointed as the new head of CATC on 15 November 1949, and charges were filed against the previous management. Most pilots refused to pledge loyalty to the new management, and the airline was all but grounded, with the fleet in Hong Kong left under the surveillance of pro-Communist staff. A total of 31 CATC airplanes were then parked in Hong Kong, which seems to be the entire fleet, including the newly-added Convairs.

On 3 December 1949, a British court in Hong Kong ruled against the Nationalists taking over CATC & CNAC's airplanes. However, amidst strong US pressure, Claire L. Chennault and Whiting Willauer of CAT purchased the Nationalist Chinese government interests in both grounded airlines, thereby taking control of their assets. Chennault & Willauer had all grounded aircraft transferred to them, and later to CAT. The bill of sale included the following CATC airplanes (more than the previously reported fleet of 31 aircraft!):

• 6 Convair 240s;
• 19 to 21 Douglas DC3s & C-47s;
• 18 Commandos.

This transaction essentially ended CATC's existence.

July 1946 to December 1949

CATC operated Commandos purchased from India & China war surplus. Many of them were purchased for spares, and never actually operated. Quite a bit of uncertainty exists around the registrations and actual serial numbers of the aircraft used.

By December 1949, the airline had 18 Commandos in Hong Kong, which all ended up transferred to CAT.

• Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando: XT-522
• Other Commandos: XT-512, XT-520, XT-524, XT-526, XT-534, XT-536, XT-540, XT-542, XT-544