Comco
{{short description|Aircraft operator in the United States}}
{{About|the aircraft operator||COMCO (disambiguation){{!}}COMCO}}
{{Infobox Airline
| airline = Comco
| image =
| IATA =
| ICAO =
| callsign =
| founded = 2002
| fleet_size = 2
| destinations = Global
| parent = L3Harris Technologies
| headquarters = Helena, Montana
}}
Comco is the de facto name of an American company operating two Boeing 757 aircraft.
Overview
Little is known about the exact nature of their operation, but the aircraft are believed to operate on behalf of the United States Department of Defense.{{cite news|last=Booth|first=Robert|date=1 November 2009|title='Torture flight' plane spotted in Birmingham|newspaper=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/nov/01/rendition-flight-birmingham-airport-cia|access-date=14 November 2018}} There is speculation they are occasionally repainted to display military serial numbers instead of the customary civilian registration code.{{cite web|author=RobK|date=11 July 2018|title=Response to: 757's Parked at RIC|url=https://www.airliners.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=1398415&p=20549317#p20549317|access-date=21 October 2019|website=Airliners.net Discussion Forums|publisher=VerticalScope}} They are often confused with the similarly secretive and sparsely marked Boeing C-32B Gatekeeper aircraft, modified 757s operated by the U.S. Air Force.{{cn|date=December 2022}}
The aircraft are painted white, and have either the word COMCO on the tail or stylized blue sweeps on the tail, fuselage, and engine cowling. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registry lists the owner of the aircraft as L-3 Capital,{{cite web|date=30 January 2003|title=N226G Inquiry Results|url=https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/|access-date=21 October 2019|website=FAA Registry|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration}}{{Dead link|date=July 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|date=4 March 2003|title=N610G Inquiry Results|url=https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=610G|access-date=21 October 2019|website=FAA Registry|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|archive-date=5 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405145201/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=610G|url-status=dead}} assumed to be a subsidiary of defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.{{cn|date=December 2022}}
When parked and unused, the aircraft have padlocks which seal each of the exits, a highly unusual modification for an aircraft of its type and size.{{Citation|last=DBC|title=The Mysterious Comco 757|date=2008-04-30|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/dbcnwa/2459453483/|access-date=2021-07-26}}
Fleet
File:Comco Boeing 757-200 CBR Gilbert-1.jpg N226G photographed at Canberra Airport.]]
As of June 2019, Comco operates 2 Boeing 757-200s, which both aircraft are operating in the defense segment of L3Harris.{{Cn|date=December 2024}} Both aircraft are powered by the Rolls-Royce RB-211.{{Citation|last=v1images.com|first=Jason Nicholls /|title=N610G COMCO Boeing 757-22L|date=2007-11-03|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/v1image/30704141246/|access-date=2021-07-04}} Until 2016, the planes used by Comco only had a black Comco lettering on the vertical stabilizer, with a partial black cheatline forward of the wing and "Boeing 757" in small lettering beneath the aft windows. In 2017, the lettering was replaced by small navy and teal swoosh graphics, and the Rolls-Royce logos on the engine nacelles were removed.{{Citation|last=jw2513|title=N610G|date=2015-11-11|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/jw2513/22921065286/|access-date=2021-07-04}}
Incidents
In 2003, a Comco aircraft, registration N610G, was forced to land after being intercepted by aircraft from the Indian Air Force after it strayed into Indian airspace on a flight from Karachi to Malé.{{cite news |url=https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/India-Forces-Cargo-Plane-to-Land-9079072.php |title=India Forces Cargo Plane to Land |newspaper=Plainview Daily Herald |publisher=Hearst |date=3 February 2003 |access-date=14 November 2018 |archive-date=23 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190623144400/https://www.myplainview.com/news/article/India-Forces-Cargo-Plane-to-Land-9079072.php |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |title=US plane ordered to land in Mumbai |url=https://www.rediff.com/news/2003/feb/03mum.htm |work=Rediff.com |agency=Press Trust of India |date=3 February 2003 |access-date=21 October 2019}} The flight was permitted to continue after the crew were interviewed by authorities.{{cn|date=December 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat-inline|Comco}}
- [https://www.jetphotos.com/airline/Comco JetPhotos.com – Photos taken of Comco aircraft]
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Category:Airlines established in 2002
Category:Airlines based in Montana