The Dutch Dakota Association or DDA Classic Airlines, known by many just as the DDA, is a small foundation dedicated to the preservation and operation of classic aircraft, especially the Douglas DC-3 Dakota. They are located on the east side of

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Amsterdam Airport Schiphol , known informally as Schiphol Airport ( nl, Luchthaven Schiphol, ), is the main international airport of the Netherlands. It is located southwest of Amsterdam, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer in the province ...

in the

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

History

The DDA was founded in 1982 and acquired its first aircraft, a Douglas DC-3 from

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

, in 1983. A second DC-3 was purchased in 1987 and in 1995 two

Douglas DC-4 The Douglas DC-4 is an American four-engined (piston), propeller-driven airliner developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company. Military versions of the plane, the C-54 and R5D, served during World War II, in the Berlin Airlift and into the 1 ...

aircraft were added to the fleet. On 25 September 1996, their first DC-3 aircraft was lost in an accident. In 1998, a former Dutch government Dakota was donated to the DDA. In 2005, the Dutch Dakota Association changed its name to DDA Classic Airlines.

Accidents and incidents

* On 25 September 1996, Douglas DC-3C PH-DDA (ex OH-LCB (

Finnair Finnair ( fi, Finnair Oyj, sv, Finnair Abp) is the flag carrier and largest airline of Finland, with its headquarters in Vantaa on the grounds of Helsinki Airport, its hub. Finnair and its subsidiaries dominate both domestic and international ...

) / DO-7 (

Finnish Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , equipment = 159 , equipment_label ...

)) crashed on mudflats in the Wadden Sea north of

Den Oever Den Oever (; in English, the ''shore, the coast'') is a village in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is a part of the municipality of Hollands Kroon, and lies about east of Den Helder. Overview The village was first mentioned in 1432 as " ...

following an engine failure on a domestic non-scheduled passenger flight from Texel International Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. The propeller failed to feather and created excessive drag. All 32 people on board were killed. Additional factors in the accident were the crew's lack of proficiency in dealing with emergency situations and a lack of a simulator to practice handling emergencies.

Current fleet

Airworthy

The following aircraft are owned by the DDA and still

airworthy In aviation, airworthiness is the measure of an aircraft's suitability for safe flight. Initial airworthiness is demonstrated by a certificate of airworthiness issued by the civil aviation authority in the state in which the aircraft is registe ...

and flying: * Douglas DC-3 Dakota, registration PH-PBA (former Dutch government aircraft) * Stinson L-5 Sentinel, registration PH-PBB

Not airworthy

The following aircraft are owned by the DDA but no longer airworthy: * Douglas DC-2, last known registration VH-CRH (currently at the

Aviodrome The Nationaal Luchtvaart-Themapark Aviodrome (also known simply as Aviodrome) is a large aerospace museum in the Netherlands that has been located on Lelystad Airport since 2003. Previously the museum was located at Schiphol Airport.

museum) * Douglas DC-4 Skymaster, registration PH-DDY (currently at the Aviodrome museum) Neither aircraft will be restored to an airworthy condition.

Operations

Flights with the Douglas DC-3 PH-PBA can be booked, which is often making sight seeing flights or short trips to locations or cities both in the Netherlands and abroad. Trips to

airshow An air show (or airshow, air fair, air tattoo) is a public event where aircraft are exhibited. They often include aerobatics demonstrations, without they are called "static air shows" with aircraft parked on the ground. The largest air show ...

s can also be booked and DDA aircraft are occasionally on display as well. Their single airworthy Douglas DC-4 is currently being leased to SkyClass to provide luxury safari flights in Africa and trips to

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

. They sold the, at this time non airworthy, DC-4 in 2013 to the Dutch The Flying Dutchman Foundation. They are currently looking into restoring the DC-4 in airworthy conditions together with the DDA. The DC-4 is still located in South Africa

References

External links

DDA official website
{{Airlines of the Netherlands Airlines of the Netherlands Airlines established in 1982 Douglas DC-3