Corporate History

Northern Air Cargo's history is as rich and storied as the state in which it was born. Originally founded in 1956 as a partnership between Robert "Bobby" Sholton and Maurice Carlton, the airline was established as a charter air freight service, utilizing two C-82 "Flying Boxcars". The airline pioneered delivery of outsized cargo, such as generators and vehicle, to remote DEW Line sites, miners and settlements; delivery of freight to rural communities on a charter basis; and assistance with many special and emergency situations including the Good Friday Earthquake in 1964. Throughout the early years, the company developed a reputation for delivering what the customer needed, regardless of the shipment's size. It is a philosophy that would propel NAC to become the largest all-cargo carrier in the state of Alaska and provide the impetus for the company's ongoing expansion.

In September of 1969 the company acquired its first DC-6. With a 30,000-pound payload, the rugged aircraft was well suited for service in Alaska. It worked so well, in fact, that the company acquired 14 more over the next 25 years. Dedicated to finding ways to provide the best possible service and outstanding transportation value, NAC entered the jet age in May 1991. Looking to the future, NAC bought its 727-100 freights to accommodate the growing Alaskan economy.

In March of 2006 Northern Air Cargo was purchased by Saltchuk Resources, a transportation holding company with companies operating in Alaska such as TOTE, Delta Western Fuel Co., and Inlet Petroleum as well as other transportation companies in both the Atlantic and Pacific. We are proud to be Saltchuck's first airline.

With new ownership also came new aircraft. We began operating our three new Boeing 737-200 aircraft in the spring of 2007. These aircraft are the new heart of our fleet. Fast, efficient, flexible, and reliable, these planes are helping us provide even better customer service than before. They have a capacity of 30,000 lbs. and each has both roller deck flooring for fast loading and off-loading of palletized freight and a hard deck floor to accommodate oversized freight. They are also our first aircraft to feature our new logo.

Northern Air Cargo continues to grow to meet the needs of the Alaskan marketplace. Through subsidiaries and sister companies, Northern Air Cargo and its affiliates now provide people and business everywhere with a full array of surface and air transportation logistics services to handle everything from an overnight letter to the largest projects anywhere in the world. Our philosophy is one of service to customer, delivered as quickly, efficiently, and safely as possible.