Salair Air Cargo Pilot Wing

Anchorage, AK 1980-1998

In 1980, Bruce and Paul Salerno purchased a DC-3 freighter and began flying fresh salmon from the beaches of Bristol Bay to Anchorage, Alaska. In 1981 Joe and Edie joined their sons in the venture, and Salair was born. During the 1980's Salair grew quickly under the leadership of CEO Bruce Salerno. Salair's fleet of nine DC-3 and three CV-440 aircraft flew in scheduled and on-demand service. Between 1980 and 1998, Salair operated a fleet of DC-3 and CV-440 aircraft under parts 125, 135 and 121 of the FARs. The company's core business was serving the overnight package express industry for customers such as the US Postal Service, UPS, Flying Tigers, FedEx, Airborne, Emery, Burlington Air Express, and others. The airline became Omni Air Group in 1998.