Atlas Air N464MC at night at Dulles International Airport (IAD) in August, during the relief missions.
On Thursday, September 16, at 09:54 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST), Atlas Air N464MC landed at Marana, Ariz. (MZJ). Its final stop was the “boneyard,” where it was to be parked and parted out in the desert, likely never to fly again.
The aircraft was manufactured in February of 1992 and first delivered to Japan Airlines. Atlas took delivery in 2011 and N464MC officially joined Atlas in October of that year.
For years, N464MC was a workhorse, flying more than 24,500 block hours on 4,460 flights, through 247 cities, and serving many customers including the United States military, collegiate and professional sports teams, corporate charters, cruise ship companies, and more.
“Atlas Air took great pride in supporting Garuda Indonesia with N464MC during the yearly Muslim Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia,” said Kevin Sarubbe, Senior Vice President, System Operations.
N464MC in MIA at an A Check in January of 2016.
According to Mike Henry, Senior Director Maintenance Planning and Records, a rigorous schedule of safety and maintenance checks – 64 maintenance events in all – kept N464MC operating safely and smoothly all these years.
It’s this commitment to upkeep that keeps the airplane “airworthy,” even in its retirement.
“For the next few months, we’ll be removing certain components and adding them to our inventory to support the rest of our fleet, including the newer 747s we recently acquired,” explained Mike.
Atlas Air and Southern Air planes at the “boneyard” in Arizona.
Most recently, N464MC carried 1,570 evacuees from Afghanistan to safety in the United States.
“Those final missions served as a very noble ending for N464MC,” said Mike Reingold, Passenger Service Representative Supervisor, who launched his career on this very aircraft and was honored to service it until the end.
Click here for video captured by Mike Henry, of N464MC’s arrival into Marana, Ariz.
Click here for First Officer Brian Wade’s account of the aircraft’s final flight into Ramstein Air Base (RMS).
464MC pictured with Atlas colleagues Mike Henry (left) and Mike Reingold (right).
