# Centurion Air Cargo

Centurion Air Cargo, operating as Centurion Cargo, was an American cargo airline based in Miami, Florida, United States.

## History

The airline was established as Challenge Air Cargo in 1985 as a subsidiary of Challenge Air Transport. In 1986, the airline became independent of Challenge Air Transport. In 2001, following the takeover of the scheduled business by United Parcel Service a new company was formed as Centurion Air Cargo to take over the air operating certificate of Challenge.
The airline surrendered its operating certificate to the Federal Aviation Administration in June 2018, after being unable to restructure its operations after financial difficulties.

## Centurion Cargo Center

The Centurion Cargo Center was a cargo terminal located at Miami International Airport, opened in 2013.
The facility comprised a 1,400,000 square feet (130,000 m$^2$) area incorporating a 550,000 square feet (51,000 m$^2$) warehouse with both cold and dry storage facilities.
Centurion Cargo Center was the largest privately owned, all cargo airline facility in North America before its operation was shut down.

## Destinations

Centurion Air Cargo operated to the following destinations:
| Country | City | Airport | Notes |
| Argentina | Buenos Aires | Ministro Pistarini International Airport | Hub |
| Argentina | Tucumán | Teniente General Benjamín Matienzo International Airport | |
| Brazil | Manaus | Eduardo Gomes International Airport | |
| Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Rio de Janeiro/Galeão International Airport | |
| Brazil | Viracopos | Viracopos International Airport | |
| Chile | Santiago | Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport | Hub |
| Colombia | Bogotá | El Dorado International Airport | Hub |
| Colombia | Medellín | José María Córdova International Airport | Hub |
| Ecuador | Latacunga | Cotopaxi International Airport | |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong | Hong Kong International Airport | |
| Japan | Tokyo | Narita International Airport | |
| Mexico | Guadalajara | Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla Guadalajara International Airport | |
| Mexico | Mexico City | Mexico City International Airport | |
| Netherlands | Amsterdam | Amsterdam Airport Schiphol | Hub |
| Panama | Panama City | Tocumen International Airport | |
| Paraguay | Ciudad del Este | Guaraní International Airport | |
| Peru | Lima | Jorge Chávez International Airport | Hub |
| United States | Los Angeles | Los Angeles International Airport | |
| United States | Houston | George Bush Intercontinental Airport | |
| United States | Miami | Miami International Airport | Hub |
| Uruguay | Montevideo | Carrasco International Airport | |
| Venezuela | Caracas | Simón Bolívar International Airport | |

## Fleet

The airline fleet previously included the following aircraft:
Centurion Air Cargo fleet :
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
| BAC One-Eleven Series 400AK | 1 | 1986 | 1986 | |
| Boeing 707-320C | 3 | 1983 | 1999 | |
| Boeing 727-100 | 1 | 1986 | 1987 | Leased from Air Panamá Internacional |
| Boeing 747-400BDSF | 1 | 2015 | 2017 | |
| Boeing 747-400ERF | 2 | 2013 | 2017 | |
| Boeing 747-400F | 1 | 2013 | 2015 | |
| Boeing 757-200PF | 3 | 1989 | 2000 | |
| Douglas DC-8-63PF | 2 | 1988 | 1991 | |
| Douglas DC-8-73CF | 1 | 1995 | 1995 | Leased from Southern Air Transport |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10F | 1 | 2006 | 2007 | Leased from Emery Worldwide |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30F | 7 | 2001 | 2010 | |
| McDonnell Douglas DC-10-40F | 3 | 1998 | 2004 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-11CF | 2 | 2009 | 2017 | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-11F | 3 | 2009 | 2018 | |

## Accidents and incidents

* On July 7, 2008, Centurion Air Cargo Flight 164 crashed near El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia, killing three people in a nearby house.
* On October 20, 2009, Centurion Air Cargo Flight 431, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F (registered N701GC) sustained damage on landing at Carrasco International Airport. The right hand main landing gear leg was bent sideways during landing on runway 24. The crew managed to stop on taxiway A where the airplane had to be offloaded.
* On October 13, 2012, Centurion Air Cargo Flight 425, a McDonnell Douglas MD-11F (registered N988AR) sustained substantial damage while landing at Viracopos International Airport. Upon touchdown, the left landing gear collapsed and the aircraft skidded along the runway for 800 meters (2,600 ft) before stopping. The aircraft was written off afterwards. All 3 occupants on board were uninjured.