Had Denied Rumors That The Company Was Closing

Evergreen International Airline has parked its airplanes and notified ALPA that pay owed to pilots will be delayed as the McMinnville, OR-based cargo carrier appears to have flown its final flight.

The Oregonian reports that a memo went out to ALPA members on Monday saying that meetings were scheduled with lienholders, but that pilots for the charter carrier with military contracts would likely see a delay in receiving their latest paychecks. The creditors decision "may take some time," according to James B. Touchette, chairman of ALPA Local 118.

Evergreen's founder Delford Smith had vigorously denied rumors that the company was about to fold. The carrier had at one time operated a worldwide fleet of 747 cargo jets under contracts that included the CIA and secret missions for the U.S. military.

Workers told the paper that the company's dispatch center was closed Monday, and its operations manager was let go. Evergreen International Aviation chairman Mike Hines had said as late as Monday that the company was still operating would remain open even as the dispatch center was being closed.

The last flight apparently landed early Monday at Victorville, CA. Some of the carrier's leased airplanes have been repossessed by creditors. It had recently divested its self of Evergreen Helicopters Inc. in an effort to repay some of its debt.

FMI: http://www.evergreenaviation.com/