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airVeruda Ski Veruda BN2 Islander | I-DZCT



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airVeruda Ski Veruda BN2 Islander | I-DZCT

In 1988, ski resort chain owner Antonio Veruda needed a way to quickly access and go between his 9 (Soon to be 10) resorts in the Alps. So he bought a Britten Norman BN-2 Islander, capable of landing on small, snowy airstrips in the alps due to its sturdy fixed landing gear and low takeoff speed. With that he started the air branch of his company, Ski Veruda. Based in Milan Malpensa Airport for its proximity to the Alps, he called it Air Ski Veruda.

I-DZCT was mostly used to transport Mr. Veruda himself, but also some company officials. Sometimes flying cargo and staff in to and between the resorts. In August 1989, the day after the 10th resort was finished, Mr. Veruda made an early retirement at age 61 due to sickness, though retirement was never in his plans to begin with. He gave the company to his son, Lorenzo. Lorenzo looked up to his Uncle, who was in the Italian air force for much of while he was growing up, giving him an interest in aviation that not even god himself could keep him away from.

Lorenzo expanded Air Ski Veruda by buying another Islander, registered I-DZCX, and opening the air service to not just company executives, but to customers who were willing to pay for a private charter to one of the resorts. Under Lorenzo Veruda, an 11th resort was opened with profit from the air division, and Ski Veruda became one of the largest Italian ski resort companies in the region. Though Lorenzo's ambitions did not stop there.

In December 1989, Lorenzo bought a 737-200, much to the company's board of directors' disliking. He planned to paint this in an Air Ski Veruda livery and charter more customers to resorts next to bigger runways at a reduced cost. This would be possible due to the 737-200's unpaved strip kit. The month before arrival however, on a foggy morning, the company's second Islander, I-DZCX, suffered a CFIT (Controlled flight into terrain) accident with Lorenzo onboard, leaving the company with no successor.


In January 1990, a former executive came in charge and sold Air Ski Veruda and its assets to a 39 year old aviation businessman. From there, there were many things the new CEO of Air Ski Veruda had to do.