Comco

This article is about the aircraft operator. For other uses, see COMCO.

Comco is the de facto name of an American company operating two Boeing 757 aircraft.

Comco

Founded	2002
Fleet size	2
Destinations	Global
Parent company	L3Harris Technologies
Headquarters	Helena, Montana

Overview

Little is known about the exact nature of their operation, but the aircraft are believed to operate on behalf of the United States Department of Defense.^[1] They are often confused with the similarly secretive and sparsely marked Boeing C-32B Gatekeeper aircraft, modified 757s operated by the U.S. Air Force.^{[citation needed]}

The aircraft are painted white, and have either the word COMCO on the tail or stylized blue sweeps on the tail, fuselage, and engine cowling. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) registry lists the owner of the aircraft as L-3 Capital,^[2][3] assumed to be a subsidiary of defense contractor L3Harris Technologies.^{[citation needed]}

When parked and unused, the aircraft have padlocks which seal each of the exits, a highly unusual modification for an aircraft of its type and size.^[4]

Fleet

Comco Boeing 757-200 N226G photographed at Canberra Airport.

As of June 2019, Comco operates 2 Boeing 757-200s, which both aircraft are operating in the defense segment of L3Harris.^{[citation needed]} Both aircraft are powered by the Rolls-Royce RB-211.^[2][5] Until 2016, the planes used by Comco only had a black Comco lettering on the vertical stabilizer, with a partial black cheatline forward of the wing and "Boeing 757" in small lettering beneath the aft windows. In 2017, the lettering was replaced by small navy and teal swoosh graphics, and the Rolls-Royce logos on the engine nacelles were removed.^[6]

Incidents

In 2003, a Comco aircraft, registration N610G, was forced to land after being intercepted by aircraft from the Indian Air Force after it strayed into Indian airspace on a flight from Karachi to Malé.^[7][8] The flight was permitted to continue after the crew were interviewed by authorities.^{[citation needed]}