Mark Tabbutt, president of NAC's new owner, SaltChuk Resources Inc., is no newcomer to Alaska, and as such, has been keeping a keen eye on Alaska businesses.

The announcement of the all-cargo airlines' sale Feb. 2 was no surprise, but the SaltChuk ownership was. The acquisition is part of a bigger plan, according to Tabbutt.

"We have had our eye on NAC for some time. When the family approached us, it looked like a good prospect," Tabbutt said. "We also have our eye on several other Alaskan properties."

NAC, which has a 50-year history of Alaska service to little and big clients alike, will follow the dream of its founder, Bobby Sholton, according to Tabbutt and the Sholtons.

"We are very happy with this transition, it is good for the NAC family, and will take the company into the next 50 years," said Rita Sholton, NAC's former chairman. "This certainly will enhance NAC and take it into the future."

SaltChuk is a Pacific Northwest marine transportation company that owns Totem Ocean Trailer Express and 14 other companies that employ 4,500 people.

The Sholtons' decision to sell, although an emotional one, was the best thing for everyone, according to the company's former CEO and a member of the Sholton family.

"This is exciting and a really positive move for our customers, employees and the family," said Mary Sholton Witte.

Rumblings that the cargo airline was being sold have been reverberating around Alaskan airports since before Christmas. News of the sale spread from Fairbanks to San Francisco after it was announced to employees Feb. 2.

"I know both families and companies well, I am happy for all of them," said Jim Jansen, president of Lynden Transportation, a competitor to NAC.

General manager of Alaska Central Express Mike Bergt said he received the internal release as an e-mail message from a NAC employee.

"This is huge, huge, huge," Bergt said. "This will be a good move forward for the state and the cargo business."

After twice failing to sell the airline in as many years - to Empire Air and Everts Air - NAC chairman Rita Sholton and daughter Sholton Witte, found SaltChuk Resources as their hand-picked choice to buy the family-owned business.

"The other deals ... well, they were almost sales, and we learned much from them," Rita Sholton said. "I was waiting for the package, the deal that would keep the company together."

Sholton, who directed the company for 23 years, said that she heard many proposals to take pieces of NAC as separate businesses, but stuck to her guns to see the company remain intact into the future.

Under terms of the sale, SaltChuk acquires 100 percent of Northern Air Cargo Inc., Northern Air Maintenance Services Inc. and NacLink Inc. In separate, but related transactions, SaltChuk has also purchased the Sholton family's Fairbanks airport facility and supporting ground equipment, as well as the remaining assets of Northern Air Fuel.

According to NAC officials, SaltChuk has plans underway to immediately begin an aircraft fleet renewal program and will expand chartering and maintenance operations. Plans are also slated to grow the company's freight forwarding operations.

"We are looking at an all Boeing 737-200 fleet," Tabbutt said. "The management team at NAC will take the lead on this."

Currently, NAC has a maintenance facility for Boeing 737s and has the contract with ConocoPhillips for repairs and catering to its Boeing 737-200s, making the purchase of the 200s as a logical move.

Immediate changes in the management structure have elevated Bill Fowler, currently chief operating officer, to the position of chief executive officer. A new chief financial officer, Eric Van Andel, is being transferred from SaltChuk's Seattle office.

Company officials announced that Dave Karp will assume the position of senior vice president and chief operations officer starting in March. Karp is currently vice president and chief operations officer for Hawaiian Vacations.

Rita Sholton, who has served as chair of Northern Air Cargo for more than 20 years, has been elected chair emeritus. An advisory board will be formed to assist in the stewardship of the company. Witte has also agreed to serve on Northern Air's advisory board.

The announcement was made simultaneously in Anchorage and at the SaltChuk offices in Seattle.

"It was an exciting and emotional announcement," Witte said. "I have known the SaltChuk family, and their companies and ours have the same values and similar cultures."

Northern Air Cargo was started in 1956 by Bobby Sholton and Morrie Carlson, and is known for their use of DC-6 aircraft throughout Alaska.

Today NAC operates a fleet of four jet and turbine aircraft, and five Douglas DC-6 aircraft. NAC has 280 employees and reports annual revenues in excess of $50 million.

SaltChuk is a holding company with interests in the American Shipping Group Inc. and IAS, a technical ship management and ship crewing company. The firm has a 90 percent equity interest in Sea Star Line, which operates from Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Dominican Republic; TOTE; American Navigation; CMSA, an Argentine company that provides shipping services on the Parana River; CMSP, a Paraguayan company that operates the Mercorsur Shuttle; Foss Maritime Co.; Hawaiian Tug & Barge; Young Brothers, a Hawaiian company; Delta Western Inc.; IPC-Inlet Petroleum Co.; ILAHIE Holdings Co.; and a 50 percent interest in Roche Harbor Resort & Marinas in Tacoma, Wash.

SaltChuk also has a portfolio of undeveloped waterfront and timberland throughout the Pacific Northwest.

SaltChuk's board of directors consists of Stanley H. Barer, chairman emeritus; John Creighton Jr., former chief executive officer of United Airlines Corp.; Michael D. Garvey, chairman; Marc Langland; John V. Rindlaub; and Everett W. Trout, a principal of the company.