Lindy field From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 3072 posts, RR: 15 Posted (10 years 3 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1594 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
I was wondering if anyone could tell me anything about the history of these two Convair operators from the 1980s whose aircraft used to fly into SAN. I believe Cochise was based in Arizona, and it looks from the photos in the database that Air Resorts' planes wound up at Carlsbad. Photos are below. Any info is appreciated. Thanks!
First are the two photos I could find of Cochise. I remember seeing the CV-440 in the scheme that appears below.
Planenutz From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 1267 posts, RR: 12 Reply 1, posted (10 years 3 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1563 times:
I remember Cochise at TUS in the 80's and that they were based there. They ised to have a maintenance hanger at the north end of the airport complex that was destroyed sometime in the early 90's when a FedEx 727 rolled into it during high winds. They also used to operate out of the old Terminal 1 (demolished) at PHX until they went bankrupt.
FATFlyer From United States of America, joined May 2001, 5667 posts, RR: 18 Reply 2, posted (10 years 3 months 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1562 times:
The only thing I know about Cochise is that it filed Chap 11 back in 1982.
Air Resorts has had an interesting history. At times it had both domestic scheduled and flag carrier status (for Mexico service). The company received its scheduled certificate in 1982 but stopped scheduled flights in 1985 and lost the scheduled certificate in 1987. Air Resorts then operated charter only service from 1985 to 1989. It then began scheduled charter service before reapplying for a scheduled certificate. That was granted in 1989. They then operated twice-daily SAN-TUS in the Convairs, starting in May 1990 but ended service after only 8 months, mainly due to rising fuel costs during the last Gulf crisis and a fare war between WN and AWA.
They reapplied to the FAA in 1992 and were once again determined fit to operate as a scheduled commuter with plans to operate LAS-Grand Canyon service.
Air Resorts over the years operated a variety of routes including Burbank, San Diego, Carlsbad, Baja California, Tucson. At one point around 1995, 49% of the company was owned by David Walsh (I don't remember the majority owners name). Walsh bought into Air Resorts and was planning to use it to start an airline called PSA. Walsh also tried to purchase Fresno-based Air21 just prior to Air21 ceasing operations. I'm not sure if he is still connected with Air Resorts.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6201 posts, RR: 43 Reply 3, posted (10 years 3 months 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 1539 times:
As a person who lives, and has lived in Tucson most of his adult life, I may have a bit to add here.
Firstly the Cochise 440 never entered service. It flew a few flights for the FAA and that was it.
Secondly the Cochise hangar survived until last year and was last used by Rocky Mountain Helicopters. And I might add it was considered to be on the west side of the field as the airport is oriented east to west (sort of). The new bizjet hangar on the site had the last concrete poued several days ago and the structure will begin assembly late this nest week. And.......no FedEx 727 rolled into the old hangar, they wre based southwest of this location until the mid 1990s when the new cargo ramp east of the teminal opened.
For my info on the Cochise 440 operations I defer to the director of marketing at the time, my father.
Now for Air Resorts. The reason so many appear at Carlsbad airport is that this was their base. For those that may visit Tucson in the near future, N968N is now inside the ex-Hamilton Aviation yard to the east of the main hangar. The other painted in red/white colers, N969N flies today (as far as I know) in the pacific northwest for Air Tahoma as a FedEx feeder.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Lindy field From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 3072 posts, RR: 15 Reply 4, posted (10 years 3 months 2 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 1529 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD DATABASE EDITOR
Imisspiedmont,
Thanks for the info. Could you provide some info on the routes and aircraft flown by Cochise? Did they operate any other types of Convair aircraft. Maybe what I saw was the 440 on its FAA flights. I would have been 8 or 9 years old so I may have been mistaken...
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6201 posts, RR: 43 Reply 5, posted (10 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 1504 times:
OK heres my "Mea Culpa." Is there not a bit of redundancy here?
Indeed a FedEx 727 di clip the Cochise hangar in the early 1990s. Neither the 727 or the hangar were seriously injured however.
Lindy, I have a rather complete set of DP timetables and other memorabilia. They are however in box "b" which is in the nether regions of my storage closet. What I can tell you that DP operated the Cessna 402, DHC-6, and Metro IIs between almost every town in Arizona, and to SAN and LAS. The 440 was indeed never operated on revenue flights as the airline was dead before it was delivered.
If you by chance read this, send me an E-Mail with a POB and I'll try to dig out a timetable to send you.
Here is my meager inventory of timetables:
Cochise Airlines 72-02-18 System 2
Cochise Airlines 73-06-10 Sysrem 4
Cochise Airlines 73-10-27 System 3
Cochise Airlines 74-05-22 Phoenix to Prescott 1
Cochise Airlines 76-07-01 System 7
Cochise Airlines 77-10-01 System 3
Cochise Airlines 78-04-30 System 5
Cochise Airlines 79-09-01 System 6
Cochise Airlines 79-11-01 System 1
Cochise Airlines 80-04-01 System 6
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
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