PBIflyguy From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 248 posts, RR: 1 Posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 4093 times:
Anyone out there remember Trans Caribbean Airlines? If memory serves AA bought them in the early 70's. I'm pretty sure they flew DC-10's into JFK at one point too. I haven't been able to find any photos on a.net
I'm thinking this is how AA got started with their Caribbean stronghold? Anyone with a good memory, feel free to comment.
Carnival air From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 2 hours ago) and read 4034 times:
Yup. They flew 707's and 727 from JFK to SJU and to Aruba. I think they flew to SDQ and Colombia. Not sure. Maybe even started Miami service. AA already flew to SJU from somwhere in the Northeast when they bought them. I wouldnt say that was their big entrance to the Caribbean but it helped a little.
Hope this helps.
Oooo....check A.net because I have seen a few pictures.
Timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6228 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4001 times:
They flew DC-8s. No 707s far as I know. And no DC-10s-- they merged before that.
AACUN From Mexico, joined Jan 2004, 343 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 2 days ago) and read 3981 times:
TCA,
As we commonly refer to it, used to fly DC6/DC7 at the beggining, and worked their way up to DC8´s and 727´s. They flew scheduled service from JFK to different points in the carribbean, including San Juan, Aruba and St. Thomas/St. Croix. They also specialized on doing military chartes to Europe and Asia, and had, throughout their existance, bases in Hawaii, Frankfurt, San Juan, New York and as far as I know, somewhere in the Far East among others.
We still have some of their great F/A´s and pilots flying at American. They were a very small, family type operation, where everyone knew everyone. I could only wish I had been a part of that................. Those were the good old days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AACUN From Mexico, joined Jan 2004, 343 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 2 days ago) and read 3962 times:
Don´t quote me, but as far as I know, they flew props to the carribbean from New York before they got jets. Im not 100% sure, but Ill ask some of my friends that used to fly for them and confirm this.
Prinair From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 742 posts, RR: 3 Reply 6, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3920 times:
Trans Caribbean Airways... "Your flying Island"
American began attempts to acquire Trans Carib in 1970. The approval from officers and stockholders from both airlines came quickly and Presiden Nixon approved the merger on 12/30/70. The merger became effective on 3/2/71. In AA's 1971 annual report it was stated that in the first ten months of operation of TCA's routes load factors increased and unit costs reduced by twelve percent. The merger was a success, it was profitable and for a few months gave AA leadership on the New York-Puerto Rico route.
In addition to New York-San Juan route, American gained entry into the following markets; Curacao, Aruba, St. Thomas, St. Croix and Port Au Prince.
Trans Caribbean (it was called "La Tranca" by many Spanish speaking passengers) was known for good reliable service with their DC-8s and 727s.
Their first DC8 (DC8-51/N8780R/"James Roy") was delivered on 11/6/1961.
MSYtristar From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 6013 posts, RR: 53 Reply 7, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 3897 times:
You can check out the "proposed" (and I reiterate "proposed") reincarnated version of TCA...
www.flytca.com
I haven't heard a peep from them since late last year. I guess it's time for another email...or better yet, a visit to their office. If it still exists!
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined exactly 11 years ago today! , 6047 posts, RR: 50 Reply 8, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 3840 times:
"used to fly DC6/DC7"
On scheduled flights?
Oh to be so young as to be surprised by that. Care to take a guess when EA retired the Connie?
I think a test for people to live in the southwest US should be no A/C in the car for a summer.
Voodoo From Niue, joined Mar 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 3757 times:
I always thought it was a 727-100.
STT's runway was only 4600 ft at the time and only -100s have the extra degrees of flap setting.
Was their airline designation `2A7' or ``A7'?
LatinAviation From Ireland, joined Nov 2003, 1275 posts, RR: 20 Reply 11, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3724 times:
Peter Dolara, AA's Sr VP of Latin America and Caribbean, came from TCA, as did many within AA's Caribbean Sales office here in New York. AA also swapped their South Pacific routes for Pan Am's Caribbean routes around the same time as the TCA purchase, though I don't know the year. That, with TCA, gave them a strong presence, until AA bought Eastern's Latin American division - and San Juan hub - which sealed the deal.
MasseyBrown From United States of America, joined Dec 2002, 4503 posts, RR: 8 Reply 13, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3633 times:
They also flew from Washington (can't remember which airport) to San Juan. They were owned by O. Roy Chalk who lived in DC.
"Trans-car-RIB-e-an ... Boom ba-boom ba-boom." I can still hear their jingle.
Prinair From United States of America, joined Dec 1999, 742 posts, RR: 3 Reply 14, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 1 day 5 hours ago) and read 3604 times:
For those interested...
Trans Caribbean liked to advertise using murals on the sides of large buildings.
You can go to the Condado area of San Juan (Ashford Avenue - hotel row) and still see a mural/mosaic made out (I think on this one they used small color tiles) to depict a DC8. You can clearly read "Trans Caribbean Airways" and it also has a list of destinations. This is on a wall that was part of a T.C.A. city ticket office. The building was later remodeled and it is now a ticket office for American Airlines. Also, if you drive to the Miramar section, there is a very large old high school and accross the street you can see a building that still has a roof top "Trans Caribbean" sign.
Dc863 From Denmark, joined Jun 1999, 1547 posts, RR: 3 Reply 16, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 3507 times:
Voodoo it was definately a 727-200. After the accident only 727-100s were allowed to fly there. American lost a 727-23 at the island in 1976. Interestingly enough Caribair lost a DC-9-32 on a landing accident there as well in 1969.
Voodoo From Niue, joined Mar 2001, 1919 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 3461 times:
Dc863 wrote:
Voodoo it was definately a 727-200. After the accident only 727-100s were allowed to fly there. American lost a 727-23 at the island in 1976. Interestingly enough Caribair lost a DC-9-32 on a landing accident there as well in 1969.
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Thanks! Wow. Those were the days . Talk about not learning from mistakes, let alone having that mountain at the end of the runway for so long.
Broke From United States of America, joined Apr 2002, 1322 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (8 years 2 months 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 3433 times:
When Trans Caribbean operated DC-8's, much of their heavy maintenance was done by Eastern Airlines in Miami.
One of the trademarks of Trans Carib was a palm tree on the vertical stabilizer.
One clown made up a paper monkey and would stick it up in the palm tree on the vertical, just for grins. When the Trans Carib rep saw this, she would head for the office to raise a little h_ll. When she would bring the Eastern manager to see this outrage, of course the monkey was gone. Actually, it was now on the other side of the vertical stab. They kept her running for a few days with the monkey.
One unfortunate incident was a fire in the hangar on a Trans Carib DC-8. The airplane was totaled and a cleaner was fatally injured. I knew the supervisor who carried the cleaner out of the airplane. Not a pretty sight!! He was using MEK in the cockpit with power on the airplane; the fumes lit off.
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From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 248 posts, 
From Mexico, joined Jan 2004, 343 posts, 
, 6047 posts, 
From Denmark, joined Jun 1999, 1547 posts, 
From Niue, joined Mar 2001, 1919 posts, 
From Ireland, joined Nov 2003, 1275 posts, 
. Talk about not learning from mistakes, let alone having that mountain at the end of the runway for so long.
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