Timz From United States of America, joined Sep 1999, 6466 posts, RR: 8 Posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 8 hours ago) and read 3653 times:
I'm trying to list all the California airports that have ever had scheduled fixed-wing landplane passenger airline flights. Or I should say, airports that have been listed in the OAG-- we can't be certain the flights actually operated.
Start at the north end of the state:
CEC; ACV and EKA both
SIY Siskiyou County-- Southwest in the 50s and now and again since then
(Mott?)-- probably not, but Southwest's early-50s schedules show Dunsmuir with "service temporarily suspended." Never got unsuspended AFAIK.
RDD, RBL, CIC, OVE, MYV
Little River (Mendocino County)-- Southwest apparently flew there in the early 50s, and it also got Navajos in 1977, when it was listed in the OAG as Fort Bragg FOB.
CKE Lakeport/Clear Lake had Navajos in 1977
UKI-- Southwest in the 50s, and now and again since then; STS
The 1/62 OAG shows scheduled air-taxi flights to Travis AFB.
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Bay Area and southward therefrom:
SFO, OAK, SJC
Alameda is one of four airports that no longer exist-- probably closed soon after 1941? It was between Webster St and what later became Alameda NAS.
One that surprised me: NOT Gnoss Field, Novato had scheduled Navajos in 1977. Another surprise: the same airline flew to LVR Livermore.
APC, CCR. PAO had Golden West Twin Otters in 1970 to SFO/SJC.
One that I can't figure at all is VLO-- Westair was supposedly flying its Islanders SFO-CCR-APC-VLO in 1977, but the OAG says the airport is 9 miles north of Vallejo, which would have to be APC. But the 1977 OAG shows Westair leaving SFO at 1745, arriving CCR at 1805, arriving APC 1815 and VLO at 1820. Then leave VLO 1850, lv APC 1900, lv CCR 1915 and arr SFO 1935. Did any such airport actually exist?
WVI (Southwest in the 1950s), MRY and SNS. SNS had UA Convairs until 1962-63 and I thought nothing since, but the 5/81 OAG shows service there.
PRB, SBP, SMX, SBA, OXR; VBG had flights in the 1960s. I seem to recall Lompoc, but haven't found any there.
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Sacramento and south therefrom:
SMF, SAC (supposedly had a flight in 1988, too)
PVF Placerville (shown as WUP in the 1977 OAG)
COA, SCK, MOD, MCE, OYS (Mariposa-- the 1977 OAG calls it WSH, which I assume is the same airport)
FCH, then FAT after 1947
CLG, VIS, BKF
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LA area and southward:
LAX, BUR, ONT, LGB, SNA
VNY had Cessnas in 1980-81 to MRY and SFO
Grand Central had AA's flights in the late 1930s, then nothing after that (?). Closed circa 1960?
SMO had Wings West Cessnas to MMH in 1981
Alhambra had its last airline (Western Air Express) flight around 1930? Airport closed after 1941? It was between what's now I-10 and Valley Blvd.
EMT had flights in 1970 and 1981.
POC, LaVerne/Brackett was in the 1989 OAG for some reason-- Inland Empire Navajos.
FUL at various times, and RAL. Do I remember a schedule to Norton AFB? In 1970 Golden West flew to RTO, which it seems was Colton Morrow Field, which closed in the late 1970s (?).
In 1965 C-Air flew Doves to Redlands.
HMT, CLD, Catalina, and all four San Diego airports, SAN-MYF-SEE-SDM. And the 1980 OAG shows Pipers to CJN, El Cajon, but I don't see any trace of such an airport; did they mean SEE?
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Sierra and deserts:
TKF, TVL, MMH, BIH, DTH in 2/84, TRH, IYK, MHV, WJF, PMD, EDW in 1982
DAG (in 1982), APV, PSP, UDD in 1990, TRM (Bonanza in the 1950s), OBR/BXS, IPL. Bonanza claimed to fly to El Centro NAS in 1952 instead of IPL
Wedgetail737 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5526 posts, RR: 5 Reply 2, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 3562 times:
Don't forget TVL (South Lake Tahoe Airport, CA), Truckee, Chico, Crescent City, Red Bluff (I believe).
PSA flew 146's into CCR for a while. STS (Santa Rosa, CA), Vallejo, CA, Blythe, CA, Barstow, CA, Calexico, CA, BFL.
I think even Stove Pipe Springs in Death Valley had seasonal service.
Quoting FATFlyer (Reply 1): I never heard Mariposa called WSH, what year and airline?
Just realized what WSH might be.
They may be referring to Lake Wishon, what we now call Bass Lake on the south end of Yosemite. It was only about a 2200 foot runway. But the airport closed around 1960. Maybe someone used it instead of Mariposa's code.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain
MtnWest1979 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 2119 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 3536 times:
Quoting Wedgetail737 (Reply 2): Don't forget TVL (South Lake Tahoe Airport, CA), Truckee, Chico, Crescent City, Red Bluff (I believe).
PSA flew 146's into CCR for a while. STS (Santa Rosa, CA), Vallejo, CA, Blythe, CA, Barstow, CA, Calexico, CA, BFL.
These were already listed in original post.
I see Trans Sierra also stopped in Sonora on their way up to Lake Tahoe sometime in 50's, I guess.
SJCRRPAX From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (7 years 4 months 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 3489 times:
Quoting Timz (Thread starter): And the 1980 OAG shows Pipers to CJN, El Cajon, but I don't see any trace of such an airport; did they mean SEE?
I grew up in El Cajon, and I would bet that would be SEE (Gillespie Field). Long before I was born SEE belonged to the Marine Corp so maybe they changed its code when it went to civil aviation. I think one of the runways there is reasonably long. When I was in elementary school the rumor at the school was that a Boeing 707 made an emergency landing on the field and ruined the runway because it was too heavy. To this day I don't know if that happened or it was just the kids in school talking. Maybe an old timer aviation buff knows about it? So Old Timer San Diegans did a 707 ever land at Gillespie Field?
FATFlyer From United States of America, joined May 2001, 5667 posts, RR: 17 Reply 12, posted (7 years 4 months 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 3361 times:
Quoting N1120A (Reply 11): anyone have schedules that show service to OXR other than LAX?
I don't own any of these schedules to give you info on the flights but this will give you maps, destinations and dates.
Pbottenb From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 431 posts, RR: 1 Reply 13, posted (7 years 4 months 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 3333 times:
I remember a casino airline flying regular flights from San Bernardino (Norton/SBD) to Ely Nevada fro about a year in the 90's...I think it was Casino Air
MtnWest1979 From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 2119 posts, RR: 1 Reply 15, posted (7 years 4 months 1 day 10 hours ago) and read 3243 times:
Wedgetail737 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 5526 posts, RR: 5 Reply 18, posted (7 years 4 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3142 times:
That little airline that flew between OAK and TVL, along with other communities, was Sierra Expressway. I flew on Sierra Expressway from OAK to MFR, RT.
Alpha Air used to fly from OAK to MMH and Bishop using Cessna 402's.
PanAm747 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 4242 posts, RR: 10 Reply 19, posted (7 years 4 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3123 times:
Quote: PSA flew 146's into CCR for a while. STS (Santa Rosa, CA), Vallejo, CA, Blythe, CA, Barstow, CA, Calexico, CA, BFL.
Sorry, PSA never flew into BFL. I know - I wrote them letters all the time begging them to fly into BFL and connect it with the rest of the state.
In the book "Airliners at LAX: Los Angeles International Airport, 1956-1976" by Robert D. Archer, there is a picture of a DC-3 with "Catalina Airlines" livery (page 26). It is stated that by mid-1957, Catalina Airlines flew the 27 mile ocean flight. Is there even an airport there now? I thought only seaplanes flew this route! Good luck in finding that code...
Page 31, Bonanza Airlines flew to Apple Valley. Was that code in your list?
Page 33, Pacific Air Lines. Did they ever fly into BFL?
And finally, on page 86, there is a picture of a Trans California Lockheed Constellation 749. The book mentions that it was used mainly on trips from LAX to Lake Havasu - was that airport in California or Arizona? And does anyone have any other information on this airline?
Pan Am:The World's Most Experienced Airline - P(oor) S(ailor's) A(irline): San Diego's Hometown Airline-Catch Our Smile!
FATFlyer From United States of America, joined May 2001, 5667 posts, RR: 17 Reply 22, posted (7 years 4 months 14 hours ago) and read 3040 times:
Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 19): In the book "Airliners at LAX: Los Angeles International Airport, 1956-1976" by Robert D. Archer, there is a picture of a DC-3 with "Catalina Airlines" livery (page 26). It is stated that by mid-1957, Catalina Airlines flew the 27 mile ocean flight. Is there even an airport there now? I thought only seaplanes flew this route! Good luck in finding that code...
You mean "Airport in the Sky" at Catalina. The code is KAVX. IATA may be CIB but I'm not sure.
I thought the Catalina Airlines DC-3 was only for cargo, but I may be wrong. They had 2 of them though.
But I noticed this picture when doing a search. Check out the UA DC-3 at Catalina at the bottom of this page. Don't know if that was just a publicity visit or something else. http://www.catalinagoose.com/pacificmarine.html
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain
FATFlyer From United States of America, joined May 2001, 5667 posts, RR: 17 Reply 23, posted (7 years 4 months 14 hours ago) and read 3033 times:
Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 19): Bonanza Airlines flew to Apple Valley. Was that code in your list?
He has APV in the next to last line of his list, right after DAG.
Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 19): Page 33, Pacific Air Lines. Did they ever fly into BFL?
Yes.
Quoting PanAm747 (Reply 19): And finally, on page 86, there is a picture of a Trans California Lockheed Constellation 749. The book mentions that it was used mainly on trips from LAX to Lake Havasu - was that airport in California or Arizona?
Lake Havasu airport is on the Arizona side of the river.
"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain
RubyMtn738 From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 42 posts, RR: 0 Reply 24, posted (7 years 4 months 14 hours ago) and read 3021 times:
How about Swift Aire, they flew either Fokkers or Fairchild F-27s.
And Air LA had a mini hub at BFL in 96. Using Metros to Vegas and several California cities from there. I interviewed to be the BFL Station Manager but declined the offer.
Ambassador Airlines operated Vopar Beech 18s between Vegas and LA during the 60s. They had a few other markets in CA.
Quoting Wedgetail737 (Reply 18): That little airline that flew between OAK and TVL, along with other communities, was Sierra Expressway. I flew on Sierra Expressway from OAK to MFR, RT.
I used to commute that same route everyday. I lived in Medford and worked in Oakland at HDQ. SEX was going to fly OAK-OXR and SMX before we died.
Don't forget Reno Air Express 1994-1995 operating J-31s:
SJC-CIC-LMT
SJC-RDD-LMT
SJC-SMF
SJC-ACV
SJC-MRY
SJC-ACV-MFR
SJC-RDD-MFR
SJC-STS
STS-RNO Very short lived
Ruby
25 Timz: Pomona-- that would have to be LaVerne/Brackett? The 1965 chart doesn't show any other likely airport. Sure nuff, they're in the OAG with Cessnas. No
26 N1120A: Could have possibly been Cable, but Brackett was formerly open to commercial service, so it is possible.
27 Aaway: Gee Timz, thanks for shooting my creditbilty . Actually, I was off by a few years on this one. I found the carrier and schedules in the Aug. '94 edit
28 Pgtravel: HPX operated PHX-OXR with a DH8 starting in 2000. Here is the Phoenix Biz Journal article. They didn't stay that long though.
29 N1120A: Yeah, I knew about that one. It was really short lived.
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![_](javascript:compressPost('2563488','2','1','17','Bohica','" target=_blank>http://www.airtimes.com/cgat/usc/mis...5.jpg Also Westair/United Express flew OXR-SFO starting in 1990 with a J-31 and an occasional E','')){kind=link}