Spirit of America is established in the spring of 1985 to provide coast-to-coast, prime time, all-cargo airlift on behalf of Indianapolis-based CF Air Freight. Operations commence in June with 2 Douglas DC-873 s wearing red titles on snow-white fuselages that fly from Los Angeles and San Francisco to New York (JFK) with a side day trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The assets of defunct Cam Air International are acquired in early 1986. including CAI’s entire freighter fleet of 7 Lockheed L-188AFs.
Two years later in 1987, the company is upgraded to offer both passenger and cargo charter services with a fleet of 17 Boeing 727-100Fs, 7 Lockheed L-188AFs, and 1 B-737-300. While the freighters continue to fly under contract to CF Air Freight, the latter aircraft is employed as transport for the Reno, Nevada, tour operator Casino Express.
In November, a B-727-100F begins five-times-weekly roundtrip flights between Columbus, Ohio, and San Juan on behalf of Profit Freight System. Another Electra freighter is acquired during the fourth quarter, an L-188PF purchased from Markair.
A total of 9,450 Casino Express passengers are flown by Christmas.
In 1988, the 700-employee carrier increases its fleet to 52 aircraft: 8 L-188AFs, 19 B-727-100Fs, 1 Falcon 20, and 24 Piper PA-31-310 Navajos. The Casino Express contract ends.
Passenger boardings climb to 36,000 and revenues total $1.19 million. The operating profit is $363,725.
The fleet is reduced in 1989 and now includes 10 B-727-100s (6 Dash-21Fs and 4 Dash-22Cs) leased from and operated for Emery Worldwide, plus 1 each leased B-727-25F and B-727-44F. The Falcon 20 and 2 L-188AFs are withdrawn. Unable to weather recession and difficulties in the air freight business, Spirit of America ceases operations in 1990.
SPOKANE AIRWAYS: Spokane International Airport, Spokane, Washington 99219, United States; Phone (509) 747-2017; Fax (509) 838-2387; Year Founded 1970. Established at Spokane in 1970 as an FBO and charter operation, Spokane Airways provides executive and small group passenger charters, air taxi, light cargo, medevac, and other services without interruption over the next 30 years.
In 2000, Operations Director Rick Lewis oversees the work of 5 fulltime pilots, who fly 3 Cessna 172 Skyhawks, 2 Cessna 206 Stationaires, 1 Cessna 210T Centurian, 1 Cessna 340, 1 Beech 55 Baron, and 1 Piper PA-34-200T Seneca II.
World History
