Transferred to San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the company is purchased by the owners of Southern Air Transport. Jack Bastian is named president. Reformed as a wholly owned subsidiary operating under the name CASAIR (Caribbean Air Services), flights are resumed in the spring. Passenger operations are halted as renewed emphasis is placed on cargo service. The Beech 18s are withdrawn and 2 Douglas DC-3s and 2 Curtiss C-46s are flown on scheduled air frequencies to Antigua, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. Lucia.
A total of 3 million FTKs are operated in 1981. The carrier’s 4 freighters stretch routes in 1982 to St. Martin and St. Kitts. Cargo blossoms to over 500,000 pounds per month and reaches a 6 million FTK high by December 31.
Operations cease in August 1984. Unable to restart, the company’s assets are liquidated in October, with 1 of the C-46s sold to Air Manitoba, Ltd.
CARIBBEAN AIRBOATS: P. O. Box 37942, International Airport Station, San Juan, Puerto Rico 00937, United States; Phone (787) 791-1240; Fax (787) 791-4115; Code B9; Year Founded 1991. Fred Berkobin founds CA at St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, in the spring of 1991 to offer amphibious flights to other regional destinations in the eastern Caribbean. Operations are inaugurated with a Grumman Mallard and a Turbo-Mallard.
Landplane services appear to be a more profitable approach to additional markets and thus, in 1992, the company relinquishes its Grum-mans in favor of 2 de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters.
Operations continue apace in 1993-1996. During the latter year, a total of 8,678 passengers are flown. Alfred Ramos is president in 19972000 and his fleet comprises 3 Pilatus Britten-Norman PBN2 Islanders and 3 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains.
World History
