COBHAM AIR ROUTES, LTD.: United Kingdom (1935). Legendary flyer Sir Alan Cobham establishes Cobham Air Routes, Ltd. at London on May 3, 1935; capitalized at ?30,000, the fleet comprises an Airspeed Courier and a Westland Wessex. The two aircraft, each flying half the route, begin twice-daily London (Croydon)- Guernsey via Portsmouth and Bournemouth operations on May 6.
On July 3, the Wessex is lost between Bournemouth and Guernsey (one dead) and the company stops trading. Its assets are later acquired by Olley Air Services, Ltd.
COBHAM-BLACKBURN AIR LINES, LTD.: United Kingdom (1928-1930). Robert Blackburn’s Blackburn Aircraft subsidiary North Sea Aerial and General Transport, Ltd., which had been conducting proving flights in central Africa, is merged with Sir Alan Cobham’s company Alan Cobham Aviation, Ltd., on April 24, 1928, to form Cobham-Blackburn Air Lines, Ltd. The Khartoum-Kisumu flights started the previous year continue.
In November 1929, the company contracts to join in an operational and technical survey of the Cairo-Cape Town route sponsored by the Air
Ministry and Imperial Airways, Ltd.; the test is completed by April 11, 1930. In midyear, this small operator is acquired by the state airline, which has taken the decision to extend routes into Africa.
COCHISE AIRWAYS: United States (1971-1982). Named for the famous Native American chief, this third-level carrier is organized at Tucson, Arizona, in summer 1971 to offer scheduled Cessna 402 passenger and cargo commuter services to Phoenix, Kingman, Winslow, Prescott, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, and Yuma. Revenue flights begin in September, as Cochise becomes one of the first commuter airlines to receive official certification from the CAB.
During the next 5 years, the new entrant acquires a fleet of 4 402s,
2 Convair CV-440s, and 3 Fairchild-Swearingen Metro IIs. Enplane-ments in 1977 total 20,000, revenues total $712,000, expenses are $901,000, and the loss is $189,000.
In 1978, the year of the Airline Deregulation Act, bookings advance by 25% to 25,000. Revenues advance to $941,000, but costs remain uncontrolled, climbing by 46% to $1.31 million. Losses rise to $377,000.
Passenger boardings reach their highest point 1979, increasing by a staggering 340% to 110,000. Revenues, as a result, rise 404% to $4.74 million and expenses increase only 208% to $4.05 million, leaving the company with a $688,000 profit. Indeed, this is the commuter’s best— and last really profitable—year.
The fleet of the Tucson-based carrier in 1980 includes 4 Cessna 402s,
3 Swearingen Metro IIs, and 1 Convair CV-440.
Although traffic and income decline, there is sufficient optimism to plan new services to Bakersfield, Santa Monica, and Palm Springs and to order 3 SAAB-Fairchild 340s.
Passenger boardings dip 2.7% to 107,401 as cargo skyrockets 82.4% to 29,000 pounds. Expenses (led by increased fuel prices) climb to $5.64 million. But, on revenues of $5.77 million, the profit falls to $134,000.
However, if the 1980 decline is not bad enough, the PATCO air traffic controllers’ strike in the summer of 1981 proves fatal. Despite the addition of a second CV-440, ATC restrictions in the fall help to ensure that overall enplanements plummet 10.3% to 96,392 and freight drops 5.1% to 27,300 pounds.
The severe financial impact caused by the job action cannot be overcome and Cochise is forced to shut its doors on June 2, 1982.
COGEAIR (COMPAGNIE GENERALE AERIENNE AFRI-CAINE, S. A.): Belgian Congo/Congo/Democratic Republic of the Congo (1955-1971). Cogeair is established at Kinshasa’s N’Dolo Airport in 1955 to provide passenger and cargo charters throughout the country with a fleet of Piper and Cessna lightplanes. The carrier also provides feeder services on behalf of Sabena Belgian World Airlines, S. A. to communities within several hours of the capital.
Service continues apace during the remainder of the decade. A pair of de Havilland DH 114 Heron 1Bs are acquired and destinations visited from Kinshasa include Boma, Manimba, Masi, Luluabourg, Port Franc-qui, Lumbashi, Kingolo, Kalemi, Goma, Buni, and Beni.
Service becomes somewhat sporadic in the hectic years following the independence of the Belgian Congo in 1960. By the middle of the decade, the company has resumed steady operations, often in competition with the new Air Congo, S. A. (2).
When the Democratic Republic of the Congo becomes Zaire in 1971, Cogeair is taken over by Agence et Messagers Aeriennes du Zaire, S. A.
World History
