Scheduled service continues to be offered between Entebbe and Mwanza via Bukoba in addition to a variety of nonscheduled bush operations, including stops at Ukerewe Island and Geita.
Considering the company to be a security risk, the government of Uganda shuts the airline down in 1965; all but one aircraft are flown to Nairobi, where a new base is established at Wilson Airport. Although one Rapide remains available, the mainline Cessna flies a total of 3,150 passengers on the year.
Operations continue apace during the remainder of the decade and into the early 1970s. During these years, W. J. Cardwell becomes general manager and new routes, again, in cooperation with EAAC, are opened from Nairobi to Kisumu via Kericho, and from Musoma to Bukoba via Mwanza.
Investco Africa purchases the concern in 1972. During the middle part of the decade, the fleet comprises 1 each Cessna 401, 1 Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander, 1 Douglas DC-3, and 1 Hamilton Westwind 3. Two more Douglas transports are acquired from EAAC in 1977, just before its failure. Flights continue in 1978-1979 and, during July of the latter year, the carrier is reformed into Sunbird Aviation, Ltd.
CASPAR AIR CHARTER & AGENCIES, LTD.: Kenya/ Uganda, (1946-1963). Keith Campling establishes, with his brothers, an FBO at Nairobi West Airport in 1946, together with a flight school and a lightplane charter service. In addition to Campling Bros. & Van-derwal, Ltd., this sight-seeing service, Caspar Air Charter & Agencies, Ltd., is formed as a subsidiary to offer flights around Lake Victoria from bases both at Nairobi and at Entebbe, Uganda. Revenue flights commence with 2 Piper J-3 Cubs and 1 PA-12 Super Cruiser.
During the early 1950s, several de Havilland DH-89A Dragon Rapides are acquired and they begin twice-weekly roundtrips linking Nairobi and Entebbe with Bukoba and Mwanza. If there is demand, stops can be arranged at Ukerewe Island and Geita. The latter two points are dropped when, in cooperation with East African Airways Corporation, the route becomes scheduled in 1957.
By the start of the 1960s, the fleet includes 2 Dragon Rapides, 2 Cessna 180s, 2 C-182s, and 1 C-150. Yugoslav-born Zivota Boskovic is chief pilot and one of four directors, with L. K. Campling, F. K. Campling, and H. van der Wal.
In June 1963, 77% of the company is sold to New York-based Blackwell Enterprises for ?120,000. Chief pilot Boskovic moves across the airport to form his own airline, now known as ZB Air, Ltd. Blackwell reforms Campling into Safari Air Service, Ltd., but leaves intact the Entebbe-based portion of the Caspar subsidiary.
CASPIAN AIRLINES: Enghiab Ave., Kaledge, Apt. No. 1020, Tehran, Iran; Phone 98 (2) 451-4702; Fax 98 (2) 67-8547; Code CPN; Year Founded 1993. Iranian and Russian businessmen establish Caspian at Tehran in 1993 to offer domestic services. M. Rajabian is named president and he begins revenue operations with 3 leased Yakovlev Yak-42Ds and 1 Tupolev Tu-154M.
Invisible service is maintained in 1994-1999, with enplanements of 191,000 reported in 1998.
While taking off from Tehran on August 29, 2000, two tires burst on the Tu-154M. The aircraft circles for three hours burning off fuel and then completes a safe emergency landing back at its point of origin.
CASSOVIA AIR: Slovakia (1991-1994). Cassovia is established at Bratislava in 1991 to offer regional charter services with a single Beech Super King Air 200. In late 1993, a British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 is ordered for a planned new scheduled route between Kosice and Vienna and Munich. Operations cease in 1994.
CASTLE AVIATION: Portage County Airport, 8101 State Rte. 44, Ravenna, Ohio 44266, United States; Phone (330) 296-5563; Fax (330) 296-2265, Year Founded 1984. Castle is established by Michael Grossmann at Ravenna, Ohio, in 1984 to provide executive and small group passenger charters as well as express cargo services in the U. S. east of the Mississippi River.
By 2000, Castle employs four pilots and operates 1 each Grumman 690A Turbo Commander, Piper PA-31-325 Navajo, and PA-60 Aerostar in passenger configuration and 1 each Navajo, PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain, PA-32 Cherokee Six, and Cessna 208B Caravan I strictly for freight.
CAT (CORPORACION DE AERONAUTICA DE TRANS-PORTES, S. A.): Mexico (1929-1932). Los Angeles banker Theodore Hull, who is also a private pilot, sets up his airline at El Paso in early 1929. With 2 Ryan B-1 Broughams and ex-major Bernard Law as managing director, CAT initiates service on March 9 over a route from Brownsville to Matamoros; this service is soon extended to Mazatlan on the Pacific coast via Torreon.
Three $18,500 Lockheed Model 5 Vegas are now delivered to new company headquarters at Torreon and a number of pilots are employed, including four who later become widely known: Lowell Yerex, Gordon Barry, Paul Braniff, and Wiley Post. On August 11, an 1,104-mile route is opened from El Paso to Mexico City via Chihuahua, Torreon, Zacate-cus, and Aquascalientes.
The fleet is increased in 1930 as 7 additional Vegas, a Bellanca P-200, and a Bach 3-CT-6 Air Yacht are purchased; the initial Ryan Broughams are lost in crashes in the Sierra Madre. Enplanements total 2,283.
Founder Theodore Hull is killed in the crash of a new Bellanca in Pennsylvania on November 25, 1931. Despite the company’s success in transporting nearly 4,500 passengers on the year, Managing Director Law is unable to keep the carrier going and it ceases operations on February 9, 1932.
World History
