T. Brooks 3rd forms GCA at Paso Robles, California, in 1979 to offer scheduled passenger and cargo commuter flights between its base and San Francisco. The service replaces one previously provided by Swifte Aire. Employing a Piper PA-31-310 Navajo, revenue frequencies commence in June, linking the company’s base with King City.
In 1980-1981, San Luis Obispo, Los Angeles, and Sacramento join the route network and the fleet now comprises 3 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains and 1 Navajo.
Cash flow problems caused by recession and the effects of the PATCO air traffic controllers’ strike during the summer of the latter year conspire to put the company out of business in November 1982.
GOLDEN EAGLE AIR TOURS: United States (1984-1995). A division of Golden Eagle Enterprises, GEAT is founded by James E. Bran-nan at Fresno, California, in 1984 to offer regularly scheduled 75-minute sight-seeing flights over Yosemite National Park. A de Havilland Canada DHC-6-200 Twin Otter is employed to inaugurate revenue services.
A decade later in 1994, Brannan continues operations, having added charter services as well. The new services are not well received and the company shuts down in 1995.
GOLDEN EAGLE AIRLINES: United States (1979). Named for the California bird, GEAis set up at Santa Rosa on January 1, 1979. Cessna 402 services are inaugurated linking the new commuter’s base with Redding, Chico, Sacramento, and San Francisco.
After only a quarter, the company is taken over by Western Commuter Airlines on April 1.
GOLDEN GATE AIRLINES: United States (1980-1981). Successor to Idaho-based Gem Star Airlines and Air Pac of Oakland, California, the large regional GGA is organized by Justin Colin at Monterey on January 1, 1980 to provide commuter services to some 13 cities in California, Nevada, and Idaho. The initial fleet comprises 6 de Havilland Canada DHC-7-102s, 11 Swearingen Metro IIs, and 4 Convair CV-580s and orders are outstanding for 8 additional Dash 7 s and 12 DHC-8s.
An affiliation is also arranged with Air Oregon of Portland and Apollo Airlines of Goleta, California, and on March 1 Air Pacific is purchased and merged. Initial points visited are San Francisco, Modesto, Fresno, San Jose, and Los Angeles. Nearly 396,000 passengers are carried during the start-up year.
In 1981, a new corporate identity program is initiated, complete with new logo and livery, as new advertising campaigns are started. Retirement of the Convairs begins in April as four additional Dash 7 s arrive.
As is the case with Aeromech Airlines of West Virginia, the PATCO air traffic controllers’ strike and subsequent ATC restrictions are severely damaging; indeed, in this case, it is quickly fatal. Up to the time of the controversial job action, the one-year-old Monterey-based carrier has boarded 442,363 travelers on the year. With the sudden traffic drop caused by the ATC effects of the strike, the company’s cash flow situation becomes so critical that it is simply forced to shut its doors on August 21.
GOLDEN GATE AIRWAYS: United States (1960-1961). GGAis set up at San Francisco in the fall of 1960 offer scheduled passenger and cargo services to Lake Tahoe. Beech 18 flights commence in November and continue until the company is grounded in November 1961 by the FAA for maintenance and FAR difficulties.
GOLDEN HORN AVIATION, A. O: Turkey (1990-1995). GHA is established at Istanbul in 1990 to offer charter and contract service cargo flights to regional destinations; M. Truhan Senay is CEO. Revenue operations commence with two leased Boeing 707-324Cs first flown by Continental Airlines, but are cut short as a result of Iraq’s August invasion of Kuwait and subsequent UN actions.
Operations are suspended for the next three years; however, flights are briefly resumed for the summer schedule in 1994 with a single chartered B-707-324C.
Flights are halted in September, this time for good. The carrier is liquidated in early 1995.
World History
