WEST COAST AIR CHARTER: 2211 East Missouri, Suite 219B, El Paso, Texas 79903, United States; Phone (915) 543-6069; Fax (915) 532-0195; Year Founded 1974. Yoli Damian sets up WCAC at El Paso in 1974, together with facilities at Ontario, California, Willow Run Airport at Ypsilanti, Michigan, and at Moore-Murrell Airport in Morristown, Tennessee. Executive charter and contract services cargo flights begin and continue over the next 25 years. The 12 employees of the carrier undertake flights with a variety of executive jets and other aircraft.
A decade later, the fleet comprises 2 Gates Learjet 25s, 1 Learjet 35, and 2 Rockwell Turbo Commander 690Bs. Operations continue apace and in 2000 the company flies 1 each Dassault Falcon 20 and Learjet 25D from Michigan, 1 Learjet 25D from California, and 1 each Beech 18 and Douglas DC-3 from Tennessee.
On November 1, the float-equipped Twin Otter with 2 crew and 15 passengers crashes into the Burrard Inlet while taking off from Vancouver Harbour. Although the right wing catches fire, there are no injuries reported.
WEST COAST AIR SERVICES, LTD.: United Kingdom (19371946). Isle of Man Air Service, Ltd. is merged with Blackpool and West Coast Air Services, Ltd. in September 1937. At that time, a joint service between Bristol and Dublin, flown by the latter with Aer Lingus under the marketing title Irish Seas Airways, Ltd., is reformed as a separate company and named West Coast Air Services. On September 3, 1939, at which time the carrier is flying 1 each DH 86A, DH 86B, and DH 89A, the U. K. declares war on Germany and all civil flying ceases. Liverpool to Dublin DH-86 services resume in October.
On May 5, 1940, the company is one of seven independent airlines joining with the Secretary of State for Air to initiate the Associated Airways Joint Committee for the governance of domestic air transport operations in wartime. The company’s DH 86A is abandoned on Jersey in June. The British terminus of the Irish Sea service is transferred from Liverpool to Manchester on August 5.
While flying the Manchester to Dublin service on October 18, 1941, the company’s DH 86B is hit by antiaircraft fire from a British merchant ship; the aircraft, carrying 11 passengers, lands safely. The Liverpool terminus is reopened in November 1942.
On December 3, 1945, the company, in association with Aer Lingus, begins to employ leased Railway Air Services, Ltd. Avro 19s on a direct London (Croydon)-Dublin service. On April 5, 1946, the British and Irish governments reach an agreement making Aer Lingus Irish Airlines, Ltd. the only recognized trans-Irish Seas carrier between the two nations.
As a result, West Coast Air Services, Ltd. ceases operations on June 29 and is amalgamated, by purchase, into the new state carrier, British European Airways Corporation (BOAC), on February 1, 1947.
World History
