GRAND AIRWAYS: United States (1991-1996). Shahid Saddigi establishes GA at Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 7, 1989 to operate regular charter and group tour passenger services to regional destinations, including the Grand Canyon, with a fleet of 5 Fairchild Metro IIIs and 1 Cessna 421.
La Verne and Carlsbad join the route network during 1990-1991 and enplanements in 1992 total 75,179. Passenger boardings jump 47.5% in 1993 to 110,852.
Early in 1994, a pair of Douglas DC-9-32s, formerly flown by Midway Airlines (1), are acquired and begin flying longer-haul charters in and out of the Nevada gambling mecca to Dallas (DFW), Phoenix, and Houston. Scheduled service to Oakland begins on February 15.
The regional sightseeing business is abandoned along with the smaller aircraft, which explains the year’s 17.1% drop in customer bookings to 91,549.
The picture continues to blacken in 1995. An effort to gain public attention by painting the aircraft in bright navy blue and yellow livery fails. In November, the carrier files for Chapter XI bankruptcy protection and stops flying. A total of 163,000 passengers are transported during those last 11 months.
At the beginning of 1996, the grounded airline returns its certificate to the FAA.
GRAND AVIATION: National Jets Facility, 3495 SW 9th Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315, United States; Phone (954) 359-4200; Fax (954) 359-4203; Year Founded 1995. GA is set up at Fort Laud-erdale-Hollywood International Airport in 1995 to provide executive and small group passenger charters worldwide. Within five years, the fleet includes 1 each Grumman G-1159A Gulfstream III and a British Aerospace BAe (HS) 125-600 Hawker.
GRAND CANYON AIRLINES (1): P. O. Box 3038, Grand Canyon, Arizona 86023, United States; Phone (520) 638-2407; Fax (520) 638-9461; Http://www. grandcanyonairlines. com; Code YE; Year Founded 1927. One of the oldest operators in the U. S., GCA-1, employing a variety of light aircraft during its seasonal pre-World War II and immediate postwar operations, eventually becomes an affiliate of Scenic Airlines. GCA-1, like its younger parent, offers scheduled commuter service and charter and scenic air tour flights.
From the company’s base at Grand Canyon, Arizona, the carrier offers flight-seeing tours over the canyon. In addition, scheduled commuter service is offered between the North Rim and the South Rim plus Marble Canyon. Enplanements reach 23,677 by 1977.
The fleet in 1978 includes 4 Cessna 402s, 1 Cessna T207, and 1 Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six. Passenger boardings jump 35% to 36,994.
Operations continue apace during the remainder of the decade and en-planements reach 44,500 by 1981. Unfortunately, recession and foreign currency fluctuations force away customers and bookings drop to
33,000 in 1982.
Figures are not released in 1983; however, bookings climb back to 36,388 by 1984. In 1985, the fleet comprises 2 de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otters (later specially fitted with oversized viewing windows) and 2 Cessna T207s. Ronald L. Warren is promoted to vice president/general manager. Passenger boardings jump 23.4% to 44,895.
In the worst Grand Canyon air disaster in thirty years, a company DHC-6-300 with 2 crew and 18 passengers collides with a Tusayan, Arizona-based Helitech Choppers Bell 206B JetRanger with five aboard. The accident occurs over Scorpion Creek, about 15 miles from the park’s visitors center on June 18, 1986 (25 dead). This latest scenic air tour disaster brings renewed calls for tougher government regulation of the flight-seeing industry. Still, enplanements for the year rise to 48,619.
The 30-employee small regional enjoys a splendid 1987 as customer bookings move upward by 38.3% to 67,249.
Passenger traffic rises again in 1988, climbing by 17.5% to 79,001 passengers flown.
While landing at Grand Canyon National Park Airport on its second charter of September 27, 1989, from Grand Canyon, Arizona, Flight YE5, a DHC-6-300 Vista Liner with 2 crew and 19 passengers, bounces twice. Full power is applied for a go-around maneuver, but control is lost and the plane crashes into a line of trees (10 dead). As a result of these disasters and their media coverage, as well as hard economic times, enplanements for the year rise slightly to 79,512.
The 29-employee tour operator flies 5 Twin Otters to the Grand Canyon in 1990. Recession and threat of war following Iraq’s August invasion of Kuwait dampens overall traffic figures as customer bookings fall 6.3% to 74,800. Hereafter, traffic figures are not provided.
In 1991-1994, Chairman John R. Seibold and President Michael A. Mooney oversee a 42-member workforce and operate a fleet of 5 DHC-
6-300s.
The workforce grows to 50 in 1995-2000 and business improves to the point where a sixth Twin Otter is added.
World History
