At Lincoln, Rhode Island, in spring 1979 to provide scheduled air taxi flights between Providence and Block Island. Although daily Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain roundtrips are duly inaugurated, they can only be maintained for a few months.
NORTH COAST AIR SERVICE, LTD.: Canada (1961-1987). With a base at Prince Rupert, NCAS is organized by J. N. Anderson in 1961 to provide passenger and cargo charter and contract service flights along the north coast of British Columbia and to the Queen Charlotte Islands. Lightplanes are initially employed, including Cessna and de Havilland
Canada DHC-2 Beaver floatplanes. The first twin-engine aircraft is a Douglas DC-3 acquired in 1970.
The Douglas is withdrawn in 1975 and replaced by a Beaver. Service continues apace in 1976 and into 1977. On September 29 of the latter year, engine problems cause a leased C-46C Commando with two crew to make a forced landing in trees 15 mi. SE of Thompson; both men escape injury, but the Curtiss must be written off.
In 1978, the company dramatically increases its services and capacities by introducing a Grumman G-73 Mallard amphibian and two Curtiss C-46 replacement freighters. Airline employment grows to 30. The larger aircraft are joined by a DHC-3 Otter in 1986. Recession causes the carrier to stop flying in 1987.
NORTH COAST AVIATION (PTY.), LTD.: P. O. Box 350, Lae, Papua New Guinea; Phone 675 422 525; Fax 675 422 866; Code N9; Year Founded 1994. North Coast is founded by B. S. Potts at Lae in 1994 to provide domestic charter and commuter services. Revenue flights commence with 3 Pilatus-Britten-Norman PBN-2 Islanders.
Flights continue in 1995-2000, during which years the fleet is increased by two Islanders and a pair of Cessna 402Cs.
World History
