CHAPARRAL, INC.: United States (1979-1996). Wallace Thrash establishes an FBO and charter operation at Lubbock, Texas, in 1979. Services are inaugurated and by 1994 the company has 16 full - and 10 parttime pilots on the payroll. From its main Lubbock base, President Thrash’s concern flies passenger charters with a fleet that includes 1 each Gates Learjet 24F, Beech Super King Air 200, King Air 90, and Turbo Commander 690C. All-cargo services are available from a Falcon 20 and a Lear 24D stationed at Dallas (DFW), as well as a Lear 24D based at Pontiac, Michigan.
Operations cease in 1996.
CHAPARRAL AIRLINES: United States (1975-1990). This small regional is organized at Abilene, Texas, in August 1975 as the scheduled airline division of Ollie Higgins and Kent Waddell’s FBO Abilene Aero, Inc., later Abilene Aero-Lubbock Aero. John Stevens is named president and is assigned to oversee 11 employees.
The new commuter inaugurates scheduled Piper PA-31-310 Navajo (with two aircraft) service to Austin on September 15, 1976. Enplane-ments in 1977, the first full year of service, total 18,271.
The fleet in 1978 includes 3 Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains and 1 Beech 99. Following an increase in customer bookings to 27,482 passengers—a 50.4% jump—the fleet is increased by the addition of 5 Beech 99s. Incidentally, freight traffic rises an incredible 320.6% to 166,140 pounds.
The workforce is increased by 66.7% in 1979. Destinations visited now include Austin, Houston, Midland, Lubbock, San Antonio, Dallas (DFW) and Alexandria, Louisiana.
The carrier’s 6 Beech 99s assist boardings to skyrocket by 85.5% to 50,716. Cargo is up by 60% to 266,000 pounds.
In 1980, frequencies are significantly increased to Dallas (DFW) and Houston and the carrier joins the American Airlines computerized reservations system and provides feed for the major.
Passenger boardings increase 43.7% to 73,013 and freight rises 9.7% to 291,508 pounds.
Airline employment reaches 142 in 1981. The company replaces all but 1 of its Navajos with 3 CASA C-212 Aviocars. The schedule now offers 50 flights each day. Orders are placed for 2 Grumman Gulfstream G1-Cs.
Customer bookings rise by 48% to 107,908 and cargo increases 62.5% to 474,000 pounds.
Traffic rises 8.4% to 119,248 passengers plus 360,000 pounds of freight (down 24%) carried in 1982. The G1-Cs are received in 1983 and help passenger boardings leap 6.5% to 127,019. Cargo is, however, down 11.4% to 239,609 pounds.
In late 1984, as its flights continue into Texas and Louisiana markets, the company is completely reorganized and becomes a part of the American Airlines “American Eagle” commuter network on December 1.
As a result of feeding passengers to the major’s Dallas (DFW) hub, passenger traffic and profits begin a dramatic ascent, traffic rising 30.2% for the remainder of the year. Since January, Chaparral has booked 165,370 passengers and flown 212,000 pounds of cargo, the latter figure representing an 11.4% decline.
Traffic continues to boom for the “American Eagle” affiliate in 1985. Passenger boardings jump 10.3% to 182,406 and cargo increases 56% to
332.000 pounds.
The 145-employee small regional enjoys a good 1986 as customer bookings rise 8.4% to 197,707. Freight, however, falls 10% to 300,000 pounds. Revenues total $14.1 million.
The carrier is purchased for $5.7 million in cash by Dallas (DFW)-based Metro Airlines in August 1987. The fleet is repainted in “American Eagle” livery.
Prior to its takeover, the small regional shows passenger boardings off during the first 6 months by 2.8% to 123,849. Freight is off by 20.4% to
164.000 pounds.
In 1988, President Steven’s fleet comprises 3 Beech 99s, 5 Grumman 1-Cs, and 2 Shorts 330s.
While on approach to Dallas (DFW) on March 25, a BAe Jetstream 31 with two crew and on a positioning flight suffers the failure of its No. 1 engine and must land in uneven terrain near Decatur, Texas; although the aircraft is damaged beyond repair, no injuries are reported.
As one of two Metro divisions providing “American Eagle” services at Dallas (DFW), Chaparral’s traffic figures for the year are released as part of its parent’s.
From Abilene in 1989, flights are made to Austin, San Antonio, and Laredo and from Dallas (DFW) service is undertaken to Abilene and to Shreveport and Alexandria, Louisiana. Statistics show enplanements of 580,034.
In May 1990, Chaparral and its 19 aircraft are merged into Metro’s main Texas division, Metroflight.
Prior to its disappearance, the operator flies a total of 312,185 passengers, a 46.2% decline from the same period a year earlier.
CHAPLIN AIR LINE: United States (1919). One of the nation’s first, if unsustained, airlines is formed at San Pedro by actor Charlie Chaplin’s brother Syd in late June 1919. Employing a single Curtiss MF flying boat, the three-employee carrier inaugurates thrice-daily return flights on July 4 to the holiday resort of Avalon on Catalina Island, 34 miles offshore. Service is maintained until mid-September.
The regular schedule is then abandoned in favor of a single pilot’s ad hoc flights, which are offered until the end of December when the company is purchased by Foster Curry’s Pacific Marine Airways.
CHARDZHOU AIRLINE: Chardzhou Airport, Chardzhou, Turkmenistan; Phone 7 (37822) 21032; Year Founded 1995. Chardzhou Airline is set up at Chardzhou in Turkmenistan in 1995 to offer domestic passenger services as a feeder for Turkmenistan Airlines. Kadyr Khatamov is general director and he begins flights with 10 Yakovlev Yak-40s and 30 Antonov An-2s, plus a rotary-wing fleet of 14 Mil Mi-8/17s and 11 Mi-2s.
CHARRAK (PTY.), LTD.: Australia (1996-1997). The all-cargo carrier Charrak is set up at Cairns, North Queensland, in early 1996. Outfitted with a single Lockheed L-188CF Electra first flown by Northwest Airlines, the company begins hauling shipments of tuna to Japan on April 23. Flights continue through January 1997.
CHARTAIR: United States (1988-1991). Chris and Jamie Marsden set up Chartair at Friday Harbor, Washington, during the summer of 1988 as successor to San Juan Airlines. Employing Cessna 172s, Cessna 402s, and a Piper PA-34 Seneca, scheduled passenger and commuter flights are inaugurated on August 1, linking the company’s base with Seattle, Bellingham, Anacortes, and other of the San Juan islands.
Operations continue until recession puts the company out of business in 1991.
CHARTER AIRLINES: United States (1977-1979). CA is established as Charterair by the Charter Air Center at Gainesville, Florida, in February 1977 to offer scheduled third-level passenger and cargo services to Tallahassee, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale, and Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas. Daily roundtrip revenue operations commence during March with 2 Cessna 402s and 2 C-404s. Enplanements during the following 10 months reach 2,958.
The corporate identity is changed in 1978 and passenger boardings increase 438.7% to 15,934. Skyrocketing fuel and expansion costs force the carrier to cease operations in 1979.
World History
