Commuter Airlines

Commuter Airlines
Commenced operations	1964
Ceased operations	October 1984
Operating bases	Greater Binghamton Airport NY, Cleveland Hopkins International Airport
Key people	Jerry Winston (Owner)

Last updated September 30, 2024

Commuter Airlines was a US regional commuter airline that operated from 1964 to 1984, based for many years at Greater Binghamton Airport, Broome County, New York, and later at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. Beginning life as Broome County Aviation, the operation included local air taxi, manufacturing (& subsequently operating) modified Beech 18s, and scheduled services with 19- and 50-seat airliners to Washington D.C., and all three main airports in the New York Metropolitan area. Following the death of the airlines founder (Jerry Winston) in 1984, the airline ceased operations.

History

Broome County Aviation, Inc, took over as the fixed-base operator (FBO) at Greater Binghamton Airport, New York in 1957, selling aviation fuel, operating a flight school and air charter service. In 1965 they began FAR part 135 scheduled flights with a Piper Aztec between Binghamton, NY and Washington National Airport D.C. operating as Commuter Airlines (CA Inc).^[1]

During the next two decades the airline side of the business expanded, increasing the number of destinations served to include White Plains, LaGuardia and JFK in New York City, Newark, Boston, Wilkes Barre/Scranton, and Allentown Pennsylvania, and others.^[2]

Freedom Airlines

Commuter Airlines timetable, effective April 25th 1982 (featuring Swearingen Metroliner aircraft on cover) Commuter Airlines Timetable April 1982 Cb820425.jpg — Commuter Airlines timetable, effective April 25th 1982 (featuring Swearingen Metroliner aircraft on cover)

With the advent of the 1978 Airline Deregulation Act, in the late 70's and early 80's Commuter Airlines underwent dramatic expansion, concentrating the operation on two types; Swearingen Metroliners (flying as Commuter Airlines), and the Convair CV-580s (now flying as Freedom Airlines). By mid-1982 they had also consolidated their operations base at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport and re-branded themselves purely as Freedom Airlines. Meanwhile the route network grew rapidly to encompass a much wider variety of destinations such as Chicago (wef Aug '81), Baltimore (wef Jan '82), Allentown A-B-E Airport, (wef May '82), Norfolk, Detroit, and e.g. multiple destinations in South Carolina. ^[3]^[4]

In the summer of 1984 founder Jerry Winston died, and the airline was put up for sale. Although still a going concern, without a buyer to take the helm, the airline ceased operations, with the Convair CV-580s being purchased by Air Ontario.^[2]

Commuter Aircraft Manufacturing Corp

The Dumod Corporation was one of a number of companies that specialised in upgrading Beech 18s, primarily featuring a tricycle undercarriage replacement for the original tailwheel design. Their most ambitious project was the Dumod Liner, and the manufacturing rights for this conversion were purchased by Winston on behalf of BCA/Commuter Airlines.^[5] The Dumod Liner had a stretched fuselage allowing 15 seats, a nose wheel/tricycle undercarriage, and a triple tail similar to the Lockheed Constellation. Initially five conversions were planned, but only three were completed, and all three of this unique design were operated by Commuter Airlines.^[6]

Fleet

The company began with a single Piper Aztec and over the years added Piper PA-31 Navajo/ Navajo Chieftains, Beechcraft Model 18s and of course the three Dumod Liners, before expanding with Swearingen Metroliners from 1973. In 1978, with the advent of deregulation, Commuter Airlines increased capacity by purchasing five Convair 580s from Allegheny/(USAir).^[7]

Accidents and incidents

On 22 March 1970, Commuter Airlines Flight 502 from Binghampton to Washington D.C., operated by Beech 18 (Dumod Liner) N497DM, crashed after a rejected take-off from Binghamton-Broome County Airport killing the Captain and two passengers. The co-pilot and seven remaining passengers survived.

After taking off in snow conditions, the aircraft became airborne, but was difficult to control even after the landing gear was raised. The captain elected to reject the take-off, and made a smooth wheels-up landing. The aircraft slid the remaining length of the runway, over an embankment, and into approach light structures, where it subsequently caught fire and was written off. The NTSB report determined the probable cause of the accident was the attempt of the pilot-in command to take off with snow adhering to the airfoil surfaces, causing a degradation of aircraft performance and loss of control following lift-off.^[8]

Destinations

Related Research Articles

Jack Brooks Regional Airport, formerly Southeast Texas Regional Airport, is near Port Arthur, Texas, nine miles (14 km) southeast of Beaumont and northeast of Port Arthur. It was Jefferson County Airport, but its name was changed to honor former U.S. Representative Jack Brooks. The airport is southwest of the city of Nederland in unincorporated Jefferson County, and is used for general aviation. Southwest Airlines ended scheduled jet service in 1980 and several other airlines have started and ended service as well including American Eagle, Continental, Delta/Delta Connection and United Express. The latest chapter is the resumption of service by American Eagle for American Airlines to Dallas/Ft. Worth (DFW).

Allegheny Airlines was a local service carrier that operated out of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1952 to 1979, with routes primarily located in the eastern U.S. It was the forerunner of USAir that was subsequently renamed US Airways, which itself merged with American Airlines. Its headquarters were at Washington National Airport in Arlington County, Virginia.

Ely Airport is a county-owned airport three miles northeast of Ely, in White Pine County, Nevada, United States.

Imperial County Airport is a county-owned public-use airport in Imperial County, California, United States. Also known as Boley Field, it is mostly used for general aviation, but has scheduled passenger service from one commercial airline. Service is subsidized by the Essential Air Service program. The airport is located 1 nautical mile south of the central business district of Imperial, California, partially in the city of Imperial and partially in an unincorporated area of Imperial County. It serves nearby communities, including El Centro.

Sheridan County Airport is located in Sheridan County, Wyoming, approxiametly two miles southwest of the city of Sheridan, Wyoming. It serves both commercial and general aviation, as well as military aircraft.

Eastern Oregon Regional Airport is a public airport three miles northwest of Pendleton, in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Commercial service is provided by Boutique Air to Portland, subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central Nebraska Regional Airport</span> Airport in Nebraska

Central Nebraska Regional Airport is three miles northeast of Grand Island, in Hall County, Nebraska. It is owned by the Hall County Airport Authority. The airport sees two airlines, Allegiant Air which flies independently and American Eagle which is subsidized by the federal Essential Air Service program. In 2016 the airport had 68,879 passenger boardings (enplanements), a 6.6% increase from the 64,602 enplanements in 2015. The airport had 7,961 enplanements in calendar year 2008, 20,136 in 2009 and 37,101 in 2010.

Huron Regional Airport is in Huron, in Beadle County, South Dakota. The airport has charter passenger flights operated by fixed base operator (FBO), Fly Jet Center and Revv Aviation. Revv Aviation wants to bring all services to Huron including maintenance, avionics, flight school and charter.

Four Corners Regional Airport is in San Juan County, New Mexico, United States, in the city of Farmington, which owns it. It is a Class D towered general aviation airport with no commercial passenger services, but has chartered flight services, flight instruction, and a full-service fixed-base operator]] (FBO). It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2019–2023, in which it is categorized as a regional general aviation facility.

Cavern City Air Terminal is a public use airport in Eddy County, New Mexico, United States. It is owned by the city of Carlsbad and located five nautical miles southwest of its central business district. The airport is served by one commercial airline, with scheduled passenger service subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuma International Airport</span> Airport in Arizona, United States

Yuma International Airport is a joint use airport with civilian and military flight activity operated in conjunction with the U.S. Marine Corps via the Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. The airfield is located 3.5 miles south of the central business district of Yuma, a city in Yuma County, Arizona, United States, and 150 miles east of San Diego International Airport. It is mostly used for military aviation, but is also served by one commercial airline and one aeromedical Medevac company as well as being used for general aviation activities.

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport is 5 miles south of Flagstaff, in Coconino County, Arizona, United States. The airport is serviced by American Eagle, and is also used for general aviation. The National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 called it a "primary commercial service" airport. It is the closest airport to Grand Canyon National Park with scheduled passenger service from a major airline.

Grand Junction Regional Airport is three miles (4.8 km) northeast of Grand Junction, in Mesa County, Colorado, United States. Owned by the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority, it is the largest airport in western Colorado and third largest in the state, behind Denver International Airport and Colorado Springs Airport.

Durango–La Plata County Airport is a city- and county-owned public airport 12 miles southeast of Durango, in La Plata County, Colorado.

Williamsport Regional Airport serves Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding area with a population of roughly 200,000. The airport processes approximately 40,000 passengers annually and has served north central Pennsylvania since 1929.

Muskegon County Airport is a county-owned, public-use airport in Muskegon County, Michigan, United States. The airport is located four nautical miles south of the central business district of Muskegon, Michigan, in Norton Shores. It is mostly used for general aviation but is also served by Southern Airways Express flying Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft to Chicago-O'Hare, subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

Hutchinson Municipal Airport is a city-owned public airport three miles east of Hutchinson, in Reno County, Kansas, United States.

Vernal Regional Airport is a mile southeast of Vernal, in Uintah County, Utah. It is owned by the city and county and sees one airline, subsidized by the Essential Air Service program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Britt Airways</span> Defunct regional airline of the United States (1964–1996)

Britt Airways was a regional airline in the United States that operated from 1964 until it merged with ExpressJet in 1996. It was established as Vercoa Air Service in 1964 and renamed to Britt Airlines when it was purchased by William and Marilyn Britt in 1975 later on Britt Airways. It was based in Terre Haute, Indiana until 1996. It began as a commuter airline. It primarily operated turboprop aircraft but also flew British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twinjets as an independent air carrier at one point as well. The airline evolved into a regional air carrier operating code share flights primarily for Continental Airlines.

Wings West Airlines was an American regional airline headquartered at McChesney Field (SBP), unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, California. The airline initially began scheduled passenger service as an independent commuter air carrier and then subsequently became an American Eagle affiliate of American Airlines operating turboprop aircraft on code sharing flights on behalf of American.

References

↑ "Commuter Airlines (CA Inc) Flight Schedule effective Feb 1, 1965". timetableimages.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
1 2 Pearson, Dan (October 16, 1984). "Freedom Airlines Folds Wings Flights From L.v. To D.c., Cleveland, Boston End" . The Morning Call . Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
↑ "Collectors Guide to Air Timetables - Freedom Airlines (1980-1984)". AirTimes.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
↑ "Collectors Guide to Air Timetables - Commuter Airlines (1965-1982)". AirTimes.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
↑ "Dumod Corporation". aviastar. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
↑ "Beech 18 production list - part 3" (PDF). goodall.co.au. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
↑ "Convair 580 - Commuter Airlines". Airliners.net . Retrieved May 2, 2018.
↑ "N497DM crash details 22 March 1970". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

This article relating to a United States airline is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] "Commuter Airlines (CA Inc) Flight Schedule effective Feb 1, 1965". timetableimages.com. Retrieved 25 April 2024.

[freedom-2] 1 2 Pearson, Dan (October 16, 1984). "Freedom Airlines Folds Wings Flights From L.v. To D.c., Cleveland, Boston End" . The Morning Call . Archived from the original on 2 May 2018. Retrieved 24 September 2024.

[3] "Collectors Guide to Air Timetables - Freedom Airlines (1980-1984)". AirTimes.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.

[4] "Collectors Guide to Air Timetables - Commuter Airlines (1965-1982)". AirTimes.com. Retrieved 21 April 2024.

[5] "Dumod Corporation". aviastar. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[6] "Beech 18 production list - part 3" (PDF). goodall.co.au. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[convair-7] "Convair 580 - Commuter Airlines". Airliners.net . Retrieved May 2, 2018.

[8] "N497DM crash details 22 March 1970". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 19 April 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]