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Rocky Mountain Airways

November 03, 2023

Rocky Mountain Airways (IATA: JC, ICAO: RMA, Call sign: Rocky Mountain) was an American commuter airline headquartered in Hangar No. 6 of Stapleton International Airport in Denver, Colorado.[1] It was sold to Texas Air Corporation/Continental Airlines in 1986 and was operated as a Continental Express subsidiary until its operations were merged with Britt Airways in 1991.[2] The airline flew from Denver's Stapleton International Airport to a variety of destinations in Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming. The airline operated out of the old commuter terminal in Concourse A at Stapleton.[3]

Rocky Mountain Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
JC RMA ROCKY MOUNTAIN
Founded1963
Commenced operations1965
Ceased operations1991
Operating basesStapleton International Airport
AllianceContinental Express
Fleet sizeSee Fleet below
DestinationsSee Destinations below
HeadquartersDenver, Colorado, United States
Key peopleGordon Autry

History edit

It was established as Vail Airways in 1963 by Gordon Autry.[4] The airline adopted "Rocky Mountain Airways" in 1968, shortly after service to Aspen was introduced.

 
Rocky Mountain Airways de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter operating a scheduled commuter flight at Denver's Stapleton International Airport in 1971

Vail Airways began operations with Cessna 310 piston twin aircraft,[4] followed by the Rockwell Aero Commander piston twin.[5] In 1969, Rocky Mountain Airways expanded with the 19 passenger de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter twin engine turboprop.[6] On February 3, 1978, Rocky Mountain Airways took delivery as the worldwide launch customer of the larger, 50 passenger de Havilland Canada Dash 7-102 four engine turboprop. In 1983, Rocky Mountain had placed an order for six 37-passenger de Havilland Canada DHC-8 Dash 8 twin turboprops,[7] coincident with the type's service introduction; however, no Dash 8 aircraft were subsequently delivered to Rocky Mountain.

Both the DHC-6 Twin Otter and the DHC-7 Dash 7 featured short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance. This enabled Rocky Mountain Airways to serve destinations that otherwise would not have received scheduled passenger air service. One example was the Avon STOLport (WHR) located in close proximity to the Vail ski resort which was served with the Dash 7. Another example was the Steamboat Springs Airport (KSBS or SBS) which was also served with the Dash 7. With a relatively short runway length of 4,452 feet and an airfield elevation of 6,882 feet, the Dash 7 was well suited for passenger operations from this small airport located near the Steamboat Springs ski resort. Rocky Mountain Airways also operated Twin Otter flights from Lake County Airport (LXV) in Leadville, Colorado. With an airfield elevation of 9,934 feet, Leadville is the highest airport ever to have received scheduled passenger air service in the U.S. The Avon STOLport, which was a private airstrip controlled by the airline at Vail, no longer exists. Airline service to Vail is now provided via the Eagle County Airport, 35 miles to the west via Interstate 70. Steamboat Springs is now served by the Yampa Valley Airport, 25 miles to the west via U.S. 40. Leadville no longer has airline service.

Another primary route served by the airline was between Aspen-Pitkin County Airport and Denver. RMA flew the Twin Otter between the two destinations and then introduced Dash 7 service. The major competitor at the time in Aspen was Aspen Airways which flew Convair 440 piston engine prop aircraft which were subsequently replaced with Convair 580 turboprops. Aspen Airways then began operating British Aerospace BAe 146-100 jet aircraft on the route. Rocky Mountain and Aspen Airways competed for many years from Aspen. Currently, Aspen-Denver service is flown by SkyWest Airlines operating as United Express with Canadair CRJ-700 regional jets.

Upon its sale to Texas Air Corporation in 1986, Rocky Mountain Airways began serving as a Continental Express air carrier in order to provide passenger feed at the Continental Airlines hub operation at Denver Stapleton International Airport at the time. The Twin Otter and Dash 7 aircraft were painted in Continental Airlines distinctive white livery with orange, red, and gold striping and "Continental Express" titles. The Continental Express code sharing service at Denver was shared at first with Trans-Colorado Airlines and was then greatly expanded in 1987 when Trans-Colorado ceased operating at Denver. The Twin Otters were later retired and new ATR-42 and Beechcraft 1900C turboprop commuter airliners were acquired which became the standard aircraft for all Continental Express regional air carriers at the time. The Dash 7s were retained for their STOL ability to serve the Aspen airport and were also used to operate service into the Telluride Airport with its airfield elevation of 9,070 feet.[8] All Rocky Mountain aircraft received the new blue and gold livery introduced by Continental in 1990. Rocky Mountain was merged with fellow Continental Express subsidiary Britt Airways in 1991.

Destinations edit

Rocky Mountain Airways served the following destinations at various times during its existence:

Fleet edit

Rocky Mountain Airways also operated ATR-42 and Beechcraft 1900C turboprops after becoming a Continental Express air carrier.

Accidents edit

On December 4, 1978, Rocky Mountain Airways Flight 217 crashed in snow-covered terrain at 10,530 feet MSL near Buffalo Pass, 9 miles(15 km) east of Steamboat Springs. All 22 persons aboard survived the impact, although a female passenger died four hours later (possibly from exposure before being rescued), and the injured pilot died in hospital, seventy hours later.[9] The plane was forced down by extreme icing coupled with a strong mountain-wave-induced downdraft. The aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC-6-300 Twin Otter.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "World Airline Directory". Flight International. 1985. p. 112. Retrieved July 23, 2009.
  2. ^ Pagiola, S., 1999. "Continental Express: Going All-Jet." Airways, A Global Review of Commercial Flight, November 1999, pp. 39-49.
  3. ^ OAG Travel Planner & Hotel/Motel Guide, 1972, Reuben H. Donnelley Corp.
  4. ^ a b Williams, David O. (2010). (PDF). Vail-Beaver Creek Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  5. ^ Larsson, Björn; Zekria, David. "Vail Airways USA". Airline Timetable Images. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  6. ^ PodOmatic, Gordon Autry interview podcast. Retrieved: January 23, 2013. (subscription required)
  7. ^ "New orders as Dash 8 rolls out". Flight International. 1983. p. 1142. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  8. ^ Feb. 1, 1987 Continental Airlines system timetable
  9. ^ Kotz, Peter. Twin Otter Crash in The Rockies Plane & Pilot, 7 January 2019
 

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November 03, 2023
rocky, mountain, airways, iata, icao, call, sign, rocky, mountain, american, commuter, airline, headquartered, hangar, stapleton, international, airport, denver, colorado, sold, texas, corporation, continental, airlines, 1986, operated, continental, express, s. Rocky Mountain Airways IATA JC ICAO RMA Call sign Rocky Mountain was an American commuter airline headquartered in Hangar No 6 of Stapleton International Airport in Denver Colorado 1 It was sold to Texas Air Corporation Continental Airlines in 1986 and was operated as a Continental Express subsidiary until its operations were merged with Britt Airways in 1991 2 The airline flew from Denver s Stapleton International Airport to a variety of destinations in Colorado Nebraska and Wyoming The airline operated out of the old commuter terminal in Concourse A at Stapleton 3 Rocky Mountain AirwaysIATA ICAO CallsignJC RMA ROCKY MOUNTAINFounded1963Commenced operations1965Ceased operations1991Operating basesStapleton International AirportAllianceContinental ExpressFleet sizeSee Fleet belowDestinationsSee Destinations belowHeadquartersDenver Colorado United StatesKey peopleGordon Autry Contents 1 History 2 Destinations 3 Fleet 4 Accidents 5 See also 6 ReferencesHistory editIt was established as Vail Airways in 1963 by Gordon Autry 4 The airline adopted Rocky Mountain Airways in 1968 shortly after service to Aspen was introduced nbsp Rocky Mountain Airways de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter operating a scheduled commuter flight at Denver s Stapleton International Airport in 1971Vail Airways began operations with Cessna 310 piston twin aircraft 4 followed by the Rockwell Aero Commander piston twin 5 In 1969 Rocky Mountain Airways expanded with the 19 passenger de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter twin engine turboprop 6 On February 3 1978 Rocky Mountain Airways took delivery as the worldwide launch customer of the larger 50 passenger de Havilland Canada Dash 7 102 four engine turboprop In 1983 Rocky Mountain had placed an order for six 37 passenger de Havilland Canada DHC 8 Dash 8 twin turboprops 7 coincident with the type s service introduction however no Dash 8 aircraft were subsequently delivered to Rocky Mountain Both the DHC 6 Twin Otter and the DHC 7 Dash 7 featured short takeoff and landing STOL performance This enabled Rocky Mountain Airways to serve destinations that otherwise would not have received scheduled passenger air service One example was the Avon STOLport WHR located in close proximity to the Vail ski resort which was served with the Dash 7 Another example was the Steamboat Springs Airport KSBS or SBS which was also served with the Dash 7 With a relatively short runway length of 4 452 feet and an airfield elevation of 6 882 feet the Dash 7 was well suited for passenger operations from this small airport located near the Steamboat Springs ski resort Rocky Mountain Airways also operated Twin Otter flights from Lake County Airport LXV in Leadville Colorado With an airfield elevation of 9 934 feet Leadville is the highest airport ever to have received scheduled passenger air service in the U S The Avon STOLport which was a private airstrip controlled by the airline at Vail no longer exists Airline service to Vail is now provided via the Eagle County Airport 35 miles to the west via Interstate 70 Steamboat Springs is now served by the Yampa Valley Airport 25 miles to the west via U S 40 Leadville no longer has airline service Another primary route served by the airline was between Aspen Pitkin County Airport and Denver RMA flew the Twin Otter between the two destinations and then introduced Dash 7 service The major competitor at the time in Aspen was Aspen Airways which flew Convair 440 piston engine prop aircraft which were subsequently replaced with Convair 580 turboprops Aspen Airways then began operating British Aerospace BAe 146 100 jet aircraft on the route Rocky Mountain and Aspen Airways competed for many years from Aspen Currently Aspen Denver service is flown by SkyWest Airlines operating as United Express with Canadair CRJ 700 regional jets Upon its sale to Texas Air Corporation in 1986 Rocky Mountain Airways began serving as a Continental Express air carrier in order to provide passenger feed at the Continental Airlines hub operation at Denver Stapleton International Airport at the time The Twin Otter and Dash 7 aircraft were painted in Continental Airlines distinctive white livery with orange red and gold striping and Continental Express titles The Continental Express code sharing service at Denver was shared at first with Trans Colorado Airlines and was then greatly expanded in 1987 when Trans Colorado ceased operating at Denver The Twin Otters were later retired and new ATR 42 and Beechcraft 1900C turboprop commuter airliners were acquired which became the standard aircraft for all Continental Express regional air carriers at the time The Dash 7s were retained for their STOL ability to serve the Aspen airport and were also used to operate service into the Telluride Airport with its airfield elevation of 9 070 feet 8 All Rocky Mountain aircraft received the new blue and gold livery introduced by Continental in 1990 Rocky Mountain was merged with fellow Continental Express subsidiary Britt Airways in 1991 Destinations editRocky Mountain Airways served the following destinations at various times during its existence Colorado Alamosa ALS Aspen Aspen Pitkin County Airport ASE Colorado Springs COS Cortez CEZ Craig CIG Denver Stapleton International Airport now closed Hub and headquarters Durango DRO Fort Collins FNL Granby GNB Grand Junction GJT Gunnison GUC Leadville LXV Montrose MTJ Pueblo PUB Steamboat Springs Steamboat Springs Airport SBS Telluride TEX Vail Avon STOLport WHR now closed Vail Eagle Eagle County Airport EGE Nebraska Grand Island GRI Lincoln LNK North Platte LBF Omaha OMA Scottsbluff BFF New Mexico Farmington FMN South Dakota Pierre PIR Rapid City RAP Texas Amarillo AMA Lubbock LBB Wyoming Casper CPR Cheyenne CYS Cody COD Gillette GCC Jackson Hole JAC Laramie LAR Riverton RIW Rock Springs RKS Sheridan SHR Fleet editCessna 310 operated by predecessor Vail Airways de Havilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter de Havilland Canada DHC 7 Dash 7 Rockwell Aero Commander operated by predecessor Vail Airways Rocky Mountain Airways also operated ATR 42 and Beechcraft 1900C turboprops after becoming a Continental Express air carrier Accidents editOn December 4 1978 Rocky Mountain Airways Flight 217 crashed in snow covered terrain at 10 530 feet MSL near Buffalo Pass 9 miles 15 km east of Steamboat Springs All 22 persons aboard survived the impact although a female passenger died four hours later possibly from exposure before being rescued and the injured pilot died in hospital seventy hours later 9 The plane was forced down by extreme icing coupled with a strong mountain wave induced downdraft The aircraft was a de Havilland Canada DHC 6 300 Twin Otter See also editList of defunct airlines of the United StatesReferences edit World Airline Directory Flight International 1985 p 112 Retrieved July 23 2009 Pagiola S 1999 Continental Express Going All Jet Airways A Global Review of Commercial Flight November 1999 pp 39 49 OAG Travel Planner amp Hotel Motel Guide 1972 Reuben H Donnelley Corp a b Williams David O 2010 Birth of a Destination Charting Vail s Evolution from Sheep Pasture to Center of the Skiing Universe PDF Vail Beaver Creek Magazine Archived from the original PDF on March 3 2016 Retrieved January 23 2013 Larsson Bjorn Zekria David Vail Airways USA Airline Timetable Images Retrieved January 23 2013 PodOmatic Gordon Autry interview podcast Retrieved January 23 2013 subscription required New orders as Dash 8 rolls out Flight International 1983 p 1142 Retrieved January 23 2013 Feb 1 1987 Continental Airlines system timetable Kotz Peter Twin Otter Crash in The Rockies Plane amp Pilot 7 January 2019 Portals nbsp Colorado nbsp Companies nbsp Aviation nbsp This article relating to a United States airline is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rocky Mountain Airways amp oldid 1181182318, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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