Rocky Mountain Airways

Rocky Mountain Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
JC RMA Rocky Mountain
Founded 1963
Commenced operations 1965
Ceased operations 1991
Operating bases Stapleton International Airport
Alliance Continental Express
Fleet size See Fleet below
Destinations See Destinations below
Headquarters Denver, Colorado, United States
Key people Gordon Autry

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]

Operations

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]

The airline was founded 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

The original aircraft operated by Vail Airways was the Cessna 310 piston twin,[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 [7] four engine turboprop. In 1983, Rocky Mountain had placed an order for six 37-passenger de Havilland Canada Dash 8 twin turboprops,[8] coincident with the type's rollout, but none of the aircraft were ever 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 (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 9,927 feet, Leadville is the location of 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, no longer exists. Airline service to Vail is now provided via the Eagle County Airport which is located over 35 miles to the west via Interstate 70. Steamboat Springs is now served by several airlines from the Yampa Valley Airport which is located over 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 new 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 this major airline's hub operation in Denver 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 service at Denver was shared at first with Trans-Colorado Airlines and was greatly expanded in 1987 when Trans-Colorado ceased operating at Denver. The Twin Otter's 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 7's were retained for their STOL ability to serve the Aspen airport and were also used to operate service into the Telluride Airport which has an airfield elevation of 9,070 feet.[9] 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

Rocky Mountain Airways served the following destinations during its existence.

Fleet

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

References

  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. 1 2 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. 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. ↑ Lenz, Siegfried (August 30, 2009). "Dash 7 Homepage". A1.net. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
  8. ↑ "New orders as Dash 8 rolls out". Flight International. 1983. p. 1142. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  9. ↑ http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 1, 1987 Continental Airlines system timetable
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