Aero Virgin Islands

Aero Virgin Islands was an airline based in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands.

History

Aero Virgin Islands Corp. began operating in the Caribbean during the late 1970s. Operations Specifications issued by the Federal Aviation Administration under the Federal Aviation Regulations part 121 Issued on March 2 1977, specializing in inter-island flights to and from Saint Thomas(St.Thomas) Harry S Truman Airport to Alexander Hamilton Airport on Saint Croix|(St.Croix]and San Juan Int'l Airport in Puerto Rico (names of Airports have been changed over the years). The airline had scheduled flights to the three above Islands, plus charter flights to many points in the Caribbean. The airline used DC-3-202 airplanes in the early years for their flights later in the early 1980's(1984) begain use of DC-3 A,B and C's (C-47). The aircraft(DC-3 A,B and C's were leased out of Puerto Rico and were formaley AIR BVI fleet of aircraft(a airline out of Tortola British Virgin Islands). Joseph A. Cranston is listed as General Manager in the manual issued on 21 March 1978. Mark K. Odiorne was also one of founders, he has since passed. Mark is listed as Vice President of Maintenance. James H. Masters is Director of Operations in one the memo's the date is March 1980, he was a born on the Island of St. Croix and grew up on that island. Reuben B. Wheatley was the President for all the time Aero Virgin Islands Corp. was Operational and after. Aero Virgin Islands' main competitor was the Puerto Rico based airline, Prinair–at least until 1984, when Prinair went bankrupt. Aero Virgin Islands Corp., was the major mover of passengers for the next few years. But by middle 1989 most of the fleet was down with no engines on the aircraft. Then, in September 1989,with only two DC-3 operating Aero Virgin Islands suffered a setback when N28346 was destroyed in St. Thomas (renamed)Cyril E. King Airport by Hurricane Hugo. Only N5117X DC-3(C-47) was able to be repaired of damage its suffered during the Hurricane and returned to service, it had been put in the hangar in San Juan Int'l Airport. The rest of the fleet outside on the ramp in San Juan Int'l Airport were totally destroyed by Hurricane Hugo. In 1986, Aero Virgin Islands Corp. recruited four pilots with DC-3 experience to fly for the airline while they tried unsuccessfully to upgrade their FAA then part 135 certificate Back to a part 121 certificate and place a Martin 404 on the certificate. The four pilots would be used to offset other pilots who were to be pulled off the line to train on the 404, which they did get. Mr. Peter Pess (MR Pess was supposed to supply engines for the DC-3's) and Mr. James Beekman were unsuccessful in transitioning Aero Virgin Islands Corp. Back to be the flag carrier of the Caribbean

Increased competition from such airlines as LIAT, Air Sunshine and American Eagle forced Aero Virgin Islands out of operations by 1990.

Fleet

• Douglas DC-3

Accidents and incidents

• On January 2, 1978, Douglas DC-3 N15598 ditched in the sea 1,000 feet (300 m) off San Juan. The aircraft was on an international scheduled passenger flight from Saint Thomas Airport, United States Virgin Islands to San Juan. All five people on board survived. The cause of the accident was that the pilot mismanaged the fuel system, running the starboard tanks dry when there was fuel available in the port tanks.
• On September 17, 1989, Douglas DC-3 N4425N, Douglas C-47s N100SD, N4471J and N4577Z; damaged beyond economic repair by Hurricane Hugo in San Juan Int'l Airport, San Juan Puerto Rico. Douglas C-49J N28346 was damaged beyond economic repair at Cyril E. King Airport, Charlotte Amalie, United States Virgin Islands by Hurricane Hugo.

Livery

All cherry-red fuselage, with the name Aero Virgin Islands in black over the front passenger windows.