Aero Virgin Islands
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | March 2, 1977 |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Headquarters | St. Thomas , United States Virgin Islands |
Key people | Joseph A. Cranston (founder, general manager), Mark K. Odiorne (co-founder, VP maintenance), James H. Masters (director of operations), Melvin R. Mann (VP finance), Reuben B. Wheatley (president) |
| Products | Air transportation services (inter-island and charter flights) |
Aero Virgin Islands was an airline headquartered in St. Thomas, located within the US Virgin Islands.
History
Operating in the Caribbean since the late 1970s, Aero Virgin Islands Corp. received its FAA part 121 certification on March 2, 1977. The airline primarily conducted inter-island services connecting St. Thomas' Harry S Truman Airport with Alexander Hamilton Airport on Saint Croix and Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Scheduled routes to these destinations were complemented by charter flights throughout the Caribbean region. Initially, the airline utilized DC-3-202 aircraft and around 1984 shifted to leasing DC-3 A, B, and C variants (C-47) from Puerto Rico, previously operated by Air BVI.
Before its bankruptcy in 1984, Aero Virgin Islands competed chiefly with Puerto Rico-based Prinair. Following Prinair’s collapse, Aero Virgin Islands emerged as a prominent regional airline. However, by mid-1989, most of its aircraft had been grounded due to engine removals. In September 1989, Hurricane Hugo inflicted damage on aircraft N28346 at St. Thomas' Cyril E. King Airport; only the N5117X DC-3 (C-47), which had been stored at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, was repaired and returned to operation. The remaining fleet stored at San Juan International Airport was destroyed beyond repair.
In 1986, to bolster operations and pursue an upgrade from FAA part 135 back to part 121 certification, the airline recruited four seasoned DC-3 pilots and planned to introduce a Martin 404 aircraft into its fleet. Despite initiatives led by Peter Pess and James Beekman aiming to reestablish Aero Virgin Islands as a Caribbean flag carrier and secure engines for their DC-3s, these efforts did not succeed.
Facing intensifying competition from airlines such as LIAT and American Eagle, Aero Virgin Islands discontinued operations by 1990.
Key people
Joseph A. Cranston was the founder of the airline and held the position of general manager as of March 21, 1978. Mark K. Odiorne, also a co-founder and vice president of maintenance, has since passed away. James H. Masters, a native of St. Croix, served as director of operations in 1980. Melvin R. Mann, previously employed at Peat Marwick Mitchell CPAs in Miami, briefly acted as vice president of finance during 1982–1983. Throughout the airline’s lifespan, Reuben B. Wheatley occupied the role of president at Aero Virgin Islands Corp.
Fleet
Accidents and incidents
- On January 2, 1978, a Douglas DC-3 bearing registration N15598 made an emergency water landing approximately 1000 feet off San Juan during a scheduled flight from Saint Thomas Airport; all five passengers and crew survived unharmed. The incident resulted from improper fuel management by the pilot who exhausted fuel from the starboard tanks despite adequate reserves remaining in the port tanks.
- On September 17, 1989, Hurricane Hugo caused extensive destruction to several aircraft stationed at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and Cyril E. King Airport. Among those damaged beyond economic repair were Douglas DC-3s N4425N, N100SD, N4471J, N4577Z, as well as Douglas C-49J N28346.
Livery
The airline’s aircraft featured a solid cherry-red fuselage with Aero Virgin Islands displayed in black lettering above the forward passenger windows.