Aerodynamics Inc.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Fate | Acquired by California Pacific Airlines |
| Headquarters | Kennesaw, Georgia , United States |
Key people | M.L. (Mike) Hoyle (former Chairman), John and Janet Beardsley (owners from 2015) |
| Products | Regional airline services, Essential Air Service flights |
Aerodynamics Inc. (ADI) was a U.S.-based charter airline that ventured into scheduled flights subsidized by the Essential Air Service program in 2016 through a codeshare partnership with Great Lakes Airlines. The company halted all operations in 2018 after being acquired by California Pacific Airlines.
Corporate history
Established in 1959 and headquartered in Kennesaw, Georgia, ADI encountered financial difficulties leading to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in August 2013, following the closure of its contract maintenance division at Oakland County International Airport in 2012.
M.L. (Mike) Hoyle, CEO of Business Aircraft Group, Inc., provided debtor-in-possession funding and spearheaded the restructuring process. He also served as ADI’s Chairman for one year after bankruptcy before eventually selling his stake.
In 2015, ownership transferred to John and Janet Beardsley, who purchased ADI from Scott Beale. The Beardsleys were also proprietors of SeaPort Airlines, which declared bankruptcy in February 2016 and was subsequently liquidated within the same year.
By late 2017, California Pacific Airlines, a regional carrier startup based in Carlsbad, California, acquired ADI’s fleet of four aircraft along with its Essential Air Service contracts serving Pierre and Watertown. These assets were then incorporated into California Pacific’s operational framework.
Scheduled air service
In 2015, ADI was selected to provide subsidized Essential Air Service flights to Kearney and Scottsbluff in Nebraska, as well as Pierre, South Dakota. Initially, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) denied ADI operating authority due to concerns regarding owner-operator Scott Beale’s qualifications and previous supplier fraud allegations. Following the Beardsleys’ acquisition of the airline, the DOT reinstated its operational approval.
The airline commenced its inaugural scheduled flight on July 1, 2016, connecting Youngstown–Warren Regional Airport (Ohio) with Chicago O'Hare under a codeshare arrangement with Great Lakes Airlines branded as Great Lakes Jet Express. This approach was intended to capitalize on Great Lakes’ interline agreement with United Airlines for onward Chicago connections. However, since Great Lakes did not operate flights into Chicago at that time, United did not honor the agreement, resulting in the service’s termination on August 17, 2016.
On August 15, 2016, ADI began Essential Air Service routes from Denver International Airport to Pierre Regional Airport and Watertown Regional Airport in South Dakota under the Great Lakes Jet Express brand. In this instance, United Airlines honored the interline agreement because Denver functioned as Great Lakes’ primary hub.
During 2017, ADI submitted bids for Essential Air Service contracts operating under the name "SkyValue Airlines."
After Great Lakes Airlines ceased operations on March 26, 2018, certain routes including Great Lakes Jet Express services to Pierre and Watertown continued uninterrupted. Ground personnel managing ADI flights were transitioned to direct employment by ADI while ticketing services remained temporarily under Great Lakes’ management.
On May 29, 2018, California Pacific Airlines completed the acquisition of ADI. The new owner operated routes such as Pierre/Watertown and intended to expand into West Coast markets from McClellan–Palomar Airport. Nevertheless, California Pacific suspended West Coast operations in December 2018 and abruptly discontinued Essential Air Service flights in January 2019, leaving Pierre and Watertown without scheduled commercial air connections.
Fleet
Aerodynamics, Inc. maintained a fleet composed exclusively of Embraer ERJ-145 regional jets, each outfitted to accommodate 50 passengers.
| Aircraft type | Number in service | Pending orders | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer ERJ-145 | 4 | − | Seating capacity set at 50 passengers |
| Total | 4 | − |
Destinations
Aerodynamics, Inc. operated flights to multiple destinations within the United States, predominantly under Essential Air Service agreements, concentrating on regional routes in Colorado and South Dakota.
| Operating base |
| Focus city |
| Discontinued destination |
| Country (state/province) | City | Airport | Service start | Service end | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States (Colorado) | Denver | Denver International Airport | 2016 | 2019 | |
| United States (South Dakota) | Pierre | Pierre Regional Airport | 2016 | 2019 | Operated under Essential Air Service program |
| United States (South Dakota) | Watertown | Watertown Regional Airport | 2016 | 2019 | Provided through Essential Air Service contract |
| United States (Illinois) | Chicago | O'Hare International Airport | 2016 | 2016 | |
| United States (Ohio) | Youngstown | Youngstown–Warren Regional Airport | 2016 | 2016 |