Golden West Airlines

Golden West Airlines

Company type	Private
Industry	Airline
Founded	1967
Defunct	1983
Headquarters	Long Beach , United States
Area served	California, United States
Key people	William Pereira (founder of Aero Commuter, predecessor)
Products	Regional commuter air services

Golden West Airlines operated as a regional commuter carrier based in California from 1967 until it discontinued services in 1983.

History

The initial iteration of Golden West Airlines was established in 1968 with its headquarters located in Van Nuys, California. Operating primarily out of Los Angeles International Airport, its fleet featured de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprop aircraft alongside the HFB 320 Hansa Jet. This airline served multiple destinations across Southern California before halting operations in 1969.

In a separate development, Aero Commuter was launched in December 1967 by architect and businessman William Pereira, whose son was a co-founder of Air California. Based in Long Beach, Aero Commuter utilized DHC-6 Twin Otters to connect Long Beach, LAX, Avalon, Burbank, and Fullerton. The company expanded through the acquisition of Catalina Air Lines (originally Avalon Air Transport, founded in 1953) and merged with Skymark Airlines and Cable Commuter Airlines in 1969. After the original Golden West ceased operations, Aero Commuter purchased its assets, including the rights to the Golden West name, and briefly operated Hansa Jet flights on select routes.

During the 1970s, Golden West Airlines embarked on a significant expansion throughout California. It extended service to major airports such as San Francisco (SFO), Oakland, Bakersfield, Fresno, and San Jose, as well as smaller locations including Van Nuys and Santa Catalina Island. The airline also incorporated Catalina Air Lines' seaplane services under the division known as Catalina Golden West, strengthening its position in specialized regional travel markets.

Golden West forged interline agreements with numerous domestic and international airlines—including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Pan American World Airways, Lufthansa, and Japan Airlines—capitalizing on California’s burgeoning tourism sector to enhance its business growth and market presence.

By the early 1980s, Golden West had become the largest commuter airline within California, operating frequent shuttle flights between LAX and destinations such as Santa Barbara and San Diego. Its fleet expanded to include larger aircraft models like the Short 330 and the 50-seat de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7—the most sizable planes it operated. Despite this growth, heavy debt obligations ultimately led to its shutdown in April 1983.

In 2000, Pinnacle Air Charter acquired Golden West’s Air Carrier Certificate and resumed operations under various DBAs focusing on air charter and medical transport services until ceasing operations in 2007.

Fleet

The aircraft fleet operated by Golden West comprised:

• 4 – Beechcraft Model 99 Airliner
• 27 – de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
• 5 – de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7
• 1 – Grumman G-21 Goose (amphibious plane inherited from Catalina Air Lines)
• 1 − HFB 320 Hansa Jet
• 5 − Short 330

Destinations in 1982

As of July 1, 1982, Golden West served important Californian cities including:

• Bakersfield (BFL)
• Fresno (FAT)
• Lake Tahoe (TVL)
• Los Angeles (LAX)
• Monterey (MRY)
• Ontario (ONT)
• Orange County (SNA, currently John Wayne Airport)
• Oxnard (OXR)
• San Diego (SAN)
• San Francisco (SFO)
• Santa Barbara (SBA)

Former service locations

Before 1982, Golden West broadened its network throughout California by offering flights to the following destinations:

• Avalon Harbor Seaplane Base on Catalina Island (operated in partnership with Catalina Air Lines using Grumman Goose seaplanes)
• Catalina Airport (AVX)
• Edwards Air Force Base
• Fullerton Airport
• Inyokern
• Long Beach Airport (routes served by both Golden West and Catalina Air Lines)
• McClellan–Palomar Airport
• Merced
• Modesto
• Mojave Airport
• Oakland
• Palmdale Airport
• Palm Springs
• Pomona (POC)
• Redlands Airport
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• San Jose
• Santa Rosa
• Stockton
• Tehachapi
• Trona
• Two Harbors Seaplane Base on Catalina Island (operated by Catalina Air Lines)
• Vandenberg Air Force Base

Accidents and incidents

On January 9, 1975, Flight 261 operated by Golden West Airlines, a de Havilland Twin Otter, was involved in a midair collision with a Cessna 150 above Whittier, California. The tragedy resulted in 14 deaths, including all 12 passengers and crew aboard the Golden West flight and both occupants of the Cessna.