note

Air Illinois began flying on August 1, 1970 on routes linking Alton, Carbondale, Springfield (IL), and St. Louis. Throughout the decade the company expanded its route system within Illinois, to Chicago, southern Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Iowa. An important route linked Springfield with Chicago's downtown airport, Meigs Field. It later connected Meigs with Peoria, Quincy, and Moline. In December 1977 it acquired some assets of defunct South Central Air Transport, and briefly operated services between Memphis and New Orleans, with stops in Mississippi. The same month, airline made history when it operated first scheduled all female crew service in USA with the captain Emily Jones and first officer Lynn Rippelmeyer. This was however not intentional. The airline graduated from the Commuter to Scheduled air carrier ranks on February 1, 1983 as it placed two BAC One-Elevens into service. The airline suffered a fatal accident on October 11, 1983, when an HS748 crashed on approach into Carbondale killing 10. A subsequent FAA inspection recommended revocation of its operating certificates - the airline voluntarily surrendered them on December 14, 1983. It was able to regain its 121 certificate on January 13, 1984 (for the One-Elevens) and its 135 certificate on March 9, 1984. However, the brief shutdown presented a financial drain and the airline filed for bankruptcy and suspended scheduled operations on April 17,1984. It continued operating the One-Elevens in charters, including some services for Wright Airlines. In 1985 it has entered into agreement to be acquired by Oceanair of Florida, which had also acquired Atlantic Gulf Airlines, which had ceased operating the previous year. In April it began flying routes connecting Tallahassee, West Palm Beach, and Miami, and began using the Atlantic Gulf name. It later operated between Miami and the Turks and Caicos. In late 1986, its only operating One-Eleven developed mechanical problems and the company suspended operations by September 1, 1986.

founded - demised (age)

1970 - September 1 1986  (16)

headquarters

, Carbondale, IL

web

base airports

KSGF Branson National Springfield
KCGX Merill Church Meigs Chicago
KMDH Southern Illinois Carbondale

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