Established as an Anchorage-based FBO by Joe Wilbur Sr. in 1961, this company also sets up a flight division to offer charter passenger and cargo services to local destinations. Certain of these are offered on a scheduled basis, even though such an arrangement is illegal.
In November 1984, Wilbur elects to begin scheduled third-level Piper PA-34 Seneca flights between his base and Sparrevohn. Service between Anchorage and Cordova is introduced in 1985 and operations continue apace for the remainder of the decade, with McGrath, Valdez, Aniak, and other points joining the route network. Two fatal accidents are recorded during these years.
While on final approach to Merrill Field at Anchorage on April 1, 1987, a Cessna 402B with a pilot and a passenger suffers fuel exhaustion and crashes into a heavily wooded area upside down in a near vertical attitude; both aboard are killed.
While en route on August 17, 1988, a Cessna 402B with two crew aboard crashes into Mount Torbet at the 10,570-ft. level; there are no survivors.
The destroyed aircraft are replaced in 1989 and by 1990 the 51-employee small regional continues to operate the Seneca, plus 2 Cessna 401s, 2 Cessna 402s, and 1 Beech 99.
Enplanements for the year total 8,489.
The fleet is increased in 1991 by the addition of a Piper PA-34 Seneca. In March, Pacific Northern Airways, owned by Gerald, Newton and Bert Ball, purchase Wilbur’s passenger operations and attaches to it a Douglas DC-6 cargo division. President Wilbur continues to operate Flight Safety Alaska, a flying school and maintenance facility at Merrill Field.
On November 20, Dallas-based WAA Leasing, owner of the old Wien Air Alaska, purchases Wilbur’s, Pacific Northern Airways, and several other aviation companies. WAA President Patricia Long indicates that the company, which leases out the four Wien B-737 passenger airliners, may bring two of them north again to fly Wilbur’s passengers.
Passenger boardings decline by more than half to 3,465 and 547,399 pounds of mail are flown. Revenues total $5.8 million, but costs reach $6.41 million, guaranteeing an operating loss of $589,997. The net loss is $561,575.
At the beginning of 1992, Wilbur’s serves 10 communities from Anchorage with cargo flights and transports passengers from Bethel. During the first quarter, the company encounters difficulties in transporting its contracted mail shipments from Anchorage to King Salmon and Dillingham. Difficulties appear imminent and pilots apply to Northern Air Cargo, which begins to complete the Wilbur’s Flight Operations mail deliveries.
The insurance company AIG Aviation informs the DOT that liability insurance coverage for the airline will be cancelled on March 25, but will be reinstated two days later. In the interim, the government requires the carrier to shut down. Under DOT rules, the company cannot fly again for at least 45 days unless an exemption is granted. No exemption is sought, although no immediate move is made to officially shut down. Wilbur’s does not relinquish its flying certificates and DOT makes no move to revoke them.
Over the next few weeks, the government evaluates the airline’s financial soundness. No report is finished because, on the evening of April 3, WAA Leasing notifies the DOT that it will close permanently as of 12:01 a. m. April 4. Its last action is to take down the sign outside of Anchorage and disconnect the telephone.
World History
