Mohawk Airlines

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Mohawk Airlines was an airline that operated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, primarily the states of New York and Pennsylvania from the mid-1940s until its acquisition by Allegheny Airlines in 1972. At its height it employed 400 personnel and pioneered several technical and social aspects of regional airline operations, including being the first airline in the United States to hire an African American flight attendant.

History

1940s

1950s

As it grew in the 1950s, the Douglas DC-3 became its primary aircraft; the Convair CV-240, CV-440's and Martin 4-0-4's were integrated into its fleet later. The airline also experimented with helicopter service between New York and Catskill Mountains resorts with limited success. In 1952, Robinson was purchased by Robert Peach and the name changed to Mohawk Airlines to reflect the Mohawk Valley of New York where the airline originated service.

On February 11, 1958, Ruth Carol Taylor was hired by Mohawk Airlines, becoming the first African-American flight attendant in the United States.

1960s

Mohawk Airlines Convair CV-240 "Air Chief Pasquat" circa 1959.

In 1961 it was the first airline to use a centralized computer based reservation service. And in 1965 it was the first regional airline to utilize flight simulators.

Mohawk upgraded its fleet with the British Aerospace Corporation BAC 1-11 in 1965, becoming the first regional airline to inaugurate jet aircraft service.

By 1969 all piston engined aircraft had been retired from its fleet and Mohawk flew mainly BAC 1-11 and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 aircraft.

1970s and acquisition

Mohawk Airlines British Aerospace Corporation BAC-111 "Quebec" circa 1972.

By 1971 labor issues and several strikes had caused Mohawk to enter merger discussions with Allegheny Airlines.

It was purchased by Allegheny Airlines in 1972, which eventually became US Airways.

Fleet

center

From top to bottom:

• DC-3 with Robinson Airlines livery
• DC-3 with Mohawk Airlines livery
• Convair 240
• Martin 4-0-4
• Convair 440
• BAC 1-11
• Fairchild Hiller FH-227
• Boeing 727-100 Ordered but never delivered.
• BAC 1-11 in final livery before Allegheny Airlines acquisition.

Accidents and incidents

Mohawk Airlines Fairchild-Hiller FH-227B "The City of Glens Falls" circa 1970.

Mohawk Airlines had four accidents that involved fatalities.

• On July 2, 1963 at Rochester, New York, a Mohawk Airlines Martin 4-0-4 attempted to take-off into a thunderstorm. Its wing-tip hit the ground and the aircraft cart-wheeled. Seven people were killed.

• A bizarre accident occurred on June 23, 1967 when a BAC 1-11 flying from Ithaca, New York to Washington, D.C. had a fire in the rear of the aircraft which eventually destroyed the vertical tail causing all loss of pitch control. The cause was a valve installed backwards in the APU unit causing hydraulic fluid to ignite. The aircraft crashed near Blossburg, Pennsylvania killing all 34 people on board.

• On November 19, 1969 a Mohawk Airlines Fairchild Hiller FH-227B crashed into Pilot Knob (mountain) on the east shore of Lake George, New York on approach to Warren County Airport, Glens Falls, New York killing all 14 on-board. The pilot had become disoriented in heavy rain and flew into a lee-side mountain downdraft.

• On March 3, 1972 another FH-227 crashed into a house in Albany, New York on approach to Albany County Airport. The crew had difficulty getting the cruise lock to disengage in one of the engines. While the crew attempted to deal with the problem, the aircraft crashed short of the airfield killing 16 of 48 in the aircraft and one person on the ground. The lone surviving crew-member was, stewardess, Sandra Quinn.

References

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