Post by viscount on Mar 29, 2010 9:19:32 GMT 1
CASA 212 Aviocar visits to Liverpool
1982/1983
Bit of an odd one this with a somewhat different pattern of visits to Liverpool than pretty well all the other types covered by these NWAN type visit reviews. The type made 9 visits in a 10 week period, and as far as I can tell, has not appeared again since.
Those around in 1983 I'm sure will recall the CASA 212 visits. The first visit came about as a result of high cross winds at Glasgow Airport, the intended destination and diversion to Liverpool. The delivery crew found a welcome at Liverpool, so routed their next flights through Liverpool too. The aircraft were all ex factory and in yellow-green protective primer coating overall. All were on delivery to the United States distributor in California unimaginatively called 'American CASA USA Inc'. The preferred full route being: Seville-Liverpool-Reykjavik-Goose Bay-Bangor, Maine-onwards to-California. The Constructor's plate was examined for each aircraft, from which it was clear the early aircraft had spent a few months in store pending a customer.
Arrive-Depart In - Out Regn C/no. From-to Date of Manufacture
Sat 18.12-Sun 19.12.82 1935-1200 N428CA 248 Seville-Reykjavik DoM 06.07.82
Fri 14.01-Sat 15.01.83 2020-1110 N429CA 262 Oporto-Reyjkavik DoM 29.09.82
Fri 21.01-Sun 23.01.83 1830-1045 N431CA 269 Seville-Reykjavik DoM 26.10.82
Sat 22.01-Sun 23.01.83 1515-1050 N430CA 265 Seville-Reykjavik DoM 14.10.82
Thu 27.01-Fri 28.01.83 1805-1300 N432CA 271 Seville-Stornoway DoM 03.12.82
Sat 29.01-Sun 30.01.83 1725-1100 N433CA 272 Seville-Reykjavik DoM 18.11.82
Fri 04.02-Sat 05.02.83 1815-1125 N434CA 286 Seville-Reykjavik DoM 11.12.82
Fri 11.02-Sat 12.02.83 1750-1030 N436CA 287 Seville-Reykjavik DoM 14.12.82
Mon 14.02-Thu 17.02.83 1510-1450 N435CA 289 Seville-Reykjavik DoM 10.01.83
As can be seen all the aircraft night stopped at Liverpool. On one occasion two were at Liverpool together. We were told there were to be no more American deliveries in March, however when flights resumed in April the delivery crews changed the route. The last flight into Liverpool shed a hatch cover in flight before arrival. This was reported in the 'Daily Post' along with adverse comments relating to safety of people and property on the ground. This could well have been a factor in the delivery crews avoiding Liverpool when future deliveries to the U.S. resumed. The aircraft involved, N435CA remained at Liverpool for several days awaiting replacement parts.
Although there were over 450 Aviocars built the majority went to Air Forces in Asia, Africa, South America and small airlines in the USA, very few were used by civilian operators in Europe. To my knowledge, no further Casa Aviocars called at Liverpool.
So, what happened to the aircraft that passed through Liverpool on delivery?
248 N428CA ff 6. 7.82 Variety of small US operators such as Fischer Brothers Avn, Executive Airlines, Simmonds Airines later became N248MA with Murray Avn and N202FN Flight International Avn before becoming N961BW with Presidential Airways in 3.04.
262 N429CA ff 8.9.82 Variety of small US operators, including Prinair in the Caribbean, Execuive Airlines, later became N262MA with Murray Avn before Blackwater and N969BW with Presidential 11.06 (these companies will also feature in the CN.235 post too).
265 N430CA ff 15.10.82 Served with a variety of operators including Prinair, Anderson Oil & Gas, Coastal Airlines before C-GDPP 3.96 with Terra Surveys and, since 9.02 Fugro Aviation Service.
269 N431CA ff 20.10.82 Served with National Air and Latin Air Service until destroyed after ditching on route Key West, Florida to Panama City, Panama on 17.12.86
271 N432CA ff 30.11.82 Flown mostly by Prinair, then to American Executive Air Charter and crashed on approach to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico 8.5.87.
272 N433CA ff 12.11.82 Operated by Prinair, then a variety of small American operators eg Executive Airlines and Simmonds. Stored in Florida 1.93 for a year, then to Costa Rica as TI-AVV 6.93. Back to the USA as N433CA 11.96 with Fayard Enterprises until delivery 2.07 to the Royal Australian Air Force.
286 N434CA ff 7.12.82 Also operated by a variety of small operators such as National Air, Trans Air, Coastal Airlines and Summit Aviation. Purchased by Fayard Enterprises 19.1.95
287 N436CA ff 7.12.82 Prinair and Executive airlines. Stored Crestview, Florida 1.93 for 6 months. Later N287MA 9.94 of Murray Aviation then to Arctic Transportation Services 8.02
289 N435CA ff 22.12.82 Prinair, Executive Airlines, Simmons Airines. To N316ST 11.93 Specialised Transport International and eventually to Presidential and N966BW 5.05.
After this batch of deliveries to the USA distributor, the next two aircraft for them did not cross the Atlantic until 7.84 and two more 7.85 with a handful more after 10.85. Information from 'Turbo Prop Airliner Production List', Roach & Eastwood, TAHS 2007.
