Reeve Aleutian Airways

  March 1947 to December 2000

  United States of America

TYPE: Airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: RV / RVV

HEADQUARTERS: Anchorage, AK

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

In February 1946, Bob Reeve purchased a DC3 from USAAF surplus for $20,000 with $3,000 down and the balance payable over 3 years. The cost of conversion to civilian standard was quoted at $50,000 but Reeve did the work himself at a cost of $5,000. As a strike by sailors on steamships operating between Seattle and Anchorage started in April 1946, Reeve began flying between these two cities with stops in Juneau, Yakutat or Annette Island. Each trip carried a full load of 21 passengers and took an average of 9.5 hours. In 53 days, 26 round trips were made. Reeve would work all night on inspections and maintenance of the plane at Spokane, and then fly back to Anchorage having had very little sleep. Reeve earned $93,000 from this activity, enough to pay for the DC3 and buy three more.

In July 1946 another DC3 was purchased from the USAF. In the winter of 1946-47, Reeve filed with the CAA for a license to operate on the run between Anchorage and Attu, and in the summer of 1947 he was making weekly flights down the Aleutian Chain. Within a year, he was running a twice-weekly service, keeping all four DC3s busy. Following the loss of a DC3, Reeve bought a twin-engined Beechcraft and a Lockheed Electra 10B with the insurance money. The DC3 was subsequently repaired and eventually sold.

On 24 March 1947, Reeve Aleutian Airways was incorporated. The company was running scheduled and charter services all over Alaska, despite not having a formal CAA certificate. About this time, Reeve was ordered to get authorization to use the wartime Aleutian Chain bases he was using. Reeve flew to Washington and leased Dutch Harbor field and acquired landing permits for Kodiak, Adak and Attu. In 1948, several amphibians were purchased. In late 1950, Reeve made a loan to purchase the Alaskan arm of maintenance organization Pacific Airmotive, who were doing his maintenance, and renamed it Reeve Airmotive.

By the mid-1950's, it was apparent that the DC3s were not big enough for Reeve Aleutian. Therefore, the Douglas DC4 was selected to supplement the DC3s from March 1957, eventually replacing them. That same year, the Distant Early Warning line was being constructed, bringing a boom to Reeve Aleutian, and two Commandos were purchased from Cordova Airlines. In the late 1960's, the Lockheed L-188 Electra became the backbone of Reeve Aleutian's business until Boeing 727-100 jets joined the fleet in later years. In 1973, the Electra was certified by the CAA to land on gravel runways.

Reeve Aleutian ceased operations on December 5, 2000, and about 250 people were declared redundant. Reasons given for the situation included increased competition and high fuel prices. At the end, only one Lockheed Electra and one Boeing 727 remained in service.

1957 to 1981

• Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando: N9852F