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39-686: In 1969 the airline was founded to serve the Houston area with "cross-town" flights. Houston Metro Airlines constructed their own 2,500 foot, short take-off and landing ( STOL ) airstrip along with a passenger terminal building and maintenance hangar adjacent to Clear Lake City, Texas near the NASA Johnson Space Center . The Clear Lake City STOLport was essentially Houston Metro's own private airport. The airline's initial route linked Clear Lake City (CLC) with Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH) which opened in 1969. In early 1970, Houston Metro

78-541: A "prime flight" (as opposed to a codeshare marketing flight). Under a code sharing agreement, participating airlines can present a common flight number for several reasons, including: There are several types of code sharing arrangements: Much competition in the airline industry revolves around ticket sales (also known as "seat booking") strategies ( revenue management , variable pricing , and geo-marketing ). Criticism has been leveled against code sharing by consumer organizations and national departments of trade since it

117-467: A 50-foot (15 meters) obstacle within 1,500 feet (450 meters) of commencing takeoff or in landing, to stop within 1,500 feet (450 meters) after passing over a 50-foot (15 meters) obstacle. Also called STOL. STOL (Short Take Off and Landing). STOL performance of an aircraft is the ability of aircraft to take off and clear a 50-foot obstruction in a distance of 1,500 feet from beginning the takeoff run. It must also be able to stop within 1,500 feet after crossing

156-443: A 50-foot obstacle on landing. An aircraft that, at some weight within its approved operating weight, is capable of operating from a STOL runway in compliance with the applicable STOL characteristics and airworthiness, operations, noise, and pollution standards" and ""aircraft" means any machine capable of deriving support in the atmosphere A STOL aircraft is an aircraft with a certified performance capability to execute approaches along

195-467: A 50-ft (15-m) obstacle at the end of that distance and upon landing can clear the same obstacle and then land within 1,000 ft. The STOL mode of flight is one during which an airplane taking off or landing is operated at climb-out and approach speeds lower than the conventionally accepted margins of airspeed above the power-off stalling speed of the airplane. Additionally, some aircraft manufacturers market their products as STOL without providing evidence that

234-800: A commuter/regional air carrier based in Louisiana, then assumed many of the routes that were previously operated by Metro into Houston. However, in 1987 Royale declared bankruptcy and ceased all scheduled passenger flight operations. Metro Airlines spun off its certificated airline, being Metro Airlines, and formed an airline holding company. Among the commuter and regional air carriers acquired or created by Metro were: In 1991 Metro went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization and then in May 1993 Metro Airlines went completely out of business. The airline assets were promptly purchased and renamed by AMR Corporation whom were already involved with Metro Airlines by way of

273-470: A glideslope of 6 degrees or steeper and to execute missed approaches at a climb gradient sufficient to clear a 15:1 missed approach surface at sea level... A STOL runway is one which is specifically designated and marked for STOL aircraft operations, and designed and maintained to specified standards. Heavier-than-air craft that cannot take off and land vertically, but can operate within areas substantially more confined than those normally required by aircraft of

312-685: A new code sharing passenger feed agreement with American Airlines . The Convair 580 aircraft were operated by the Metroflight Airlines division which also flew DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft on American Eagle services. Metro Airlines operated out of DFW via its wholly owned Metroflight division under the American Eagle brand beginning on November 1, 1984. In 1985 the airline announced that it would end service to Houston Intercontinental Airport (now George Bush Intercontinental Airport ). Royale Airlines ,

351-438: Is a function of the square of the minimum flying speed ( stall speed ), and most design effort is spent on reducing this number. For takeoff , large power/weight ratios and low drag help the plane to accelerate for flight. The landing run is minimized by strong brakes , low landing speed, thrust reversers or spoilers (less common). Overall STOL performance is set by the length of runway needed to land or take off, whichever

390-478: Is claimed it is confusing and not transparent to passengers. There are also code sharing arrangements between airlines and railway companies , formally known as air-rail alliances , and commonly marketed as "Rail & Fly" due to the popularity of the Deutsche Bahn codeshare with many airlines. They involve some integration of both types of transport, e.g., in finding the fastest connection and allowing

429-452: Is commonly called the operating carrier , often abbreviated OPE CXR, even though the IATA SSIM term "administrating carrier" is more precise. The reason for this is that a third carrier may be involved, typically in the case that the airline originally planning to operate the flight needs to hire a subcontractor to operate the flight on their behalf (typically a wet lease, meaning an aircraft

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468-674: Is critical, because many small, isolated communities rely on STOL aircraft as their only transportation link to the outside world for passengers or cargo; examples include many communities in the Canadian north and Alaska . Most STOL aircraft can land either on- or off-airport. Typical off-airport landing areas include snow or ice (using skis), fields or gravel riverbanks (often using special fat, low-pressure tundra tires ), and water (using floats ): these areas are often extremely short and obstructed by tall trees or hills. Wheel skis and amphibious floats combine wheels with skis or floats, allowing

507-413: Is leased with crew and all facilities to fly, commonly due to capacity limitations, technical problems etc.) In this case, the airline carrying the passenger should be designated the operating carrier, since it is the one carrying the passengers/cargo. When a flight is sold under several designators and flight numbers as described above, the one published by the "administrating carrier" is commonly called

546-436: Is longer. Of equal importance to short ground run is the ability to clear obstacles, such as hills, on both take off and landing. For takeoff, large power/weight ratios and low drag result in a high rate of climb required to clear obstacles. For landing, high drag allows the aeroplane to descend steeply to the runway without building excess speed resulting in a longer ground run. Drag is increased by use of flaps (devices on

585-400: Is operated by one airline (technically called an "administrating carrier" or "operating carrier") while seats are sold for the flight by all cooperating airlines using their own designator and flight number. The term "code" refers to the identifier used in a flight schedule, generally the two-character IATA airline designator code and flight number. Thus, XX224 (flight number 224 operated by

624-669: The Clear Lake City STOLport located in the Houston area near the NASA Johnson Space Center , was abandoned and subsequently demolished in order to make way for suburban development. There is currently no trace of this pioneering airfield to be seen. In later years, Continental Express , a regional airline and a regional airline brand; and at that time survivor of the post-deregulation and highly controversial Houston based Texas Air Corporation Continental Airlines and Eastern Air Lines acquisition years, operated scheduled passenger air service from Ellington Field (EFD) near

663-515: The Official Airline Guide (OAG), the airline was operating 22 roundtrip flights every weekday in its passenger shuttle operation between Clear Lake City and Houston Intercontinental. The route system was later expanded to include a number of destinations in southeast and south Texas with flights to Houston Intercontinental. At one point, the airline also flew between Laredo, TX (LRD) and San Antonio, TX (SAT). All initial Houston Metro service

702-619: The United States that were used for scheduled passenger airline operations but are now no longer in existence. Cruise -efficient short takeoff and landing (CESTOL), is an aircraft with both very short runway requirements and high cruise speeds (greater than Mach 0.8). Many different definitions of STOL have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of regulatory and military purposes. Some accepted definitions of STOL include: short takeoff and landing: ( DOD / NATO ) The ability of an aircraft to clear

741-600: The de Havilland Canada Dash-7 , are designed for use on prepared airstrips; likewise, many STOL aircraft are taildraggers , though there are exceptions like the PAC P-750 XSTOL , the Quest Kodiak , the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and the Peterson 260SE . Autogyros also have STOL capability, needing a short ground roll to get airborne, but capable of a near-zero ground roll when landing. Runway length requirement

780-419: The "banner carrier" codeshare flying that Metro performed for AMR via its Metroflight division with these services being created cooperatively by the legacy carrier , being American Airlines , and the regional , being Metro subsidiary Metroflight, as American Eagle during the mid-1980s. Under AMR many of Metroflight's assets found their way over to Simmons Airlines . Houston Metro's original home, being

819-486: The Metroflight Airlines division which would eventually operate American Eagle flights. Metroflight also independently served several destinations in Oklahoma and north Texas from Dallas/Ft. Worth and Oklahoma City (OKC). In 1982 Metro purchased fourteen (14) Convair 580 aircraft from the original Frontier Airlines . These 50 passenger twin turboprops were then used to initiate the first ever American Eagle service via

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858-758: The acquisition of the airline "Brockway Air" and its subsequent name change to "Metro Air Northeast," Beech-1900C and Saab-340A commuter aircraft served the following destinations upon TWA 's TWExpress network: STOL A short takeoff and landing ( STOL ) aircraft is a conventional fixed-wing aircraft that has short runway requirements for takeoff and landing . Many STOL-designed aircraft also feature various arrangements for use on airstrips with harsh conditions (such as high altitude or ice). STOL aircraft, including those used in scheduled passenger airline operations, have also been operated from STOLport airfields which feature short runways. Many fixed-wing STOL aircraft are bush planes , though some, like

897-403: The aircraft meets any accepted definition. Code sharing A codeshare agreement , also known simply as codeshare , is a business arrangement, common in the aviation industry, in which two or more airlines publish and market the same flight under their own airline designator and flight number (the "airline flight code") as part of their published timetable or schedule. Typically, a flight

936-409: The airline XX), might also be sold by airline YY as YY568 and by ZZ as ZZ9876. Airlines YY and ZZ are in this case called "marketing airlines" (sometimes abbreviated MKT CXR for "marketing carrier"). Most of the major airlines today have code sharing partnerships with other airlines, and code sharing is a key feature of the major airline alliances . Typically, code-sharing agreements are also part of

975-410: The airline industry since then, particularly in the wake of the formation of large airline alliances . These alliances have extensive codesharing and networked frequent flyer programs . Under a code sharing agreement, the airline that administers the flight (the one holding the operational permissions, airport slots and planning/controlling the flight and responsible for the ground handling services)

1014-489: The carrier joining the ranks of the regional airline industry via its use of larger aircraft. The company was also independently operating flights from the DFW at this time with DHC-6 Twin Otter and Short 330 aircraft with services to several destinations in east Texas with some of these flights continuing on to or originating from Houston Intercontinental (IAH). These Twin Otter and Short 330 passenger services into DFW were flown by

1053-467: The choice of landing on snow/water or a prepared runway. A number of aircraft modification companies offer STOL kits for improving short-field performance. A STOLport is an airport designed with STOL operations in mind, normally having a short single runway. STOLports are not common but can be found, for example, at London City Airport in London , United Kingdom . There were also several STOLports in

1092-497: The commercial agreements between airlines in the same airline alliances. In 1967, Richard A. Henson ’s Hagerstown Commuter airline joined with US Airways predecessor, regional Allegheny Airlines , in the nation's first codeshare relationship. The term "code sharing" or "codeshare" was coined in 1989 by Qantas and American Airlines , and in 1990 the two firms provided their first codeshare flights between an array of Australian and U.S. cities. Code sharing has become widespread in

1131-505: The first orders for five (5) Short 330 twin turboprops were announced. [1] These Irish-manufactured aircraft would be used to complement the Twin Otters already in use on higher demand routes as well as new service to Lafayette , LA and Lake Charles, LA and offered far more comfortable seating for passengers. The addition of the 30 passenger Short 330 turboprops required Metro to make provisions for flight attendants and also resulted in

1170-425: The following destinations: Saab 340 turboprop aircraft and additional destinations were added beginning in late 1987. These destinations were served with British Aerospace Jetstream 31 and/or Short 330 turboprops: These destinations were served with British Aerospace BAe Jetstream 31 turboprops and/or with de Havilland Canada DHC-8-100 Dash 8 turboprops: After the acquisition of the airlines "Sunaire" and

1209-551: The former site of the Clear Lake City STOLport. Much like the original Houston Metro, and subsequent Eastern Metro Express short hop operations by amicable partner Metro Airlines ; short hop Continental Express flights commenced during the 1980s, utilizing ATR-42 and Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia turboprops and then Embraer ERJ-135 regional jets to transport connecting passengers across the city to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). However, this service

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1248-462: The same size. Derived from short takeoff and landing aircraft. short takeoff and landing aircraft (STOL), heavier-than-air craft, capable of rising from and descending to the ground with only a short length of runway, but incapable of doing so vertically. The precise definition of an STOL aircraft has not been universally agreed upon. However, it has been tentatively defined as an aircraft that upon taking off needs only 1,000 ft (305 m) of runway to clear

1287-515: The subsequent name change to "Aviation Associates," de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 250 & 300 turboprops served the following destinations: Many of these destinations were previously served by Metro Airlines on an independent basis prior to a marketing alliance with Eastern Airlines and were operated with Metro's very own DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft: Metro was also operating Eastern Express service at this time from San Antonio International Airport (SAT) with service to Laredo, TX (LRD) After

1326-433: The wings) and by a forward slip (causing the aeroplane to fly somewhat sideways through the air to increase drag). Normally, a STOL aircraft will have a large wing for its weight. These wings often use aerodynamic devices like flaps, slots , slats , and vortex generators . Typically, designing an aircraft for excellent STOL performance reduces maximum speed, but does not reduce payload lifting ability. The payload

1365-450: Was also utilized by Metro for flights between IAH and Beaumont/Port Arthur (BPT) where one was destroyed by a tornado in 1983 while sitting empty on the airport ramp (see Accidents and incidents below). In 1972 the airline carried between 90,000 and 100,000 passengers per year. It displayed a profit of $ 156,510 U.S. dollars in an eight-month period. In early 1974, to capitalize on a perception among Dallas residents that Dallas Love Field

1404-595: Was finally discontinued as well. These destinations were served by Houston Metro Airlines during and after its name change to Metro Airlines from its Clear Lake City headquarters, with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops and/or Short 330 turboprops: These destinations were initially served independently by the Metroflight division with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft: Metroflight began codeshare services for American Airlines on November 1, 1984 flying Convair 580 turboprops as American Eagle to

1443-483: Was more convenient than the newly-opened Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Metroflight inaugurated seven-minute Twin Otter flights between Love and DFW. Airfare was only $ 10 ($ 62.00 in 2023), advertised as less than a typical one-way taxi fare between Dallas and DFW. However, the service proved unprofitable, and it was discontinued in September 1975. In 1978 Metro entered the "stand up widebody cabin age" when

1482-403: Was operated with de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter twin turboprop STOL aircraft as the Clear Lake City STOLport was specifically designed for this aircraft. Additional new service was later extended to Lafayette, LA (LFT) and Lake Charles, LA (LCH) with flights to Houston Intercontinental (IAH) with these services being operated with larger Short 330 twin turboprop aircraft. The Short 330

1521-516: Was operating two routes: Clear Lake City - Houston Intercontinental and Houston Hobby Airport (HOU) - Houston Intercontinental. The February 1, 1970 Houston Metro timetable lists 24 round trip flights every weekday between the CLC STOLport and Houston Intercontinental and 14 round trip flights every weekday between Houston Hobby and Houston Intercontinental. According to the February 1976 edition of

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