Lake Tahoe Airport ( IATA : TVL , ICAO : KTVL , FAA LID : TVL ) is a public airport three miles southwest of South Lake Tahoe , in El Dorado County, California . It covers 348 acres (141 ha) and has one runway; it is sometimes called Tahoe Valley Airport . Although the airport had almost forty years of airline service, since 2000, it has served only general aviation.
121-594: The airport in the Sierra Nevada mountains just south of Lake Tahoe opened in 1959 with a 5900-ft runway. Beginning in 1962 it had a few airline flights: the first were on Futura Airlines , an intrastate airline , and on Paradise Airlines, both flying Lockheed L-049 Constellations . In 1963, Paradise was operating three daily flights between Lake Tahoe and Oakland and San Jose in the Bay Area with some flights occasionally being operated with Douglas DC-3 aircraft instead of
242-399: A San Diego powerbroker, later convicted of fraud. From 1974 to 1981, it was controlled by Smith's former holding company Westgate-California Corporation (WCC), while WCC was in an extended period of bankruptcy run by a court-appointed trustee. From 1981 to 1987, AirCal was controlled by two California real estate developers, who, despite the turbulent nature of the industry at the time, made
363-485: A California intrastate carrier, Air California was economically regulated by the CPUC, in contrast to most US airlines of the era, which were economically regulated by CAB. Prior to 1965, the CPUC only had the right to regulate intrastate ticket prices. So long as they followed CPUC tariffs, anyone was free to start an intrastate California airline, to enter and leave specific markets and to choose their own frequencies. But in 1965,
484-453: A bridge too far for American, so it bought rather than built. Another factor was that Frank Lorenzo 's Texas Air was also interested and American was eager to block it. AirCal had achieved a 1985 market share on the LA Basin to SF Bay corridor market of just under 33%, second to PSA which had just less than 49%. AirCal had expanded up the coast to Canada and Alaska and as far east as Chicago with
605-434: A combined total of up to 24 flights a day. The April 1, 1981 OAG edition lists nonstop flights from Burbank, Fresno, Los Angeles, Oakland, Orange County, Reno, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Truckee, CA. Jet service resumed in 1983 with AirCal McDonnell Douglas MD-80s followed by Boeing 737-300s . AirCal flew nonstop to Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Jose, CA and direct to Burbank and Orange County. In 1987,
726-400: A daily AirCal 737-300 flight was scheduled direct to Chicago O'Hare Airport via San Francisco and Orange County. American Airlines acquired AirCal in 1987 and continued to serve Lake Tahoe with the former AirCal 737-300s but soon switched its service to regional partner American Eagle which operated Saab 340s and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners to the airport in the 1990s. American was
847-584: A few months later. The replacements were Aspen Airways and Cal Sierra Airlines , both flying Convair 580s , and Air Pacific (United States) and successor Golden Gate Airlines as well as Golden West Airlines with all three airlines operating de Havilland Canada DHC-7 Dash 7s . Pacific Coast Airlines (formerly Apollo Airways) served the airport with Handley Page Jetstreams while Gulf Air Transport , McCulloch International Airlines and Nomads Travel Club nonscheduled gambling charters all used Electras. Other turboprop operators were Royal American Airways with
968-415: A fleet of 39 aircraft. American’s purchase closed May 1, 1987 and AirCal was merged out of existence on July 1. AirCal's long-time rival, PSA, was likewise swallowed by USAir . In April 1967, Air California was operating 48 nonstop Lockheed L-188 Electra propjet flights a week from Orange County (SNA) to San Francisco (SFO). It added Orange County (SNA) to San Jose (SJC) and Oakland (OAK) flights around
1089-521: A foreman working for Sacramento pioneer John Sutter , found shiny metal in the tailrace of a lumber mill Marshall was building for Sutter on the American River . Rumors soon started to spread and were confirmed in March 1848 by San Francisco newspaper publisher and merchant Samuel Brannan . Brannan strode through the streets of San Francisco, holding aloft a vial of gold, shouting "Gold! Gold! Gold from
1210-448: A holding company for the airline, ACI Holdings. In November 1986, AirCal accepted a purchase offer from American Airlines for $ 225mm, $ 90mm of which would be split by Lyon & Argyros. American was in the midst of a hub expansion program, then building new (now defunct) hubs in Raleigh , Nashville and San Juan . Building a west coast presence from scratch at the same time was considered
1331-473: A late 1980 strike at PSA. AirCal was no longer protected by the CPUC or the SNA duopoly. Further, jet fuel prices increased from 40 cents/gal at the beginning of 1979 to over a dollar in 1981, related to the 1979 oil crisis . There was another factor: AirCal was squeezed at its SNA base, its historic source of profits. From 1970 to 1985, SNA capped daily average jet departures to 41/day, with AirCal having 27 during
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#17330852182151452-650: A looser limit for aircraft below a certain noise level, and the BAe-146 qualified. That would have given PSA a substantial advantage unless AirCal also got the aircraft, so it ordered six. In the fourth quarter of 1985 the string of profits was upset due to the entry of Continental West into California. Continental West was a short-lived Texas Air subsidiary created to take delivery of aircraft due to limits placed on Continental by its bankruptcy judge. Additional capacity cratered west coast fares once again, leading to 1986 being once again unprofitable. In June 1986, AirCal created
1573-505: A loss, its first in 11 years, in 1971. There was one immediate benefit from WCC ownership: Air California was able to take its seventh 737, delivered to WCC and turned over to Air California in September 1970. The eighth was delivered in May 1971. First-class ("Fiesta") service and Palm Springs made their debut in 1969, San Diego in 1970, though Burbank was suspended. In 1971, Sacramento was added to
1694-543: A low fare air carrier that is still in business. Lake Tahoe has not had scheduled passenger flights since, and the area is now served by Reno-Tahoe International Airport and Sacramento International Airport . Due to budget cuts in 2001, the FAA ceased funding on-site weather observers who had also served as the airport's air traffic controllers. Unable to find replacement funding, the South Lake Tahoe city council voted to close
1815-439: A minimum of five frequencies per day. In December, Air California had an initial public offering and the airline launched its first services January 16, 1967, using two Lockheed Electra aircraft. Total capital raised prior to the first flight was $ 5.3mm, including $ 2.5mm from the stock offering. In October 1967, Air California took delivery of two more Electras, for a total of four. San Jose and Oakland were added. In 1968,
1936-553: A portion of the area, a triangle whose vertices are Reno, Nevada ; Fresno, California ; and Las Vegas, Nevada , has been dubbed the " Nevada Triangle ", in reference to the Bermuda Triangle . Some counts put the number of crashes in the triangle at 2,000, including millionaire and record-breaking flyer Steve Fossett . Hypotheses that the crashes are related in some way to the United States Air Force 's Area 51 , or to
2057-448: A powerful stream or jet of water at gold-bearing gravel beds. It is estimated that by the mid-1880s, 11 million troy ounces (340 metric tons) of gold (worth approximately US$ 16 billion in 2020 prices) had been recovered by "hydraulicking". A consequence of these extraction methods was that large amounts of gravel, silt , heavy metals , and other pollutants were washed into streams and rivers. As of 1999 , many areas still bear
2178-463: A private plane before the AirCal pilot banked to avoid a collision. No crew or passengers were injured during the incident. AirCal's May 1, 1987, system timetable listed the following destinations shortly before it was merged into American Airlines: Air California/AirCal previously served these destinations during its existence: As of July 1, 1987, at the time of the merger, AirCal's fleet consisted of
2299-682: A publication of his photographs under the title Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras , commented, "The name Sierra is already a plural. To add an s is a linguistic, Californian, and mountaineering sin." The Sierra Nevada lies primarily in Central and Eastern California , with the Carson Range , a small but historically important spur, extending into Nevada. West-to-east, the Sierra Nevada's elevation increases gradually from 500 feet (150 m) in
2420-501: A short period, and the lightning can start fires. Summer high temperatures average 42–90 °F (6–32 °C). Winters are comparatively mild, and the temperature is usually only just low enough to sustain a heavy snowpack. For example, Tuolumne Meadows , at 8,600 feet (2,600 m) elevation, has winter daily highs about 40 °F (4 °C) with daily lows about 10 °F (−12 °C). The growing season lasts 20 to 230 days, strongly dependent on elevation. The highest elevations of
2541-428: A success of the airline, before selling it to American Airlines . Following the federal Airline Deregulation Act in 1978, Air California expanded beyond its namesake state. The airline was renamed AirCal in 1981 and merged into American Airlines in 1987. By that time, AirCal flew as far east as Chicago and as far north as Seattle , Anchorage , and Vancouver, BC . But less than four years later, American gutted
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#17330852182152662-447: Is Mount Lyell (13,120 ft or 3,999 m). The Sierra rises to almost 14,000 feet (4,300 m) with Mount Humphreys near Bishop, California . Finally, near Lone Pine , Mount Whitney is at 14,505 feet (4,421 m), the highest point in the contiguous United States . South of Mount Whitney, the elevation of the range quickly dwindles. The crest elevation is almost 10,000 feet (3,000 m) near Lake Isabella , but south of
2783-929: Is a mountain range in the Western United States , between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin . The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California , although the Carson Range spur lies primarily in Nevada . The Sierra Nevada is part of the American Cordillera , an almost continuous chain of mountain ranges that forms the western "backbone" of the Americas. The Sierra runs 400 mi (640 km) north-south, and its width ranges from 50 mi (80 km) to 80 mi (130 km) across east–west. Notable features include General Sherman ,
2904-456: Is either protected from development or strictly managed. The mountain range is home to three National Parks – Yosemite , Kings Canyon , and Sequoia – and two national monuments – Devils Postpile and Giant Sequoia . Ten national forests span much of the mountain range's remaining area. Within these national parks, monuments, and forests lie 26 wilderness areas , which together protect 15.4% of
3025-531: Is higher in the east. A list of biotic zones, and corresponding elevations, is presented below: Archaeological excavations placed Martis people of Paleo-Indians in northcentral Sierra Nevada during the period of 3,000 BCE to 500 CE. The earliest identified sustaining indigenous people in the Sierra Nevada were the Northern Paiute tribes on the east side, with the Mono tribe and Sierra Miwok tribe on
3146-688: Is the source of much of the sedimentary rock in California. In the Cretaceous , a subduction zone formed at the edge of the continent. This means that an oceanic plate started to dive beneath the North American Plate . Magma, formed through the subduction of the ancient Farallon Plate , rose in plumes ( plutons ) deep underground, their combined mass forming what is called the Sierra Nevada batholith . These plutons formed at various times, from 115 Ma to 87 Ma. The earlier plutons formed in
3267-458: The Basin and Range Province . As this andesitic volcanism began waning about five million years ago, the rivers were able to begin eroding away the 100s of meters of volcanic deposits and resume the incision that had been halted by the first period of volcanism. Some studies have argued that this recent incision is a sign of recent tectonic uplift. Other geologists claim that the elevations of many of
3388-634: The Carson River runs into Carson Sink , the Walker River into Walker Lake ; Rush , Lee Vining and Mill Creeks flow into Mono Lake ; and the Owens River into dry Owens Lake . Although none of the eastern rivers reach the sea, many of the streams from Mono Lake southwards are diverted into the Los Angeles Aqueduct which provides water to Southern California . The height of the mountains in
3509-481: The Central Valley to more than 14,000 feet (4,300 m) atop the highest peaks of its crest 50 to 75 miles (80 to 121 km) to the east. The east slope forms the steep Sierra Escarpment . Unlike its surroundings, the range receives a substantial amount of snowfall and precipitation due to orographic lift . The Sierra Nevada's irregular northern boundary stretches from the Susan River and Fredonyer Pass to
3630-590: The Nevadan orogeny , granite formed deep underground. The range started to uplift less than five million years ago, and erosion by glaciers exposed the granite and formed the light-colored mountains and cliffs that make up the range. The uplift caused a wide range of elevations and climates in the Sierra Nevada, which are reflected by the presence of five life zones (areas with similar plant and animal communities). Uplift continues due to faulting caused by tectonic forces, creating spectacular fault block escarpments along
3751-587: The North Fork Feather River . It represents where the granitic bedrock of the Sierra Nevada dives below the southern extent of Cenozoic igneous surface rock from the Cascade Range . It is bounded on the west by California 's Central Valley , on the east by the Basin and Range Province , and on the southeast by the Mojave Desert . The southern boundary is at Tehachapi Pass . Physiographically,
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3872-516: The San Joaquin Valley to the rest of the state in the 1870s. This facilitated the nationwide distribution of lumber. In addition, technological advancements, such as the shay locomotive and the v-shaped log flume , made it easier to transport lumber across mountainous terrain. The tourism potential of the Sierra Nevada was recognized early in the European history of the range. Yosemite Valley
3993-526: The United States started to move to California via Sonora and Walker Passes . In the winter of 1844, Lt. John C. Frémont , accompanied by Kit Carson , was the first European American to see Lake Tahoe . The Frémont party camped at 8,050 ft (2,450 m). The California Gold Rush began at Sutter's Mill , near Coloma , in the western foothills of the Sierra. On January 24, 1848, James W. Marshall,
4114-638: The Vickers Viscount , Sierra Expressway with the BAe Jetstream 31 and Alpha Air operating as Trans World Express for TWA with the Beechcraft 1900C . According to the Official Airline Guide , six regional and commuter airlines were serving Lake Tahoe in spring 1981 including Air Sierra, Aspen Airways, Cal Sierra Airlines, Golden Gate Airlines, Golden West Airlines and Great Sierra Airlines with
4235-489: The early 1980s recession , the extended impact of the August air traffic controller’s strike , which limited airline aircraft utilization and growth and the expanding impact of 1979 airline deregulation, which spread competitors into AirCal markets, and vice versa. For instance, PSA finally broke into John Wayne Airport (SNA), after, as they noted, 15 years of trying. AirCal had entered LAX in 1980., its LAX penetration assisted by
4356-511: The endorheic basin of Tulare Lake , which rarely overflows into the San Joaquin during wet years. The eastern slope watershed of the Sierra is much narrower; its rivers flow out into the endorheic Great Basin of eastern California and western Nevada . From north to south, the Susan River flows into intermittent Honey Lake , the Truckee River flows from Lake Tahoe into Pyramid Lake ,
4477-505: The 1960s and early 1970s, followed by Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) and Air California (later AirCal ) Electras starting in 1975. Sierra Pacific Airlines, a commuter air carrier, served the airport in the mid-1960s with flights to San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland and Monterey. Commuter air carrier Skymark Airlines, a predecessor of Golden West Airlines (which later served the airport as well), flew de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters in
4598-415: The 1980s, and yet this part of US airline history is little known. In 2015, American Airlines added to its heritage livery series a AirCal Boeing 737-800 . On Tuesday, February 17, 1981, an AirCal Boeing 737-200 crashed while attempting to land at John Wayne Airport. AirCal Flight 336 was a scheduled flight from San Jose International Airport to John Wayne International Airport. Around 48 minutes into
4719-716: The American River!" On August 19, 1848, the New York Herald was the first major newspaper on the East Coast to report the discovery of gold. On December 5, 1848, President James Polk confirmed the discovery of gold in an address to Congress . Soon, waves of immigrants from around the world, later called the "forty-niners", invaded the Gold Country of California or "Mother Lode". Miners lived in tents, wood shanties, or deck cabins removed from abandoned ships. Wherever gold
4840-535: The CAB. Air California was designed to be like PSA but centered on Orange County. Air California was incorporated on 12 April 1966 and the same month, applied to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to be a California intrastate airline for its first route, from Orange County Airport to San Francisco Airport at a fare of $ 14.85. The CPUC approved the application in September, requiring
4961-453: The CEO position himself. During this period, the historic Hughes Airwest network was being eliminated, as Hughes successor Republic withdrew from the west coast. Western Airlines intrastate service was also shrinking. AirCal was also substantially recapitalized, with the combination of an initial public offering with Lyon & Argyros converting debt they’d loaned the airline into equity. This relieved
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5082-418: The CPUC gained the right to regulate airline certification, market entry/exit and service quality for California intrastate airlines. In effect, the CPUC became a kind of mini-CAB for California intrastate airlines. Air California was unprofitable for the first five years (though it broke even on an operating basis in 1970; see table) and CPUC regulation was critical to its survival. In 1969 the CPUC said "From
5203-474: The CPUC required be flown with Electras. Air California acquired three. In 1977, still in Chapter X bankruptcy, WCC bought out Air California's minority shareholders and made it a wholly owned subsidiary, in furtherance of its intent to reorganize with Air California as its main business. In 1977-78 Air California added two 737-100 aircraft from Aloha . But Air California ended the 1978 flying to Reno, Nevada; it
5324-455: The Constellation. Paradise then ceased operations after a fatal accident in the mountains near Lake Tahoe. Pacific Air Lines arrived in 1964 with Fairchild F-27 turboprops. That summer, Lake Tahoe was a stop on an F-27 " milk run " service: Pacific flight 771 operated Reno-Lake Tahoe-Sacramento-San Francisco-San Jose-Fresno-Bakersfield-Los Angeles-San Diego. In 1966, Pacific started
5445-769: The Pacific Ocean at San Francisco . The northern third of the western Sierra is part of the Sacramento River watershed (including the Feather , Yuba , and American River tributaries), and the middle third is drained by the San Joaquin River (including the Mokelumne , Stanislaus , Tuolumne , and Merced River tributaries). The southern third of the range is drained by the Kings , Kaweah , Tule , and Kern rivers, which flow into
5566-695: The Park in 1906. In the same year, Sequoia National Park was formed to protect the Giant Sequoia: all logging of the Sequoia ceased at that time. In 1903, the city of San Francisco proposed building a hydroelectric dam to flood Hetch Hetchy Valley . The city and the Sierra Club argued over the dam for 10 years, until the U.S. Congress passed the Raker Act in 1913 and allowed dam building to proceed. O'Shaughnessy Dam
5687-468: The Sierra Nevada increases gradually from north to south. Between Fredonyer Pass and Lake Tahoe, the peaks range from 5,000 feet (1,500 m) to more than 9,000 feet (2,700 m). The crest near Lake Tahoe is roughly 9,000 feet (2,700 m) high, with several peaks approaching the height of Freel Peak (10,881 ft or 3,317 m). Farther south, the highest peak in Yosemite National Park
5808-552: The Sierra Nevada is influenced by the Mediterranean climate of California. During the fall, winter and spring, precipitation in the Sierra ranges from 20 to 80 in (510 to 2,030 mm) where it occurs mostly as snow above 6,000 ft (1,800 m). Precipitation is highest on the central and northern portions of the western slope between 5,000 and 8,000 feet (1,500 and 2,400 m) elevation, due to orographic lift . Above 8,000 feet (2,400 m), precipitation diminishes on
5929-499: The Sierra Nevada started in the early 1800s, when settlers relied on hand tools and ox-teams. Before the California Gold Rush, the industry was relatively small, and most of the lumber used in the state was imported. However, as the demand for lumber to support the mining industry increased, logging became a major industry in the region. Initially, most of the lumber produced in California was used in mining. The Comstock Lode
6050-431: The Sierra have an alpine climate . The Sierra Nevada snowpack is the major source of water and a significant source of electric power generation in California. Many reservoirs were constructed in the canyons of the Sierra throughout the 20th century, Several major aqueducts serving both agriculture and urban areas distribute Sierra water throughout the state. However, the Sierra casts a rain shadow , which greatly affects
6171-646: The Sierra is a section of the Cascade–Sierra Mountains province, which in turn is part of the larger Pacific Mountain System physiographic division. The California Geological Survey states that "the northern Sierra boundary is marked where bedrock disappears under the Cenozoic volcanic cover of the Cascade Range." The range is drained on its western slope by the Central Valley watershed, which discharges into
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#17330852182156292-493: The Sierra's 63,118 km (24,370 sq mi) from logging and grazing. The United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management currently control 52% of the land in the Sierra Nevada. Logging and grazing are generally allowed on land controlled by these agencies, under federal regulations that balance recreation and development on the land. The California Bighorn Sheep Zoological Area near Mount Williamson in
6413-523: The Sierra. The combination of river and glacier erosion exposed the uppermost portions of the plutons emplaced millions of years before, leaving only a remnant of metamorphic rock on top of some Sierra peaks. Extension of the Basin and Range continues today, leading to downdropping of crustal blocks just east of the Sierra Nevada during large earthquakes, such as the Lone Pine earthquake of 1872. The climate of
6534-630: The Tuolumne and Merced River drainage. The group may have been the first non-indigenous people to see Yosemite Valley . The Walker Party probably visited either the Tuolumne or Merced Groves of giant sequoia , becoming the first non-indigenous people to see the giant trees, but journals relating to the Walker party were destroyed in 1839, in a print shop fire in Philadelphia. Starting in 1841, emigrants from
6655-444: The activities of extra-terrestrial aliens , have no evidence to support them. The Sierra Nevada is divided into a number of biotic zones , each of which is defined by its climate and supports a number of interdependent species. Life in the higher elevation zones adapted to colder weather, and to most of the precipitation falling as snow. The rain shadow of the Sierra causes the eastern slope to be warmer and drier: each life zone
6776-534: The airline added two DC-9s to the fleet, but by year end both the DC-9s and the Electras had been phased out in favor of six 737-200s. Ontario and Burbank were added. As the nearby table shows, Air California's initial financial results were poor. In December 1969 it agreed to a merger with PSA, citing its financial results. Air California shareholders approved the deal, but shortly thereafter, in May 1970, PSA withdrew from
6897-515: The airline of a substantial debt load. AirCal’s fleet remained 737-200s (and two 737-100s), along with seven MD-80s, until it ordered a dozen Boeing 737-300s in 1984, with Boeing agreeing to take back the MD-80s in trade. The 737-300s were even quieter than the MD-80s, and obviously compatible with the 737-100/200s. The last of the MD-80s were gone by early 1986. SNA noise limits basically forced AirCal into buying BAe-146s ; new 1985 flight limits had
7018-572: The airport but could not depart from Lake Tahoe with a full load of passengers, so departing passengers were bused to the Reno airport and boarded the 990 there. In 1999, Casino Express Airlines operating as Tahoe Air started low fare Boeing 737-200 service nonstop to San Jose and Los Angeles (LAX). Allegiant Air flew McDonnell Douglas DC-9 nonstops to Burbank, Fresno, Las Vegas and Long Beach in 1999–2000. Tahoe Air ceased operations later in 1999 while Allegiant ended all service in 2000 and later became
7139-483: The airport's Air Traffic Control Tower on October 1, 2004. Despite the tower's closure, the airport continues to serve general aviation traffic using self-announce procedures for uncontrolled airports. Beginning in 2006, the airport's former commercial airline terminal building was renovated and converted into a new city hall and administrative services office for the City of South Lake Tahoe. Relocating to airport land allowed
7260-496: The area around Yosemite National Park and what would become Kings Canyon National Park . James S. Hutchinson , a noted mountaineer, climbed the Palisades (1904) and Mount Humphreys (1905). By 1912, the USGS published a set of maps of the Sierra Nevada, and the era of exploration was over. Logging in the Sierra Nevada has significantly impacted the landscape. The logging industry in
7381-695: The beginning of 1968. By May 1968, the airline was operating 92 flights per week from SNA to SFO, primarily using Douglas DC-9-10 twin jets, as well as 50 flights a week from SNA to SJC, with most continuing on to OAK. By 1976, Air California was operating nonstop intrastate jet service between Orange County and San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, San Diego and Palm Springs; between San Diego and Oakland and San Jose; between Ontario and Oakland and San Jose; and between Palm Springs and San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland. AirCal left almost no trace. The successors of PSA and AirCal, USAir and American, raised prices, reflecting their higher costs. In early 1990,
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#17330852182157502-524: The beginning we have recognized the need to protect Air California from destructive competition, at least until it becomes a viable operator." This took four forms: (i) CPUC ensured that other than some minor routes, Air California did not compete with PSA, leaving the carriers with largely non-overlapping route networks. This left Air California free to concentrate its energies on competing with CAB carriers on its routes, which had higher costs. (ii) The CPUC approved higher airfares for Air California than for PSA
7623-740: The city to counter rising lease costs at its old location in the Al Tahoe neighborhood. Renovations were completed and the new city hall opened in 2007. Fixed-base operator services (e.g. fuel and ground support) are provided by Mountain West Aviation. Attached to the former airline terminal building, the Flight Deck Sports Bar & Grill provides a public restaurant overlooking the airport's runway. Sierra Nevada (U.S.) The Sierra Nevada ( / s i ˌ ɛr ə n ɪ ˈ v æ d ə , - ˈ v ɑː d -/ see- ERR -ə nih- VA(H)D -ə )
7744-521: The climate and ecology of the central Great Basin . This rain shadow is largely responsible for Nevada being the driest state in the United States. Precipitation varies substantially from year to year. It is not uncommon for some years to receive precipitation totals far above or below normal. The height of the range and the steepness of the Sierra Escarpment, particularly at the southern end of
7865-480: The combination would have had an 81% market share on the Los Angeles Basin to San Francisco Bay market and even higher market shares on individual submarkets. These market shares show how successful were the California intrastate carriers in driving off the far larger CAB-regulated carriers pre-deregulation. But then, in May 1973, The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued to place WCC in receivership on
7986-412: The crest and north of 37.2°N. In the Triassic and into the Jurassic , an island arc collided with the west coast of North America and raised a chain of volcanoes, in an event called the Nevadan orogeny . Nearly all subaerial Sierran Arc volcanoes have since disappeared; their remains were redeposited during the Great Valley Sequence and the subsequent Cenozoic filling of the Great Valley, which
8107-537: The deal, citing a "negative view" by the CPUC. Within a week, Air California's CEO had resigned, and a new buyer surfaced, Westgate-California Corporation (WCC). In June 1970, WCC acquired 60% of the carrier, which was approved by the CPUC on the grounds that Air California's future was in doubt. In July 1971, WCC pumped $ 2.5mm into Air California, buying shares that increased its stake to 81%. In April 1971, Air California provided flight attendant training to Southwest Airlines during its startup phase. WCC ownership
8228-405: The duopoly period that ended 1980. But the FAA insisted other airlines be accommodated. As other airlines entered, incumbent frequencies were cut to accommodate them. AirCal was the biggest incumbent, so was the biggest victim; AirCal’s average daily SNA frequencies dropped over the course of several years from 27 to 12.5. Many airlines wanted a piece of SNA and were even willing to buy MD-80s (then
8349-407: The eastern edge of the southern Sierra. The Sierra Nevada has played an important role in the history of California and the United States. The California gold rush occurred in the western foothills from 1848 through 1855. Due to its inaccessibility, the range was not fully explored until 1912. Used in 1542 by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to describe a Pacific Coast Range ( Santa Cruz Mountains ),
8470-588: The first jet service to Lake Tahoe, Boeing 727-100s flying Los Angeles ( LAX )-San Jose-Lake Tahoe. A 1966 Pacific Air Lines route map depicted nonstop 727 service to San Francisco ( SFO ) and Reno. This 727 service lasted less than a year, and Lake Tahoe did not see scheduled jets again until 1983; scheduled airline jet flights were banned by the local government after Pacific ended its 727 flights. Pacific Air Lines and successors Air West and Hughes Airwest continued operating F-27 flights until 1973. Holiday Airlines served Lake Tahoe with Lockheed L-188 Electras in
8591-432: The first place, when each had separately inquired. The airline that Lyon and Argyros bought came, as of April 6, 1981, with a new name (AirCal) and a new image. Landor Associates did the new livery, Mary McFadden did the new uniforms. After unbroken profitability while WCC was in Chapter X, AirCal under Lyon & Argyros was immediately unprofitable. Headwinds included the debt the two had taken on to buy AirCal,
8712-459: The flight, the crew received clearance for a visual approach to land on runway 19R. As Flight 336 was approaching, another AirCal flight, Flight 931, received clearance to take off from runway 19R. The controller recognized the potential danger of a collision between the two aircraft and ordered Flight 931 to abort takeoff and instructed Flight 336 to go around. Flight 931 aborted its takeoff, however, Flight 336 did not go around and instead landed on
8833-522: The former AirCal and PSA systems, throwing in the towel less than five years after offering to buy the former intrastate airlines. Despite this, in the case of PSA its indirect legacy is substantial because it was the inspiration for Southwest Airlines, and thus PSA is generally viewed as the original low-cost carrier . Air California/AirCal can't make the same claim. In fact, there's a good case to be made that Air California only survived to be sold to Lyon & Argyros because of regulation. Air California
8954-574: The former AirCal network, leaving little to show for its purchase. Air California originated in a December 1965 meeting in Corona del Mar by William Myers, Alan H. Kenison (later a founder of Jet America Airlines ), Mark T. Gates, Jr., William L. Pereira, Jr. (son of noted architect William Pereira who designed the Theme Building at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) ) and Lud Renick to discuss air service from Orange County to San Francisco, with
9075-647: The grounds of serious malfeasance by Smith, plus the outside auditors withdrew their certification of Air California's accounts for 1971 and 1972, and those of WCC for 1971. Trading was halted in Air California and WCC stocks. Unsurprisingly, almost exactly a year after it had been made, the PSA offer for Air California lapsed. In October, USNB was seized by the FDIC, knocking out the foundation of Smith's empire. In February 1974, WCC filed for Chapter X bankruptcy. Chapter X bankruptcy
9196-459: The highest peak in the range. In 1873, Mount Whitney was climbed for the first time by 3 men from Lone Pine, California, on a fishing trip. From 1892 to 1897 Theodore Solomons made the first attempt to map a route along the crest of the Sierra. Other people finished exploring and mapping the Sierra. Bolton Coit Brown explored the Kings River watershed in 1895–1899. Joseph N. LeConte mapped
9317-527: The idea of Air California as the result. At the time, air service from Orange County Airport was minimal. The population of Orange County in 1967 was about 1.2mm, up from only 216,000 in 1950; Orange County was the fastest growing in the country. Air travel in California was then dominated by Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA). Air California was designed to do what PSA would not: serve Orange County. Airport officials had asked all major west coast carriers to serve Orange County Airport and none were interested. At
9438-511: The lake, the peaks reach only a modest 8,000 feet (2,400 m). There are several notable geographical features in the Sierra Nevada: Communities in the Sierra Nevada include Paradise , South Lake Tahoe , Truckee , Grass Valley , Lee Vining , Mammoth Lakes , Sonora , Nevada City , Placerville , Pollock Pines , Portola , Auburn , Colfax and Kennedy Meadows . Much of the Sierra Nevada consists of federal lands and
9559-676: The largest tree in the world by volume; Lake Tahoe , the largest alpine lake in North America; Mount Whitney at 14,505 ft (4,421 m), the highest point in the contiguous United States ; and Yosemite Valley sculpted by glaciers from one-hundred-million-year-old granite , containing high waterfalls . The Sierra is home to three national parks , twenty-six wilderness areas, ten national forests, and two national monuments. These areas include Yosemite , Sequoia , and Kings Canyon National Parks , as well as Devils Postpile National Monument . More than one hundred million years ago during
9680-443: The last-minute roundtrip fare from Los Angeles to Sacramento was $ 456, over $ 1000 in 2024 dollars. State legislators were increasingly irate, finally proposing a raft of bills to punish the carriers, even suggesting a state-owned airline. They didn't notice that the market had already taken care of the problem. United Airlines had already announced an increase in frequency on Los Angeles to San Francisco from 16 to 27 per day. More to
9801-487: The late 1800s due to several factors. The Timber and Stone Act of 1878 allowed individuals to claim ownership of old-growth timber tracts, which were later consolidated under joint-stock companies , such as those founded by Midwestern lumber magnates. These companies had the financial resources to transport timber from remote locations and build sawmills near the tracks of the Southern Pacific railroad which connected
9922-455: The late 1800s, the logging industry moved westward due to the depletion of white pine forests in the upper Midwest. This shift was encouraged by the positive portrayal of the Sierra Nevada as a promising timber region. In 1859, Horace Greely marveled, "I never saw anything so much like good timber in the course of any seventy-five miles' travel as I saw in crossing the Sierra Nevada." The logging industry experienced significant growth in
10043-479: The late 1960s nonstop to Sacramento and Fresno and direct to Oakland, San Jose and Monterey. Golden Pacific Airlines (1969-1973) , a commuter air carrier, was operating nonstop to Lake Tahoe from San Francisco, Sacramento and Reno in 1969 with Beechcraft 99 turboprops. Valley Airlines, another commuter airline, was also serving the airport in 1969 with nonstop flights to Reno, San Francisco, San Jose and Stockton. PSA dropped Lake Tahoe in 1979, as did Air California
10164-487: The miners, provoking counter-attacks on native villages. The Native Americans, out-gunned, were often slaughtered. The Gold Rush populated the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada, but even by 1860, most of the Sierra was unexplored. The state legislature authorized the California Geological Survey to officially explore the Sierra (and survey the rest of the state). Josiah Whitney was appointed to head
10285-488: The modern rivers flowing down the range are only 100–300 meters (300–1,000 ft) lower than their ancient counterparts from 30–40 million years ago and the overall elevation and bedrock topography of the northern Sierra Nevada has changed little since at least 30–40 million years ago. About 2.5 Ma, the Earth's climate cooled, and ice ages started. Glaciers carved out characteristic U-shaped canyons throughout
10406-450: The most turbulent eras in US airline history would seem rather slim. But that's what happened. And then they had the good sense to sell the airline at a healthy profit (since it appears that the vast majority of their purchase money was funded by a loan from Wells Fargo) and apparently never again dabble in airlines. They might have had the single greatest return on investment of any airline owners in
10527-642: The mountains were amongst a group led by fur trapper Jedediah Smith , crossing north of the Yosemite area in May 1827, at Ebbetts Pass . In 1833, a subgroup of the Bonneville Expedition led by Joseph Reddeford Walker was sent westward to find an overland route to California . Eventually the party discovered a route along the Humboldt River across present-day Nevada , ascending the Sierra Nevada, starting near present-day Bridgeport and descending between
10648-409: The mountains. Washo and Maidu were also in this area prior to the era of European exploration and displacement. American exploration of the mountain range started in 1827. Although prior to the 1820s there were Spanish missions , pueblos (towns), presidios (forts), and ranchos along the coast of California, no Spanish explorers visited the Sierra Nevada. The first Americans to visit
10769-484: The network. In mid 1972, WCC agreed to sell Air California to PSA. WCC told the CPUC that Air California showed no signs of making money and WCC would not further support it. In February 1973 the CPUC agreed, against heavy opposition, including from its own legal staff, to allow the merger to proceed. But by then the merger also faced opposition from the US Department of Justice on anti-trust grounds. For instance,
10890-425: The new group won, with a bid of $ 61.5mm, $ 57.5mm of which was financed by Wells Fargo . This was AirCal Investments, a vehicle for two Orange County real estate developers, William Lyon and George Argyros . WCC's trustee didn't bother to hide his satisfaction with the outcome. He preferred local ownership. He had been angered by the surprise bid by Air Florida to buy WCC, had in fact put Argyros and Lyon together in
11011-399: The northern Sierran valleys with volcanic deposits. These pyroclastic flows, which continued for about 10 million years, were followed by andesitic lahars which nearly completely buried the northern Sierran landscape such that only the tallest peaks emerged above a volcanic plain. This second period of volcanism appears to have been triggered by crustal extension associated with extension of
11132-666: The oldest being metasedimentary rocks from the Cambrian in the Mount Morrison region. These dark-colored hornfels , slates , marbles , and schists are found in the western foothills (notably around Coarsegold , west of the Tehachapi Pass ) and east of the Sierra Crest. The earliest granite of the Sierra started to form in the Triassic period. This granite is mostly found east of
11253-493: The only major airline to serve Lake Tahoe. In late 1989, American and code sharing affiliate American Eagle were the only airlines at Lake Tahoe, American with Boeing 737-200s and American Eagle with Metro IIIs . At one point, Reno Air flew McDonnell Douglas MD-80s and MD-87s nonstop to Los Angeles; other jets included BAC One-Elevens and Convair 990s on nonscheduled casino charters. The four engine Convair 990 jet operated by Denver Ports of Call airlines could land at
11374-512: The plural ( Smokies , Rockies , Cascades , etc.), since Sierra is already pluralized in its native language, some locals who live in "the Sierra" are not hesitant to admonish those who refer to the area as "the Sierras". However, there are historical and literary references that use the plural, such as the 1871 collection of Joaquin Miller poems, Songs of the Sierras . Ansel Adams , in response to
11495-516: The point, Southwest Airlines had announced it was entering Burbank with 10 a day service to Oakland at a last-minute fare of $ 59 one way, $ 29 in advance. The resulting Los Angeles Basin to San Francisco Bay fare war was brutal, made worse when Iraq invaded Kuwait thereby spiking oil prices, collapsing demand for international travel and tipping the US into the Gulf War . In January 1991, in announcements only two weeks apart, American and then US Air gutted
11616-399: The quietest narrowbody available) to do so. For instance, Frontier ’s decision to get MD-80s was SNA-driven. AirCal came close to failure, but was saved by a combination of cost savings, with substantial layoffs, a 10% wage reduction for those who remained, a realignment of its route network, concentrating on increasing frequency on important routes like LAX to San Francisco. Lyon took over
11737-420: The range, produces a wind phenomenon known as the "Sierra Rotor". This is a horizontal rotation of the atmosphere just east of the crest of the Sierra, set in motion as an effect of strong westerly winds. Because of the large number of airplanes that have crashed in the Sierra Nevada, primarily due to the complex weather and atmospheric conditions such as downdrafts and microbursts caused by geography there,
11858-509: The runway with the landing gear retracted. The aircraft left the runway surface around 900 feet (275 m) past the runway threshold, skidded another 1,170 feet (360 m) before finally coming to rest 115 feet (35 m) to the right of the centerline. All passengers and crew members survived the crash. The Boeing 737-293 aircraft, registered N468AC, was damaged beyond repair and consequently written off. On June 5, 1986, an AirCal 737 flying from Los Angeles to Portland came within 100 feet of
11979-554: The scars of hydraulic mining, since the resulting exposed earth and downstream gravel deposits do not support plant life. It is estimated that by 1855, at least 300,000 gold-seekers, merchants, and other immigrants had arrived in California from around the world. The huge numbers of newcomers brought by the Gold Rush drove Native Americans out of their traditional hunting, fishing and food-gathering areas. To protect their homes and livelihood, some Native Americans responded by attacking
12100-454: The southern Sierra was established to protect the endangered Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep . Starting in 1981, hikers were unable to enter the Area from May 15 through December 15, in order to protect the sheep. As of 2010, the restriction has been lifted and access to the Area is open for the whole year. The earliest rocks in the Sierra Nevada are metamorphic roof pendants of Paleozoic age,
12221-425: The survey. Men of the survey, including William H. Brewer , Charles F. Hoffmann and Clarence King , explored the backcountry of what would become Yosemite National Park in 1863. In 1864, they explored the area around Kings Canyon . In 1869, John Muir started his wanderings in the Sierra Nevada range, and in 1871, King was the first to climb Mount Langley , mistakenly believing he had summited Mount Whitney ,
12342-490: The term "Sierra Nevada" was a general identification of less familiar ranges toward the interior. In 1776, Pedro Font 's map applied the name to the range currently known as the Sierra Nevada. The literal translation is "snowy mountains", from sierra "a range of mountains", 1610s, from Spanish sierra "jagged mountain range", lit. "saw", from Latin serra "a saw"; and from fem. of Spanish nevado "snowy". While many mountain ranges are unanimously referred to in
12463-484: The time owned only Air California, plus a Puerto Rican tuna cannery, but Air Florida would have to wait until WCC completed its reorganization and in the meantime, the WCC trustee was still in charge, with a mandate to get the best deal for WCC investors. The losing bidder in the WCC auction thus bid for Air California at a price that would give a better return for WCC investors. And when the dust settled on that auction in May 1981,
12584-528: The time, all significant US airlines but one were tightly regulated by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), an agency of the Federal government. PSA was the exception, its intrastate status made it exempt from CAB oversight. It had used that freedom to grow from nothing in 1949 to a jet carrier in 1965, taking market share away on its California routes from much larger but less efficient carriers regulated by
12705-424: The water from an entire river into a sluice alongside the river, and then dig for gold in the newly exposed river bottom. By 1853, most of the easily accessible gold had been collected, and attention turned to extracting gold from more difficult locations. Hydraulic mining was used on ancient gold-bearing gravel beds on hillsides and bluffs in the gold fields. In hydraulic mining, a high-pressure hose directed
12826-523: The western half of the Sierra, while the later plutons formed in the eastern half of the Sierra. At this time, the Sierra Nevada formed the western ramp of a high plateau to the east, the Nevadaplano . During this period, rivers cut deep canyons into the range, generating topographic relief similar to the modern Sierra Nevada. This period of incision was halted approximately 30 million years ago by vast outpourings of pyroclastic flows from Nevada which filled
12947-500: The western side, and the Kawaiisu and Tübatulabal tribes in the southern Sierra. Today, some historic intertribal trade route trails over mountain passes are known artifact locations, such as Duck Pass with its obsidian arrowheads . The California and Sierra Native American tribes were predominantly peaceful, with occasional territorial disputes between the Paiute and Sierra Miwok tribes in
13068-501: The western slope up to the crest, since most of the precipitation has been wrung out at lower elevations. Most parts of the range east of the crest are in a rain shadow , and receive less than 25 inches of precipitation per year. While most summer days are dry, afternoon thunderstorms are common, particularly during the North American Monsoon in mid and late summer. Some of these summer thunderstorms drop over an inch of rain in
13189-463: Was a major center for logging, with operations supplying lumber for the construction of mine structures, such as tunnels, shafts, and buildings, as well as fuel for the mines. Dan DeQuille observed in 1876, "the Comstock Lode may truthfully be said to be the tomb of the forests of the Sierra. Millions upon millions of feet of lumber are annually buried in the mines, nevermore to be resurrected.” In
13310-678: Was a mixed blessing. WCC's owner was C. Arnholt Smith , a powerful San Diego businessman and banker, owner of the San Diego Padres baseball team, a close associate and funder of President Richard Nixon and owner of the United States National Bank of San Diego (USNB), largest bank in that city and the 10th largest in California. Smith was highly controversial, accused of lining the pockets of his family and friends through self-dealing (including with WCC, USNB and others) of making illegal campaign contributions, and more. WCC made
13431-472: Was a product of the post-1965 CPUC and the Orange County duopoly, and thus not a good argument for deregulation. That makes AirCal's success under Lyon and Argyros even more anomalous. The chance that two Orange County real estate barons, airline industry outsiders, could buy an apparently healthy airline, have it immediately fall on hard times, but quickly turn it around and make a success of it during one of
13552-414: Was authorized on similar routes. (iii) The CPUC stopped the further new entry of intrastate airlines. (iv) in at least one case, the CPUC restrained PSA growth with the explicit goal of helping Air California. In fact, from 1965 onward, the CPUC certified only one other carrier, Holiday Airlines , which for some reason chose to fly only to Lake Tahoe . Since its parent company was mired in bankruptcy, it
13673-545: Was completed in 1923. AirCal Air California , later renamed AirCal , was a U.S. airline company headquartered in Newport Beach, California that started in the 1960s as a California intrastate airline . The airline's home airport was Orange County Airport, now known as John Wayne Airport . Air California was the "other" California intrastate carrier, counterpart to better known Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA). The two airlines had very different origins. PSA
13794-473: Was discovered, hundreds of miners would collaborate to put up a camp and stake their claims. Because the gold in the California gravel beds was so richly concentrated, the early forty-niners simply panned for gold in California's rivers and streams. However, panning cannot take place on a large scale, and miners and groups of miners graduated to more complex placer mining. Groups of prospectors would divert
13915-479: Was driven by lack of facilities. It's hard to overstate how important this was: in the mid-1970s, Air California relied on Orange County Airport for up to 75% of its passengers. In 1979, the FAA determined that this was, unsurprisingly, discriminatory, leading to the airport opening to other airlines. In February 1975, Holiday Airlines collapsed, with Air California and PSA both getting emergency CPUC authorization to back fill for Holiday at Lake Tahoe Airport , which
14036-509: Was eliminated in a 1978 bankruptcy reform, but under it, WCC operated under the control of trustees, who managed it in the interests of shareholders. The bankruptcy dragged on for eight years, with WCC selling pieces of itself along the way, until it was finally liquidated in 1982. Therefore, from 1974 until it was sold in 1981, Air California was in the odd situation of being owned by a bankrupt company run by trustees rather than conventional management. Prior to 1979 US airline deregulation , as
14157-440: Was first protected by the federal government in 1864. The Valley and Mariposa Grove were ceded to California in 1866 and turned into a state park. John Muir perceived overgrazing by sheep and logging of giant sequoia to be a problem in the Sierra. Muir successfully lobbied for the protection of the rest of Yosemite National Park: Congress created an Act to protect the park in 1890. The Valley and Mariposa Grove were added to
14278-399: Was further protected by Orange County itself. From 1967 through 1980, Orange County ensured Air California was one of only two mainline airlines to have access to (and the dominant carrier at) Orange County Airport, a lucrative duopoly that allowed Air California to prosper. Air California/AirCal had a series of unusual owners. From 1970 to 1974, it was under the control of C. Arnholt Smith ,
14399-487: Was no longer an intrastate airline. With out-of-state expansion spurring it on, Air California ended 1979 with 11 737s and had 16 at the end of 1980, but by then the Electras were gone. In October 1980, Air Florida announced it had purchased interests in the to-be-reorganized WCC from two WCC creditors. This kicked off a bidding war for post-reorganization WCC, which Air Florida ultimately won in November for $ 47mm. WCC at
14520-401: Was the product of a highly competitive, lightly-regulated earlier period in California intrastate airline history, while Air California was born into a later, far more regulated California environment. The California regulator explicitly aimed to ensure Air California's success by shielding it from PSA competition, in particular at Orange County Airport, from which PSA was excluded. Air California
14641-414: Was timely that Air California's fortunes took a turn for the better, becoming solidly profitable from 1973 onward. In this, Air California was helped not only by the CPUC, but also by its duopoly at Orange County Airport. From 1967 until late 1980, the only two carriers at Orange County were Air California and Bonanza Air Lines (and Bonanza's successors, Air West in 1968 and Hughes Airwest in 1970). This
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