Catalina Channel Airlines was founded by former Amphibian Air Transport and Avalon Air Transport pilot Bob Hanley. Bob Hanley was regarded by those who knew him as a masterful water pilot as well as a true gentleman. Promoting "The Executive Service," passengers were shuttled from the airport at Pebbly Beach directly to their door in Avalon courtesy of the airline. Catalina Channel Airlines was the first airline to develop and use the amphibian airport and ramp at Pebbly Beach.
Owned by MGRS, Fred Rosen and Charlie Steelwell, who were also operating the SS Catalina steamship. The General Manager for the airline was Dick Probert. MGRS took over the Catalina Channel Airlines operation and the Pebbly Beach ramp. A new seaplane ramp was opened in 1969 at the newly built Cabrillo Mole Steamship dock, but was abandoned due to a previously unknown large, submerged rock at the base of the new ramp. Also strong swells and currents made operations at the new ramp difficult and dangerous. Catalina Seaplane's operations returned to the original seaplane ramp at Pebbly Beach.
Catalina Seaplanes fleet:
Grumman Gooses: N11CS, N12CS, N13CS.
CatalinaChannel Airlines N325 in special "The Islander" paint scheme
Catalina Channel Airlines N10020 c/n 1007. This Goose was later reregistered as N13CS by Catalina Seaplanes in 1967.
This photo of N10020 was taken about 1966/1967 around the time that Catalina Channel sold to Catalina Seaplanes.
Catalina Channel Airline's Douglas Dolphin, N26K.
N4221A c/n 1030 at Pebbly Beach, June 1960. The gentleman in the center of the photo holding the large box is Bob Hanley, pilot and founder of the airline. Thanks to Stuart Hanley for this photo.
N4221A serial #1030 at Long Beach Airport, early 1960s. Thanks to Stuart Hanley for this photo.
Catalina Seaplanes N13CS c/n 1007 at Pebbly Beach in 1969. Thanks to Steven Dold for this photo.
Catalina Seaplanes N12CS c/n 1085, at Pebbly Beach ramp in 1969. After 1980 N12CS was used as a studio prop on the back lot of Universal Studios for the television show "Tales of the Gold Monkey." N12CS is currently on display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. Thanks to Steven Dold for this photo.
