HISTORY
GTA received its Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA in 1991. Prior to that the Gundermann and Tears families, over many chicken fried steaks at their local watering hole, got the liquid courage to expand their small aviation company in to an air charter company with a single Beechcraft Bonanza. Doug Gundermann started as a pilot, Brian Tears was the only mechanic, and Bonnie Gundermann handled office work part-time.
While passenger trips helped get the business off the ground, it wasn't long before cargo became the company's clear focus. GTA's first scheduled route was for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, flying canceled checks from Louisiana to Dallas. As the company started to expand rapidly, Bonnie left the small stenography company she had started with her best friend to work full-time at GTA.
Into the late-1990s, the certificate had 19 aircraft, mostly flying canceled checks across the Southwest. By this time Brian transitioned to his own aircraft maintenance business and GTA continued strongly into the turn of the century. After September 11, 2001, business slowed alongside the U.S. economy. To get more planes back in the air, GTA focused on its on-demand charter service and found a niche flying small loads of just-in-time auto parts. This diversification proved key to GTA's future stability.
In 2005, GTA acquired a small Part 145 Repair Station, Arrow Aviation. In addition to further diversifying the company, this allowed GTA to begin upgrading its fleet with modern avionics and standardized cockpits. Mainly through its Garmin dealership, Arrow Aviation continues to modernize GTA's fleet and outside customer aircraft.
As a result of the Check 21 Act, the canceled check business shrank through the late 2000s and GTA began flying significantly more for life sciences companies. Scheduled flights carrying laboratory specimens for diagnostic testing and ad hoc radiopharmaceutical charters quickly replaced many bank flights to keep the fleet busy. Into the 2010s GTA continued broadening its service offerings with overnight package flights.
Flying small aircraft single-pilot, dealing with all types of weather, often at night, is no small task. It's a very complex operation that takes each and every employee GTA has to make it happen. Despite the complexity, from each customer's perspective, we strive to make each shipment as straight forward as practical...flying from point A to point B. On time.
Over the years, countless people have contributed to building GTA into what it is today. Bonnie & Doug have since semi-retired and both of their children, Ben & Brenda, along with many other employees, are carrying on their legacy.
While passenger trips helped get the business off the ground, it wasn't long before cargo became the company's clear focus. GTA's first scheduled route was for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, flying canceled checks from Louisiana to Dallas. As the company started to expand rapidly, Bonnie left the small stenography company she had started with her best friend to work full-time at GTA.
Into the late-1990s, the certificate had 19 aircraft, mostly flying canceled checks across the Southwest. By this time Brian transitioned to his own aircraft maintenance business and GTA continued strongly into the turn of the century. After September 11, 2001, business slowed alongside the U.S. economy. To get more planes back in the air, GTA focused on its on-demand charter service and found a niche flying small loads of just-in-time auto parts. This diversification proved key to GTA's future stability.
In 2005, GTA acquired a small Part 145 Repair Station, Arrow Aviation. In addition to further diversifying the company, this allowed GTA to begin upgrading its fleet with modern avionics and standardized cockpits. Mainly through its Garmin dealership, Arrow Aviation continues to modernize GTA's fleet and outside customer aircraft.
As a result of the Check 21 Act, the canceled check business shrank through the late 2000s and GTA began flying significantly more for life sciences companies. Scheduled flights carrying laboratory specimens for diagnostic testing and ad hoc radiopharmaceutical charters quickly replaced many bank flights to keep the fleet busy. Into the 2010s GTA continued broadening its service offerings with overnight package flights.
Flying small aircraft single-pilot, dealing with all types of weather, often at night, is no small task. It's a very complex operation that takes each and every employee GTA has to make it happen. Despite the complexity, from each customer's perspective, we strive to make each shipment as straight forward as practical...flying from point A to point B. On time.
Over the years, countless people have contributed to building GTA into what it is today. Bonnie & Doug have since semi-retired and both of their children, Ben & Brenda, along with many other employees, are carrying on their legacy.
