AMERICAN AIR TAXI (AAT)

AAT, based in Key West, served the Florida Keys in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a fleet that included the de Havilland Heron, the de Havilland Dove, and the Douglas DC-3. AAT became Air Sunshine in 1974.

AAT's Heron N510FW, wearing Orange Blossom Commuter titles, is pictured at Key West in April 1972. Photo courtesy of Bob Garrard.

AAT Airlines de Havilland DH-104 Dove 6BA (cn 04306) at Key West in March 1973. Other registrations include N4262C and N640H. Photo courtesy of Bob Garrard.

American Air Taxi de Havilland DH-114 Heron N507FW with Key West Commuter titles. This aircraft went on to fly with Shawnee Airlines and  Phoenix Airlines.

Douglas DC-3 N345A (msn 9397) preparing to depart Miami in early 1974.

AAT timetable effective November 15, 1968 showing service to Miami, Marathon, Key West, Bartow, Cocoa / Titusville, Tampa, Orlando and West Palm Beach. Scans courtesy of Don Henchel.

Here's the interior of the November 15, 1968 timetable. Thanks again to Don Henchel for this!

An AAT Airlines brochure advertising service from Marco Island to Walt Disney World via Kissimmee airport.

Timetable showing Florida Keys service circa early 70s. Courtesy of Don Henchel.

Oops! AAT DH-114 Heron N510FW tangled up in the fence at Miami International on October 19, 1973. The co-pilot was taxiing the aircraft to the gate when the nose gear collapsed, severing the brake cables. The accident report can be found HERE.

Thanks to Peter Tyson for sending in the following photos of AAT's Heron N510FW with Orange Blossom titles on the ramp in Miami. Peter wrote, "Going through some old photos from 1972 and found several of this airplane. We (at the time, the aquarium society of the Miami Museum) chartered this airplane to fly a group of us over to West End Grand Bahama for a day of diving and collecting, then back to Miami. These are old 3.5” by 3.5” Instamatic color pics."

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