60 YEARS.
3 GENERATIONS.
Bohlke International Aviation was established
in 1959 by Bill Bohlke, Sr.
1959
Bill Bohlke Sr. left Spring Valley, New York, with the dream of starting an airline in the Caribbean and landed on the beautiful island of St. Croix. (pictured: An avid pilot and aviator since the 1930’s, Mr. Bohlke served honorably as an officer in the Army Air Corps from 1942 ’45, flying & teaching in BT-13, B-17 & B-29’s.)
1962
Bill Bohlke Jr. soon followed in his father’s footsteps and came to the island when he was sixteen to help his father in his aviation endeavors and build their family business. Bill Jr. soloed on his 16th birthday. Bill Sr. signed him off and the rest is history!
1964
Bill Sr. started his first commuter airline in the Caribbean, Virgin Islands Airways.
1966
Bill Jr. married Ruth Ann Wolfferts ‘Tuddy’ in 1966. The couple worked well together, further expanding the family aviation business through many exciting stages.
1967
Bill Sr. and Bill Jr. attend the Tortola BVI Airshow. 4,000 in attendance to see F104’s from the PRANG and more.
1968
Bill Sr. started his first scheduled cargo airline, Caribbean Air Service, which he operated until retirement.
1970
The Bohlke’s operated Eastern Caribbean Airways. A roundtrip between St. Croix and St. Thomas was $27!
1972
Virgin Islands Flight School offered Airplane Sightseeing.
1984
Bohlke International Aviation was officially formed.
1989
Bill Jr. taught Billy how to fly in an Ercoupe.
2005
Bill Jr. retired from American Airlines. A safe career spanning over 37 years, putting him #2 seniority company wide and #1 in Miami upon his retirement.
2011
Bohlke hosted a MU-2 fly-in on St. Croix.
2013
William Bohlke, Jr., received The Wright Brothers “Master Pilot” Award from the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration. The plaque reads, “in appreciation of your dedicated service, technical expertise, professionalism, and many outstanding contributions that further the cause of aviation safety.”
2016
Bohlke International Aviation partnered with AeroMD.
2019
Bohlke International Aviation made our furthest journey west from the USVI, from St. Thomas to Hawaii.
2020
Bohlke International Aviation partnered with M&N Aviation in San Juan, Puerto Rico. This partnership expanded our charter fleet and aircraft management capabilities.
2021
Capt. Marian and First Officer Margarita made company history by becoming the first all-female crew at the company on November 5. In addition to the all-female flight crew, the flight medical team and comms dispatcher were also all women.
2022
Bohlke International Airways changes our name to Bohlke International Aviation. Changing Airways to Aviation may seem like a slight change, but to us it has big meaning. What started as a small airline in the Virgin Islands more than 60 years ago has expanded to charter, aircraft management, maintenance, and FBO operations in St. Croix and two locations in Puerto Rico.
2023
Bohlke opens a new premier FBO facility at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX/TISX). The 4,200 sq. ft. FBO building stands next to a 20,000 sq. ft. hangar and 115,000 sq. ft. ramp. Bohlke had been operating out of a temporary facility after sustaining severe damage during Hurricane Maria in 2017.