After devoting several years to market analysis, equipment evaluation, pricing structures, service areas and operational planning, former American Airlines Chairman and CEO Robert Crandall has decided to ground Pogo, his startup very-light-jet charter operation, before it ever left the ground. He says he is returning what remains of the seed money to investors.rn"I feel badly about it," he said Apr. 15. "It's just one of those ideas that didn't work out."rnAlthough Pogo was usually described as an "air taxi," Crandall dismissed that label, saying, "I don't know what that means." Rather, he described the intended service as a typical FAR135 charter operation using small jets with trips confined to the northeastern US. The group had considered several aircraft types, but seemed to settle on the Edipse 500, primarily for its low acquisition and operating costs. However, Edipse Aviation Corp. filed for liquidation earlier this year after delivering fewer than 300 aircraft.
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