US's Aleutian Airways to launch in late 4Q21

US's Sterling Airways retires last E145

US's Aleutian Airways gets FAA nod for Alaska operations

Aleutian Airways (VC, Anchorage Ted Stevens) has been given the all-clear to begin operations in Alaska following the completion of all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, the company announced.

Chartered service will begin immediately, and an announcement on scheduled services and routes will be released this autumn, the company said in a statement.

FAA approval adds the Saab 2000 to parent Sterling Airways’ Part 121 Air Carrier Certificate, allowing service from Anchorage Ted Stevens to begin under the Aleutian Airways brand after completing proving flights to demonstrate the type's safety, reliability and operational soundness.

Launch plans of scheduled operations were deferred in 2021 to improve safety measures after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended design changes to the Saab (Sweden). This followed the October 2019 crash of Saab 2000 N686PA (msn 2000-017) operated by PenAir (Anchorage Ted Stevens), which killed one person.

Aleutian Airways is a joint venture between several veteran airline investors and operators, including SEC-registered investment firm Wexford Capital, Anchorage-based private investment...

Aleutian Airways defers scheduled launch for safety reasons

Aleutian Airways (VC, Anchorage Ted Stevens) has deferred the launch of scheduled operations between Anchorage Ted Stevens and Dutch Harbor/Unalaska to March 2022 to "tighten up" safety measures after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended design changes to the Saab 2000, public broadcaster KUCB has reported.

"We've decided that, proactively, we're going to be putting in place some additional safety mitigations just to further improve our operating margins in Unalaska... There are processes that take place in the pilots' decision making that we just want to take a look at and further tighten up," co-owner Kent Craford explained.

The airline first announced that it would launch flights in autumn 2021 and subsequently scheduled them for December 2, 2021.

On November 2, the NTSB published the results of its two-year investigation into the October 2019 crash of Saab 2000 N686PA (msn 2000-017) operated by PenAir (Anchorage Ted Stevens), in which one passenger was killed and the aircraft written off. The NTSB said the design of the type's...

Sterling Airways, Alaska Seaplanes form JV to serve Unalaska

Wexford Capital, the parent of Sterling Airways (Jacksonville Craig, FL), has announced that it will form a joint venture with Alaska Seaplanes (J5, Juneau International) and local investment firm McKinsey Alaska Private Investment LLC under the brand of Aleutian Airways (VC, Anchorage Ted Stevens) to connect Anchorage Ted Stevens with Unalaska/Dutch Harbor.

Flights are due to begin at an unspecified date in autumn 2021, with an exact schedule due to be announced later this month. Sterling Airways will operate the route using ex-PenAir Saab 2000s under the Aleutian Airways brand, as per a capacity purchase agreement with the JV. The airline did not respond to ch-aviation's request for clarification on whether it plans to add a single Saab (Sweden) turboprop or more.

"Our independent analysis determined the Saab 2000 to be the most capable platform for operations to Unalaska/Dutch Harbor, and when flown by experienced flight crews - under PenAir’s original stringent experience requirements - Saab 2000 service can restore the standard of safety...