14.12.2021 - 02:15 UTC
Southern Airways Express (9X, Memphis Int'l) has signed a USD250 million deal for twenty all-electric Regent Craft Seagliders, a new type of wing-in-ground-effect (WIG) vehicle that uses hydrofoils and distributed propulsion systems.
The Florida-based commuter airline will focus its initial Seaglider service on harbour-to-harbour flights in the New York/New England and Southeastern US markets, including Boston, Nantucket, Palm Beach, and Miami, the companies said in a joint statement.
Southern Airways Express has paid firm deposits for fifteen Vickers Viceroys, each holding up to 12 passengers, and five Monarchs, which can hold up to 100 passengers.
With this order, venture-backed Boston-based Regent grows its commercial sales book to over USD600 million, the company said. The name Regent is an acronym for Regional Electric Ground Effect Nautical Transport.
“Regent’s zero-emission electric vehicle unlocks an incredible amount of operating efficiency for our company while lowering costs, trip times, and our environmental footprint,” explained Southern Airways Express Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Stan Little. “We not only plan to integrate Seagliders into our existing...
26.11.2021 - 18:30 UTC
Western Aircraft (Boise) - the air taxi that operates for Lanai Air (Lanai City) - has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for permission to operate interstate and foreign scheduled flights as a commuter air carrier using small aircraft (i.e. nine seats or less).
If granted, Western plans to operate a scheduled commuter service using PC-12s between Honolulu and Lanai City on behalf of Lanai Air, and also to operate scheduled commuter flights between Boise, Idaho and cities in the Western part of the United States
The Boise, Idaho-based company currently conducts Parts 135 ad-hoc passenger charters between Lanai City and Honolulu under a management contract with Lanai Air, an air charter broker.
Western says it will conduct scheduled round-trip commuter operations, on the half-hour, from Honolulu to Lanai Resorts throughout the Hawaiian Islands under the Lalai Air brand and may want to add more routes in future.
All commuter flights will be operated with two PC-12s - N92NG (msn 1192)...
30.09.2021 - 02:57 UTC
Advanced Air (AN, Hawthorne) has secured a four-year contract from the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) to provide Essential Air Service at Merced Macready, California using a 9-seat Pilatus PC-12.
Starting January 1, 2022, through December 31, 2025, Advanced Air will provide a total of 24 weekly flights from Merced of which 12 flights weekly will be to Las Vegas Harry Reid and 12 to Los Angeles Int'l. A USD14.8 million subsidy will be given for the four-year period. Advanced Air also does not currently interline or codeshare with any other carriers.
A total of four offers were received in addition to Advanced Air from, Boutique Air, Key Lime Air, Denver Air Connection, and Southern Airways Express. Throughout the process, Southern Airways Express dropped out of the following.
Boutique Air, which held the EAS contract previously reapplied with four options. Option 1, split operations to Los Angeles and Sacramento Int'l; Option 2, only service to Los Angeles; Option 3, service to Los Angeles and...
Editorial Comment: The article has been corrected to reflect that Advanced Air has a Part 135 certificate. - 04.10.2021 - 20:03 UTC
20.08.2021 - 13:25 UTC
Key Lime Air (KG, Denver Centennial) - through its Denver Air Connection (DAC) brand - has clinched a two-year Essential Air Service contract at Ironwood, Michigan/Ashland, Wisconsin after the previous contractor, Boutique Air was forced to terminate its contract early due to safety concerns.
Boutique Air resigned its two-year contract - due to have run until July 31 next year – on May 19 after two operational incidents caused the local Gogebic-Iron County Airport Board to unanimously vote to seek a new EAS provider, according to a regulatory notice by the US Department of Transportation (DOT).
In the first incident, a Boutique Air flight lost a wheel prior to landing in Chicago O'Hare on January 21, 2021. Then, on the Minneapolis/St. Paul to Ironwood route on May 5, 2021, a cargo door opened during take-off, spilling luggage and alarming passengers who alerted the crew to abort the take-off.
Boutique Air had provided Ironwood with 13 weekly nonstop return flights to Chicago and five weekly nonstop rotations to...
