Empire Airlines

For the defunct passenger airline from the 1940s, see Empires Airlines. For the defunct passenger airline from the 1970s and 1980s, see Empire Airlines (1976-1985).
Empire Airlines
IATA ICAO Callsign
EM CFS EMPIRE
Founded 1977
Fleet size 56
Company slogan "We Can Do That"
Headquarters Hayden, Idaho, USA
Website empireairlines.com

Empire Airlines is a passenger and cargo airline based in Hayden, Idaho, near Coeur d'Alene.[1] It operates over 120 scheduled cargo flights a day in 18 US states and Canada. Recently Empire also started passenger service within Hawaii. Its main base is Coeur d'Alene Airport with a hub at Spokane International Airport.[2]

History

Empire Airlines was established and started operations in May 1977 in Orofino as a charter company. Originally named Clearwater Flying Service (thus the CFS identifier for its flights), it was purchased by Nick Chenoweth and Vick Walters on April 12. Soon thereafter, a third partner, Mel Spelde joined as a flight instructor. Clearwater Flying Service made a living doing several different things including, fire patrol, transporting outfitters into the backcountry, air ambulance, air pollution monitoring, charters and flight instruction.

Empire ATR 42 in FedEx Feeder livery

On November 1, 1980, Empire Airlines purchased West Aire, Inc. at Coeur d'Alene and expanded business to include aircraft sales and maintenance. In 1981 Empire purchased Executive Aviation in Missoula, Montana and leased Twin Otter aircraft for United States Forest Service smoke jumping contracts. In December 1983 and January 1984, Empire was awarded government contracts to transport people and materiel in Grenada, following the conflict. In the mid-1980s, Empire received contracts from several places including, a Colorado ski destination, Hughes Aircraft, and Naval Arctic Research Laboratory. In 1988 Empire signed a FedEx Express contract to fly and maintain Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft out of Portland and Spokane; Seattle was added in September. In 1989 Empire became a FAR 121 operator after the purchase of Pacific Alaska and two Fairchild F-27 aircraft. In August Empire started F27 services for FedEx Express.

In 1990, Empire added more cargo routes and performed its first heavy maintenance check on a Fairchild F-27. In 1993, Empire became a sustaining member of CASE (Coordinating Agency for Supplier Evaluation). From October 1993 to May 1994, it operated Fokker F27-500 aircraft in Hawaii on behalf of Mahalo Air, while the latter airline was awaiting its own operating certificate. In 1995, Empire moved corporate offices and ended passenger services, focusing on cargo, maintenance and airline startups. Empire began sending technical reps to Conair during heavy maintenance checks on Fokker F27s. In 1998, Empire started flying and maintaining Short 360 aircraft. Empire entered into a partnership agreement to begin Express Air serving FedEx in Europe.

In 2001, Empire received Repair Station certificate. In 2002, Empire purchased Reliant Logistics as a wholly owned subsidiary. In 2003, The first ATR 42 aircraft arrived in Spokane for cargo conversion. BOD accept Idaho's proposal for new hangar and office at the Coeur d'Alene Airport. In 2004, the first ATR 42 put on Empire's certificate made the first ATR FedEx Feeder revenue flight. Empire moved into new hangar and office building, in Hayden, Idaho.

'Ohana by Hawaiian passenger service

In December 2012, it was announced that Empire would begin operating two ATR 42-500 series aircraft acquired by Hawaiian Airlines doing business as Empire Airlines on routes within the state of Hawaii.[3] The name and branding Empire Airlines will be flying for Hawaiian under contract is "'Ohana by Hawaiian." [4] 'Ohana by Hawaiian launched initial service to Molokai Airport (MKK) on March 11, 2014, and the Lana'i Airport on March 18, 2014. 'Ohana by Hawaiian currently operates daily scheduled flights between Honolulu (HNL), Molokai (MKK), Lanai (LNY), Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA), and Hilo (ITO).

Previous passenger service

Empire operated scheduled passenger flights during the early 1990s in the Pacific Northwest with Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner turboprop aircraft. In 1993, the airline was serving Boise, ID (BOI), Coeur d'Alene, ID (COE), Lewiston, ID (LWS), Olympia, WA (OLM) and Spokane, WA (GEG).[5] Empire previously served Seattle (SEA) as well,[6]

Fleet

As of January 2016, the Empire Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft:

Empire Air Fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Notes
ATR 42-300F 8
ATR 42-320F 3
ATR 42-500 3
ATR 72-212F 7
Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster 35
Total 56

Previously operated

Empire Air has formerly operated the following aircraft:

Accidents and incidents

Reconstruction of the final minutes of Empire Flight 8284 (NTSB simulation)

References

  1. "Contact Us." Empire Airlines. Retrieved on December 30, 2012. "11559 N Atlas Road Hayden, ID 83835"
  2. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 77.
  3. "Hadden Watt to Manage Hawaiian Airlines Turboprop Operation" (Press release). December 26, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  4. http://www.hawaiianairlines.com/ohana/Pages/index.aspx?hacmp=Facebook_ohana-landing_20130212
  5. http://www.departedflights.com, Feb. 12, 1993 Empire Airlines system timetable
  6. http://www.departedflights.com, Jan. 16, 1990 Empire Airlines system route map
  7. "ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Caravan I Super Cargomaster N746FE Flagstaff, AZ" (Database with input and photos from the public). Aviation Safety Network: Database. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  8. "ASN Aircraft accident Cessna 208B Caravan I Super Cargomaster N941FE Lummi Island, WA" (Database with input and photos from the public). Aviation Safety Network: Database. Flight Safety Foundation. Retrieved 3 August 2012.
  9. CNN: FedEx plane crashes in Texas 27 January 2009

External links

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