Empire Airlines

For the defunct passenger airline from the 1940s, see Empires Airlines. For the defunct U.S. passenger airline that operated scheduled flights during the 1970s and 1980s and was then merged into Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989), see Empire Airlines (1976-1985).

Empire Airlines is a passenger and cargo airline based in Hayden, Idaho, near Coeur d'Alene.^[2] It operates over 120 scheduled cargo flights a day in 18 US states and Canada. Empire also started passenger service within Hawaii, under the name "Ohana by Hawaiian", which was run from 2014-2021. Its main base is Coeur d'Alene Airport with a hub at Spokane International Airport.^[3] The company slogan is We Can Do That.

Empire Airlines

IATA ICAO Callsign EM CFS EMPIRE
Founded	1977
AOC #	COEA135A^[1]
Hubs	Spokane International Airport Coeur d'Alene Airport
Focus cities	Seattle Tacoma International Airport
Fleet size	56
Headquarters	Hayden, Idaho, U.S.
Website	empireairlines.com

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.^[4]

 

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 Airlines 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. By 1992, the airline was operating British Aerospace BAe 146-200 jet aircraft on contract charter flights for Silverwing Holidays from Bellingham, WA and Spokane to Los Angeles, Palm Springs, Phoenix and Reno.^[5] 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 F27 Friendships. 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 a 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. In 2004, the first ATR 42 put on Empire's certificate made the first ATR FedEx Feeder revenue flight. In 2005, Empire moved into new hangar and office building, in Hayden, Idaho, adjacent to the Coeur d'Alene airport (COE). In 2013, Empire Airlines began drone flights under the name "Empire Unmanned", mainly serving agriculture and mining industries in the Western U.S.

On December 31, 2021, Empire Airlines acquired fellow FedEx feeder West Air, expanding its footprint to include all of California.

'Ohana by Hawaiian service

In December 2012, it was announced that Empire would begin operating three ATR 42-500 series propjet aircraft acquired by Hawaiian Airlines on routes within the state of Hawaii.^[6] 'Ohana by Hawaiian launched initial service to Molokai Airport (MKK) on March 11, 2014, and Lana'i Airport on March 18, 2014.

In 2015, Hawaiian Airlines announced a new all-cargo freighter service to be operated by Empire with ATR 72 turboprop aircraft on interisland routes in Hawaii^[7]

Hawaiian Airlines suspended all 'Ohana by Hawaiian service on January 14th, 2021. ^[8][9]

Previous passenger service

Empire operated scheduled passenger flights during the early 1990s in the Pacific Northwest with Fairchild F-27 and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner "Metro II" 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).^[10] Empire previously served Seattle (SEA) as well,^[11] Initial scheduled service was between Boise and Coeur d'Alene, ID utilizing Cessna 441 Conquest II turboprop aircraft. Lewiston, ID was added as an enroute stop later, then the Swearingen Metro II came along. In May 1993, cities served were Boise, Lewiston, Coeur d'Alene, ID; Portland and Astoria, OR; Spokane, Pasco, Olympia, Seattle, and Hoquiam, WA. This was the third time Seattle has been served. Prior to the Metro propjets being introduced and new service to Lewiston, Empire had served Seattle and Missoula with the Cessna Conquest turboprop from Coeur d'Alene.

Fleet

As of January 2022, the Empire Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft:^[12]

Empire Air Fleet

Aircraft	In service	Orders	Notes
ATR 42-300F	8
ATR 42-320F	3
ATR 72-212F	4
Cessna 208B Super Cargomaster	35
Cessna 408F^[13]	1
Total	51

Previously operated

Empire Air formerly operated the following aircraft:

• British Aerospace BAe 146-200 - only jet aircraft type operated by the airline
• Cessna 441 Conquest II
• de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
• Fairchild F-27
• Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner "Metro II"
• Fokker F27 Friendship (series -500 and -600 aircraft operated for FedEx in cargo operations and series -500 aircraft for Mahalo Air in scheduled passenger operations)
• Short 360

Accidents and incidents

• January 11, 1995: A Cessna 208 Caravan leased by FedEx Express and flying a cargo flight from Flagstaff to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport crashed about 1.3 miles SSE of Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. While returning to the airport, the "fuel selector off" warning horn was heard. The pilot was killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be the pilot's failure to properly configure the fuel system prior to takeoff.^[14]
• October 9, 2000: Flight 665, a Cessna 208 Caravan on a VFR cargo flight from Bellingham to Orcas Island crashed on Lummi Island. The pilot onboard was killed. The cause of the crash was determined to be the pilot flying into adverse weather and not maintaining proper terrain clearance.^[15]

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

• December 24, 2005: An Empire Airlines Cessna 208B Caravan on a VFR cargo flight from Portland, Oregon to Roseburg, Oregon crashed shortly after takeoff in a golf course south of the Portland International Airport at 7:43 AM PT. The cause of the crash was determined to be a partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason during the initial takeoff climb resulting in an in-flight collision with objects.^[16][17]
• On 27 January 2009, Flight 8284, an ATR-42-320 cargo plane under contract from FedEx Express crashed on landing at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport at 04:37 CT. The plane, which had been traveling from Fort Worth Alliance Airport, landed short of the touchdown zone and skidded off the runway amid light freezing rain. There was a small fire on the plane and two crew members were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.^[18]

References

1. "Federal Aviation Administration - Airline Certificate Information - Detail View". av-info.faa.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-27.
2. "Empire Airlines | Contact Us". Empire Airlines. 2019-11-19. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
3. "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 77.
4. "Empire Airlines | History". Empire Airlines. 2019-09-27. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
5. "Empire Airways". www.departedwings.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
6. "Hadden Watt to Manage Hawaiian Airlines Turboprop Operation" (Press release). December 26, 2012. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
7. Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. Announces Plans to Expand Cargo Service with Purchase of Three ATR 72 Aircraft for 'Ohana by Hawaiian Interisland Network
8. "'Ohana by Hawaiian' to end on Jan. 14". 7 January 2021.
9. Newsroom, Hawaiian Airlines |. "Hawaiian Airlines Ends 'Ohana by Hawaiian Service". Hawaiian Airlines | Newsroom. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
10. "OAG1091itin8". www.departedflights.com. Retrieved 2021-09-14. Empire Airlines system timetable
11. "Empire Airlines system route map". Jan 16, 1990. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
12. "'Ohana by Hawaiian Fleet Details and History". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 2021-09-14.
13. "US's Empire Airlines takes first Cessna 408 freighter". ch-aviation. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
14. "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.
15. "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.
16.   This article incorporates public domain material from National Transportation Safety Board Aviation Accident Final Report. National Transportation Safety Board. Retrieved 2021-08-30.
17. . KCBD-TV. Archived from the original on February 23, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
18. CNN: FedEx plane crashes in Texas 27 January 2009

External links

• Empire Airlines