Sonicblue Airways

SonicBlue Airways was an airline based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with their headquarters in Richmond. SonicBlue offered both scheduled and charter services and would fly anywhere in North America. Fact|date=February 2007 For maintenance failings (and following an accident) Transport Canada suspended Sonicblue's operating license and grounded the company's fleet in January 2006.

Code data

*IATA Code: VL [ [http://www.airlinecodes.co.uk/ Airline Codes (November 2006)] ]

History

It was operated by International Express Air Charter Ltd and was formerly known as Regency Express.

On 23 January 2006 Transport Canada announced the suspension of International Express Aircharter Ltd.’s air operator certificate, effective immediately. The suspension was based on a "review of the company's record and concerns with the company’s ability to exercise operational control, including proper record keeping and aircraft maintenance". [ [http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/pac/2006/06-p01e.htm Transport Canada] 23 January 2006]

On 22 March 2006 Transport Canada announced that International Express Aircharter Ltd. was fined $125,000 for failing to maintain their aircraft properly, and their air operator certificate was cancelled. The company was charged with failing to maintain five aircraft in violation of Canadian Aviation Regulations by not performing required aircraft maintenance inspections on schedule. In one case, a maintenance inspection was overdue by more than 270 hours. [ [http://www.tc.gc.ca/mediaroom/releases/pac/2006/06-p03e.htm Transport Canada] 22 March 2006]

Destinations

*Vancouver International Airport
*Tofino, British Columbia

Incidents and accidents

*21 January2006 - Sonicblue Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (C-GRXZ) chartered flight from Tofino to Vancouver was trying to divert to Port Alberni after a pilot mayday, but crashed some 12 kilometers from Port Alberni killing one crew member and two passengers. Five passengers survived. [ [http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20060121-0 Aviation Safety Network] retrieved 26 November 2006] Investigation has shown that a turbine blade snapped off in the engine due to fatigue. Subsequent investigations showed that six Sonicblue's aircraft (including the Cessna Caravan involved in the accident) were overdue their mandatory inspections. As a result Transport Canada suspended Sonicblue's operating license and grounded the company's fleet. Fact|date=February 2007

Fleet

As of January 2006 the SonicBlue fleet consists of the following Fact|date=February 2007:
*Piper Chieftan
*Piper Navajo
*Cessna 208B Caravan
*Britten-Norman BN2A Islander

External links

* [http://www.sonicblueair.com/Default.aspx?tabid=1 Sonicblue Airways]

References