Aeropelican Air Services

Infobox_Airline
airline=Aeropelican Air Services
logo=Aeropelican_logo.pnglogo_size=250
IATA=OT
ICAO=PEL
callsign=AEROPELICAN
parent=IAP Group Australia Pty Limited
founded=1968
key_people=Paul Graham (General Manager)| headquarters=Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
hubs=Newcastle Airport
focus_cities=Sydney Airport
Newcastle Airport
frequent_flyer=
lounge=
alliance=
fleet_size=3 (April 2008)
destinations=3
website= [http://www.aeropelican.com.au/ www.aeropelican.com.au]

Aeropelican Air Services Pty Ltd [ [http://www.abr.business.gov.au/abnDetails.aspx?ABN=25000653083 ABNLookup - Current details for 25 000 653 083 ] ] is an airline based in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It is a commuter airline operating up to seven direct flights between Newcastle, Inverell and Sydney each weekday and six daily at weekends. Its main base is Newcastle Airport (Williamtown), with a hub at Sydney Airport.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 49 | date= 2007-03-27]

History

The airline was established on 23 October 1968 and started operations on 1 July 1971. It originally was owned by the Newcastle-based Hilder family, however in 1980 the airline was sold to Masling Airlines, a company associated with the now defunct Ansett Australia. It operated services for Ansett Australia and later became a wholly owned subsidiary.

Aeropelican's main route has historically been between Sydney and Belmont Airport in Newcastle's southern suburbs, with high frequency service using de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters. Aeropelican originally owned this airport.

Following the collapse of Ansett Australia in September 2001, Aeropelican was placed into administration. It was acquired by International Air Parts in April 2002. On 20 June 2003 the airline entered into a commercial agreement with Regional Express Airlines. It is wholly owned by International Air Parts (IAP) Group and has 23 employees (at March 2007).Aeropelican commenced services from Sydney to Newcastle's other airport (Williamtown, to the north of the city) on 1 March 2004. An Embraer Bandeirante started services from Williamtown on 20 September 2004 [ [http://www.aeropelican.com.au/f_news5.html Aeropelican Media Release] retrieved 2008-01-25.] to augment the two Twin Otters used before. In March 2005 the airline discontinued service from Belmont Airport. A Fairchild Metro 23 aircraft was also added to the fleet in 2005 and the Twin Otters were withdrawn. In 2006, three BAe Jetstream 32s were ordered, with plans to announce new services. In December 2006, Aeropelican was awarded the Sydney to Inverell route licence after the previous operator Big Sky Express ceased operations. [ [http://www.inverell.yourguide.com.au/articles/545026.html?src=search "Newcastle airline to begin flights in February" "Inverell Times" online] retrieved 2008-01-24.] [ [http://www.aeropelican.com.au/docs/inverell_news.doc Aeropelican Media Release] retrieved 2008-01-25.] After the first two Jetstream 32s were placed into service in 2007, the Metro was withdrawn from service. In December 2007 Aeropelican announced that, subject to regulatory approval, it would commence operations between Newcastle and Tamworth, New South Wales on 12 February 2008. [ [http://www.aeropelican.com.au/docs/tamworth-news.doc Aeropelican Media Release] retrieved 2008-01-25.] The airline subsequently received regulatory approval from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority on 8 February and commenced operations on the route.

Destinations

Scheduled services currently operated are as follows (at February 2008): [ [http://www.aeropelican.com.au/flights.html Aeropelican Flight Schedules page] retrieved 2008-01-25.]

* Sydney to Newcastle Williamtown Airport
* Sydney to Inverell, New South Wales
* Newcastle to Inverell
* Newcastle to Tamworth, New South Wales

Fleet

As of June 2008 the Aeropelican fleet consists of: [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/aoc/download/SY085390-19.pdf Aeropelican Air Operator Certificate] retrieved 2008-04-21.]

* 3 BAe Jetstream 32
* 1 Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante

Aeropelican and parent company IAP own a combined total of six Jetstream 32 aircraft, [ [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/regsearch/airsresults.asp?VHin=&framein=all&manuin=&modelin=&regholdin=&regopin=Aeropelican&serialin=&num_results=10&Search=Search Australian civil aircraft register search] using "Aeropelican" as the search parameter. Search conducted 2008-01-25.] [ [http://www.casa.gov.au/casadata/regsearch/airsresults.asp?VHin=&framein=all&manuin=&modelin=&regholdin=&regopin=IAP&serialin=&num_results=10&Search=Search Australian civil aircraft register search] using "IAP" as the search parameter. Search conducted 2008-01-25.] however as of June 2008 only three have entered service.

External links

* [http://www.aeropelican.com.au/ Aeropelican Air Services]
* [http://www.ozflightsguide.com.au/flights_aeropelican.php Aeropelican Information]

References