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Chalks rebuilds Mallards, plans turboprop acquisition
Mary Kirby, Philadelphia (02Mar06, 21:52 GMT, 338 words)
Less than two-and-a-half months after a Chalks Ocean Airways Grumman Mallard crashed into the sea off of Florida’s Miami Beach, the carrier says it is rebuilding its seaplanes to surpass the US FAA’s recent emergency airworthiness directive (AD) and has entered talks with manufacturers to acquire new turboprops to support expansion, ATI can exclusively reveal.
The FAA emergency AD issued on December 30 calls for immediate inspections of the wing spars of Grumman G-73 Mallard and G-73T Turbo Mallard twin turboprop amphibian aircraft. It followed the December 19 Chalks Mallard loss after the aircraft’s right wing separated after takeoff from Miami Beach, killing both crew and all 18 passengers.
Wing spar metal fatigue is strongly suspected.
“We are going over and above to meet that AD…because the AD calls for detailed visual inspections, and we are going to rebuild the wing structure,” says Chalks general manager Roger Nair.
He says the Miami-based carrier is “waiting for a whole bunch of documentation and engineering data from the FAA on the Mallards”, but that it hopes to “get the airplanes up and running in the next 90 days”.
With its aircraft currently out of service, Chalks’ services to the Bahamas remain suspended, although previously booked passengers are being accommodated on other airlines.
Meanwhile, the carrier is looking to acquire six turboprops in the 30- to 48-seat range, and is studying four types: ATR 42s, Embraer EMB-120s, Dorner 328s, and Saab 340s. These will be used to open up Chalks’ existing routes to the Bahamas, but will also be used to expand service to the Eastern Caribbean.
The fleet expansion strategy had been in Chalks’ plans before the crash, says Nair. Although a final decision has not yet been made, the airline is eager to reach a deal.
An existing Part 121 carrier, Chalks will need to get certified on the new aircraft types, and “get the manuals and flight crew training approved”, notes Nair. “We are cautiously optimistic to be flying land aircraft in the next few months,” he adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
Mary Kirby, Philadelphia (02Mar06, 21:52 GMT, 338 words)
Less than two-and-a-half months after a Chalks Ocean Airways Grumman Mallard crashed into the sea off of Florida’s Miami Beach, the carrier says it is rebuilding its seaplanes to surpass the US FAA’s recent emergency airworthiness directive (AD) and has entered talks with manufacturers to acquire new turboprops to support expansion, ATI can exclusively reveal.
The FAA emergency AD issued on December 30 calls for immediate inspections of the wing spars of Grumman G-73 Mallard and G-73T Turbo Mallard twin turboprop amphibian aircraft. It followed the December 19 Chalks Mallard loss after the aircraft’s right wing separated after takeoff from Miami Beach, killing both crew and all 18 passengers.
Wing spar metal fatigue is strongly suspected.
“We are going over and above to meet that AD…because the AD calls for detailed visual inspections, and we are going to rebuild the wing structure,” says Chalks general manager Roger Nair.
He says the Miami-based carrier is “waiting for a whole bunch of documentation and engineering data from the FAA on the Mallards”, but that it hopes to “get the airplanes up and running in the next 90 days”.
With its aircraft currently out of service, Chalks’ services to the Bahamas remain suspended, although previously booked passengers are being accommodated on other airlines.
Meanwhile, the carrier is looking to acquire six turboprops in the 30- to 48-seat range, and is studying four types: ATR 42s, Embraer EMB-120s, Dorner 328s, and Saab 340s. These will be used to open up Chalks’ existing routes to the Bahamas, but will also be used to expand service to the Eastern Caribbean.
The fleet expansion strategy had been in Chalks’ plans before the crash, says Nair. Although a final decision has not yet been made, the airline is eager to reach a deal.
An existing Part 121 carrier, Chalks will need to get certified on the new aircraft types, and “get the manuals and flight crew training approved”, notes Nair. “We are cautiously optimistic to be flying land aircraft in the next few months,” he adds.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
