Idaho-based air taxi operator Western Aircraft (Boise) intends to lease seven PC-12s based in Hawaii for its proposed scheduled commuter service between Honolulu and Lanai City on behalf of Lanai Air (Lanai City).
This is according to Western Aircraft's response to an October 28, 2022, request from the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for more information following the company's application - a year ago - for commuter air carrier authorisation to operate interstate and foreign scheduled flights with small aircraft (i.e. nine seats or less).
Western Aircraft currently conducts Part 135 ad-hoc passenger charters between Lanai City and Honolulu under a management contract with Lanai Air, an air charter broker. If granted a commuter license, it wants to add scheduled commuter services operated on behalf of Lanai Air using PC12s. It also intends to operate scheduled commuter flights between Boise and cities in the US West.
The applicant said the seven PC12s would be leased from Lāna'i Resorts. It confirmed it already operates two Hawaii-based PC12s, identified as N92NG (msn 1192) and N439CM (msn 1377), that Lāna'i Resorts own.
Western Aircraft confirmed it could not operate the aircraft leased from Lāna'i Resorts outside the state of Hawaii. Therefore, it would not use any of these units for its proposed commuter and on-demand flights from Boise. It has no plans to purchase or lease additional aircraft for its Boise-based operation.
According to a forecast income statement submitted on July 11, 2022, based on both commuter and on-demand operations, Western Aircraft estimates that about 25% will be commuter operations and 75% on-demand.
The company also submitted proof of an amended management agreement for Lanai Air between Lāna'i Resorts (trading as Pūlama Lāna'i) and Western Aircraft entered into on February 14, 2019. Under the new terms, the parties agreed the management agreement would cover both Part 135 on-demand flights and Part 135 scheduled commuter flights.
