Dash Air Shuttle (Port Angeles) has announced plans to start charters this month between Port Angeles and Seattle Tacoma International after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) granted its long-awaited approval and certification of its aircraft for commercial service.
"The next step will be familiarisation training for the crews for the next few weeks, then charter operations. We're getting closer, folks!" the virtual carrier said in a September 4 statement on its website.
As reported, Dash Air Shuttle plans to offer flights in a nine-passenger Cessna (twin turboprop) 402C aircraft operated by its partner Backcountry Aviation (SQH, Salem, OR), an Oregon-based Part-135 carrier, which has begun hiring pilots.
The company initially planned to start in 2021 with three Cessna 402Cs dry-leased from Cape Air (9K, Hyannis) and sub-leased to Backcountry Aviation. The launch was postponed to August 2022 due to delays in the pre-service FAA inspection process of the aircraft and the establishment of a base for aircraft maintenance and logistics support, which took longer than expected. The start was further delayed after Kenmore Air (M5, Kenmore) complained Dash Air Shuttle was planning interstate flights and that Backcountry Aviation lacked the required certification to operate public charters. In July 2023, Dash Air Shuttle said it was working with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) to ensure its plans met all regulatory requirements.
