* October 9, 2000: Flight 665, a Cessna 208 Caravan on a VFR cargo flight from Bellingham to Orcas Island when it crashed on Lummi Island. The cause of the crash was determined to be pilot's failure to properly configure the fuel system prior to takeoff. While returning to the airport, the "fuel selector off" warning horn was heard. * January 11, 1995: A Cessna 208 Caravan leased by FedEx Express and flying a cargo flight from Flagstaff to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport crashed about 1.3 miles SSE of Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. The Empire Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft (at March 2007) : Empire moved into new hangar and office building, in Hayden, Idaho. In 2004, the first ATR 42 put on Empire's certificate made the first ATR FedEx Feeder revenue flight. BOD accept Idaho's proposal for new hangar and office at the Coeur d'Alene Airport. In 2003, The first ATR 42 aircraft arrived in Spokane for cargo conversion. In 2002, Empire purchased Reliant Logistics as a wholly owned subsidiary. In 2001, Empire received Repair Station certificate. Empire entered into a partnership agreement to begin Express Air serving FedEx in Europe. In 1998, Empire started flying and maintaining Shorts SD360 aircraft. Empire began sending technical reps to Conair during heavy maintenance checks on Fokker F27s. In 1995, Empire moved corporate offices and ended passenger services, focusing on cargo, maintenance and airline startups. From October 1993 to May 1994, it operated F27 aircraft in Hawaii on behalf of Mahalo Air, while the latter airline was awaiting its own operating certificate. In 1993, Empire became a sustaining member of CASE (Coordinating Agency for Supplier Evaluation). In 1990 Empire added more cargo routes and performed its first heavy maintenance check on a Fairchild F27. In August Empire started F27 services for FedEx Express. In 1989 Empire became a FAR 121 operator after the purchase of Pacific Alaska and two Fairchild F27 aircraft. In 1988 Empire signed a FedEx Express contract to fly and maintain Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft out of Portland and Spokane Seattle was added in September. In the mid-80s, Empire received contracts from several places including, a Colorado ski destination, Hughes Aircraft, and Naval Arctic Research Laboratory. On January 3 1984, Empire began passenger service from Coeur d'Alene to Boise, and later added Lewiston as a stop, using Metro Liner aircraft. In December 1983 and January 1984, Empire was awarded government contracts to transport people and materiel in Grenada, following the conflict. In 1981 Empire purchased Executive Aviation in Missoula, Montana and leased Twin Otter aircraft for United States Forest Service smoke jumping contracts. at Coeur d'Alene and expanded business to include aircraft sales and maintenance. On November 1 1980, Empire Airlines purchased West Aire, Inc. Clearwater Flying Service made a living doing several different things including, fire patrol, transporting outfitters into the backcountry, air ambulance, air pollution monitoring, charters and flight instruction. Soon thereafter, a third partner, Mel Spelde joined as a flight instructor.
Originally named Clearwater Flying Service (thus the CFS identifier for its flights), it was purchased by Nick Chenoweth and Vick Walters on April 12. cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 77 | date= ]Įmpire Airlines was established and started operations in May 1977 in Orofino as a charter company. Its main base is Coeur d'Alene Airport with a hub at Spokane International Airport. It operates over 120 scheduled and charter cargo flights a day in 18 US states and Canada. Empire Airlines is a charter and cargo airline based in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA.