Air Flamenco
Encyclopedia
History
Air Flamenco traces its history to Flamenco Airways (ICAO Code: WAF), which was founded in 1976 by Mr. Rubén Torres. The first aircraft used was the Piper CherokeePiper Cherokee
The Piper PA-28 Cherokee is a family of light aircraft designed for flight training, air taxi, and personal use. It is built by Piper Aircraft....
6 with flights between the islands of Culebra
Culebra, Puerto Rico
Isla Culebra is an island-municipality of Puerto Rico originally called Isla Pasaje and Isla de San Ildefonso. It is located approximately east of the Puerto Rican mainland, west of St. Thomas and north of Vieques. Culebra is spread over 5 wards and Culebra Pueblo...
and Vieques. Six months after initial operation they acquired their first twin engine Britten-Norman Islander
Britten-Norman Islander
The Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
with a capacity of 9 passengers. With this new aircraft their service expanded with more passenger routes and US postal service between the two islands of Vieques and Culebra and the main island of Puerto Rico. Within the following five years, the airline increased its fleet to 6 aircraft expanding its services and charter flights throughout the Caribbean Islands including US and British Virgin Islands.In 2009 the airline acquired 2 other Britten Norman Islanders for cargo flights.
It is not clear when the name was changed to Air Flamenco, but the airline website states that Air Flamenco was founded in 1998. It is unclear if the first Flamenco closed down and was restarted or if it changed its name. Maybe someone can clear that. (The last update in the website is 11 Jul 05).
The airline is based at 4 locations: Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport
Fernando Luis Ribas Dominicci Airport
-Accidents and incidents:*On April 11, 1952 Pan Am Flight 526A crashed into the sea just after take off due to engine failure, killing 52 out of 69 passengers and crew....
better known as the Isla Grande Airport, San Juan; José Aponte de la Torre Airport
José Aponte de la Torre Airport
José Aponte de la Torre Airport is a public use airport owned by Puerto Rico Ports Authority and located from the central business district of Ceiba, a town in Puerto Rico....
, Ceiba, Puerto Rico
Ceiba, Puerto Rico
Ceiba is a small town in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Naguabo, south of Fajardo, and east of Río Grande. It is located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan...
; Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport
Benjamín Rivera Noriega Airport
- Incidents and accidents :On July 1, 2011, a Cessna 185 that took off from Benjamin Rivera Noriega airport with a family of five on board, registration number N8438Q, crashed while on its way to Mercedita Airport in Ponce. One body was found in Humacao. The other four passengers are presumed dead....
, Culebra; and Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport
Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport
Antonio Rivera Rodríguez Airport is a small commercial air facility on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. Because a large amount of Vieques' yearly revenue comes from the tourism industry, this small airport plays an important part in Vieques' economic outlook.The airport has been for decades the...
, Vieques. Current destinations are cities in Puerto Rico, the Leeward Islands
Leeward Islands
The Leeward Islands are a group of islands in the West Indies. They are the northern islands of the Lesser Antilles chain. As a group they start east of Puerto Rico and reach southward to Dominica. They are situated where the northeastern Caribbean Sea meets the western Atlantic Ocean...
, and the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
.
Fleet
- 9 - Britten-Norman IslanderBritten-Norman IslanderThe Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander is a 1960s British light utility aircraft, regional airliner and cargo aircraft designed and originally manufactured by Britten-Norman of the United Kingdom. The Islander is one of the best-selling commercial aircraft types produced in Europe. Although designed in...
Registrations are: N901GD, N903GD, N904GD, N905GD, N906GD, N907GD, N908GD, N909GD,N821RR,N913GD(freighter),N914GD(freighter).(N902GD was written-off in an accident. See below).
Accidents
- Aircraft N902GD, Pilatus Britten-Norman BN-2A-27 Islander en route from Mayagüez to Isla Grande Airport, San Juan crashed. The airplane, transporting bank financial documents, departed Mayagüez at 18:30. En route the airplane approached and penetrated a level 4-5 rain shower. Control was lost and the plane crashed into the sea. There was one fatality. PROBABLE CAUSE: "The pilot's improper inflight planning which resulted in an inflight encounter with weather (low ceilings and thunderstorms), his loss of aircraft control, and an inflight collision with the ocean during uncontrolled descent."