Aeroperlas

Infobox_Airline
airline = Aeroperlas

logo_size = 200
fleet_size = 7
destinations = 12
IATA = WL
ICAO = APP
callsign = Aeroperlas
parent = AMR Corporation
Grupo Taca
Apair
founded = 1970
company_slogan = You are in good hands.
headquarters = Panama City, Panama
hubs = Marcos A. Gelabert Regional Airport
Enrique Malek Int'l Airport
lounge =
alliance = Oneworld
key_people =
website = http://aeroperlas.com

Aeroperlas (Aerolineas Islas de Las Perlas) is an airline based in Panama City, Panama. It is a regional airline operating over 50 daily flights to 15 domestic destinations, as well as charter flights. It operates services as part of the Grupo TACA Regional Airlines system. Its main base is Marcos A. Gelabert Regional Airport, Panama City, with a hub at Enrique Malek International Airport, Davidcite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 49 | date= 2007-03-27] .

History

The airline was established and started operations in June 1970 as Aerolineas Islas de las Perlas. It was government run from 1976 until 1987 when it was sold to private owners. In 1996 it began international operations, launching services to Costa Rica. It is owned by Apair (80%) and American Eagle Airlines (20%)..

Destinations

Aeroperlas operates services to the following scheduled regional destinations:

Panama

*Bahia Pinas
*Bocas del Toro
*Changuinola
*Colón
*Contadora
*David
*Jaque Airport
*Panama City
*Kuna Yala (several destinations)

Incidents and accidents

During its early years of operation, Aeroperlas had a less than admirable safety record (as detailed below). However, since its commercial affiliation with TACA International Airlines (El Salvador)in 2004, great strides have been made to improve operational procedures and upgrade safety technology on aircraft. The installation of a new, safety-focused management team in late 2005 has further improved Aeroperlas' safety record. In 2006, according to official numbers published by the Panamanian Civil Aviation Authority, Aeroperlas suffered just one minor incident - the same safety record as Panama's COPA airlines achieved in the same period. To date (May 15th) in 2007, Aeroperlas has a clean safety record and has begun pointing to its safety strength in commercial activities (e.g.; its "Fly Safely, Fly Aeroperlas" campaign).

*On 18 April 1990 a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, Registration N187SA had the no. 2 engine fail and the aircraft entered a descending turn which continued until impact with the sea. On board were 22 occupants (3 crew and 19 passengers). There were 20 fatalities, including the crew members.
*On 5 July 1990, De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter was hijacked. The hijacker(s) demanded to be taken to Colombia. Duration of the hijacking: less than 1 day. The Twin Otter was stolen by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia on July 5, 1990 on a flight from Colón. The aircraft was destroyed in August 1990.
*On 17 March 2000 a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration HP-1267APP with 2 crew and 8 passengers on board crashed. The AeroPerlas Twin Otter departed Aeropuerto Marcos A. Gelabert at 08:46 for a flight of about 55 minutes to Puerto Obaldia. The aircraft disappeared some 20 minutes prior to the ETA. En route altitude was convert|7500|ft|m and weather conditions allowed VFR. At first the aircraft was thought to have been hijacked to Colombia. On March 22 however a search party aboard HP-1355 found the wreckage on a mountainside 12.5nm from Puerto Obaldia at 11:35. The wreckage was found at the convert|2500|ft|m level of a convert|2790|ft|m high mountain. All onboard were killed.
*On 9 September 2000 a De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, registration HP-1276APP with 2 crew and 19 passengers on board, was damaged when it overran the runway on landing and collided with a tree. The same aircraft, flown by the same pilot, had to make a precautionary landing at Enrique Jiménez airport because of engine problems on June 12, 2000. There were no fatalities.
*On 16 August 2004 a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan, registration HP-1397APP with 2 crew and 5 passengers on board suffered substantial damage when An emergency landing was carried out on a small active road in the Arrajian district after an apparent engine failure. The airplane struck a tree. All on board survived.

Fleet

The Aeroperlas fleet includes the following aircraft (at March 2007) :

*3 De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300
*1 ATR 42/300
*3 Shorts 360-100

External links

* [http://www.aeroperlas.com Aeroperlas]
* [http://centralamerica.com/panama/tran/flights.htm Unoficial Site]
* [http://www.tacaregional.com/aeroperlas/ing/apitinerarios.html TACA Regional Site]
* [http://aviation-safety.net/database/operator/airline.php?var=6784 Aviation Safety Net]

References