N187PF Hard Landing At LNY

The Maui 24/7 Facebook page reports that N187PF (msn 444A), a Sling LSA owned by Pacific Flight Academy, had a hard landing at LNY, at 16:15HAST this afternoon. It was on a flight from HNL as KA87. According to the OpenADSB playback, the LSA had flown the approach for Runway 3, then did a quick go-around for Runway 21, landed hard and ended up leaning on its nose in the infield grass. Fortunately, the pilot did not suffer any injuries.

Further information in this Aviation Safety Network report.

Three Airlines Vie For The LNY EAS Contract

With the Essential Air Service (EAS) contract to serve LNY up again, three airlines are vying for the Federal Aviation Administration award. Incumbent Mokulele Airlines, along with Pacific Air Charters, and Cape Air have submitted bids to the FAA for the EAS. Mokulele won the previous two-year contract in 2024, and is poised to try to renew it.

Pacific Air Charters has three P2012s based at HNL, with more on order.

Cape Air, based at HYA [Cape Cod Gateway Airport, Hyannis, MA] has a fleet of 64 Cessna C402s and 30 P2012s (with 70 on order). Cape Air also has an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and United Airlines.

Further information in this Hawai‘i News Now report.

Essential Air Service To LNY Up For Bid

On 08 February 2024, the US Department of Transportation issued a for proposals for Essential Air Service (EAS) to LNY. Mokulele Airlines plans to cancel non-subsidied EAS service to LNY, as it has become unprofitable for them to continue serving LNY, due to rising fuel prices and other costs. Lānaʻi is eligible under federal law to receive government-funded EAS for the size of the airport and the community that it serves. Currently, Mokulele is the only commercial airline to fly scheduled passenger service to the "Pineapple Island".

Mokulele/Southern Airways made it known to the US DOT, that it would need federal subsidies to keep the LNY service sustainable, if not profitable.

Local inter-island charter company, Pacific Air Charters is expressing interest in the LNY EAS, with their Tecnam P2012 Travelers.

Lānaʻi Air has a Cessna C408 SkyCourier for shuttle flights to LNY, but has yet to start service. Much of Lānaʻi Air's service is done via private charter with their Pilatus PC-12/47s.

Massachusetts-based commuter airline, Cape Air, that has a service in Guam, expressed interest in the LNY EAS.

Further information in this Civil Beart article, this Hawaii News Now report from 18 March on Cape Air and report on Pacific Air Charters, and Eddie Dowd's Instagram blooper.

Mokulele Airlines Announces OGG-LNY Service

Southern Airways, Mokulele Airlines' parent company, announced that the latter will begin twice-daily service between Kahului and Lāna‘i City on June 17th.

Island Air To Discontinue LNY

Island Air announced today that they will discontinue service to LNY on March 31, 2016, as part of the restructuring of the airline.

Further information in this Island Air press release.

Aloha Air Cargo's N301KH Load Shift Incident

The Aviation Herald reports that Aloha Air Cargo's N301KH was involved in a load shift incident as it departed LNY for HNL. The crew gained control of the 737-300F, and continued to HNL safely. Upon inspection, the aircraft suffered damage to a bulkhead.

‘Ohana's "Lāna‘i Celebration"

This morning, ‘Ohana by Hawaiian invited a few members of the niche market media and local travel industry social media influencers on a day trip to Lāna‘i. We gathered at Gate 49 in the Inter-Island Terminal to board N804HC "Holo Kaomi". Among those accompanying us on the trip were Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley, ‘Ohana by Hawaiianʻs Managing Director Hadden Watt, livery designer Sig Zane and family, Maui Senator J. Kalani English, and the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders. 

We boarded at around 0910HST, I was seated in seat 2A, which is also the exit row on an ATR42. With everyone seated, we pushed back seven minutes ahead of departure time. After three Hawaiian Airlines take off and landings ahead of us, it was our turn to depart from Runway 8L. Our flight to Lāna‘i reached an altitude of FL070 at 295kts. The 18-minute flight was smooth, as was the landing on LNYʻs Runway 3. We parked at Gate 3, and deplaned to the main terminal (above). The weather at the airport was sunny and cool (70ºF / 21ºC), with a nice breeze blowing. We boarded Mercedes Sprinter vans from the Four Seasons Lāna‘i at Manele Bay to take us to the Lāna‘i Senior Center in Lāna‘i City where the celebration would take place.

The celebration was held with some of the kupuna (elder citizens) of Lāna‘i City. Members of the Hawaiian Airlines team that traveled with us visited with the "aunties and uncles" (a common term of endearment for older local residents) as the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders and Dancers prepared for their show. The show was similar to the pre-boarding celebrations when Hawaiian launches a new route. Mark Dunkerley led off the speeches, by thanking the residents of Lāna‘i for welcoming them back, as now they can seamlessly fly the Hawaiian Airlines route network from LNY. Hadden Watt spoke next, followed by Sig and Kuha‘o Zane (who talked about the livery), Senator J. Kalani English, and Maui County Council-member G. Riki Hokama. After a brief prayer in Hawaiian, a buffet lunch was served for everyone attending.

Our next venture was to the Four Seasons Lāna‘i at Manele Bay, where we would embark on a short hike to see Pu‘u Pehe (Sweetheart Rock). After getting settled, we began the hike from the pool area, then across Hulopo‘e Beach, then up to Pu‘u Pehe. We spent several minutes up there taking photographs, and a short break before heading back to the resort. We then boarded the Sprinter vans to take us back to LNY.

LNY is a quaint airport with three airlines serving it. It has four gates, but one large holding area. Once we all cleared TSA, it was a short wait before we boarded "Holo Kaomi" through Gate 3, to take us back home to HNL. We back-taxied down Runway 3 to the approach end to take-off, and got off the ground quickly, then making a 180º left turn to head back to HNL. The 21-minute flight was fairly smooth, flying at FL060 at 295kts. We landed on Runway 8L, and taxied back to Gate 49. That was a great day trip, and an incentive for future getaways to Lāna‘i!

HNL RareBirds extends a big mahalo to Mark Dunkerley and his staff at Hawaiian Airlines for hosting this trip and the activities!

N483VA Lost Near LNY

A Piper PA-31-350 Navajo owned by Maui Aircraft Leasing LLC, N483VA (msn 31-7552124), crashed about a mile from the departure end of LNY's Runway 3 last evening, after take-off. Reports are three of the six on-board perished, and the other three survived. The passengers were officials from Maui County on Lānaʻi for county meeting. The three lost were the pilot and two passengers. The three survivors were put on an AirMed King Air 200 (N911ZD) medevac flight to HNL for treatment. The FAA and NTSB will be investigating the cause of this accident.

N483VA was one of three Navajo owned by Maui Aircraft Leasing, along with N471VA (msn 31-8352015) and N35892 (msn 31-8052140).

The HNL RareBirds team expresses our condolences, thoughts and prayers to those involved and their families.

Mahalo to team member OGGturbojets for the top photo.

AirMed's N911ZD (msn LJ-1559) taxiing out to Taxiway C earlier this year.

Further details in this Maui County press release, and this American Live Wire article.