Scenic Airlines was founded in 1967 by entrepreneur David S. Shipley, making it one of the oldest existing airlines in the United States. Initially, the airline provided service to remote areas of the Southwestern United States, including the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, and Monument Valley. The airline’s fleet consisted of three Bell Jet Ranger helicopters and one Cessna 402.
Scenic Airlines’ first major milestone came in 1977 when the airline was awarded a contract to provide air service to the Grand Canyon National Park. This contract allowed the airline to expand its operations and acquire additional aircraft, including a Convair 580 and a Cessna 402B.
The next major milestone in the history of Scenic Airlines occurred in the early 1980s when the airline began providing scheduled service to Las Vegas. This enabled the airline to expand its operations and acquire additional aircraft, including a Cessna 402B, a Convair 580, and a Beechcraft 1900D.
In the late 1980s, Scenic Airlines began offering charter services to Mexico and the Caribbean. This enabled the airline to acquire additional aircraft, including a Cessna 402B and a Convair 580.
The next major milestone in the history of Scenic Airlines came in the early 2000s when the airline began offering service to the Hawaiian Islands. This enabled the airline to acquire additional aircraft, including a Cessna 402B and a Convair 580.
In 2003, the airline was involved in a fatal air crash in Grand Canyon National Park. The crash resulted in the death of 10 passengers and crew members and prompted an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board. The investigation revealed that the accident was due to pilot error and a lack of proper maintenance. Following the accident, the airline implemented a series of safety measures to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew.
The most recent milestone in the history of Scenic Airlines occurred in 2019 when the airline began offering service to the Caribbean and Central America. This enabled the airline to acquire additional aircraft, including a Cessna 402B and a Convair 580.
Today, Scenic Airlines is one of the oldest existing airlines in the United States and continues to provide service to remote areas as well as popular tourist destinations. The airline currently operates a fleet of two Cessna 402Bs, one Convair 580, and one Beechcraft 1900D.
Scenic Airlines has come a long way since its founding in 1967 and continues to provide essential air service to remote areas of the United States and around the world. The airline has also implemented a series of safety measures following the Grand Canyon air crash to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew. As the airline continues to grow and evolve, it will no doubt reach even greater milestones in the future.
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