Less than two-and-a-half months after a Chalks Ocean Airways Grumman Mallard crashed into the sea off Florida’s Miami Beach, the carrier says it is rebuilding its seaplanes to surpass the US Federal Aviation Administration’s recent emergency airworthiness directive (AD). The carrier has also begun talks with manufacturers to acquire new turboprop aircraft to support expansion.
The FAA emergency AD issued on 30 December calls for immediate inspections of the wing spars of Grumman G-73 Mallard and G-73T Turbo Mallard twin-turboprop amphibians. It followed the loss of a Chalks Mallard on 19 December after the aircraft’s right wing separated after take-off from Miami Beach, killing both crew and all 18 passengers. Wing-spar metal fatigue is strongly suspected.
“We are going over and above to meet that AD…because the AD calls for detailed visual inspections, and we are going to rebuild the wing structure,” says Chalks general manager Roger Nair.
He says the Miami-based carrier is “waiting for a whole bunch of documentation and engineering data from the FAA on the Mallards”, but that it hopes to “get the aircraft up and running in the next 90 days”.
With its aircraft out of service, Chalks’ services to the Bahamas remain suspended, although previously booked passengers are being accommodated on other airlines.
Meanwhile, the carrier is looking to acquire six turboprops in the 30- to 48-seat range and is studying four types: ATR 42s, Embraer EMB-120s, Dornier 328s and Saab 340s. These will be used to re-open Chalks’ routes to the Bahamas and expand service to the eastern Caribbean.
The fleet expansion strategy had been in Chalks’ plans before the crash, says Nair. Although a final decision has not yet been made, the airline is eager to reach a deal.
An existing Part 121 carrier, Chalks will need to be certificated for the new aircraft types, and “get the manuals and flightcrew training approved”, notes Nair. “We are cautiously optimistic to be flying land aircraft in the next few months,” he adds.
MARY KIRBY / PHILADELPHIA
Source: Flight International
