Carriers developing scheduled services from business aviation operations are gaining momentum across the US. Bernie Baldwin caught up with two such companies with different backgrounds, but similar goals.
A Tradewind Aviation Pilatus PC-12 makes a dramatic low approach over the cars as it comes into land on the luxurious holiday island of Saint Barthélemy.
In US aviation, small airlines of years gone by – the ‘mom and pop’ carriers – have grown from just a few Piper Cherokees and Senecas to having a fleet of more than 600 sophisticated regional jets. Some went by the wayside, of course, while others simply stayed in their own niche. A few, however, have flourished but as they have grown they have dropped services to communities and destination pairs that were an essential part of their early development. But as the market has evolved so new opportunities have presented themselves.
