Stewart Island Flights
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| File:SIF Logo.jpg | |||||||
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| Founded | 2000 | ||||||
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| Fleet size | 4 | ||||||
| Destinations | 2 | ||||||
| Parent company | South East Air Ltd | ||||||
| Headquarters | Invercargill, New Zealand | ||||||
| Key people | Raymond Hector (Director) Bill Moffatt (Director) | ||||||
| Website | https://www.stewartislandflights.co.nz/ | ||||||
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Stewart Island Flights is a small New Zealand airline offering scheduled flights with light aircraft between Invercargill and Stewart Island. It also operates charter services to several of the island’s beaches. It is a locally owned and operated company. South East Air Ltd is the parent company and holder of the Air Operator Certificate, under which Stewart Island Flights and Invercargill Aircraft Maintenance are operated.[1]
Stewart Island Flights began services in 2000.
Services
Stewart Island Flights operates thrice-daily scheduled flights between Invercargill Airport and Ryan's Creek Aerodrome on Stewart Island.[2] During the summer months (October to the end of April), there are often more flights scheduled as the demand increases. Flights depart Invercargill on the hour from 8:00am local time through until 5:00pm local time. The flight then returns from Ryan's Creek Aerodrome on the half hour.
Scenic flights operate on an ad hoc basis around Stewart Island and the Southland Region.[3]
Stewart Island Flights often operate to Mason Bay on the western side of Stewart Island, landing at four different locations on the bay: Duck Creek, Martin's Creek, Cavalier and Kilbride. Other beaches Stewart Island Flights service include Doughboy Bay, Little Hellfire Beach, West Ruggedy Beach, Sealers Bay (Codfish Island) and Smoky Beach.[3] Stewart Island Flights occasionally land and service the airstrip at Dog Island, an island 5 kilometres east of Bluff.
South East Air commenced an IFR post run from Invercargill to Dunedin and return on 4 June 1996 using a Piper PA-32 Cherokee Six. The post run concluded in 2011. At the time, South East Air were one of two companies in New Zealand that commercially operated single-engine piston aircraft at night under IFR. In New Zealand, single-engine piston aircraft are not allowed to be operated under IFR for Air Transport Operations (ATO's) but may be used for Commercial Transport Operations (CTO's), which South East Air utilized on their post-run contract.
Currently, Stewart Island Flights predominantly operate under VFR although have the capability to operate under IFR.
Fleet
As of May 2019 the Stewart Island Flights fleet consists of the following aircraft:[4]
| Aircraft | Total | Orders | Passengers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Britten Norman BN-2A-26 Islander | 2 | 9 | |
| Piper PA-32-300 Cherokee Six | 1 | 5 | |
| Cessna 185E Skywagon | 1 | 5 | |
| Total | 4 | ||
References
- ^ Steve L. "3rd Level New Zealand: NZ's Southern Most Airline: Part 4 - Stewart Island Flights". 3rdlvelnz.blogspot.com.au. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
- ^ "Timetable". Stewart Island Flights. stewartislandflights.co.nz. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ a b "Charter & Beach Flights". Stewart Island Flights. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
- ^ "Our Fleet". Stewart Island Flights. Retrieved 6 November 2018.