South Pacific Island Airways

South Pacific Island Airways (SPIA) was an airline operating flights in the Pacific including American Samoa and Hawaii with service to the west coast of U.S. and Canada as well as to Alaska, New Zealand, Guam and Tahiti from 1973 to 1987.[3] The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grounded the carrier in 1984, when it almost flew a charter flight into the airspace of the Soviet Union.[4][5] SPIA was allowed to continue operations after some management changes were made at the airline, but was grounded again in 1985 due to some allegedly questionable dealings involving engine hush kits for its Boeing 707 jetliners. South Pacific continued to operate limited services until it ceased all operations in 1987.

South Pacific Island Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
HK SPI[1] SOUTH PACIFIC
Founded1973
Ceased operations1987
HubsPago Pago International Airport
Honolulu International Airport
Focus citiesPago Pago, American Samoa
Apia, Samoa
Agana, Guam
Fleet size8
Destinations18
HeadquartersHonolulu, Hawaii[2]
Key peopleGeorge Wray (CEO)

Destinations

South Pacific Island Airways served these destinations during its existence primarily flying Boeing 707 jet aircraft although small de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprops were used for feeder service as well:[6][7]

Canada

Fiji

Tahiti

Tonga

New Zealand

Cook Islands

Palau

Papua New Guinea

United States

American Samoa

Guam

Northern Mariana Islands

Fleet

As its peak South Pacific Island Airways fleet included:[2]

South Pacific Island Airways
TypeNumber
Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander 1
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 3
Boeing 707 4

Accidents and Incidents
  • On July 21, 1984, South Pacific Island Airways Flight 513, a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter carrying 14 occupants, crashed upon landing at Tau Airport. While on final approach to the airport, the flight controls suddenly collapsed forward, and the nose of the aircraft pitched up. The Twin Otter then collided with a terminal building and a vehicle. One passenger was killed; the other 10 passengers and all 3 crew members survived. The investigation revealed that the elevator control cable was rusted, corroded, and broken due to inadequate inspection. The cable pulley in the area was also damaged. The corrosion of the control cable was worsened by the fact that the aircraft was operated in a humid and salty environment.[8]

See also

References
  1. ICAO Codes
  2. "South Pacific Island Airways", 1985 World Airline Directory, Flight International magazine, 30 March 1985, p.120 (online archive version) retrieved 2010-07-11
  3. Information about South Pacific Island Airways at the Aviation Safety Network
  4. US Airliner Said to have strayed near Soviet Airspace
  5. Errant Airline May Face Grounding retrieved 2010-07-11
  6. "South Pacific Island Airways December 15, 1983 Route Map".
  7. http://www.departedflights.com, Dec. 15, 1983 South Pacific Island Airways route map
  8. "Accident Description". Aviation Safety Network. 21 July 1984. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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