Scenic Airlines
Encyclopedia
Scenic Airlines is an American
regional airline
based in Paradise
, Nevada
, USA. It operates sightseeing flights from Boulder City Airport
in Boulder City, Nevada
.
in 1967. Between 1967 and 1993 Scenic Airlines grew to be one of the world's largest fixed-wing air tour operations. In 2000, John Seibold was recognized by the Las Vegas Review Journal as being one of the most influential businessmen in Las Vegas in the previous 100 years. In 1977, Scenic Airlines purchased the design and manufacturing rights to turboprop-powered conversions of the Cessna 402
and Cessna 414 from American Jet Industries. In 1983, the airline co-developed modifications to the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
to make it more suitable for use as an air tour airplane. The airline eventually moved to Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport
.
In 1993 the Seibolds sold the airline to SkyWest Airlines
and it continued to see growth until it merged with Eagle Canyon Airlines in 1998. In spring 2006, citing rising fuel costs, the airline announced it would be ceasing scheduled passenger operations to focus on its sightseeing flights, thus abandoning its scheduled services using its fleet of three Beechcraft 1900
aircraft. Almost all of the scheduled service routes were Essential Air Service
routes and were picked up by US Airways
, operated by Air Midwest
.
On March 29, 2007, Scenic Airlines was sold to Grand Canyon Airlines
and today the airline operates from the Boulder City Airport providing services to Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon, Page, Arizona
, Monument Valley, Utah, and Rainbow Bridge, Utah
. Scenic Airlines continues sightseeing service to the Grand Canyon every day of the year.
On March 19, 2009 Scenic Airlines moved its operations at the Boulder City Municipal Airport
(BLD) into the companies new Boulder City Aerocenter, a 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²) terminal.
Although operations have been merged both Scenic and Grand Canyon have been operating under two operating certificates. Scenic will no longer exist after April 30, 2009 when both airlines will be merged and operate under the Grand Canyon Airlines operating certificate.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
regional airline
Regional airline
Regional airlines are airlines that operate regional aircraft to provide passenger air service to communities without sufficient demand to attract mainline service...
based in Paradise
Paradise, Nevada
Paradise is an unincorporated town in the Las Vegas metropolitan area in Clark County, Nevada, United States. The population was 223,167 at the 2010 census...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, USA. It operates sightseeing flights from Boulder City Airport
Boulder City Airport
Boulder City Airport was an airport located in Boulder City, Clark County, Nevada, USA.- History :Boulder City Airport was dedicated on December 10, 1933. Commercial air service arrived at the airport on June 15, 1936 with Grand Canyon Airlines. Trans World Airlines opened a terminal at the airport...
in Boulder City, Nevada
Boulder City, Nevada
Boulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 census the population of Boulder City was 15,023.Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling....
.
History
Scenic Airlines was started by John & Elizabeth Seibold and their single engine Cessna airplane in North Las VegasNorth Las Vegas, Nevada
North Las Vegas is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, located in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. The city was incorporated on May 16, 1946.-Geography:...
in 1967. Between 1967 and 1993 Scenic Airlines grew to be one of the world's largest fixed-wing air tour operations. In 2000, John Seibold was recognized by the Las Vegas Review Journal as being one of the most influential businessmen in Las Vegas in the previous 100 years. In 1977, Scenic Airlines purchased the design and manufacturing rights to turboprop-powered conversions of the Cessna 402
Cessna 402
The Cessna 401 and 402 are series of 6 to 10 place, light twin, piston engine aircraft. This line was manufactured by Cessna from 1966 to 1985 under the name Utiliner and Businessliner...
and Cessna 414 from American Jet Industries. In 1983, the airline co-developed modifications to the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter
The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC...
to make it more suitable for use as an air tour airplane. The airline eventually moved to Las Vegas's McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport
McCarran International Airport is the principal commercial airport serving Las Vegas and Clark County, Nevada, United States. The airport is located five miles south of the central business district of Las Vegas, in the unincorporated area of Paradise in Clark County. It covers an area of and...
.
In 1993 the Seibolds sold the airline to SkyWest Airlines
Skywest Airlines
Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
and it continued to see growth until it merged with Eagle Canyon Airlines in 1998. In spring 2006, citing rising fuel costs, the airline announced it would be ceasing scheduled passenger operations to focus on its sightseeing flights, thus abandoning its scheduled services using its fleet of three Beechcraft 1900
Beechcraft 1900
The Beechcraft 1900 is a 19-passenger, pressurized twin-engine turboprop airplane manufactured by the Beechcraft Division of the Raytheon Company . It was designed, and is primarily used, as a regional airliner...
aircraft. Almost all of the scheduled service routes were Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service
Essential Air Service is a U.S. government program enacted to guarantee that small communities in the United States, which, prior to deregulation, were served by certificated airlines, maintained commercial service. Its aim is to maintain a minimal level of scheduled air service to these...
routes and were picked up by US Airways
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
, operated by Air Midwest
Air Midwest
Air Midwest, Inc., was a Federal Aviation Administration Part 121 certificated air carrier operating under air carrier certificate number AMWA510A issued on May 15, 1965. It was headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, United States, and was a subsidiary of Mesa Air Group. It operated flights as US...
.
On March 29, 2007, Scenic Airlines was sold to Grand Canyon Airlines
Grand Canyon Airlines
Grand Canyon Airlines is an FAR Part 135 airline headquartered on the grounds of Grand Canyon National Park Airport in the Tusayan census-designated place in unincorporated Coconino County, Arizona, United States. It operates sightseeing tours over the Grand Canyon...
and today the airline operates from the Boulder City Airport providing services to Grand Canyon West, Grand Canyon, Page, Arizona
Page, Arizona
Page is a city in Coconino County, Arizona, United States, near the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 6,794.-Geography:Page is located at ....
, Monument Valley, Utah, and Rainbow Bridge, Utah
Rainbow Bridge National Monument
Rainbow Bridge National Monument is administered by Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, southern Utah, USA. Rainbow Bridge is often described as the world's highest natural bridge. The span of Rainbow Bridge was reported in 1974 by the Bureau of Reclamation to be , but a laser measurement in...
. Scenic Airlines continues sightseeing service to the Grand Canyon every day of the year.
On March 19, 2009 Scenic Airlines moved its operations at the Boulder City Municipal Airport
Boulder City Municipal Airport
Boulder City Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located one mile southwest of the central business district of Boulder City, in Clark County, Nevada, United States.- History :...
(BLD) into the companies new Boulder City Aerocenter, a 30000 sq ft (2,787.1 m²) terminal.
Although operations have been merged both Scenic and Grand Canyon have been operating under two operating certificates. Scenic will no longer exist after April 30, 2009 when both airlines will be merged and operate under the Grand Canyon Airlines operating certificate.
Scheduled flight destinations
- ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
- Grand CanyonGrand CanyonThe Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
(Grand Canyon National Park AirportGrand Canyon National Park AirportGrand Canyon National Park Airport is a state-owned public-use airport located in Tusayan, a CDP in unincorporated Coconino County, Arizona, United States. It is near Grand Canyon National Park, seven miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon...
)
- Grand Canyon
- NevadaNevadaNevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
- Boulder CityBoulder City, NevadaBoulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. It is approximately from the City of Las Vegas. As of the 2010 census the population of Boulder City was 15,023.Boulder City is one of only two cities in Nevada that prohibit gambling....
(Boulder City Municipal AirportBoulder City Municipal AirportBoulder City Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located one mile southwest of the central business district of Boulder City, in Clark County, Nevada, United States.- History :...
)
- Boulder City
Accidents
Since it was founded in 1966, Scenic Airlines has experienced at least five fatal accidents.- On October 16, 1971 a Scenic Airlines Cessna 402Cessna 402The Cessna 401 and 402 are series of 6 to 10 place, light twin, piston engine aircraft. This line was manufactured by Cessna from 1966 to 1985 under the name Utiliner and Businessliner...
en route from North Las Vegas Airport to the Grand CanyonGrand CanyonThe Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
crashed while attempting to turn away from poor weather conditions on a sightseeing tour. The pilot and all nine passengers were killed.
- On November 30, 1975 a flight from Ely, NevadaEly, NevadaEly is the largest city and county seat of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. Ely was founded as a stagecoach station along the Pony Express and Central Overland Route. Ely's mining boom came later than the other towns along US 50, with the discovery of copper in 1906...
to Elko, NevadaElko, NevadaElko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. The population was 18,297 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Elko County. The city straddles the Humboldt River....
in a Scenic Cessna 402 crashed in poor weather due to improper IFR procedures. The pilot and the sole passenger were killed.
- On July 21, 1980 a Cessna 404 TitanCessna 404|-See also:-External links:* *...
departing the Grand Canyon Airport for Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, ArizonaPhoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
experienced an engine failure on take-off due to foreign material, improper maintenance, and improper procedures. All eight persons aboard (seven passengers and one crew member) were killed.
- On September 20, 1996 a Cessna T207A operated by Scenic Airlines was being re-positioned at night from Grand Canyon, Arizona to St. George, Utah. For reasons undetermined, the airplane collided with the top of a 4600 feet (1,402.1 m) bluff killing the sole occupant.
- On October 8, 1997 a Cessna 208B Grand CaravanCessna 208The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
operated by Scenic Airlines departed Montrose, Colorado for a flight to Page, Arizona. While climbing at the normal rate of climb to 15400 feet (4,693.9 m), the airplane disappeared from radar. The wreckage was located among pine trees and exhibited evidence of a steep descent angle consistent with a stall or spin. All eight passengers and pilot were killed. - The wreckage of the Cessna 208B Grand CaravanCessna 208The Cessna 208 Caravan is a single turboprop engine, fixed-gear short-haul regional airliner and utility aircraft built in the United States by Cessna. The airplane typically seats nine passengers, with a single person crew, although with a FAR Part 23 waiver, it can seat up to fourteen passengers...
crash sits at the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott Arizona, Robertson Crash Laboratory where it is used by the students of the crash investigation class taught by Safety Science Professor William D.Waldock.