Regional flyer forced to close because of FAA scheduling ruling

After 40 years of shuttling the people of Molokai between Ho`olehua, Kalaupapa and Honolulu airports, Hawaii’s oldest regional flyer is closing its doors. The family owned airline flew their last flight this past Sunday. A spokesperson for the company said the closure was the result of an ongoing dispute with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) over printing and adhering to a regular set schedule.

This isn’t the first time the agency has come down on the airline. The FAA had instructed the shuttle to print a guaranteed schedule several times in the past but had relented because of Molokai’s fluctuating needs. This time, however, the FAA has stood firm in threatening a series of $100,000 fines to the shuttle if it did not begin printing scheduled flight times.

Hank Younge Jr, who founded Air Molokai in 1967 – the company became Molokai Air Shuttle under Hank’s son Henry Younge III 15 years ago - says that being forced to adhere to a regular schedule would be disastrous for a small commuter airlines which serves Molokai and Kalaupapa because business simply isn’t steady enough for the company to guarantee their flights.

“This is the way we’ve done business for 40 years, and we think it has served Molokai very well,” says Younge. “The FAA has litigated us six times in the past, and in all six cases of conflict, the Shuttle has won every time due to Molokai’s unique situation.” Younge looks over his fleet of dual-prop, nine-seat Piper Cheiftans with the Shuttle’s signature green tail. “In 40 years of operation we had a perfect safety record. The rules haven’t changed, we haven’t changed; so what’s different?”

Hank Younge wants Hawaii’s leaders, including governor Linda Lingle, to recognize and stand up for the importance of Molokai Air Shuttle in enabling human movement on the friendly isle. Younge believes they should aid the airline to stay in business as the shuttle is pivotal to the economy of Molokai. The Shuttle has been particularly important to residents of the Kalaupapa peninsula; no other airline has provided the frequency of flights that they have to the remote area on Molokai’s North Shore.

“It’s sad. It’s going to be hard for the workers, because now they have to take the trail,” says Father Damien Tours operator and Kalaupapa resident Gloria Marks. “It’s hard on my business, too; now I’m only getting visitors coming down on the mule rides (via the sea cliffs’ Kalaupapa trail). Hank provided a long time service to Molokai and Kalaupapa, so it’s really sad. Everyone used to love flying (on) the Shuttle.”

A newcomer to Molokai’s airspace, Pacific Wings representatives say that they will be picking up some of the slack with added flights from Molokai’s topside airport in Ho`olehua to the Kalaupapa airstrip. Flights, twice daily, will begin some time in early April.

Younge believes that the removal of Molokai Air Shuttle cuts down on air passengers’ options; rival, Pacific Wings, flies single-engine planes as compared to the dual-prop aircraft the Air Shuttle used. “Also, the prices are low now, but they probably won’t stay that way if the number of competing flyers top out.”

A spokesperson for Pacific Wings says that the company chose the single-engine Cessnas over the Pipers for the planes’ superior safety record, and notes that Pacific Wings also has an unblemished record of safety.

George’s Aviation president George Hanzawa says his company will be picking up a little of the slack as well. George’s, an on-demand service, flies a fleet that includes both single engine Cessnas and dual-prop Pipers.

Throughout Molokai Air Shuttle’s 40 years of regulation hearings with the Western-Pacific region of the FAA in Hawthorne, California, the 6 previous outcomes have always reflected the uniqueness of Molokai’s situation. This time, however, Younge says Hawaii’s politicians simply weren’t willing to step in to fight for FAA scheduling exemptions for the shuttle. The state of Alaska, which shares similarities with Molokai’s fluctuating commuter market, benefits from exemptions similar to those which the Air Shuttle is seeking.

“We sincerely thank Molokai for years of loyal business and apologize for stopping,” said the elder Younge from the company’s office at the commuter terminal at Honolulu International Airport; “but the company could never survive the fines it would have faced.”

Young says that Molokai residents ought to write Governor Lingle, representative Hirono, and Senators Akaka and Inouye to let them know how important regional commuters are to Molokai’s standard of living, financial well being, and what Molokai Air Shuttle’s closing will mean to Molokai people

PHOTO CAPTION: Hank Younge in his Honolulu office with his back to the tarmac and one of his fleet of green-tailed planes. The end of an era?