Sharp Airlines
Encyclopedia
Sharp Airlines is a regional airline
headquartered in Hamilton
, Victoria
, Australia
. Its main bases are Portland Airport
, Adelaide Airport and Launceston Airport
. The airline also provides charter operations to regional Victoria and South Australia. The parent company Sharp Aviation has a flight training operation base at Hamilton Airport
, and a maintenance base at Portland Airport.
, the airline has continued to grow; acquiring Fairchild Metro
aircraft to replace the Chieftains and adding Essendon Airport
to the route network. As of 28th April, 2008 they commenced services from a new Adelaide Airport base of operations to Port Augusta
and Mildura
. On the 12th October, 2009 Sharp Airlines commenced a trial period connecting Adelaide Airport with Portland Airport
and Avalon Airport
. On the 4th January 2010 it became a permanent addition to the flight schedule. As of 1st October, 2010 Sharp Airlines has taken over Airlines of Tasmania's operations to Flinders Island
, from Launceston
and Melbourne, Victoria
(Essendon Airport
)
The scheduled services are operated using the airline's Metro III & 23 aircraft. It also operates charter services using a mix of other aircraft in the fleet as well as the Metros.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
headquartered in Hamilton
Hamilton, Victoria
Hamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Its main bases are Portland Airport
Portland Airport (Australia)
Portland Airport is located at Portland, Victoria, Australia, 365 km southwest of Melbourne along the Princes Highway. The airport is home to the Portland Aero Club and the Sharp Airlines maintenance base....
, Adelaide Airport and Launceston Airport
Launceston Airport
Launceston Airport is a regional airport on the outskirts of Launceston, Tasmania. The airport is located in the rural area of Western Junction from Launceston city centre...
. The airline also provides charter operations to regional Victoria and South Australia. The parent company Sharp Aviation has a flight training operation base at Hamilton Airport
Hamilton Airport (Australia)
Hamilton Airport is located about 12 km from Hamilton, Victoria, Australia. The airport is about 400km west of Melbourne and is home to Sharp Airlines and the Hamilton Aero Club. The terminal, called the "Sir RM Ansett terminal" is named after Reginald Miles Ansett....
, and a maintenance base at Portland Airport.
History
Commencing airline operations operating the venerable Piper PA-31-350 ChieftainPiper PA-31 Navajo
The Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and...
, the airline has continued to grow; acquiring Fairchild Metro
Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
aircraft to replace the Chieftains and adding Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
to the route network. As of 28th April, 2008 they commenced services from a new Adelaide Airport base of operations to Port Augusta
Port Augusta Airport
Port Augusta Airport is an airport in Port Augusta, South Australia.-Airlines and destinations:...
and Mildura
Mildura Airport
Mildura Airport is located in Mildura, Victoria, Australia. It is the busiest regional airport in Victoria and has twice been named Australia's Rural Airport of the Year....
. On the 12th October, 2009 Sharp Airlines commenced a trial period connecting Adelaide Airport with Portland Airport
Portland Airport (Australia)
Portland Airport is located at Portland, Victoria, Australia, 365 km southwest of Melbourne along the Princes Highway. The airport is home to the Portland Aero Club and the Sharp Airlines maintenance base....
and Avalon Airport
Avalon Airport
Avalon Airport is the second busiest of the four airports serving Melbourne and is located in Avalon, Victoria, Australia, which is north-east of the city of Geelong and to the south-west of the state's capital city of Melbourne....
. On the 4th January 2010 it became a permanent addition to the flight schedule. As of 1st October, 2010 Sharp Airlines has taken over Airlines of Tasmania's operations to Flinders Island
Flinders Island
Flinders Island may refer to:In Australia:* Flinders Island , in the Furneaux Group, is the largest and best known* Flinders Island * Flinders Island , in the Investigator Group* Flinders Island...
, from Launceston
Launceston Airport
Launceston Airport is a regional airport on the outskirts of Launceston, Tasmania. The airport is located in the rural area of Western Junction from Launceston city centre...
and Melbourne, Victoria
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
(Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport
Essendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
)
Destinations
Sharp Airlines operates the following scheduled services.- From Portland, VictoriaPortland, VictoriaThe city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
(Portland AirportPortland Airport (Australia)Portland Airport is located at Portland, Victoria, Australia, 365 km southwest of Melbourne along the Princes Highway. The airport is home to the Portland Aero Club and the Sharp Airlines maintenance base....
)- Adelaide, South Australia (Adelaide Airport)
- Geelong, VictoriaGeelong, VictoriaGeelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
(Avalon AirportAvalon AirportAvalon Airport is the second busiest of the four airports serving Melbourne and is located in Avalon, Victoria, Australia, which is north-east of the city of Geelong and to the south-west of the state's capital city of Melbourne....
) - Melbourne, VictoriaMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
(Essendon AirportEssendon AirportEssendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
)
- From Hamilton, VictoriaHamilton, VictoriaHamilton is a city in western Victoria, Australia. It is located at the intersection of the Glenelg Highway and the Henty Highway...
(Hamilton AirportHamilton Airport (Australia)Hamilton Airport is located about 12 km from Hamilton, Victoria, Australia. The airport is about 400km west of Melbourne and is home to Sharp Airlines and the Hamilton Aero Club. The terminal, called the "Sir RM Ansett terminal" is named after Reginald Miles Ansett....
)- Melbourne, VictoriaMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
(Essendon AirportEssendon AirportEssendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
)
- Melbourne, Victoria
- From Adelaide, South Australia (Adelaide Airport)
- Mildura, VictoriaMildura, VictoriaMildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
(Mildura AirportMildura AirportMildura Airport is located in Mildura, Victoria, Australia. It is the busiest regional airport in Victoria and has twice been named Australia's Rural Airport of the Year....
) - Port Augusta, South AustraliaPort Augusta, South Australia-Electricity generation:Electricity is generated at the Playford B and Northern power stations from brown coal mined at Leigh Creek, 250 km to the north...
(Port Augusta AirportPort Augusta AirportPort Augusta Airport is an airport in Port Augusta, South Australia.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - Portland, VictoriaPortland, VictoriaThe city of Portland is the oldest European settlement in what is now the state of Victoria, Australia. It is the main urban centre of the Shire of Glenelg. It is located on Portland Bay.-History:...
(Portland Airport) - Geelong, VictoriaGeelong, VictoriaGeelong is a port city located on Corio Bay and the Barwon River, in the state of Victoria, Australia, south-west of the state capital; Melbourne. It is the second most populated city in Victoria and the fifth most populated non-capital city in Australia...
(Avalon AirportAvalon AirportAvalon Airport is the second busiest of the four airports serving Melbourne and is located in Avalon, Victoria, Australia, which is north-east of the city of Geelong and to the south-west of the state's capital city of Melbourne....
)
- Mildura, Victoria
- From Flinders Island, TasmaniaFlinders Island, TasmaniaFlinders Island is an island in Bass Strait. It is from Cape Portland, the north-eastern tip of Tasmania, Australia and is the largest island in the Furneaux Group.-History:...
(Flinders Island Airport)- Launceston, TasmaniaLaunceston, TasmaniaLaunceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
(Launceston Airport) - Melbourne, VictoriaMelbourneMelbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
(Essendon AirportEssendon AirportEssendon Airport is located at Essendon, in Melbourne's northern suburbs, Victoria, Australia. It is located next to the Tullamarine Freeway on , from the Melbourne Central Business District and from Melbourne Airport.-History:...
)
- Launceston, Tasmania
The scheduled services are operated using the airline's Metro III & 23 aircraft. It also operates charter services using a mix of other aircraft in the fleet as well as the Metros.
Fleet
As of July 2011 the Sharp Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:| Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cessna 172 Cessna 172 The Cessna 172 Skyhawk is a four-seat, single-engine, high-wing fixed-wing aircraft. First flown in 1955 and still in production, more Cessna 172s have been built than any other aircraft.-Design and development:... |
4 | 3 | Predominantly used for flight training purposes. |
| Cessna 182 Cessna 182 The Cessna 182 Skylane is an American four-seat, single-engine, light airplane, built by Cessna of Wichita, Kansas. It has the option of adding two child seats, installed in the baggage area.... |
1 | 3 | Predominantly used for flight training purposes. |
| Piper PA-34-220T Seneca IV Piper PA-34 Seneca The Piper PA-34 Seneca is an American twin-engined light aircraft, produced by Piper Aircraft since 1971 and still in production in 2011.The Seneca is primarily used for personal and business flying.-Development:... |
1 | 5 | Used for flight training and charter. |
| Piper PA-31-350 Chieftain Piper PA-31 Navajo The Piper PA-31 Navajo is a family of cabin-class, twin-engine aircraft designed and built by Piper Aircraft for the general aviation market, most using Lycoming engines. It was also licence-built in a number of Latin American countries. Targeted at small-scale cargo and feeder liner operations and... |
1 | 9 | Used for charter. |
| Fairchild SA227-AC Metro III Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States.... |
2 | 19 | |
| Fairchild SA227-DC Metro 23 Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States.... |
4 | 19 |