Sonicblue Airways

Sonicblue Airways was an airline based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with their headquarters in Richmond. SonicBlue offered both scheduled and charter services and would fly anywhere in North America.^{[citation needed]} For maintenance failings (and following an accident) Transport Canada suspended Sonicblue's operating license and grounded the company's fleet in January 2006.

Sonicblue Airways

IATA ICAO Call sign VL - -
Commenced operations	2002
Ceased operations	2006
Operating bases	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Fleet size	See Fleet below
Destinations	See Destinations below
Parent company	International Express Air Charter Ltd.
Headquarters	Richmond, British Columbia, Canada

Code data

• IATA Code: VL ^{[1][failed verification]}

History

It was operated by International Express Air Charter Ltd. and was formed after Regency Express acquired North Vancouver Air in 2002 and rebranding the airline SonicBlue Airways.^[2]

Incidents and accidents

• On 21 January 2006 a Sonicblue Cessna 208B Grand Caravan (C-GRXZ) chartered flight from Tofino to Vancouver was trying to divert to Port Alberni after a pilot mayday, but crashed 12 km (7.5 mi) from Port Alberni killing one crew member and two passengers. Five passengers survived. The investigation showed that a turbine blade snapped off in the engine due to fatigue.^[3] Subsequent investigations showed that six of Sonicblue's aircraft (including the Cessna Caravan involved in the accident) were overdue their mandatory inspections. As a result, Transport Canada suspended Sonicblue's operating license and grounded the company's fleet.^[4]

See also

• List of defunct airlines of Canada