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FAA accepts CPAir’s application for certification

Direct News Source

15-Sep-2011 California Pacific Airlines has received the first in a series of Federal Aviation Administration clearances required for certification as a commercial air carrier. CPAir will operate from and be based at McClellan-Palomar Airport in Carlsbad.

President and Chief Operating Officer Lawrence A. "Bud" Sittig said the company has received an FAA status update, accepting the airline's general maintenance and operating manuals.

Sittig said the next step will be a thorough manual review by the FAA certification team. That process is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The review process includes oral examinations of CPAir management and operational personnel to determine their response to service and flight operations. Test and training flights, with FAA officials on board, are expected to begin in January. Much of the training will include CPAir crews performing various in-flight tasks while flying to the various proposed destination cities, all without passengers.

The entire certification process is expected to be complete by early to mid-spring.

Founded in 2009, by San Diego North entrepreneur and CEO Ted Vallas, California Pacific will serve five western cities with daily, non-stop flights. The cities include: San Jose, Oakland, Sacramento, Las Vegas, and Phoenix. Current plans call for commencing operations in March or April with three Embraer 170 twin-jet airliners. The E-170 has a capacity for 70 passengers with seating configured on a two-by-two basis. A fourth plane will be added by late summer. Three to four daily non-stop flights to each city is planned.