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June 13, 2007

Cape Air canceling flights for engine repairs

HYANNIS, Mass. -- Cape Air is grounding most of its fleet of Cessna 402 aircraft to make engine repairs, a spokeswoman for the regional airline said last night.

Hundreds of flights will be affected, Cape Air spokeswoman Michelle Haynes told the Cape Cod Times. The Massachusetts-based airline serves Cape Cod, the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, as well as destinations in Florida, the Caribbean and Micronesia. It offers flights from T.F. Green Airport in Warwick to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

"This is the most painful chapter in this airline's 18-year history," Haynes said.

Haynes said Cape Air discovered abnormal wearing in the planes' engines related to the crankshaft counterweight and decided to ground the planes after consultation with Federal Aviation Administration officials and the manufacturer of the aircraft's engine, Continental Teledyne.

"The unusual wear pattern on these parts has to be fixed," Haynes said. "It's a tough decision, but it's the only decision."

She said a handful of the 49 planes have been repaired, but Cape Air expects to cancel many flights through the weekend.

"We expect the entire airline to be up and operational by early next week," she said.

She said the airline will be posting revised flight information on its Web site, flycapeair.com.

Haynes said Cape Air was committed to "finding options" for customers whose flights are canceled. "Our heart goes out to them," she said.

-- The Associated Press

Posted by Jack Perry  at 7:02 AM | Permalink

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