Clearwater Flying Service

Empire Airlines was established and started operations on 15May1977 in Orofino as a charter company originally named Clearwater Flying Service
– [Empire Airlines was established and started operations on 15May1977 in Orofino as a charter company originally named Clearwater Flying Service. It was purchased by Nick Chenoweth and Vick Walters. Soon thereafter, a third partner, Mel Spelde joined as a flight instructor. Clearwater Flying Service made a living doing several different things including, fire patrol, transporting outfitters into the backcountry, air ambulance, air pollution monitoring, charters and flight instruction. Known as ‘Idaho’s Airline’. On 01Nov1980, Empire Airlines purchased West Aire (Fbo) at Coeur d’Alene and In 1981 Empire purchased Executive Aviation in Missoula, Montana. In 1989 Empire became a FAR 121 operator after the purchase of Pacific Alaska and two Fairchild F-27 aircraft
~ scheduled and contract cargo services]