{"id":6531,"date":"2025-07-20T10:04:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-20T16:04:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/costaricagreenair.com\/?p=6531"},"modified":"2025-07-20T10:04:47","modified_gmt":"2025-07-20T16:04:47","slug":"inside-our-fleet-argus-gold-costa-rica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/costaricagreenair.com\/en\/inside-our-fleet-argus-gold-costa-rica\/","title":{"rendered":"Inside Our Fleet: ARGUS \u202fGold Safety, In\u2011House Maintenance & Brand\u2011New Aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Costa\u202fRica\u202fGreen\u202fAirways isn\u2019t just another regional airline\u2014it\u2019s a purpose\u2011built operation running one of Central America\u2019s youngest turboprop fleets. From San\u202fJos\u00e9\u2019s bustling hub to gravel airstrips carved out of coastal\u00a0forest<\/strong>, our aircraft were hand\u2011picked to shorten jungle routes, sip less fuel and open runways scheduled carriers can\u2019t touch. Add an\u00a0in\u2011house maintenance team<\/a>, a mandatory Green\u202fFee on every ticket, and the coveted\u00a0ARGUS\u202f Gold<\/strong>\u00a0safety seal<\/a>, and you get an airline that puts reliability, sustainability and passenger comfort on equal footing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Inside
Inside Our Fleet: ARGUS\u202fGold Safety & Brand\u2011New Aircraft\u202f|\u202fCosta\u202fRica\u202fGreen\u202fAirways<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Our Fleet Sets Us Apart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A modern aircraft is more than shiny paint. Newer airframes reduce fuel burn, meet tighter noise limits and give crews cutting\u2011edge avionics\u2014translating into quieter, smoother flights for you. Because every core aircraft joined us in\u202f2021 or later, our average fleet age sits at just three\u202fyears<\/strong>. That freshness yields fewer maintenance delays and noticeably calmer cabins compared with operators flying planes built last century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Metric<\/th>CRGA<\/strong><\/th>Sansa*<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Average Fleet Age<\/td>3\u202f years<\/strong><\/td>15 \u202fyears<\/td><\/tr>
Fuel Burn per Seat<\/td>2.5\u202fL\u202f\/\u202f100\u202fkm<\/strong><\/td>3.3\u202fL\u202f\/\u202f100\u202fkm<\/td><\/tr>
ARGUS Rating<\/td>Gold<\/a><\/td>Not listed<\/td><\/tr>
In\u2011House Maintenance<\/td>Yes (SYQ hangar<\/a>)<\/td>Contracted<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

*Fleet data: Costa\u202fRica registry, 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Short\u2011field performance is baked into every model we fly. Whether you\u2019re boarding in Quepos, Puerto\u202fJim\u00e9nez or our exclusive C\u00f3bano strip, these aircraft lift off in roughly 1\u202f400\u202ffeet, clearing coastal treelines with power to spare. Their quick\u2011release seat rails let us swap layouts\u2014from surf\u2011charter to business\u2011class\u2014in under half an hour, keeping downtime low and flexibility high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meet the Aircraft Line\u2011Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cessna Grand Caravan\u202f EX<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the Workhorse<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Powered by an 867\u2011shp PT6A\u2011140 turbine, the Grand Caravan\u202fEX climbs decisively from humid beach runways while carrying up to 14\u202fpassengers. Its broad cargo door swallows surfboards, dive tanks and even folded wheelchairs. With Garmin\u202fG1000\u202fNXi avionics, our pilots monitor terrain, traffic and weather on a single glass panel\u2014raising situational awareness far beyond legacy steam\u2011gauge layouts. Three Grand Caravan\u202fEXs form the backbone of our schedule, connecting San\u202fJos\u00e9 to Quepos<\/a>, Nosara<\/a> and Puerto\u202fJim\u00e9nez<\/a> multiple times daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daher Kodiak\u202f100<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 the STOL Specialist<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Originally designed for humanitarian missions in the Alaskan tundra, the Kodiak\u2019s beefy trailing\u2011link gear, oversized tires and 750\u2011shp Pratt\u202f&\u202fWhitney engine make it the Swiss\u2011Army knife of our fleet. It converts from nine\u2011seat commuter to all\u2011cargo in minutes, carries a 3\u202f530\u2011lb useful load and can touch down on unpaved ribbons that deter light jets. For aerial\u2011survey and photography charters, the Kodiak\u2019s side door can be removed entirely, providing a rock\u2011stable platform for shooting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britten\u2011Norman Islander<\/a> \u2014 the Twin\u2011Engine Trailblazer<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our refurbished Islander marries classic British STOL DNA with a Garmin\u202fG600\u202fTXi glass cockpit, leather interiors and onboard weather radar. Twin engines add redundancy over water crossings to Isla\u202fTortuga or the Osa Peninsula, while its low stall speed lets us settle onto coastal clearings shorter than a soccer pitch. Seating up to nine passengers, the Islander shines on sport\u2011fishing charters hauling ice chests, rods and a week\u2019s worth of excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safety First: ARGUS\u202fGold & In\u2011House Maintenance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Achieving an\u00a0ARGUS \u202fGold rating<\/a>\u00a0isn\u2019t a plaque you buy\u2014it\u2019s a multi\u2011layer audit covering pilot background checks, training records, maintenance documentation and safety history. We voluntarily renew that audit each year, proving our procedures remain best\u2011in\u2011class as we grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All heavy checks, borescope inspections and component swaps happen in our own hangar at SJO<\/a>. Factory\u2011trained technicians service engines every 400\u202fhours\u2014double the frequency recommended by Pratt\u202f&\u202fWhitney\u2014and recalibrate avionics on an in\u2011house bench. The result? low downtime, industry\u2011leading on\u2011time performance and the peace of mind that every departure meets identical safety standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Passenger Comfort & Mission Flexibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll notice the difference before the propellers spool up. High\u2011back leather seats with individual USB ports keep devices charged, and over\u2011wing air\u2011conditioning pre\u2011cools cabins on humid mornings. Thanks to quick\u2011release seat tracks, we can instal medical stretchers, remove rows for mountain\u2011bike teams or create an executive nine\u2011seat layout complete with fold\u2011down tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flights longer than 25\u202fminutes include complimentary soft drinks and freshly brewed Costa\u202fRican coffee served in compostable cups\u2014small touches that make short hops memorable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability in the Skies\u202f\u2014 How Your Green\u202fFee Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every Costa\u202fRica\u202fGreen\u202fAirways ticket carries a mandatory Green\u202fFee<\/strong> that underwrites hands\u2011on programmes across the country:<\/p>\n\n\n\n