Sharp Airlines

Sharp Airlines is a small Victoria and Tasmania-focused regional airline operating Fairchild Metro III and Metro 23 aircraft. The airline's core mission is connecting Flinders Island and King Island to the mainland, plus services from smaller Victorian airports. These are essential community air services -- the Bass Strait islands depend on Sharp for medical evacuation, freight, and passenger connectivity. Sharp has been operating since 1990 and has deep roots in the communities it serves.

The fleet of about 17 Metroliners is purpose-built for the mission: short runways, small passenger loads, and routes where frequency matters more than capacity. Sharp also operates freight services, carrying everything from fresh produce to medical supplies between the islands and the mainland. The airline operates under both regular public transport and charter licences, with a mix of scheduled services and on-demand flying.

The Fairchild Metro III and Metro 23 are twin-turboprop aircraft carrying 19 passengers each in a 1-1 layout (single seat on each side of a narrow centre aisle). The Metro 23 is the updated variant with improved engines, systems, and cabin appointments, while the Metro III is the earlier version. Both are pressurised, which is important for the Bass Strait crossings where weather can be significant.

With about 17 aircraft, Sharp has a substantial fleet for its mission. The Metroliner's ability to operate from short, unpaved runways makes it ideal for the island airports where larger aircraft can't go. The aircraft are maintained to CASA standards and Sharp has a strong safety record. The Metroliner is a workhorse of regional aviation globally, with a design optimised for exactly the kind of short-sector, small-community flying that Sharp does. The fleet is older on average but well-maintained and operationally reliable.

The Metroliner cabin is utilitarian. Nineteen seats in a 1-1 layout line a narrow fuselage, with limited headroom (taller passengers duck to move through the cabin) and small overhead storage. The cabin is pressurised, which is essential for Bass Strait crossings where the aircraft needs to fly above weather. Seat pitch is around 30-31 inches, and width is constrained by the narrow fuselage.

There's no cabin service to speak of -- flights are 30-60 minutes, and the aircraft doesn't carry catering equipment. No entertainment, no WiFi, no power outlets. The noise level is high for a modern passenger's expectations, with twin turboprops directly outside the thin fuselage. Earplugs aren't a bad idea. The compensation for the basic cabin is the experience itself: low-altitude flights across Bass Strait with views of the islands, coast, and ocean that are genuinely beautiful. Sharp's pilots are among the most experienced regional operators in Australia, and their knowledge of Bass Strait weather patterns is reassuring.

On a 19-seat Metroliner, every seat is a window seat with direct aisle access thanks to the 1-1 layout. The main consideration is noise: front seats (rows 1-3) are ahead of the propellers and noticeably quieter than mid or rear positions. Avoid seats directly alongside the propeller disc (approximately rows 5-7) if noise is a concern.

The aircraft is small enough that deplaning takes under two minutes from any seat, so row position doesn't matter for exit speed. If you're prone to motion sickness, sit forward -- the front of the aircraft has less pitch and yaw movement in the turbulent conditions that are common over Bass Strait. Left-side seats get better views of the coastline on most approaches. With only 19 seats, the advice is simple: sit as far forward as you can for the quietest, smoothest ride.