The air tour company operating the missing Cessna 172M has been in business since 1986 and calls itself the largest and oldest Big Island air tour company.

Island Hoppers boasts of its safety record on its Web site, www.fly-hawaii.com. The company says it and its employees are "proud of our 18-year fatality-free operation history, and make safety our No. 1 priority."

Tours are taken from either Hilo or Kona on 3- and 7-passenger airplanes. It is not clear how many planes are in its fleet.

"Airplanes provide a safer, quieter and smoother ride than helicopters, taking you up close to view the active volcano, rainforests, hidden valleys, waterfalls, migrating whales (in season) and more," the site said.

The Island Hoppers site notes that FAA regulations require tour helicopters to fly no lower than 1,500 feet because of noise and safety issues. However, the site said it has "special deviation" from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly as low as 1,000 feet.

One of the frequently asked questions on the Web site asks if aerial flights over the volcano are safe. "The entire Hawaii aerial tour industry has an enviable safety record, with incidents substantially below national averages. Island Hoppers has one of the Hawai'i air tour industry's best safety records, since its inception in 1986.

"This is due primarily to our high maintenance standards, with maintenance intervals performed at twice the legally required rates. In addition, every pilot on our staff is also a licensed FAA instructor, possessing superior demonstrated skills and judgement. We are an FAA certified air carrier, and meet stringent performance and maintenance standards."

The company also allows licensed pilots to rent its aircraft.