DENVER - Frontier Airlines hopes to meet with federal regulators in the next few weeks to discuss certification of its new turboprop operation.

Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas said airline officials believe they can solve issues more quickly if all of the parties are in the same room.

The Denver-based carrier had hoped to start up the operation called Lynx Aviation in October but is awaiting approval from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Regardless of what happens with the FAA, Frontier's new service to Rapid City will begin as scheduled Oct. 5.

Airline officials said earlier this month that until the FAA certifies Lynx Aviation as a commercial air carrier, Frontier will serve its new customers in Rapid City, Wichita, Kan., Billings, Mont., and Sioux City, Iowa, with regional jets from partners Republic Airways and Horizon Air as well as its own full-sized Airbus jets.

After Lynx gets certified, the regional carrier will serve its new routes with the 74-passenger Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft.

FAA officials say the certification process takes time, but they don't know of any specific issues delaying Frontier's request.

Frontier touts the Q400 as a new type of quiet, fuel-efficient 74-passenger aircraft that is especially suited for shorter hops to midsize markets. It has a computer-controlled noise- and vibration-suppression system.

However, Bombardier ordered inspections of some Q400s earlier this month after some of the new planes developed landing-gear problems. Frontier officials say that won't affect their Lynx launch.