Chalks

[Lazy8]

What's the deal over at Chalks? Are they ever going to bring the Mallards back or are they just going to continue contracting out to Bimini Island Air?

 

[Grey Ghost]

You Dork!!!! Who??????

 

[fatazz]

Grove are you a old paradise island guy. For the above you have got to be the biggest idiot on this website.

 

[Lazy8]

Grove are you a old paradise island guy. For the above you have got to be the biggest idiot on this website.

No, but I've been interested in Chalks for about as long as I can remember. I had heard through the rumor-mill that they had to take the Mallards offline (after the accident) for thorough mx checks, but I had no idea they might never be coming back. At least it seems that way.

It's too bad nobody makes new airliner seaplanes anymore.

 

[Lazy8]

You Dork!!!! Who??????

I don't think the oldest operating airline in the US should be that foreign to you.

http://www.flychalks.com/
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0923925/L/



g

 

[Grey Ghost]

Sorry I am not a gator fan or go to riddle.

 

[Lazy8]

Sorry I am not a gator fan or go to riddle.

Me neither, I live in Colorado.

 

[fly4surf]

I Also have always had a special place in my heart for Chalks.

If it paid$$$$ and was in Nfla.

oh well. dreams are dreams.

 

[VxClimb]

this thread is really confusing to me. but all i can say is i see 1900's flying into the bahamas with big sky paint scheme's with the call sign of chalks??? again i have no clue on the whole chalks story and i am unfamiliar with big sky's operation so this post may be meaningles to everyone. thanks for listenign though

 

[Lazy8]

this thread is really confusing to me. but all i can say is i see 1900's flying into the bahamas with big sky paint scheme's with the call sign of chalks??? again i have no clue on the whole chalks story and i am unfamiliar with big sky's operation so this post may be meaningles to everyone. thanks for listenign though

Big Sky was first contracted to operate as Chalks, but now it's Bimini Island Air. Both operate 1900's. Chalks originally operated the Grumman Mallard seaplane until they had an accident a couple years ago. Since then they've grounded the seaplane fleet and have been contracting out their flying.

g

 

[The_Russian]

BIA is flying the Saab 340.

 

[~~~^~~~]

The Mallards will not be coming back. Operations in salt water are tough on the toughest airframes. I'm not sure what is happening with the Certificate.

 

[John Pennekamp]

The Mallards will not be coming back. Operations in salt water are tough on the toughest airframes. I'm not sure what is happening with the Certificate.

That's what I've heard too. When they grounded the fleet and inspected them, they found too much corosion in critical areas. Its kind of sad to see them go. I always thought that would be fun, but it seems the most fun flying jobs pay the least and/or are the most dangerous.

 

[TWA]

How long did Chalks operate the Albatross? All I know is there are/were a set of them in the Desert that said Chalks on them.

 

[shamrock]

I'm glad I got a chance to hitch a ride with them before the Mallards went away!

 

[flyin'gator]

i flew from marsh harbor to fll two weekends ago on an island express 402.(woah!) anyway, on the plane was a guy who is some sort of abaco station manager for chalks. he says they will be flying the saab and regional jets from pbi and fll to marsh and treasure cay. he said the flight time on the rj was a mere 22 minutes. there is no doubt that the demand is there. i had a hard time getting any ticket out of there without advance booking. it looks like they are going to give gulfstream a run for their money.

 

[Lazy8]

it looks like they are going to give gulfstream a run for their money.

You mean their pilots money. zing!

 

[kingaira90]

The Mallards will not be coming back. Operations in salt water are tough on the toughest airframes. I'm not sure what is happening with the Certificate.

That just ruined my weekend. I was planning on Chalks being my retirement job. Something fun, paying enough money to buy my beer and ensure. No more mallards to the islands is a sad sad thing. I hoped those old birds would fly forever, or at least another 30+ years!

The other day I had a conversation with someone that seemed to know something about their operation. He said they were the only operation in the US that still owned the rights to the routes from miami to Havana. Not used since the revolution but just waiting for it to start up again. Would become very valuable once Fidel kicks it. Anyone else hear something like that? -kingaira90

 

[John Pennekamp]

That just ruined my weekend. I was planning on Chalks being my retirement job. Something fun, paying enough money to buy my beer and ensure. No more mallards to the islands is a sad sad thing. I hoped those old birds would fly forever, or at least another 30+ years!

The other day I had a conversation with someone that seemed to know something about their operation. He said they were the only operation in the US that still owned the rights to the routes from miami to Havana. Not used since the revolution but just waiting for it to start up again. Would become very valuable once Fidel kicks it. Anyone else hear something like that? -kingaira90

Yes. I heard that when Fidel "kicks it" his brother Raul will take over (he's pretty much in charge already) and nothing will change. In fact Raul is even more of a hardliner, so it may get worse.