Big Sky - East Coast

[Capt_robert]

Just read press release stating that Big Sky will stop all east coast operations. Wonder what will happen with the 80+ pilots?
Fly safe

 

[Quack]

post source?

 

[Uncle Bunkle]

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071219/20071219006084.html?.v=1

 

[XJohXJ]

What does Paul Foley do?

 

[CA1900]

I feel no pity for the residents and government of Saranac Lake. None at all.

This article was in yesterday's local paper there: http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=9717

My favorite quote:

“As bad as we thought CommutAir was, they are looking real good now,” said Harrietstown Councilman Barry DeFuria.

Thanks, you a-holes. Go ahead, keep driving air carriers away. I hope you enjoy driving to Albany to take a flight.

 

[xjlifer]

What does Paul Foley do?

Well looks like he burns through mountains of cash.

 

[goahead]

Good luck to all that moved b/c of this flying.

It sucks that airlines open and close bases like restaurants do in a test market.

 

[B1900 Mech]

Ya,I moved from colgan,This is a blessing in disguise, They were getting ready to kill 21 people real soon

 

[clippyrip]

This does not come as a big shocker to those of us who flew/are flying for Big Sky Boston. I wish the best of luck to those looking for work and say smart move to those who saw this coming and made a switch.
Big Sky was dysfunctional at best out of Montana but terrible when expanded to Boston. A company who builds its bread and butter on EAS is looking for trouble. Most of the time out of Montana destinations we were empty. Out of Boston we had such bad scheduling and operational oversight that the writing was on the wall early on.

 

[500and2]

sux

Hey, if anyone needs help looking for work in Anchorage.... or a place to crash, let me know.

Will some airlines give these 80+ pilots a "preferential" interview.....

I have some friends there... just trying to help in any way I can.

500and2

 

[n706us]

BM Air in PSM is looking for Capts and FOs if anybody is interested. Flying J31

 

[SeaCow]

Ya,I moved from colgan,This is a blessing in disguise, They were getting ready to kill 21 people real soon

MX that bad at Big Sky? Cant be worse than Colgan!

Any Big Skiers need help pushing a resume, drop me pm.

 

[PCL_128]

What does Paul Foley do?

Years later, and we still don't have an answer to that question. He certainly got damn rich, though, that's for sure.

 

[snowman]

I for one would like to say thanks to all that worked their arses off. I was priviliged to fly with some of the best pilots around. I really had a great time flying the beech with the "GO GETTAS"! We all knew this was coming... We jsut didn't think so soon. Mismanagement was the key to our failure. Plain and simple. I am sure the "Management" will try to blame the pilots and Mx. This is not true. Mx in Bos was working without parts or enough staff from day one. Big Sky was short pilots from day one. Inability to build a schedule that worked and lack of infrastructure were the problems. The scheduler built schedules using an excel spreadsheet. Hmmm...
They threw the pilots into Bos and paid little attention, as they hid in the GO.
I am sure the pilots will find other jobs, as they are great at their jobs. Help them if you can. ANY leads would be appreciated. Thanks for the offers already rec'd.
Pissed and off to spread some resumes..
Snowman

PS, Cowboys v. Pats in da SUPERBOWL!
IGGLES got lucky.

 

[clippyrip]

I almost forgot...Fred Deleeuw deserves a lot of credit. He has successfully ruined 2 previous airlines and this one he totally demolished. Not only is Fred completely inept at running a company he does not have the first clue about how an airline should be run. Countless times he would rear his ugly head into dispatch/operations telling them what to do and it was clear from the first word that he did not know the basics. I am not even sure if he has been on an airplane. Judging from his ability to collapse an airline it would not be a stretch to say that the closest Fred has been to a airplane was when he huffs jet A. Either way, the real sad part is a whole bunch of pilots lost their jobs for Christmas. Right now Fred is probably drawing up his golden parachute/retirement plan so this his feet will never touch the ground. Probably will give himself a bonus for closing down the airline with such great skill. Congratulations Fred, you just landed with your gear up and short of the runway. All of us at Big Sky wish you the best for the future.

 

[cfd130]

And maybe-just maybe some execs at mother Delta will remember that cheaper ain't always better

 

[kmox29]

What does Paul Foley do?

He's the opposite of King Midas...everything he touches turns to ********************.

 

[willbob]

Hey guys and gals my heart goes out to you. Alot of us at XJ thought we were going to get a similar present last December. For what its worth... Mesaba needs pilots, not the best place to work, but not the worst.

Good Luck

 

[rtmcfi]

link to teleconference here:
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/...d=news_view&newsId=20071219006084&newsLang=en

 

[generaltso]

One Delta connection carrier down, 4 to go.

 

[Waylon]

I know this may not be very popular but the question you have to ask yourself is? Would of the cards played out any different if the Big Sky pilots would of voted in ALPA and been more closely tied to the XJ pilot group.

 

[DiverDriver]

Big Sky pilots:

If you are looking to stay in the northeast might I suggest applying to Air Wisconsin. We just announced LGA/RDU domiciles in addition to PHL/DCA/ORF current domiciles. Supposedly they are to be staffed up during midde 2008.

I wish you well.

 

[On Your Six]

For the PICs out there with pretty good hours, I would recommend Netjets (especially with their new TA). BOS is one of the new domiciles. Avantair with its P180s is also hiring and it has a BOS base. Check out this link:

http://airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/fractional.html

Colgan, PDT and Air Whisky will all offer NE jobs if you really want to stay in the area.

Good luck.

 

[Shakenbake]

I know this may not be very popular but the question you have to ask yourself is? Would of the cards played out any different if the Big Sky pilots would of voted in ALPA and been more closely tied to the XJ pilot group.

I think the Big Sky pilot group went to ALPA twice and tried to get representation. ALPA told them "no thanks". But as soon as MAIR acquired Big Sky and ALPA and the Mesaba pilots realized that the whipsawing was about to begin they (ALPA) asked Big Sky to come on board and the Big Sky pilots told ALPA "no thanks". I believe that is how it all worked out. I could have some of the details wrong. Anyone else know more?

 

[rigger]

From Mother ship Delta:



Big Sky Airlines will terminate all Delta Connection flights after Jan. 7, citing continued operational challenges in the Northeast and rising fuel prices. Because of the planned cancellations, we will terminate our codeshare relationship with Big Sky and will no longer reserve seats for customers on Big Sky flights after Jan. 7.
These cancellations will affect flights in all markets served by Big Sky including: Allentown, Pa.; Boston; Burlington, Vt.; Cape Girardeau, Mo.; Cincinnati; Jackson, Tenn.; Massena, N.Y.; Ogdensburg, N.Y.; Owensboro, Ky.; Plattsburgh, N.Y.; Saranac Lake, N.Y.; Trenton, N.J.; Watertown, N.Y.; and White Plains, N.Y. We will continue to operate Big Sky flights between Bangor, Maine and Boston using 50-seat Comair jets.


Sucks guys!!!

 

[rtmcfi]

I think the Big Sky pilot group went to ALPA twice and tried to get representation. ALPA told them "no thanks". But as soon as MAIR acquired Big Sky and ALPA and the Mesaba pilots realized that the whipsawing was about to begin they (ALPA) asked Big Sky to come on board and the Big Sky pilots told ALPA "no thanks". I believe that is how it all worked out. I could have some of the details wrong. Anyone else know more?

You have it right.

 

[captain dad]

Liquidation

http://www.startribune.com/business/12681302.html

 

[CA1900]

How's this for a response to an airline they're trying to keep:

http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/articles.asp?articleID=9737

“From our meeting that we had, we knew there were problems, but we were willing to work with Big Sky to allow them to get back on their feet,” Miller said.

According to Miller, Big Sky owes the town about $57,000 for de-icing, fuel and landing fees. Miller said he has notified airport employees that Big Sky no longer has credit at the Adirondack Regional Airport until it pays its bill.
...
“They were going to try and hold Big Sky’s feet to the fire and make them stay, like they had done with CommutAir, because they do have the EAS contract,” Miller said.

So by "willing to work with" them, they mean "cash up front"? Niiiiice.

Enjoy Greyhound, people.

 

[NEDude]

I feel no pity for the residents and government of Saranac Lake. None at all.

I can't believe they were ever upset about our reliability. I can't count the number of times I had to fly an empty airplane in and out of SLK or RUT. But dispatch still had us go because we got paid for landing there.

My guess is they were upset about how much the company was charging passengers to fly out of there.

 

[kmox29]

Liquidation

http://www.startribune.com/business/12681302.html

Just seeing that guy's face makes my blood boil. Although I left the airline almost 2 years ago, I still harbor pure hatred for him and Spanjers.

How can he earn $1.1 million and receive $550,000 in bonuses for almost destroying 2 carriers? There has gotta be a special place in hell for these guys.