What's up at Gemini?

[B747FR8DAWG]

I used to see the 10s in MIA all the time and noticed recently that they are not around as much these days. Did Gemini get rid of some 10s in favor of more 11s? What is the fleet composition now?

What's the latest news there?

 

[tjsatter]

Today's (5/03/08) Lineup features 3 DC10s and 4 MD11s operational. Tomorrow? Who Knows? What have you heard? Those on the inside are the most un-informed as to future plans. Rumours and uninformed speculation is all I know.

Ya wanna buy a DC10?

http://www.avbuyer.com/AircraftSale...nufacturerId=115&subList=728&NumberPerPage=10[/quote]

tj

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

tj,

Sorry to hear what's going on over there, just curious as to where all the planes went.

So if they are successful in selling the 10s, Gemini will only be a 4 plane operation, consisting of 4 MD11s?

 

[fokkers&beer]

I'm sorry to hear the operation has shrunk so much. I sure did enjoy the 10's and the crews I flew with.
I guess they are liquidating the 10's in preparation for the 777 freighters, or maybe Sir James has a better plan.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

You would think there would be tons of international heavy freight to keep 'em busy.

the DC10 is one of the best aircraft of all time...sorry to see everybody phasing them out.

 

[tjsatter]

Business is very good. The Air Cargo business seems to be a very good one to be in now and the foreseeable future. the party line from the CEO in re the DC10s relates to the high operating cost of the 10 versus the 11 with the current price of fuel. If they could they would buy another 10 MD11s IF they were available at a price they are willing to pay. But FedEx and UPS distorts the market since they will pay whatever it takes and the planes simply don't exist anyway. So who knows. Business is so good they would not have any difficulty putting an additional 10 MD11s to work if they could train crew fast enough to offset attrition. again, who knows?

Apparently the recently departed CEO had entered into LOI/options (?) to acquire 10 Airbus 330s (?) and further in the uninformed rumour speculation department MAY be 747-400s? I don't believe 777s are anything more than a fantasy at best. If the company is to remain a going concern they need to acquire additional airframes to replace the DC10s. The business is there. I do hope somebody back at IAD knows what they are doing. Stay tuned.

tj

 

[falconflier]

Saw 2 -10s parked on the east side of OPF yesterday.

 

[metrodriver]

Yes, one of them is pretty much parted out, the other one is due a C-check. It is parked untill there is enough work to warrant the check.

@b747fr8dawg: 2-3 DC10's were flying in Europe doing Africa stuff, untill these customers wanted a MD11. Now the -10's are back in MIA

 

[HA25]

Hope there aren't any furloughs for my friends at GAC... I really liked a lot of those guys. Plus, it's not a good market to get into the job search thing these days.

 

[AV80R]

... But FedEx and UPS distorts the market since they will pay whatever it takes and the planes simply don't exist anyway...

I don't think UPS is looking for any more MD 11's so hopefully that'll help the market to "distort itself" back to reality...

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

Say it ain't so

Just spoke to a buddy of mine at Gemini, and he says that all coporate AMEX cards have been cancelled, and now the company is requesting that the crews pay company related expenses (air travel & hotels) on their personal credit cards.

He's not too optimistic about their future!

 

[tjsatter]

Apparently so

Subject AMEX memo was sent at 5PM on friday by finance VP who then turns off his phone for the weekend.

An individual was told yesterday to go to MIA, He thought the company had bought him travel thereto, not. A query to company was met with a request for his personal credit card info. Which he did not have. Trip to MIA canceled; nevermind.

I love this kind of flying but Gemini's short term viability seems uncertain. Is Atlas hiring?

tj

 

[DA-20]

Quitter

 

[HA25]

I personally would refuse to place any expenses on my card... I worked both at GAC and another job that did the same thing with company cards... those Amex cards were backed ultimately by the company so that IF you refused to pay it, they had to ... with you taking on the entire debt in your name, you take the company off the hook.

I personally would find it hard to believe the company itself would be so sinister as to do this with the intent to leave it's pilots with the debt, but the reality is that maybe the AMEX card cancelled on them due to lack of credit worthiness and this is their last resort.

Wishing them the best.

 

[Rook]

Wow. Best of luck to the Gemini guys.