any news on california pacific airlines

[Friend]

anything happen with the start up California pacific airlines flying 170s
out of San deigo

 

[Flyby1206]

Shot down before it even started up

 

[brokedash]

Word is the lake dried up on them.

 

[xrated]

There was an article in the local SD paper a few weeks back that said they were having issues with the FAA. Something about the 170 being unable to operate out of CRQ...if I recall correctly. It doesn't look good for their future.

 

[hyflyin]

That's what happens when airline pilots "try" to run airlines.

 

[Chronic Jetlag]

It wasn't so long ago when Air21 tried it with Fokkers out of So Cal and failed after less than 12 months! E170 has too high a CASM to begin with. No one is surprised that they're dead before they even got off the ground.

 

[jmreii]

It wasn't so long ago when Air21 tried it with Fokkers out of So Cal and failed after less than 12 months! E170 has too high a CASM to begin with. No one is surprised that they're dead before they even got off the ground.

Poor Air21 ran into the same problems other regional/commuter airlines in California found out the hard way in which people would prefer to drive rather than pay the cost of airfare. Outside of Southwest only Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) has been successful within the California market as a stand alone company because of customer service.

 

[Fins Up]

Wasn't there also going tp be a CRJ startup in PWM? I'd be surprised if that one makes it too.

 

[filejw]

Poor Air21 ran into the same problems other regional/commuter airlines in California found out the hard way in which people would prefer to drive rather than pay the cost of airfare. Outside of Southwest only Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) has been successful within the California market as a stand alone company because of customer service.

And Air Cal......

 

[RoughAir]

Here's more info about that PWM startup:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Elite-Airways-gains.html

 

[Pattern-Master]

Here's more info about that PWM startup:

http://www.pressherald.com/news/Elite-Airways-gains.html

I see their white CRJ at the terminal in MLB all the time, i believe they are doing MLB to SJU flights.

 

[LoveGun]

VA is having a tough go with nearly $1 billion invested so far. Good luck California Pacific. Hope your investors have deep pockets and lots of patience.

 

[spudskier]

PeopleExpress also seems to have disappeared

 

[FastestPA31Ever]

So that's what that was - I saw one of their 170's on the ramp at CRQ last month, and couldn't believe they could get in and out of there with any useful load.

 

[BuckMurdock1]

Does anyone know anyone who's been conditionally hired by them (conditional = that they actually 'become' an airline)? If so- anyone know what their payrates are for street-CA? For a non-commutable job in a high-price area like Carlsbad, you'd think that not many pilots could afford to work for 'startup' wages. ..then again- maybe there are enough starving CFIs lurking around the field that they'll work there for nothing. Problem is; they're not going to be qualified to be street-CAs.

Heck--Moot point I'm sure since they'll probably never get off the ground.

What a waste of a paint job, btw. Not sure why they felt they needed to paint the bird before they actually get DOT/FAA approval. I guess that wasted $ is a drop in the bucket comparatively...

 

[B190Captain]

If they ran into a snag its a shame. Bud of mine is the cp.

 

[BuckMurdock1]

If they ran into a snag its a shame. Bud of mine is the cp.

I hope for his sake that he got a multi-yr contract personally guaranteed by Mr. Vallas. (unless he doesn't really need $)

 

[Golden Falcon]

Not sure why they felt they needed to paint the bird before they actually get DOT/FAA approval. I guess that wasted $ is a drop in the bucket comparatively...

Any scam needs a bit of truth to make it plausible to investors....

 

[repeat]

really dead?>

Is there any chance that they will open, or are they dead-dead....

 

[PropPiedmont]

They have no permanent POI and the San Diego FSDO is lost. With the sequestration around the corner, forget about any paper movements for CalPac anytime soon.

 

[BuckMurdock1]

I read they have a new president and CEO, John Selvaggio. Any 'gouge' on him that isn't available via google? (ie ******************************b*g, good guy, etc).

Like previously mentioned; moot point if the feds never budge on their app

 

[flyboyike]

I read they have a new president and CEO, John Selvaggio. Any 'gouge' on him that isn't available via google? (ie ******************************b*g, good guy, etc).

Like previously mentioned; moot point if the feds never budge on their app

Good trumpet-player, presided over great success stories like Song and Comair, writes nice, friendly emails.

 

[BuckMurdock1]

Update (not looking good);

http://www.insidesocal.com/aviation/2013/08/20/california-pacific-airlines-will-it-ever-fly/

Excerpt quote from FAA:

“We rejected CP Air’s formal application for certification due to a number of deficiencies,” FAA Spokesman Ian Gregor told the San Diego newspaper. “We plan to meet with CP Air officials within the next few weeks to further discuss their application.”

Sounds like they didn't hire the right talent to put together manuals/programs properly. Will probably doom them ultimately. I'll never understand it (my company, Virgin America, is guilty of the same thing); these startups pump $millions upon millions$ into infrastructure, pre-marketing, etc., and then cheap-out (as in hiring the lowest bidder) when it comes to experienced talent who knows how to start an brand-new airline properly.

I don't think this is their 'first round' with the feds..I get the feeling they'll be told; "thanks for trying to play, but no soup for you". I feel bad--was kinda rooting for them.

Despite what the press says, rumor is that their one airplane was repossessed.

I believe moral of the story; if you're crazy enough to start an airline--find the top talent in doing so and PAY THEM WHAT THEY WANT!!

 

[Golden Falcon]

The whole fleet repo'ed? oopsy!

 

[BuckMurdock1]

The whole fleet repo'ed? oopsy!

Just a rumor I heard; article could be accurate..It certainly makes sense that the company would want to renegotiate the lease from $200K/mo for an airplane just sitting and rotting on a ramp with DOT approval nowhere in sight.

 

[cldsfr79]

.....Something about the 170 being unable to operate out of CRQ...if I recall correctly. It doesn't look good for their future.

Not that I'm an airline genius or anything but I emailed them like 2 years ago and told them the 170 will never work out of there. I suggested the q400 with the same seat configuration. It would operate fine in and out of there, have similar black times on the routes flown, and be cheaper to operate.

The chief pilot actually emailed me back and said in a nut shell, that they have it all figured out using that plane there.

Hmmmm.

 

[flyboyike]

I believe moral of the story; if you're crazy enough to start an airline--find the top talent in doing so and PAY THEM WHAT THEY WANT!!

Somehow I had a feeling they never really wanted to start an airline. This sounds a lot like Family Airlines, only with smaller aircraft, but just as stillborn, if only once, unlike Family's what, 5-6 times?

 

[Golden Falcon]

It served it's purpose...to provide pay checks for some retirees looking for a hobby....if it never happens, then some investors will save some money from going down the drain...

 

[BuckMurdock1]

It served it's purpose...to provide pay checks for some retirees looking for a hobby

Pretty sad if that's indeed all these folks cared about. You'd think that despite his 91 years, old Ted's ego has gotta be a bit crushed. (not to mention his heirs' inheritance)

Like I said before, I suspect this may have come down to not hiring the right talent (READ: not wanting to pay the $$) to launch this thing correctly. Someone's anecdote above that he emailed the CP yrs ago to warn that the E170 would never work..and response he got..also suggests a bit of ego-driven 'damn the FAA torpedoes--full speed ahead'. RIP.

I'd say that the market may be open to someone to start this thing with Q400s, though. Apparently there is consumer demand. I know that those CRQ-LAX Skywest flights are often full..

 

[Sioux115]

I'm sure you'll see Q400s with Eskimos/(rebrand) on the tail doing those routes in the next couple years.