ABX gets new VP of Flight Ops

[Jurassic Jet]

ABX AIR HIRES NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS
Gerdes Brings over 20 Years of Commercial Airline Experience to ABX Air

WILMINGTON, OH - May 19, 2008 - ABX Air, Inc. announced today that Captain Mike Gerdes will replace Captain Robert Morgenfeld as its new Senior Vice President of Flight Operations. Morgenfeld is retiring in July. Gerdes, 50, has over 20 years of commercial airline experience. He will report to ABX Air President John Graber, and have direct responsibility for all Flight Operations of the all cargo airline company.

“Mike is an exceptional leader. We welcome his skill, experience, and positive leadership style,” Graber said. “He is just the person to take the controls as Captain Morgenfeld retires. We wish Bob all our best in his retirement.”

Gerdes comes to ABX Air from ATA Airlines , where he was the Vice president of Flight Operations. His background includes being Chief Pilot, Fleet Manager, Line Check Airman and Simulator Check Airman. In addition to ATA, Gerdes flew for Comair, Eastern Airlines, and Pan American World Airways. Gerdes recently served as Chairman of the operations council for the National Air Carrier Association (NACA). His experience includes over 8,000 hours of flight time. He earned his B.S. in Applied Science and Technology from Thomas A. Edison State College and is pursuing his MBA at Indiana Wesleyan University.
Captain Bob Morgenfeld, Senior Vice President of Flight Operations, announced his plans earlier this year to retire this July after 23 years at ABX Air.

ABX Air, Inc. (www.abxair.com) is an air cargo services provider operating out of Wilmington, Ohio, and 15 hubs throughout the United States. In addition to providing airlift capacity and sort facility staffing to DHL, ABX Air is an FAA Part 121 operator and holds an FAA Part 145 Repair Certificate. It provides charter, maintenance and package handling services to a diverse group of customers. ABX Air is the largest employer in a several-county area in southwestern Ohio. ABX Air, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air Transport Services Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATSG).

Source: http://www.abxair.com/pr2008-05-19b.html

 

[fodc8]

This is not good news for ABX Air.

 

[Jurassic Jet]

This is not good news for ABX Air.

Speaking from personal knowledge/experience with this guy or just doing a little pot stirring?

 

[b707guy]

Interesting timing for retirement, from both an age-60 vs -65 thing as well as with all that's going on at the moment. A few years back, we had a chief pilot who was over 60, so he couldn't fly the line, but he did mx tests, ferries, bounces, etc, while our DO was line qualified. He retired when he was ready to (pretty much...). Is Capt Morgenfeld retiring by choice, because he has to, or because he feels he needs to now?

 

[bukakke]

Captain Morgenfeld is a millionaire.......why work

 

[abxaviator]

This is not good news for ABX Air.

Care to expound a little?

 

[fodc8]

I'm good friends with a pilot who worked there. He said this guy was instrumental in hiding a lot of the events from the pilot group that led to there unfortunate ending. I'm not saying that because I think ABX is going out of business. Stirring the pot is truly a waste of time here.

 

[shooter]

This is not good news for ABX Air.

Morgenfeld announced his intention to retire a while back. To not get a new SVP of Flight Ops would have been bad news. Unless you know something about his replacement you want to share.

EDIT: ooops, seen you were typing as I was.

 

[mxer]

I have no idea what went on at ATA. Where they a shareholder owned company? SEC may have been a reason for a lack of communication in that case. Then again, most management types view us as nothing more than labor groups on a need to know basis. Bad part is others get to decide what we need to know and then they just make it up.

 

[bukakke]

the word on the street is "milk toast", leadership at its finest