AMF BIL base to close

[Toobdrvr]

Who knows, with Alpines record, AMF could stay open and fly adhoc to back them up and be even more profitable...

Kinda' like CVG...

 

[Flyin Tony]

I have heard 2 of the pilots are going to come to CVG but that will change 9 times before it happes.

 

[Flydaplane]

Too bad for the long timers in Montana. You can probably get hired by Alpine though. As far as bad mouthing UPS for finding someone cheaper to bid, you guys need to realize that the whole industry has changed. Heck, Mesa, Skywest are replacing other regionals in a race to the bottom. Air Wisky used to be a classy operation, not anymore. Mesaba was once a coveted job to get. Delta/Nwa/Ual used to pay a decent wage for Fo's to live on. Commuting to your domicle wasn't too bad. Free travel was abundant. Flight attendant were hot and female. Pilots were regarded with high esteem. It's over boys and it ain't coming back. Nothing to do but suck it up and move on or change careers and think about the good old days. Good luck

 

[time builder]

As far as bad mouthing UPS for finding someone cheaper to bid, you guys need to realize that the whole industry has changed. Heck, Mesa, Skywest are replacing other regionals in a race to the bottom. Air Wisky used to be a classy operation, not anymore. Mesaba was once a coveted job to get. Delta/Nwa/Ual used to pay a decent wage for Fo's to live on. Commuting to your domicle wasn't too bad. Free travel was abundant. Flight attendant were hot and female. Pilots were regarded with high esteem. It's over boys and it ain't coming back. Nothing to do but suck it up and move on or change careers and think about the good old days. Good luck

I think AMF is trying to prove otherwise to UPS. AMF doesn't want to be part of a "race to the bottom" and with shortages of pilots and feeder aircraft having more of an effect on other companies, now is the time to hold strong.

Also, the whole regional analogy doesn't completely fit with cargo. With cargo you fly as few flights as possible, where with passengers you want more options for departure times.

Airlines will always need regionals to get into smaller cities, and use regionals in larger cities to fill in the gaps where economically advantageous. When the advantage goes away they go large, and thus keep the pressure on the regionals to "race to the bottom." Look at what Delta is doing to their regional partners right now.

On the other hand, where cargo feeders are strictly for small cities, you can only have feeders compete with one another. The mainline competion factor is removed, and thus you have a different ball game.

 

[trybysky]

Who knows, with Alpines record, AMF could stay open and fly adhoc to back them up and be even more profitable...

Kinda' like CVG...

GR will not let us back up Alpine ever again. I agree. We have been 'saving their a$$' all year at BFI. We don't back 'em up....they fail service. PERIOD. Ba$tard$!

 

[Linetech]

GR will not let us back up Alpine ever again. I agree. We have been 'saving their a$$' all year at BFI. We don't back 'em up....they fail service. PERIOD. Ba$tard$!

Agreed, let them blow service. let UPS see what they got them selfs into.

They also fly US Mail out in BIL correct? If they don't get Dedicated planes out there for each, and someone is heavy which do you bump?

 

[time builder]

Agreed, let them blow service. let UPS see what they got them selfs into.

They also fly US Mail out in BIL correct? If they don't get Dedicated planes out there for each, and someone is heavy which do you bump?

Normally I'd say UPS pays better, but it seems like they're starting to prove otherwise.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

From what I understand the mail is flown at night and UPS is day....burning the candle at both ends so to speak.

 

[TransMach]

As I heard it, UPS is in a position where they need to reduce costs in Montana seriously. If Alpine works out, great. If not, Montana gets driven ... no next day air anymore. It doesn't reflect on AMF's service or capabilities.

TransMach

 

[frmrBUFFdrvr]

As I heard it, UPS is in a position where they need to reduce costs in Montana seriously. If Alpine works out, great. If not, Montana gets driven ... no next day air anymore. It doesn't reflect on AMF's service or capabilities.

TransMach

Sounds similar to when DHL pulled out of Montana. Only about 5% of the freight going on the planes was actually "air" freight. The rest was just because the plane was there, so they put ground freight in it.

So, not enough work to justify dedicated aircraft.

 

[Freightdog99]

If any of you AMF guys want to fly a 99 in Wisconsin for 45K a year send me a PM.

 

[Pilot12345]

NTSB Identification: SEA08FA062
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Accident occurred Monday, January 14, 2008 in Lihue, HI
Aircraft: Beech 1900C, registration: N410UB
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On January 14, 2008, at 0508 Hawaiian standard time, N410UB, a Beech 1900C, was lost from radar over the ocean about 7 miles south of the Lihue Airport, Lihue, Hawaii, located on the island of Kauai. Alpine Aviation Inc., doing business as Alpine Air, was operating the airplane as an on-demand cargo flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 135. The airline transport pilot was killed, and the airplane was destroyed. Night visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and an instrument flight rules flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Honolulu International Airport, Honolulu, Hawaii, on the island of Oahu, at 0443, and was destined for Lihue.

According to the operator, the pilot was making his first flight after coming off of a two day scheduled rest period. The purpose of the flight was to transfer mail to Lihue, and then the pilot was to return to Honolulu later the same day. The flight was scheduled to arrive at Lihue about 0515.

The Coast Guard indicated that debris from the airplane was initially identified floating on the ocean surface at 0848, approximately 11 miles south-southwest of the airport. The water depths in the search area were up to 800 fathoms (4,800 feet). Additional debris was identified and collected and then transported to the Coast Guard station at Lihue. The Coast Guard discontinued the search on the afternoon of January 15.

An Airport Duty Operations Controller was conducting an airport inspection while the accident airplane was approaching the airport. He recalled that he heard a pilot who identified himself as Alpine Air state that he was, "...landing 35 and 7 miles out." Airport personnel reported that the runway lights, medium intensity approach lighting system with runway alignment indicator lights (MALSR), and precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights for runway 35, were recorded as functional at the time of the accident.

The following weather conditions were reported at Lihue Airport at 0453: wind from 030 at 23 knots with gusts to 27 knots, 10 miles visibility, cloud layers scattered at 4,100 feet and overcast at 5,500 feet, temperature 20 degrees Celsius, dew point 13 degrees Celsius, and the altimeter setting was 30.13 inches of Mercury.

 

[1st2000]

Might not be a bad idea. Also loosing our fantastic VP and the Director of Training. Somethings going on.

 

[TransMach]

Nothing Going On ...

SG's been talking with his new employer for years. This is the first time they've hired a new advanced GStream guy since NH. It's got nothing to do with AMF. Just coincidental timing.

TransMach

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

SG's been talking with his new employer for years. This is the first time they've hired a new advanced GStream guy since NH. It's got nothing to do with AMF. Just coincidental timing.

TransMach

Doesn't happen to be working for your company is he? Best of luck to him on his new opportunity, wherever that may be.

 

[frmrBUFFdrvr]

Might not be a bad idea. Also loosing our fantastic VP and the Director of Training. Somethings going on.

If you were here when the VP first arrived, he was only planning to stay about 2 years. And 2 years was up in December. This day has been coming since he day one. We just have all been hoping (wishing?) that it wouldn't.

And Transmach's description of SG's situation is dead on.

Best of luck to both of them.

 

[time builder]

I'm sure both guys are moving on to better opportunities, isn't that the reason most people leave AMF? To say that they're "ditching a sinking ship" I don't buy into it. It's a time of opportunity for everyone, good luck to both of them.

From my perspective, EM has made a big difference to make life better at AMF in the last couple years.

 

[1st2000]

"From my perspective, EM has made a big difference to make life better at AMF in the last couple years.

"

That is an understatement. The impact of EM at AMF has been huge and his going will be felt by all of us at one point. Has anybody heard for sure where he is going? I have heard he and his wife are staying in SoCal.

 

[1st2000]

If you were here when the VP first arrived, he was only planning to stay about 2 years. And 2 years was up in December. This day has been coming since he day one. We just have all been hoping (wishing?) that it wouldn't.

OK, but he has told almost everyone he will be here at least through November 2008 and probably longer. I never heard the 2 year thing from anyone. When our indoc class asked him if he was going to go back to US Airways he said most likely not and that he did not have to cross that bridge until then anyway.

I guess it does not matter one way or another. I hope they find someone like him.

 

[Linetech]

If you were here when the VP first arrived, he was only planning to stay about 2 years. And 2 years was up in December. This day has been coming since he day one. We just have all been hoping (wishing?) that it wouldn't.

OK, but he has told almost everyone he will be here at least through November 2008 and probably longer. I never heard the 2 year thing from anyone. When our indoc class asked him if he was going to go back to US Airways he said most likely not and that he did not have to cross that bridge until then anyway.

I guess it does not matter one way or another. I hope they find someone like him.

:laugh: