AMF BIL base to close

[time builder]

Just heard the news this morning, this stinks.

BIL is one of our top performing bases, I'm very dissappointed in UPS for making this decision to go with another company to try to save a few bucks.

Best wishes to all affected.

 

[airhermit]

No, THE best base, period. Watch your backs...

 

[Lucky13]

That's odd. AMF has had a major presence there for a long time and enjoyed a good relationship with UPS. Any info on what the plans are for the pilots that are going to be displaced? Any bases growing?

 

[citabriapilot]

I just heard it, too. Lost everything to Alpine Air. I love how the Alpine website shows Ameriflight 1900's photoshopped with an Alpine N#. Lame.

They already show a lot of Beech 1900 and 99 flights operating at night out of BIL. Are those mail flights? I could see problems with their UPS service if they are doubling UPS and mail on the same aircraft. Hope they have spares...

 

[Lucky13]

I just heard it, too. Lost everything to Alpine Air. I love how the Alpine website shows Ameriflight 1900's photoshopped with an Alpine N#. Lame.

They already show a lot of Beech 1900 and 99 flights operating at night out of BIL. Are those mail flights? I could see problems with their UPS service if they are doubling UPS and mail on the same aircraft. Hope they have spares...

Alpine!? That just raises even more questions.

 

[integrale]

one of the affected

For the most part the pilots planning to stay with AMF can pretty much choose where they want to go, with certain restraints (not everyone can go to Seattle, etc.) A lot of us who are outstationed have planted roots in the local area, houses under construction/renovation, its not that easy to pick up and move in 2 months, and probably will be leaving the company. With Big Sky Airlines closing as well the Billings area is going to have a glutton of pilots looking for jobs.

 

[landlover]

that's a damn shame. i flew into billings a few times last month on the way to cyeg and it was always a nice view.

 

[DeathPencil]

I give UPS 6 months to a year before they are begging AMF to get planes back into billings.

 

[SE-30]

I give UPS 6 months to a year before they are begging AMF to get planes back into billings.

I totally agree.....

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

I give UPS 6 months to a year before they are begging AMF to get planes back into billings.

Don't hold your breath, a couple of years ago, after 15yrs of good service serving UPS out of BFI, we lost two runs to Alpine.

Despite the inferior service UPS has experienced with his operator AMF has not been able to get those runs back.

It appears to me that UPS will tolerate a degree of inferior service as long as they save money overall, I would not be surprised if this trend of chipping away of the AMF empire continues.

 

[jmreii]

I give UPS 6 months to a year before they are begging AMF to get planes back into billings.

It is called nothing personal, its just business, get used to it.

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

It is called nothing personal, its just business, get used to it.

I sure the displaced pilot group out of BIL will take your astute comment to heart!

 

[SPBRIAN]

It is called nothing personal, its just business, get used to it.

The BIL base is also from what I understand a base where there isn't a lot of movement. People are happy, enjoy living there and have stayed, not the normal AMF get my time and leave ASAP type of people. In that regard it couldn't have happnened to a worse place.

 

[DeathPencil]

Don't hold your breath, a couple of years ago, after 15yrs of good service serving UPS out of BFI, we lost two runs to Alpine.

Despite the inferior service UPS has experienced with his operator AMF has not been able to get those runs back.
quote]

From what I understand, the BFI base is there to backup those two runs when a plane breaks/pilot gets sick.
I just wouldn't be surprised if it was a repeat of Alpine's performance in Hawaii.
No, it's not anything personal, it is just rough to see a great group of guys get their lives disrupted by a UPS mistake.

 

[TransMach]

Amf/ups

Thought about it ...

I'm just not suprised ... not at all.

New UPS guy, Alpine is stronger today. AMF is expensive, the new UPS guys does his job by reducing costs. He's the hero ...

It'll happen now in other hubs if Alpine has any success. If they don't, it won't even be a blip on the UPS radar.

It's sad, but it's "Juz bizness" ... to quote JWH.

TransMach

 

[T Heavy]

WOW...well you can't spell StUPid with out the UPS.

The people/managers at UPS don't even like their jobs. You think they care who fills the small feeder routes. This is what you call running an operation with excel. As long as the price goes down on the service who cares if the freight makes ontime service 99% of the time or 70%. They aren't concernd with the customers who have boxes in their system but rather the stock holders.



If I were an upper management at Ameriflight I would be working on the fastest way to utilize my airplanes in another area of the freight stadium and dump UPS right on their can.

 

[Linetech]

WOW...well you can't spell StUPid with out the UPS.

If I were an upper management at Ameriflight I would be working on the fastest way to utilize my airplanes in another area of the freight stadium and dump UPS right on their can.

Iv'e been saying that for years!

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

AMF would be wise to try and diversify its customer base to the best extent possible to protect itself. I've heard over the years by AMF management how we are valued by UPS for the service we provide them-nothing is further from the truth!

The concept of UPS loyalty to us is illusory, we are just 30 days away from being replaced, as evidenced by the BIL closure, the loss of S98 and ALW runs out of BFI, the recent loss of a DHL PDX-RDM-looks like a trend is happening.

In regards to UPS it's just a numbers game. Good service is an intangible to UPS bean counters compared to hard numbers!

 

[AZaviator]

AMF would be wise to try and diversify its customer base to the best extent possible to protect itself. I've heard over the years by AMF management how we are valued by UPS for the service we provide them-nothing is further from the truth!

The concept of UPS loyalty to us is illusory, we are just 30 days away from being replaced, as evidenced by the BIL closure, the loss of S98 and ALW runs out of BFI, the recent loss of a DHL PDX-RDM-looks like a trend is happening.

I definitely agree.

PHX lost 2 DHL runs (PHX-HII & PHX-FLG) to Airnet about 2 months ago simply because they could do it cheaper.

 

[DirtyBeech]

That's sad. I was just pointing out an AMF 1900 to my captain in Bozeman the other day. UPS...what a bunch of numbnuts.

One of my best UPS memories involves the Evergreen crew in SAT walking off the ramp at 7am on a late UPS day. Every blessed one of them. Nothing like watching UPS manager in heels and skirts tossing boxes in my Metro.

 

[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.