Avantair & Its G100 (Astra)

[Heavy Set]

Yesterday I was in HPN and I saw/heard what appeared to be an Avantair Astra or G100. I am aware that Avantair obviously operates many P180s and it has Embreaer Phenom 100s on order a few years down the road.

Is it a reliever airplane for broken P180s? Is it managed for a particular owner? What about the pilots - are the pilots the same who formerly flew the Premier Jets? I am betting it goes pretty senior - can newhire FOs bid the G100? Lastly, is it a newer G100 (Astra SPX with Pro Line 21) or is an older Astra?

Looked like a nice airplane from across the field. Any info on this bird?

 

[CherryBomb]

As I understand it: The Astra is managed by Avantair as a reliever airplane for normal Piaggio flights. Avantair pilots fly the airplane. I don't believe the Astra award went very senior due to its less desirable schedule.

I have heard Avantair is looking for at least 2 more Astras to add as reliever aircraft.

 

[johnsonrod]

As I understand it: The Astra is managed by Avantair as a reliever airplane for normal Piaggio flights. Avantair pilots fly the airplane. I don't believe the Astra award went very senior due to its less desirable schedule.

I have heard Avantair is looking for at least 2 more Astras to add as reliever aircraft.

How is the schedule different from the normal schedule? How many pilots are assigned to it total? Is it based at PIE (and do you have to be based there to fly it)?

 

[On Your Six]

I suppose the schedule would be different if you had fewer pilots on that airplane and then it had to be on-call all the time to cover broken Piaggios. I hear the G100 is fun to fly even though it is a bit narrow up front.

If I were a P180 FO I probably would want to bid it just to get some jet time before the Phenom 100s arrive - why not get some time in the G100 if the schedule ain't too bad? What is the schedule like?

 

[G100driver]

I guess the P-180 was not a big enough pile of $hit so they needed a bigger pile. I am sure that once Aviantair gets a belly-full of wintertime G100 ops they will get a more reliable airframe. (there is a reason why they only made 160 or so airframes in the 20 year production of the Astra)

 

[Dilligaff]

It wasn't the schedule that was undesireable - it's a 7/7 schedule. When the Astra announcement was made, it was understood that the Astra would mostly be used by our then "major investor" and his intolerable wife. Very few people would willingly put themselves within 20 miles of that woman so therefore not many people bid the Astra. I've spoken to a couple of the Astra pilots and they are enjoying the airplane - especially since Avantair has severed it's ties with the aforementioned couple.

 

[CherryBomb]

I guess the P-180 was not a big enough pile of $hit so they needed a bigger pile. I am sure that once Aviantair gets a belly-full of wintertime G100 ops they will get a more reliable airframe. (there is a reason why they only made 160 or so airframes in the 20 year production of the Astra)

Bitter much?

 

[G100driver]

nope ... just a reality check.