Bases in Fargo, North Dakota

[Pilotmaker]

Does anyone know if their airline bases in Fargo, North Dakota. I would specifically be looking for 135 operations or Regionals. I have 1800 hours and am currently working for a top 135 operator.

 

[jarhead]

The first question that comes to mind is "why would you want to be based there"? North Dakota is one of the least populated states in the country, and almost all of it is related to farming ecconomy. There are air force bases in Grand Forks and Minot, and the capital of Bismark has an airport as well. Fargo is the most populated of ND cities, but hardly one that could logically have a base there for a regional. NWA has a couple of flights a day in there on some older DC-9, and Mesaba serves there as well. Fargo's claim to fame with NWA is that's where the pilots of a flight to MSP flew back to MSP legally drunk after a night of late drinking in a bar. Might have had to do with the city they were staying in. If there is a 135 operator there, it would have to be a tiny one, as I can't see the ecconomics of having a base in the middle of a wheat field.

 

[Northern Lights]

There are no 121 regional bases in Fargo as far as I know. Your best bet, though would be getting on with Mesaba or PCL, and commuting to MSP (although there are no new XJ new hires going to MSP last I heard).



Otherwise getting on with a United Express carrier and commuting to ORD or DEN could be an option. I think that Skywest does FAR-DEN and ACA is or was doing FAR-ORD.



It is not that uncommon for regionals to have pilot domiciles at the outstations. Mesaba used to have Rhinelander, Wisconsin, and CWA as crew bases. Piedmont has places like Charlottesville, Roanoke and New Bern. Colgan has their crews scattered around the Northeast.

 

[labbats]

Didn't someone just post a job for a 135 operation in Fargo a couple days ago on this site?

 

[labbats]

Sure did.

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=35504

 

[NDPILOT]

Thanks for the geography lesson Jarhead...

An Airlink carrier would be your best bet for a commute from Fargo. Bemidji Air operates that area.. but if you're with a "top 135 company" that move wouldn't make much sense.

Not a lot of opportunity in that part of the country. Does Basin Electric or Tool Crib hire anyone not from UND.?. You might try one of those outfits.

Good luck

 

[jarhead]

Thanks for the geography lesson Jarhead...

An Airlink carrier would be your best bet for a commute from Fargo. Bemidji Air operates that area.. but if you're with a "top 135 company" that move wouldn't make much sense.

Not a lot of opportunity in that part of the country. Does Basin Electric or Tool Crib hire anyone not from UND.?. You might try one of those outfits.

Good luck

No offence intended. I was born in Minot, and all my mom's brothers (6 of them) were wheat farmers around Carpio, ND. I put my son through a great 141 school at UND in Grand Forks, and I hunt pheasant and Sharptail grouse around Dickinson and Wiliston every fall. I love it to visit and hunt in, but I sure would not like to live there. But that's just me.

 

[414Flyer]

Fargo isnt entirely a bad place to live. I spent a year there on my first multi engine job. Crime is very low to nonexistent, rent and houses are very cheap compared to other places.

Fargo Jet Center/Weather Modification is based there and they are a decent sized FBO. They have pretty nice facilities too.

Most of the women are of nice scandinavian/german stock, so some pretty attractive women up there, as long as they find something else to do over the winter besides eat.

Winter gets very cold, but that is why it is so cheap to live there. Summer gets pretty muggy, but there are lots of lakes, and Detroit Lakes about 40 east gets pretty crazy over the summer holidays.

There are a lot worse places to live than Fargo. I am spending the summer in Pune India for a turbine job, and it makes Gallup NM look pretty nice

 

[BritishGuy]

I spent a few months flying in Fargo, North Dakota. I would NEVER wish that place on anybody. I love most of the US, and have lived in some small towns (well, one or two)...........but if you want to keep your sanite, then DON'T put yourself though it. I left a flying job there after a few months. I had the attitude that who cares what I have to do, but the hours and the money (the mere cents I made) is all that I'm there for. Even I couldn't do it....and I'm a whore when it comes to flying. After about 3 months I had to bail.

Back to the topic though....while I was flying there, as mentioned above, Bemidji seemed to be a popular 135 carrier in the area....always heard them over the radio in and around fargo.

 

[SpocksBeard]

bemidji aviation would have no route for somebody in fargo - I think there might be a BE99 route out of there but anybody flying a 99 there is a lifer

 

[Paul R. Smith]

Fargo eh?

Uffda!!!

Why don't you try tropical Grand Forks? I know they have 2 caravans, and a shorts 360 based there doing cargo for FEDEX. Bare in mind you will NOT be working for FEDEX. You will just fly some of their boxes around.