Gulfstream in ORF???

[ShyFlyGuy]

Saw a 1900 on the US Airways ramp with red and blue stripes on a white body with "Gulfstream" written across the top in big, bold, blue. The tail number, N231YV, appears to be a Mesa aircraft, which is confusing. It appeared to be running the ORF-RDU-CHS EAS flight, but I'm not sure. Perhaps it's just as simple as Mesa having purchased this AC from Gulfstream and neglecting to paint (or speed-tape) over the old company name.

Any info?

Shy

 

[mynameisjim]

Strange to me that ORF RDU or CHS would have 1900 EAS flying considering they have Jet service from US Airways already.

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

Strange to me that ORF RDU or CHS would have 1900 EAS flying considering they have Jet service from US Airways already.

It's sooo much better than dealing with CLT, PHL, PIT, or LGA... plus, the flight's as long as your layover in any of those. Don't take this offensively, but sometimes it's not about flying in a jet. DON'T FLAME, I'm just making a statement.

Shy

 

[mynameisjim]

I agree with you as a passenger that avoiding those cities is worth it, but as for a city/county/airport commission they seem to get their rocks off saying "Jet service to...".

 

[lindsaya99]

I have seen that plane in Chucktowne (CHS) and originally thought the same thing. However, I heard them use the "Air Midwest" call sign. That was the first time I have ever said, "Thank God, its Mesa." Then I washed my mouth out with soap.

 

[mynameisjim]

I heard them use the "Air Midwest" call sign.

It always makes me laugh to think about Mesa's low cost subsidiary.

 

[shamrock]

It's sooo much better than dealing with CLT, PHL, PIT, or LGA... plus, the flight's as long as your layover in any of those. Don't take this offensively, but sometimes it's not about flying in a jet. DON'T FLAME, I'm just making a statement.

Shy

It's not about dealing with hubs. The issue is that EAS routes are (in my experience) used to serve smaller, relatively remote airports that normally wouldn't have airline service. To have a ORF-RDU-CHS subsidized when each of those airports is already served by several different carriers doesn't make sense.

 

[The_Russian]

It is us. We are using our aircraft and pilots under Mesa's routes out of CHS. We did this a few months ago. They took it back, and then asked us to cover it again. Some of the guys live up there, so it works out for them. We should be there for a few weeks or months.

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

It is us. We are using our aircraft and pilots under Mesa's routes out of CHS. We did this a few months ago. They took it back, and then asked us to cover it again. Some of the guys live up there, so it works out for them. We should be there for a few weeks or months.

Russian, are you trying to start something? Look up the tail number, it's owner is MESA (capital letters are in the registration). You naughty Russian. Make love, not flame-bait.

Shy

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

It's not about dealing with hubs. The issue is that EAS routes are (in my experience) used to serve smaller, relatively remote airports that normally wouldn't have airline service. To have a ORF-RDU-CHS subsidized when each of those airports is already served by several different carriers doesn't make sense.

I cannot comment on the wisdom of an EAS route serving at lest two very well connected airports (ORF and RDU), but it smells like Washington pork. Probibally stashed away in some bill by a Senator or Rep from either of the cities with family/friends in one or two of the other cities. Bastards.

Shy

 

[Thurman Merman]

First of all get it right, It's a Charlie south originator and it goes CHS-RDU-ORF then back the same way(sarcam). Are you sure its an EAS route or just a normal trip? Last time I checked none of those destinations were poor mining towns in the buttcrack of America. If any guys on here do that route, you rock!

 

[tomcat]

Yes, we have 4 former Mesa A/C (for over a year now) and yes we are flying one of them on a CHS-RDU-ORF because they aren't painted in the CO livery.

 

[The_Russian]

Russian, are you trying to start something? Look up the tail number, it's owner is MESA (capital letters are in the registration). You naughty Russian. Make love, not flame-bait.

No flame. We lease the aircraft from Mesa. Much like my brotha said above. Don't worry, I don't flame.

 

[ShyFlyGuy]

No flame. We lease the aircraft from Mesa. Much like my brotha said above. Don't worry, I don't flame.

Russian, you have my most sincere apologies, if I could spell it correctly. I rode on them this morning, and it truly is a Gulfstream aircraft, piloted by Gulfstream pilots and everything! I LOVED the in-flight magazine with the Miami cheerleaders on the cover and in the spread. Very nice.

So with the info about the lease and actually seeing Gulfstream pilots in the cockpit, there is undeniable proof that Gulfstream is moving north. Wow.

The scary thing is that they might have done a better job than Air Midwest. The aircraft appeared to be in better shape, better in-flight magazine, the PA speakers worked all the way back to the last seat, and they even utilized the right seat in the cockpit for a paying passenger (although he wore a uniform to blend into the scenery up there).

On the down side, the "alarm" that sounds when you start #2 sounded througout the aircraft. I wanted to incite panic by shouting "FIRE, FIRE!!! ABANDON SHIP!!!" Also, they took forever getting off the gate area, seemed like the pilot was overworked and the passenger up there might have been asking too many questions.

Shy

 

[CitationLover]

this is because AMW is short planed right now with wing spar issues on some of its 1900's down for mx.

the planes were from AMW florida ops that gulfstream bought and leased when florida went away from AMW in the winter of 2004.