Is the sun setting at GLA?

[Cardinal]

Take a look at this link, was this airplane once a GLA airplane, maybe 2 or 3 months ago?? There appears to be a couple more as well!!!
,,,,

Yep, 94 and 118 were both Lakes airplanes.

This new "less is more" fleet planning concept is thus far quite the rodeo. MCK and GRI were both bid as nonstop EAS service. In July MCK was cancelled and instead flagstopped the GRI flight 31 times. In August so far they've had to flagstop it 16 times. And they're money hungry to the point that even though they promised the GRI passengers nonstop service on the ticket, dispatch will make you stop in MCK even if you don't have any passengers. (This is understood when it's scheduled, but when you're delaying pax that paid to be at their destination at such 'n such time?)

Better yet a Brasilia shat an engine, and it can't be replaced for a month. A month? I'm thinking that if Skywest had a birdstrike today, they'd have a new engine hung within 24 hours. Anyway, the Beech and it's crews has thus inherited one entire E120's month of flying. Yippee.

 

[flythere]

"At June 30, 2005, the Company was in arrears on its aircraft rental obligations under the two Boeing aircraft leases in the aggregate amount of $6.7 million."

"The Company has an Amended Note payable to CIT Group for the financing of three of the Company’s Embraer Brasilia aircraft. During the first six months of 2005, the Company made payments of principal and interest onthe Amended Note in the amount of $0.2 million. As of June 30, 2005, the Company was in arrears on payments of principal dueunder the terms of the Amended Note in the amount of $0.9 million.""

If I read that financial posting right, it sounds as though Boeing Credit is about to repo those two emb-120' that they owe more than 6 mil in in payments on!?! Heck, you could buy two used emb-120's outright for that amount of cash!!!

 

[BarbrPole2theOM]

As far as the 5 1900's that are being returned, Rayethon found a buyer in Africa (I think) that wanted to buy them and was able to make a deal with us to get rid of them with no penalty. I think they droped all the debt (including past debt) that we owed on them except maybe the intrest. Lakes is trying to get more efficient and streamlined. Unfortunatly with the EMB braking down, and not having any extra, all that flying has gone to the Beech. Also with the incident in GJT and a Frontier baggage cart running into one of our parked aircraft, operations have been pretty rough recently.

 

[canadflyau]

Also with the incident in GJT

What happened in GJT?

Was it a bird strike or an engine failure in the EMB? (or a bird strike that caused an engine failure)

 

[BarbrPole2theOM]

I don't know what the problems was with the EMB engine. I think they were taxiing in and it started running real rough. The GJT incident: http://www.ntsb.gov/ntsb/brief.asp?ev_id=20050628X00880&key=1

 

[canadflyau]

Be interesting to hear more about the EMB.

I remember hearing about the 1900 in GJT, that just plain sucked, over the door latching.

 

[m4j2t]

Is this the best timing for a fare sale? (especially with costs of $.26 per ASM)
http://www.greatlakesav.com/html/fall_fare_sale.html

Anyone on the property care to share what they are telling you?

what they are telling us... good one.

the emb engine started to vibrate on the taxi in, so the crew wrote it up. Maintenance ran it and shut it down. They were turning it by hand when it seized.

 

[flying4food]

BarbrPole2theOMAs far as the 5 1900's that are being returned, Rayethon found a buyer in Africa (I think) that wanted to buy them and was able to make a deal with us to get rid of them with no penalty.

It looks to me that Raytheon has those two birds up for sale here in the states!?!

 

[BarbrPole2theOM]

It looks to me that Raytheon has those two birds up for sale here in the states!?!

If you look at the contact information for the aircraft, it is National Airways Corp (NAC). Here is a link to their website. They are an aircraft sales company in South Africa. They must have felt like there was a demand for the aircraft there or they had clients that wanted some. It looks like they contract out their aircraft.

http://www.nac.co.za/about.asp

 

[NuGuy]

Heyas,

Any of you ex-lakers from the 92-93 era? The big HUB in MSP?

I worked for GP Express...where, sadly enough, we all looked UP to Great Lakes.

You know you work for a rinky dink outfit flying to nowhere when you go through security AFTER you get to the hub.

There was a tunnel at MSP that connected the old gate 89 area to the rest of the terminal. It was made from plywood and painted an obnoxious color of blue.

Anyway, it had zero insulation, but it did have two enormous space heaters on either end. As you walked through this plywood fire hazard in the winter time, the temperature would go from about 150 degrees, to around -20 (the ambient outside), and back to 150 degrees.

OTOH, the benefit of being based in East Butthole, Minnesota is that you could park your car literally steps from your airplane, and chances are it had a working outlet, too.

Heh, fun times indeed...

Nu

 

[PSAChiefPilots]

Anyone over at GLA who knows Fredde from N'awlins tell him I still have a spot over here for him.

Best of Luck to everyone,
PSACPSP

 

[m4j2t]

okay I'll tell him, but I have not seen him in a while

 

[Cardinal]

Anyone over at GLA who knows Fredde from N'awlins

LOL, I Imagine that's everybody. I think he's working two side jobs while on reserve.

 

[embpic1]

Ah yes, 94 and 118. If I remember correctly, 94 was our first D model. That thing was sooo worn out. Just a close formation of 1900 parts


118 almost became a lawn dart in ISN when the elevator trim tab cable broke in the descent at 240kts. The crew had to do an ILS into ISN with both their feet on the panel pulling as hard as they could. It was brand new back then. They found that a beech employee had installed the cable improperly when it was built.