L.A.B. Flying Service

[GuppyPuppy]

Anyone know the status of LAB?

Are they looking to get back into the airline biz after their year of revocation is up?

Cheers!

GP

 

[socal_pilot]

I flew this past season with LAB and was with them when they lost their 135 cert. It was by far the most fun flying I have ever done. One FAA guy went out of his way and really bent over back to get it pulled. The Bennet's tried hard to fight it but last I heard was that they are giving up. To much money to try to get it back so they are selling things off. I haven't heard anything since September so things might have changed. I hope them the best.

 

[getonit]

Lab

I think if you look at their www site they mentioned shutting down, sounds like completely.

 

[Chairman]

They pulled the plug. Worked there 10 years ago. A shame to see it go. Lynn would not have let guys fly unairworthy planes. Most fun job I ever had!

 

[GuppyPuppy]

Skagway Air gone too. I flew for them for 2 summers. Best job I ever had.

Pretty sad to see what has happened to the small carriers up there. LAB - gone. Skagway Air - gone, Haines Air - gone. Glacier Bay Airways - gone. Those were just some of the carriers operating up there in '94 when I flew there.

I can remember LAB had something like 44 pilots in '94. Skagway Air, about 13. Haines Air, about 6 or 7. All these companies gone, but Wings hasn't really grown since all of these shutdowns. Air Excursions joined the mix of carriers recently, but still only have maybe 7 pilots. I was in Skagway last summer and saw that Seaborne is basing a DHC-6 there for the season. Even with good weather, however, it wasn't flying much.

I can remember times in Glacier Bay when traffic was heavy. Now it is rare to hear more than 3-5 airplanes per day over the Davidson Glacier.

Great times. Lifetime of memories.

GP

 

[JAC2LAS]

Lynn would not have let guys fly unairworthy planes.

Are you being serious? This place was a joke... SE Alaska is safer without them!!!
You should do a little research before you praise them so much.

 

[JAC2LAS]

Here are some links that might interest you all. It is sad to see any company go out of business... but I think everyone can agree this was probably for the best.

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/080108/loc_312394591.shtml

http://www.aviationtoday.com/ran/topstories/24859.html

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/072508/loc_309625960.shtml

http://aprn.org/2008/07/25/faa-grounds-lab-flying-service/

http://aprn.org/2008/07/28/faa-report-details-why-lab-flying-service-was-grounded/
(The 28 page PFD file is on this one)

 

[highnpressurize]

Flew with them '04-'05. Most fun I've had with my pants on....and in one case, off, but I digress. It was sad to see them go. I never flew an airplane I did not feel was airworthy. And though they may have not been a perfect company, when I was there, their relationship with the FAA was even less perfect. I'm sure that contributed more to their demise than some would like to admit.

Anyhow, I raise my glass to Layton, Lou and Lynn!!!