Twin cities or Maine Instrument flight?

[bell47]

Anyone here ever fly for Twin Cities (Auburn-Lewiston) or Maine Instrument Flight (Augusta)?

 

[Diesel]

Fly for no. Know of yes.

Its a small community in maine.

Send HungStart a PM he's more familure with Twin cities than anyone.

 

[Fins Up]

I used to rent from Twin Cities but I don't anymore.

1. I was doing a walk around while a mechanic was working on the starter. I was standing in front of right wing when, without any warning, the mechanic cranked the engine to see if the starter is working. I was about 5 feet from the prop. I told their chief mechanic about that oen.
2. The door wouldn't stay closed on one of their rentals (C-172RG). I told the maintenance guys that it kept coming open in flight. They responded, "Yeah we can get it to stay closed. The parachutists love it though. hahaha." Yeah real funny. If they can't even get a door to stay closed I shudder to think how inept the overall maintenance program is.
3. I was doing a checkout on that plane with the OWNER. He came out and hopped in the plane and was ready to go. I told him I hadn't done an exterior inspection yet. He asked me if it had gas in it. I said yes it was just topped off. He said, "Well I flew it yesterday, it's fine (or words to that effect)." That is a TERRIBLE habit to get into or even pass on to someone renting one of your planes.

Bottom line: I don't fly anything out of there anymore. I don't like their safety culture.

On the other hand, for a while I was renting regularly out of Augusta and I talked to the Chief Pilot about doing part-time charter work there. Everyone there is real nice and I never had any safety-related issues.

I have not done charter work for either (got hired by JetBlue).

I think Twin Cities is a larger operation and will get you that valuable multi/turbine time. I believe AirNow pulled out of Auburn/Lewiston. Don't know if that's related at all. They (AirNow) have lost a few planes in recent years. But safety-wise and for the general warm-and-fuzzy feeling, I would go with Maine Instrument Flight.

 

[Hung Start]

For everybody's info:

I sold the company (Twin Cities) in 2002. When I owned it we did not have a 172RG.

Here is the talk I gave EVERY mechanic I hired on the first day:

"It is my job to keep these airplanes in the air, that's how we make our money. YOUR job is to keep US safe. I will try every cheap excuse to be able to fly the plane. YOU only have to say, I DON'T LIKE IT. IT IS NOT SAFE. I will no longer talk."

By the way, I flew just about every day along with the other 13 Pilots. So my fanny was out there too.
(God, and I never once cut Diesel off on final to PWM, but if he comes down here to MIA now,, the gloves are off! )

Happy Holidays to you all!

Hung

 

[Diesel]

He did yell at me for taking all the coffee one early am.

 

[Hung Start]

Take my coffee you're a dead man.

Hung

 

[Fins Up]

Checking my logbook, most of the flying I did out of Aub-Lew was in late 2003 and later. Correction on the aircraft: It was a 182RG, not a 172RG. I did fly the Piper Arrow several times before they got rid of it. That was a damn nice plane.

 

[icefr8dawg]

Still some nice guys flying the ole 402's there. I used to do a 2am run into PNE while the twin cities guy arrived there from TEB.

 

[Cardinal]

This thread is dead, but I figure I'll post for posterity and accuracy's sake. I was never concerned about the maintenance, at least during the Hung Start years. Old beater Cessna's - sure. But they ran, always. And droning over trackless forest for hours on end requires a moderately high level of confidence in the machine. Aside from the usual little stuff like resistors cooking themselves mx was never a stressor. A greater hazard was CFI's like myself jettisoning fuel caps, bending tail skids, and the students that had a fondness for bending nosewheels. The frieght guys generally got "their" aircraft, had a level of investment in the machine, and worked with Ben & co to keep them both airworthy and in the air. No complaints, at least form back in the day...

 

[Hung Start]

Thanks for the vote of confidence!

Somebody likes me,,,,,,, sob :crying:

I think.

I hope all you guys are doing well. We need a reunion!!


Hung