University of Illinois starts new charter service University of Illinois

[TheChief]

University of Illinois starts new charter service

found this in the paper the other day....they must be out of their mind thinking they'll make money with this?!?

__________________________________________________________________


University of Illinois to Inaugurate New Airline Charter Service

PRESS RELEASE, Gazette News
--By Jay Rockler


Champaign, IL— The University of Illinois Institute of Aviation recently announced that it will be starting an airline charter business called “Flying Illini.”

This new charter service will utilize two ex-United Airline’s Boeing 737-500 aircraft, reconfigured with 85 business class seats. The popular passenger jets will don an eye-catching orange and blue paint scheme with the University’s “U of I” logo on the tail.

Initial charter flights will serve as transports for U of I Athletic teams, but the University hopes to expand operations into the charter markets of nearby Chicago and St. Louis. The U of I Institute of Aviation is currently seeking FAA authorization to conduct charter flights the Caribbean and Mexico on behalf of Golden Vacations.

The Institute is not a first time operator in the air charter arena. In the late 1960s, the University flew DC-3’s under the name “Staff Air Transport” to shuttle University employees within the Mid-West.

An Institute Spokesperson is excited and enthusiastic about her department’s new venture. “Traditionally, the U of I Institute of Aviation has been dedicated to teaching students how to fly,” she comments, “but we’re going to spread our wings and take on this new challenge, providing a new component to our program while also generating additional revenue for the University.”

The institute is planning on staffing the charter
department with its own employees. Flight Attendants will be recruited locally and mechanics will come from the University’s flight school. Pilots will be hired externally but preference will be given to pilots who are Illinois graduates. The Institute is seeking FAA approval to utilize their very own Boeing 737 simulator for training.

Proving runs for the “Flying Illini” are scheduled to commence fall semester from Champaign-Willard Airport. The “Flying Illini” will be fully operational in time for the University’s football season.

 

[ilinipilot]

Is this for real???

 

[On Your Six]

I think I'd rather charter a Hooters 737 - the "wings" are better...

 

[Flying Illini]

Uhhhh, I really wanna call BS on this thing. It would be cool but it just seems waaaay out of character. Where exactly would they park these things.
The 73's with a nice orange and blue paint scheme could look really good though.
I was under the impression that the U of I operated Cessna 310's for their Staff Air Transport Service (SATS).
The Institute no longer has an A and P program, so, where exactly, would they get the mechanics from? Are they going to take mechanics from the guys who work on the University fleet?
I may have to walk next door and get a confirmation on this...

just a question, I flew a few hours in that 737 sim, helping them develop a training curriculum, does that mean I'm qualified?

 

[Flying Illini]

Oh yeah, they are kinda stealing my name (Flying Illini), is there anyway I can sue and get some money?

 

[Flying Illini]

nothing mentioned about this on the U of I Institute of Aviation website...

 

[T-REX]

That paper didnt happen to be dated April 1st did it chief?

I wouldnt think a public institution would be able to operate a corporation (especially an airline) in an attempt to make a profit. If I was UAL I would be very upset my tax money is being used for this.

 

[FlyChicaga]

Yeah right. The administration couldn't get the B737 sim course off the ground after we handed it to them on a sliver platter. There is no way they are going to fly an actual airplane. I always said it would be good to have a university airplane do the sports flying, but I doubt it would ever happen.

 

[414Flyer]

That paper didnt happen to be dated April 1st did it chief?

I wouldnt think a public institution would be able to operate a corporation (especially an airline) in an attempt to make a profit. If I was UAL I would be very upset my tax money is being used for this.

Thats exactly my thoughts too. Businesses could cry foul over this very easily, having taxpayer money go to starting up a private sector business.

A similar situation is happening in the weather mod industry where a quasi-state water district is using aircraft go to after wx mod projects in other states and countries. They get state funding which helps fund their project, and then are using those aircraft to try to get other contracts in other states which should go to businesses. I know of at least one lawsuit in the works over it.

 

[Stifler's Mom]

I think I'd rather charter a Hooters 737 - the "wings" are better...

....don't you mean "breasts"?

 

[bafanguy]

I wouldnt think a public institution would be able to operate a corporation (especially an airline) in an attempt to make a profit.

T,

Purdue owned and operated a Part 121 supplemental airline for 25+ years operating DC3/6/9 ( had a DC6 sim ) and also did charter work outside of university business. Of course, they were-non profit. I think they HAD to be or the university couldn't have done it. Of course, the whole structure of the airline business was very different than it is now.

It was one of the 7 permanent supplemental air carrier certificates issued by the CAB after WW2. I believe World, TIA, ONA, Standard, American Flyers were among the others, but I can't remember for sure about this.

It was sold to Stevens, a banking/investment firm, in '69. He promptly ran it out of business.

It's not totally out of the realm of possibility that U of I would think about doing this...nothing new under the sun. Whether it'll work ? Dunno...

 

[sweptback]

Purdue owned and operated a Part 121 supplemental airline for 25+ years operating DC3/6/9 ( had a DC6 sim ) and also did charter work outside of university business. Of course, they were-non profit. I think they HAD to be or the university couldn't have done it. Of course, the whole structure of the airline business was very different than it is now.

It was probably best known too for the short-lived Playboy DC-9.

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

T,

Purdue owned and operated a Part 121 supplemental airline for 25+ years operating DC3/6/9 ( had a DC6 sim ) and also did charter work outside of university business. Of course, they were-non profit. I think they HAD to be or the university couldn't have done it. Of course, the whole structure of the airline business was very different than it is now.

I know that the airline was sold for "financial considerations" but I was told that those considerations were that they weren't non-profit and that they were eventually called out on it. Kind of cool while it lasted though... real world training for the students until the -9's came along... they were only allowed to observe on those flights... I'm assuming it was an insurance thing or maybe an inability to train them like they could on the -3/-6.

 

[bafanguy]

I know that the airline was sold for "financial considerations" but I was told that those considerations were that they weren't non-profit and that they were eventually called out on it.

Can't remember exactly what brought about the sale. I seem to remember the university just got tired of messing with something so far outside the scope of higher education. I'll have to check for the real answer. And, a few of the students did fly the DC9 after the airline changed hands.

 

[Clutch_Cargo]

Can't remember exactly what brought about the sale. I seem to remember the university just got tired of messing with something so far outside the scope of higher education. I'll have to check for the real answer. And, a few of the students did fly the DC9 after the airline changed hands.

You're full of... all kinds of good info, Bafanguy! I didn't know any of the students flew the -9. Didn't know about the airline being sold to Stevens either. I read or had been told that it was eventually picked-up by another carrier... Ozark maybe. Anyway, thanks for the info... interesting stuff.

cc

Btw, sorry Flying Illini for hijacking your thread!

 

[DH106]

Uh, guys, can you say TOTAL B.S.?

The University Of Illinois wouldn't announce a multimillion-dollar project from an "anonymous" spokesperson.

 

[Skyliner]

The University of Illinois did run a Staff Air Transport program for a number of years to transport university personnel and sports teams. The Cessna 310's were the last in the line of equipment that included, over the years, Aztecs, Apaches, Bonanzas, DC-3s, and a DC-6 (ex-UAL). There may have been others, those are just what I've seen pictures of. They also had a couple Beech 18's at one time, however, I don't believe those were used for transport purposes. As far as I know, the program had dedicated pilots, and students could move up into the right seat after completing most of the aviation program. Unfortunately, those glory days of flying are long gone. Those of you still back in CMI can ask around- there's at least one instructor still there who was a former Staff Air pilot.

In regards to the suggestion with the 737s, I'm gonna chalk that story up to some bleary-eyed optimistic flight student. Having spent the better part of ten years at the Institute, I'll say it ain't gonna happen.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

what about the 727 and 737 ( I think that's what was there, the memory fades a bit) sitting on the ramp a couple years ago

Are they used for anything or is it like the 747 that sat at WMU for a couple years rotting and collecting bird nests.

 

[BoilerUP]

Heard rumors a couple years back that UAL was gonna give Purdue a 737-300 (maybe 500?) fresh off the line free of charge. It was to be used for hauling around sports teams and for a bit of supplemental charter, much like the old Purdue Airlines. They were going to let students from each program interact with it, but I'm not sure if FLT students were going to get to fly right seat or not.

Either way, it was nixed when liability/insurance people and politics within the university got mixed. Something about professional flight crews instead of professors & students, I think.

/end hijack
//back to that "other" Big 10 aviation school thread