Copperhed51

Something to consider when making your decision whether to take a job at Lakes:

Montana to switch Essential Air Service carriers; Direct-to-Denver flights to end | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune

Here's a little quote from the article that I enjoyed:

""We're hoping that (Gulf Stream) will bring a little better service to the area," Grabofsky said."

"Chairman of the Glasgow/Valley County Airport Board Bob Lipscomb said Great Lake flights frequently were delayed because of weather, needed maintenance or required rest times for pilots. Flyers consequently missed connecting flights or were late to appointments, he said."

Now, I suppose it is possible that Lakes wasn't happy with the MT flying and wanted to use the planes and pilots elsewhere but I'm not sure where that might be. It's hard to imagine that they didn't want to renew an $8 million contract. In other news, I was told Lakes will start service to LAX on March 1st and will no longer be servicing ONT.

If Lakes doesn't have a plan to replace the MT flying with something else, who knows what that will do to staffing plans. It could slow down hiring/upgrades significantly or maybe nothing will change. As is usually the case though, we are left to rely on the news and speculation to figure this stuff out because the company will not release info to the pilot group. Seems like a little communication could go a long way toward making the pilots feel involved. On the bright side, MT is stupid cold in the winter so I don't think I'll miss it much.

Oh yeah, and if there's one company I hate seeing us lose flying to, it's Gulfstream. Lakes may not pay much but at least they do pay their FO's.

johnso29

Isn't Gulfstream BK & praying someone will buy them?

lakehouse

Would be really ironic if lakes did and took the flying riight bk.

Copperhed51

Friend of mine says he looked it up today and found out that the sale of Gulfstream was approved by the BK judge. The new owners paid off all the debt they had and out right purchased all their 1900's from Beech. After the sale is complete they will be debt free. The sale should be final in 2 weeks.

I have no idea where he found this info or how true it is but that's what I was told. If anybody can find any info on it to substantiate those claims or refute them, please post it up here.

Edit: Searched again and found this article.

Bankruptcy judge OKs sale of Gulfstream Airlines
Regulatory approval needed for deal
January 10, 2011|By Arlene Satchell, Sun Sentinel


Fort Lauderdale-based Gulfstream International Airlines could have a new owner soon.

A bankruptcy judge last week approved the sale of the regional carrier to Victory Park Capital Advisors, a Chicago alternative asset management firm.

Victory Park had provided parent company Gulfstream International Group with up to $5 million debtor-in-possession financing in November when it filed Chapter 11 protection from its creditors.

Gulfstream President David Hackett said Monday that Victory Park submitted the "highest and best offer" of bids submitted, which included the purchase of leased aircraft and payment of the carrier's debt.

The firm's total investment is under $30 million, he said.

Stratosphere

I am not a commercial pilot but I did look at the ALPA master scab list and it seems like most if not all the top management at Gulfstream are EAL scabs or scabs from some airline. As if Gulfstream didn't have enough to be embarrassed about.

Stew75

Losing 8 million. Nice work mgmt! Well maybe DV's house boat will run out of fuel this summer!

EMB120IP

ba OOOOOGA, ba OOOOOOGA

bigtime209

What do pilots based in Williston do about living arangements? Doesn't look like any kind of apartments or other rentals are available . Do most or all commute? Where is the best to commute from? Are there even such things as crashpads in Williston or do you have to stay in motels as a commuter from there? Is commuting complete hell?

EMB120IP

Housing is weak up there, but from what I've heard, it's easier to find apartments if you show up in person than call. I guess the oil company workers have a hard time passing the background checks in some cases, so the apartment owners don't just give apartments to whoever comes in first. I've heard of people walking in and putting themselves on a list and getting a call fast...I've also heard of the opposite. Most FO's that bid Denver will leave a spot open at a place, and the newer FO's just fill it.

They've been "making it work", but under no circumstance is it easy.

aussieflyboy

EWR-DEN is a b!tch of a commute. There definitely is NOT a flight every hour. CAL has 3 per day, and UA has 2 or 3 per day.

DEN used to be a CAL base, and there are probably 100 CAL commuters, not all to EWR but a decent percentage. I hate to say it but you won't have a hope in heck of getting the j/s. I've taken the second cockpit j/s out of there a couple of times and they left behind a couple of other pilots and a whole slew of FA's. If you want to commute from EWR-DEN be prepared for a 2 leg commute each and every week.