Silver Airways
04-08-2013, 12:19 PM
#2741
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Position: Reclining
Posts: 840
I agree with you 100% if you go to Bradford, Pa. The only ad you'll see is an old billboard ad, and to make it even funnier it's not even placed close to Bradford, its placed as you leave the area, about 10 miles on I86. You can ask people there about air service and most will tell you they prefer to drive a few hours than to fly on Silver because of the unreliable service. It's a shame because Silver could be an ok airline but... ...
04-08-2013, 01:40 PM
#2742
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Left
Posts: 251
Bottom line about the MT flying is the company has "Shiny Airline Syndrome" and is ignorant to the opportunity in MT.
Answers- (Because I don't like people that have a problem but no answer. Since I'm whining I feel obligated to add this.)
#1. EAS. We own a bunch of niche airplanes. OWN them! All these communities want is to feel like they are cared about. Talk to them. Talk to the newspaper. Talk to the radio program. Schmooze/Politic/Kiss some Babies.
#2. LWT. For every one time we stop in HVR we stop in LWT twice. Of course they are at $2,035/PAX. Change the schedule to BIL-LWT-HVR-BIL instead of BIL-LWT-HVR-LWT-BIL. (this isnt rocket science guys.)
#3. MLS. Currently the MLS route is BIL-MLS-BIL. (leaving MLS at 11:45am) Then, BIL-MLS-GDV-MLS-BIL. See #2 for reducing the frequency below $2,375/PAX
So, I'm a potential PAX in MLS and I want to go to MCO on vacation. The soonest I can leave is 11:45am Mountain Time? Really? Silver has no idea why the PAX count is low???? How am I going to get to my destination in anything close to a timely fashion?
Tell ya what, avoid the fog cancels/delays in SDY by overnighting there instead of flying empty to and from GDV in the morning. (we already saved money on the airplane to cover the extra $ for a hanger/hotel in SDY). Then we'll have a 6am out of SDY to BIL by 7am quick turn to MLS and we could have an 8ish a.m. out of MLS. Cut one if not 2 of the stops and the feds are happy as well as the community members.
Reduced flying? yes. But we still have a job.
EXPANSION!
Think of this state a lot like you think of how the travel structure works in Alaska. It is HUGE! Around 800 miles (by car) wide. 630 straight line.
#1. Bakken Oil Seam. They have found that it extends from the eastern boarder of the state through the northern boarder, as far west (right now) as LWT and as far south as GDV (and then some). OLF PAX count is way up and GGW is getting better every day. Point is, when the oil field workers figure out they can go from BIL to SDY in 50mins they do it. Its a 4+hr drive. Money isnt that big of a deal to them. Minor research, as in listen to the station managers that have worked since Big Sky had 402s... LISTEN TO THE LOCALS
Eastern- The North Dakota Oil Fields employ a huge number of commuters. I don't know the % but tons and tons of them live in and around BIL. Dickinson etc. There are some EAS cities out there.
WEST- Helena, (Face palm) Silver failed due to 3 things there. Schedule, Another stop and Advertizing.
Schedule, got there too late and left to early. The Capital of the state and Silver couldn't make money because the schedule was such that a person did not have time to complete their business. Get there at 9 or 10 and leave at 3? Good thinkin'
It was genius to try it when the legislature was not in session too.
HLN needs tied to another community such as GTF or MSO. I'm not sure which would be better but it needed tied to one of those.
ADVERTIZE!!!! No one knew about it.
Kalispell-It is 8 hours from BIL to Kalispell by car. Kalispell is a HUGE tourism staging point for skiing in the winter, Glacier Park in the summer, golf, recreation and so on. Run an ADVERTIZMENT deal with whoever and check skis/golf clubs/whatever for free.
SOUTH- Boise. Enough Said. 8hr drive. There is a huge need here. Big Sky proved it and this specific example hasn't changed.
Jackson Hole. Again, Enough said. Yellowstone traffic all summer (3 million plus people/year) and EPIC skiing all winter. Lets print a magazine! Lets try to pull one on the ski hills like what Alligent pulled on the casinos in Vegas!
Wyoming EAS/ Oil Gas Fields. WRL, Sheridan, Gillette. Take em from Lakes! People in Worland don't need a Direct to DEN
The thing about Montana is that while it is huge geographicly it is small town(ish). You get an enormus bang for your advertizing dollar out here. You just need to know how people here move. It is only slightly more complicated than FLL to insert island name here___. Again, the key is listening to the locals.
My point is, if you want to hang your shingle somewhere, Hang it! Don't halfass it just to collect a welfare government check. They are tripping over dollars to save a penny and it's a shame. The state needs someone with some sand to step up and start working to bust open these markets again.
...I just wish they would have listened to the locals. I'm sure some of my thoughts might be wrong but my overall point is correct. Become a player or don't. It's a crying shame to see a business so out of touch with their customers.
As far as Silver goes, hell we have a VP of Lav saftey services and everything else you can think of. Why not have a Manager of Montana? Someone that knows the place? Grew up here? Lives here? understands the needs of the residents? ...of course, that only works if someone is listening....
EDIT TO ADD- I don't intend to sound like a know it all or anything. I just feel like there is a serious amount of potential in MT for the right company with the right fleet type. ...And I would love to be a part of said company in whatever form I am best suited.
Answers- (Because I don't like people that have a problem but no answer. Since I'm whining I feel obligated to add this.)
#1. EAS. We own a bunch of niche airplanes. OWN them! All these communities want is to feel like they are cared about. Talk to them. Talk to the newspaper. Talk to the radio program. Schmooze/Politic/Kiss some Babies.
#2. LWT. For every one time we stop in HVR we stop in LWT twice. Of course they are at $2,035/PAX. Change the schedule to BIL-LWT-HVR-BIL instead of BIL-LWT-HVR-LWT-BIL. (this isnt rocket science guys.)
#3. MLS. Currently the MLS route is BIL-MLS-BIL. (leaving MLS at 11:45am) Then, BIL-MLS-GDV-MLS-BIL. See #2 for reducing the frequency below $2,375/PAX
So, I'm a potential PAX in MLS and I want to go to MCO on vacation. The soonest I can leave is 11:45am Mountain Time? Really? Silver has no idea why the PAX count is low???? How am I going to get to my destination in anything close to a timely fashion?
Tell ya what, avoid the fog cancels/delays in SDY by overnighting there instead of flying empty to and from GDV in the morning. (we already saved money on the airplane to cover the extra $ for a hanger/hotel in SDY). Then we'll have a 6am out of SDY to BIL by 7am quick turn to MLS and we could have an 8ish a.m. out of MLS. Cut one if not 2 of the stops and the feds are happy as well as the community members.
Reduced flying? yes. But we still have a job.
EXPANSION!
Think of this state a lot like you think of how the travel structure works in Alaska. It is HUGE! Around 800 miles (by car) wide. 630 straight line.
#1. Bakken Oil Seam. They have found that it extends from the eastern boarder of the state through the northern boarder, as far west (right now) as LWT and as far south as GDV (and then some). OLF PAX count is way up and GGW is getting better every day. Point is, when the oil field workers figure out they can go from BIL to SDY in 50mins they do it. Its a 4+hr drive. Money isnt that big of a deal to them. Minor research, as in listen to the station managers that have worked since Big Sky had 402s... LISTEN TO THE LOCALS
Eastern- The North Dakota Oil Fields employ a huge number of commuters. I don't know the % but tons and tons of them live in and around BIL. Dickinson etc. There are some EAS cities out there.
WEST- Helena, (Face palm) Silver failed due to 3 things there. Schedule, Another stop and Advertizing.
Schedule, got there too late and left to early. The Capital of the state and Silver couldn't make money because the schedule was such that a person did not have time to complete their business. Get there at 9 or 10 and leave at 3? Good thinkin'
It was genius to try it when the legislature was not in session too. HLN needs tied to another community such as GTF or MSO. I'm not sure which would be better but it needed tied to one of those.
ADVERTIZE!!!! No one knew about it.
Kalispell-It is 8 hours from BIL to Kalispell by car. Kalispell is a HUGE tourism staging point for skiing in the winter, Glacier Park in the summer, golf, recreation and so on. Run an ADVERTIZMENT deal with whoever and check skis/golf clubs/whatever for free.
SOUTH- Boise. Enough Said. 8hr drive. There is a huge need here. Big Sky proved it and this specific example hasn't changed.
Jackson Hole. Again, Enough said. Yellowstone traffic all summer (3 million plus people/year) and EPIC skiing all winter. Lets print a magazine! Lets try to pull one on the ski hills like what Alligent pulled on the casinos in Vegas!
Wyoming EAS/ Oil Gas Fields. WRL, Sheridan, Gillette. Take em from Lakes! People in Worland don't need a Direct to DEN
The thing about Montana is that while it is huge geographicly it is small town(ish). You get an enormus bang for your advertizing dollar out here. You just need to know how people here move. It is only slightly more complicated than FLL to insert island name here___. Again, the key is listening to the locals.
My point is, if you want to hang your shingle somewhere, Hang it! Don't halfass it just to collect a welfare government check. They are tripping over dollars to save a penny and it's a shame. The state needs someone with some sand to step up and start working to bust open these markets again.
...I just wish they would have listened to the locals. I'm sure some of my thoughts might be wrong but my overall point is correct. Become a player or don't. It's a crying shame to see a business so out of touch with their customers.
As far as Silver goes, hell we have a VP of Lav saftey services and everything else you can think of. Why not have a Manager of Montana? Someone that knows the place? Grew up here? Lives here? understands the needs of the residents? ...of course, that only works if someone is listening....
EDIT TO ADD- I don't intend to sound like a know it all or anything. I just feel like there is a serious amount of potential in MT for the right company with the right fleet type. ...And I would love to be a part of said company in whatever form I am best suited.
Last edited by ZBowFlyz; 04-08-2013 at 01:52 PM.
04-09-2013, 06:50 AM
#2743
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Position: Reclining
Posts: 840
Bottom line about the MT flying is the company has "Shiny Airline Syndrome" and is ignorant to the opportunity in MT.
Answers- (Because I don't like people that have a problem but no answer. Since I'm whining I feel obligated to add this.)
#1. EAS. We own a bunch of niche airplanes. OWN them! All these communities want is to feel like they are cared about. Talk to them. Talk to the newspaper. Talk to the radio program. Schmooze/Politic/Kiss some Babies.
#2. LWT. For every one time we stop in HVR we stop in LWT twice. Of course they are at $2,035/PAX. Change the schedule to BIL-LWT-HVR-BIL instead of BIL-LWT-HVR-LWT-BIL. (this isnt rocket science guys.)
#3. MLS. Currently the MLS route is BIL-MLS-BIL. (leaving MLS at 11:45am) Then, BIL-MLS-GDV-MLS-BIL. See #2 for reducing the frequency below $2,375/PAX
So, I'm a potential PAX in MLS and I want to go to MCO on vacation. The soonest I can leave is 11:45am Mountain Time? Really? Silver has no idea why the PAX count is low???? How am I going to get to my destination in anything close to a timely fashion?
Tell ya what, avoid the fog cancels/delays in SDY by overnighting there instead of flying empty to and from GDV in the morning. (we already saved money on the airplane to cover the extra $ for a hanger/hotel in SDY). Then we'll have a 6am out of SDY to BIL by 7am quick turn to MLS and we could have an 8ish a.m. out of MLS. Cut one if not 2 of the stops and the feds are happy as well as the community members.
Reduced flying? yes. But we still have a job.
EXPANSION!
Think of this state a lot like you think of how the travel structure works in Alaska. It is HUGE! Around 800 miles (by car) wide. 630 straight line.
#1. Bakken Oil Seam. They have found that it extends from the eastern boarder of the state through the northern boarder, as far west (right now) as LWT and as far south as GDV (and then some). OLF PAX count is way up and GGW is getting better every day. Point is, when the oil field workers figure out they can go from BIL to SDY in 50mins they do it. Its a 4+hr drive. Money isnt that big of a deal to them. Minor research, as in listen to the station managers that have worked since Big Sky had 402s... LISTEN TO THE LOCALS
Eastern- The North Dakota Oil Fields employ a huge number of commuters. I don't know the % but tons and tons of them live in and around BIL. Dickinson etc. There are some EAS cities out there.
WEST- Helena, (Face palm) Silver failed due to 3 things there. Schedule, Another stop and Advertizing.
Schedule, got there too late and left to early. The Capital of the state and Silver couldn't make money because the schedule was such that a person did not have time to complete their business. Get there at 9 or 10 and leave at 3? Good thinkin' It was genius to try it when the legislature was not in session too.
HLN needs tied to another community such as GTF or MSO. I'm not sure which would be better but it needed tied to one of those.
ADVERTIZE!!!! No one knew about it.
Kalispell-It is 8 hours from BIL to Kalispell by car. Kalispell is a HUGE tourism staging point for skiing in the winter, Glacier Park in the summer, golf, recreation and so on. Run an ADVERTIZMENT deal with whoever and check skis/golf clubs/whatever for free.
SOUTH- Boise. Enough Said. 8hr drive. There is a huge need here. Big Sky proved it and this specific example hasn't changed.
Jackson Hole. Again, Enough said. Yellowstone traffic all summer (3 million plus people/year) and EPIC skiing all winter. Lets print a magazine! Lets try to pull one on the ski hills like what Alligent pulled on the casinos in Vegas!
Wyoming EAS/ Oil Gas Fields. WRL, Sheridan, Gillette. Take em from Lakes! People in Worland don't need a Direct to DEN
The thing about Montana is that while it is huge geographicly it is small town(ish). You get an enormus bang for your advertizing dollar out here. You just need to know how people here move. It is only slightly more complicated than FLL to insert island name here___. Again, the key is listening to the locals.
My point is, if you want to hang your shingle somewhere, Hang it! Don't halfass it just to collect a welfare government check. They are tripping over dollars to save a penny and it's a shame. The state needs someone with some sand to step up and start working to bust open these markets again.
...I just wish they would have listened to the locals. I'm sure some of my thoughts might be wrong but my overall point is correct. Become a player or don't. It's a crying shame to see a business so out of touch with their customers.
As far as Silver goes, hell we have a VP of Lav saftey services and everything else you can think of. Why not have a Manager of Montana? Someone that knows the place? Grew up here? Lives here? understands the needs of the residents? ...of course, that only works if someone is listening....
EDIT TO ADD- I don't intend to sound like a know it all or anything. I just feel like there is a serious amount of potential in MT for the right company with the right fleet type. ...And I would love to be a part of said company in whatever form I am best suited.
Answers- (Because I don't like people that have a problem but no answer. Since I'm whining I feel obligated to add this.)
#1. EAS. We own a bunch of niche airplanes. OWN them! All these communities want is to feel like they are cared about. Talk to them. Talk to the newspaper. Talk to the radio program. Schmooze/Politic/Kiss some Babies.
#2. LWT. For every one time we stop in HVR we stop in LWT twice. Of course they are at $2,035/PAX. Change the schedule to BIL-LWT-HVR-BIL instead of BIL-LWT-HVR-LWT-BIL. (this isnt rocket science guys.)
#3. MLS. Currently the MLS route is BIL-MLS-BIL. (leaving MLS at 11:45am) Then, BIL-MLS-GDV-MLS-BIL. See #2 for reducing the frequency below $2,375/PAX
So, I'm a potential PAX in MLS and I want to go to MCO on vacation. The soonest I can leave is 11:45am Mountain Time? Really? Silver has no idea why the PAX count is low???? How am I going to get to my destination in anything close to a timely fashion?
Tell ya what, avoid the fog cancels/delays in SDY by overnighting there instead of flying empty to and from GDV in the morning. (we already saved money on the airplane to cover the extra $ for a hanger/hotel in SDY). Then we'll have a 6am out of SDY to BIL by 7am quick turn to MLS and we could have an 8ish a.m. out of MLS. Cut one if not 2 of the stops and the feds are happy as well as the community members.
Reduced flying? yes. But we still have a job.
EXPANSION!
Think of this state a lot like you think of how the travel structure works in Alaska. It is HUGE! Around 800 miles (by car) wide. 630 straight line.
#1. Bakken Oil Seam. They have found that it extends from the eastern boarder of the state through the northern boarder, as far west (right now) as LWT and as far south as GDV (and then some). OLF PAX count is way up and GGW is getting better every day. Point is, when the oil field workers figure out they can go from BIL to SDY in 50mins they do it. Its a 4+hr drive. Money isnt that big of a deal to them. Minor research, as in listen to the station managers that have worked since Big Sky had 402s... LISTEN TO THE LOCALS
Eastern- The North Dakota Oil Fields employ a huge number of commuters. I don't know the % but tons and tons of them live in and around BIL. Dickinson etc. There are some EAS cities out there.
WEST- Helena, (Face palm) Silver failed due to 3 things there. Schedule, Another stop and Advertizing.
Schedule, got there too late and left to early. The Capital of the state and Silver couldn't make money because the schedule was such that a person did not have time to complete their business. Get there at 9 or 10 and leave at 3? Good thinkin'
It was genius to try it when the legislature was not in session too. HLN needs tied to another community such as GTF or MSO. I'm not sure which would be better but it needed tied to one of those.
ADVERTIZE!!!! No one knew about it.
Kalispell-It is 8 hours from BIL to Kalispell by car. Kalispell is a HUGE tourism staging point for skiing in the winter, Glacier Park in the summer, golf, recreation and so on. Run an ADVERTIZMENT deal with whoever and check skis/golf clubs/whatever for free.
SOUTH- Boise. Enough Said. 8hr drive. There is a huge need here. Big Sky proved it and this specific example hasn't changed.
Jackson Hole. Again, Enough said. Yellowstone traffic all summer (3 million plus people/year) and EPIC skiing all winter. Lets print a magazine! Lets try to pull one on the ski hills like what Alligent pulled on the casinos in Vegas!
Wyoming EAS/ Oil Gas Fields. WRL, Sheridan, Gillette. Take em from Lakes! People in Worland don't need a Direct to DEN
The thing about Montana is that while it is huge geographicly it is small town(ish). You get an enormus bang for your advertizing dollar out here. You just need to know how people here move. It is only slightly more complicated than FLL to insert island name here___. Again, the key is listening to the locals.
My point is, if you want to hang your shingle somewhere, Hang it! Don't halfass it just to collect a welfare government check. They are tripping over dollars to save a penny and it's a shame. The state needs someone with some sand to step up and start working to bust open these markets again.
...I just wish they would have listened to the locals. I'm sure some of my thoughts might be wrong but my overall point is correct. Become a player or don't. It's a crying shame to see a business so out of touch with their customers.
As far as Silver goes, hell we have a VP of Lav saftey services and everything else you can think of. Why not have a Manager of Montana? Someone that knows the place? Grew up here? Lives here? understands the needs of the residents? ...of course, that only works if someone is listening....
EDIT TO ADD- I don't intend to sound like a know it all or anything. I just feel like there is a serious amount of potential in MT for the right company with the right fleet type. ...And I would love to be a part of said company in whatever form I am best suited.
04-09-2013, 07:56 AM
#2744
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Gear Handle supervisor
Posts: 1,035
Bottom line about the MT flying is the company has "Shiny Airline Syndrome" and is ignorant to the opportunity in MT.
Answers- (Because I don't like people that have a problem but no answer. Since I'm whining I feel obligated to add this.)
#1. EAS. We own a bunch of niche airplanes. OWN them! All these communities want is to feel like they are cared about. Talk to them. Talk to the newspaper. Talk to the radio program. Schmooze/Politic/Kiss some Babies.
#2. LWT. For every one time we stop in HVR we stop in LWT twice. Of course they are at $2,035/PAX. Change the schedule to BIL-LWT-HVR-BIL instead of BIL-LWT-HVR-LWT-BIL. (this isnt rocket science guys.)
#3. MLS. Currently the MLS route is BIL-MLS-BIL. (leaving MLS at 11:45am) Then, BIL-MLS-GDV-MLS-BIL. See #2 for reducing the frequency below $2,375/PAX
So, I'm a potential PAX in MLS and I want to go to MCO on vacation. The soonest I can leave is 11:45am Mountain Time? Really? Silver has no idea why the PAX count is low???? How am I going to get to my destination in anything close to a timely fashion?
Tell ya what, avoid the fog cancels/delays in SDY by overnighting there instead of flying empty to and from GDV in the morning. (we already saved money on the airplane to cover the extra $ for a hanger/hotel in SDY). Then we'll have a 6am out of SDY to BIL by 7am quick turn to MLS and we could have an 8ish a.m. out of MLS. Cut one if not 2 of the stops and the feds are happy as well as the community members.
Reduced flying? yes. But we still have a job.
EXPANSION!
Think of this state a lot like you think of how the travel structure works in Alaska. It is HUGE! Around 800 miles (by car) wide. 630 straight line.
#1. Bakken Oil Seam. They have found that it extends from the eastern boarder of the state through the northern boarder, as far west (right now) as LWT and as far south as GDV (and then some). OLF PAX count is way up and GGW is getting better every day. Point is, when the oil field workers figure out they can go from BIL to SDY in 50mins they do it. Its a 4+hr drive. Money isnt that big of a deal to them. Minor research, as in listen to the station managers that have worked since Big Sky had 402s... LISTEN TO THE LOCALS
Eastern- The North Dakota Oil Fields employ a huge number of commuters. I don't know the % but tons and tons of them live in and around BIL. Dickinson etc. There are some EAS cities out there.
WEST- Helena, (Face palm) Silver failed due to 3 things there. Schedule, Another stop and Advertizing.
Schedule, got there too late and left to early. The Capital of the state and Silver couldn't make money because the schedule was such that a person did not have time to complete their business. Get there at 9 or 10 and leave at 3? Good thinkin' It was genius to try it when the legislature was not in session too.
HLN needs tied to another community such as GTF or MSO. I'm not sure which would be better but it needed tied to one of those.
ADVERTIZE!!!! No one knew about it.
Kalispell-It is 8 hours from BIL to Kalispell by car. Kalispell is a HUGE tourism staging point for skiing in the winter, Glacier Park in the summer, golf, recreation and so on. Run an ADVERTIZMENT deal with whoever and check skis/golf clubs/whatever for free.
SOUTH- Boise. Enough Said. 8hr drive. There is a huge need here. Big Sky proved it and this specific example hasn't changed.
Jackson Hole. Again, Enough said. Yellowstone traffic all summer (3 million plus people/year) and EPIC skiing all winter. Lets print a magazine! Lets try to pull one on the ski hills like what Alligent pulled on the casinos in Vegas!
Wyoming EAS/ Oil Gas Fields. WRL, Sheridan, Gillette. Take em from Lakes! People in Worland don't need a Direct to DEN
The thing about Montana is that while it is huge geographicly it is small town(ish). You get an enormus bang for your advertizing dollar out here. You just need to know how people here move. It is only slightly more complicated than FLL to insert island name here___. Again, the key is listening to the locals.
My point is, if you want to hang your shingle somewhere, Hang it! Don't halfass it just to collect a welfare government check. They are tripping over dollars to save a penny and it's a shame. The state needs someone with some sand to step up and start working to bust open these markets again.
...I just wish they would have listened to the locals. I'm sure some of my thoughts might be wrong but my overall point is correct. Become a player or don't. It's a crying shame to see a business so out of touch with their customers.
As far as Silver goes, hell we have a VP of Lav saftey services and everything else you can think of. Why not have a Manager of Montana? Someone that knows the place? Grew up here? Lives here? understands the needs of the residents? ...of course, that only works if someone is listening....
EDIT TO ADD- I don't intend to sound like a know it all or anything. I just feel like there is a serious amount of potential in MT for the right company with the right fleet type. ...And I would love to be a part of said company in whatever form I am best suited.
Answers- (Because I don't like people that have a problem but no answer. Since I'm whining I feel obligated to add this.)
#1. EAS. We own a bunch of niche airplanes. OWN them! All these communities want is to feel like they are cared about. Talk to them. Talk to the newspaper. Talk to the radio program. Schmooze/Politic/Kiss some Babies.
#2. LWT. For every one time we stop in HVR we stop in LWT twice. Of course they are at $2,035/PAX. Change the schedule to BIL-LWT-HVR-BIL instead of BIL-LWT-HVR-LWT-BIL. (this isnt rocket science guys.)
#3. MLS. Currently the MLS route is BIL-MLS-BIL. (leaving MLS at 11:45am) Then, BIL-MLS-GDV-MLS-BIL. See #2 for reducing the frequency below $2,375/PAX
So, I'm a potential PAX in MLS and I want to go to MCO on vacation. The soonest I can leave is 11:45am Mountain Time? Really? Silver has no idea why the PAX count is low???? How am I going to get to my destination in anything close to a timely fashion?
Tell ya what, avoid the fog cancels/delays in SDY by overnighting there instead of flying empty to and from GDV in the morning. (we already saved money on the airplane to cover the extra $ for a hanger/hotel in SDY). Then we'll have a 6am out of SDY to BIL by 7am quick turn to MLS and we could have an 8ish a.m. out of MLS. Cut one if not 2 of the stops and the feds are happy as well as the community members.
Reduced flying? yes. But we still have a job.
EXPANSION!
Think of this state a lot like you think of how the travel structure works in Alaska. It is HUGE! Around 800 miles (by car) wide. 630 straight line.
#1. Bakken Oil Seam. They have found that it extends from the eastern boarder of the state through the northern boarder, as far west (right now) as LWT and as far south as GDV (and then some). OLF PAX count is way up and GGW is getting better every day. Point is, when the oil field workers figure out they can go from BIL to SDY in 50mins they do it. Its a 4+hr drive. Money isnt that big of a deal to them. Minor research, as in listen to the station managers that have worked since Big Sky had 402s... LISTEN TO THE LOCALS
Eastern- The North Dakota Oil Fields employ a huge number of commuters. I don't know the % but tons and tons of them live in and around BIL. Dickinson etc. There are some EAS cities out there.
WEST- Helena, (Face palm) Silver failed due to 3 things there. Schedule, Another stop and Advertizing.
Schedule, got there too late and left to early. The Capital of the state and Silver couldn't make money because the schedule was such that a person did not have time to complete their business. Get there at 9 or 10 and leave at 3? Good thinkin'
It was genius to try it when the legislature was not in session too. HLN needs tied to another community such as GTF or MSO. I'm not sure which would be better but it needed tied to one of those.
ADVERTIZE!!!! No one knew about it.
Kalispell-It is 8 hours from BIL to Kalispell by car. Kalispell is a HUGE tourism staging point for skiing in the winter, Glacier Park in the summer, golf, recreation and so on. Run an ADVERTIZMENT deal with whoever and check skis/golf clubs/whatever for free.
SOUTH- Boise. Enough Said. 8hr drive. There is a huge need here. Big Sky proved it and this specific example hasn't changed.
Jackson Hole. Again, Enough said. Yellowstone traffic all summer (3 million plus people/year) and EPIC skiing all winter. Lets print a magazine! Lets try to pull one on the ski hills like what Alligent pulled on the casinos in Vegas!
Wyoming EAS/ Oil Gas Fields. WRL, Sheridan, Gillette. Take em from Lakes! People in Worland don't need a Direct to DEN
The thing about Montana is that while it is huge geographicly it is small town(ish). You get an enormus bang for your advertizing dollar out here. You just need to know how people here move. It is only slightly more complicated than FLL to insert island name here___. Again, the key is listening to the locals.
My point is, if you want to hang your shingle somewhere, Hang it! Don't halfass it just to collect a welfare government check. They are tripping over dollars to save a penny and it's a shame. The state needs someone with some sand to step up and start working to bust open these markets again.
...I just wish they would have listened to the locals. I'm sure some of my thoughts might be wrong but my overall point is correct. Become a player or don't. It's a crying shame to see a business so out of touch with their customers.
As far as Silver goes, hell we have a VP of Lav saftey services and everything else you can think of. Why not have a Manager of Montana? Someone that knows the place? Grew up here? Lives here? understands the needs of the residents? ...of course, that only works if someone is listening....
EDIT TO ADD- I don't intend to sound like a know it all or anything. I just feel like there is a serious amount of potential in MT for the right company with the right fleet type. ...And I would love to be a part of said company in whatever form I am best suited.
Amen...
Sadly this applies to most other routes not just EAS, they changed the schedules in MSL because nobody could leave early enough to make morning connections, same with PIB. Their advertising is nil at best, nobody knows silver, it is not a household name, even those who buy those Expedia tickets as "island air" don't know a thing about us. That's the company failure, advertisement and station promotion is key. Doubt the sabre switch over will improve it, it doesn't change the way they run the company either way. "Every day is like the first time they ever done it"
04-09-2013, 04:19 PM
#2745
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2011
Posts: 395
So... TO THOSE WHO DIDN'T PASS THE WRITTEN, OR DID: I just got a call from HR, and they were asking me my honest opinion on the written test, so I told them what I felt. They are inviting people back who got a high 70% that failed by a question or 2 to retake the test, do the sim, and go from there.
The test HAS in fact been worded to more easily understand what's going on in the question. I'll be interested to hear how the new test is for those that take it...
The test HAS in fact been worded to more easily understand what's going on in the question. I'll be interested to hear how the new test is for those that take it...
04-09-2013, 06:08 PM
#2747
Bracing for Fallacies
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: In favor of good things, not in favor of bad things
Posts: 3,543
04-09-2013, 08:03 PM
#2750
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2011
Posts: 395
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