Colgan ABE Base

[kellwolf]

It seems to me that it would be better served by another base though. Right now we just do 2 round trips to Hartford a day. One in the morning and then the plane sits on the ground for about 7 hours and we do another one in the evening.

With a 7 hour "productivity" sit, I'm surprised Pinnacle management hasn't altered that already. It's one thing to have your pilots sitting for 4-5 hours, but it's something totally different to have a potential revenue generator sitting on the ramp for that long. They could be using that plane for another out and back (or two) while taking the plane that WOULD have been flying that route(s) and utilizing it somewhere else (or put it in MX). I can see having a spare, but it does no good if the spare is in an outstation, which is another reason I say outstation basing is gonna be toast in about a year or so.

 

[SmitteyB]

With a 7 hour "productivity" sit, I'm surprised Pinnacle management hasn't altered that already. It's one thing to have your pilots sitting for 4-5 hours, but it's something totally different to have a potential revenue generator sitting on the ramp for that long. They could be using that plane for another out and back (or two) while taking the plane that WOULD have been flying that route(s) and utilizing it somewhere else (or put it in MX). I can see having a spare, but it does no good if the spare is in an outstation, which is another reason I say outstation basing is gonna be toast in about a year or so.

It's something Peter (PCL CFO) mentioned in the 3Q Conf. Call. He said specifically they wanted to reduce flying in some markets and better utilize the Saabs we do have.

Scott how full are those flights? If it's anything like some of the US Airways stuff I see Colgan operate it can't be good.

We consistently operate these Saabs with load factors in the 30-40% range. How do we make money?!?!?? (On the US Airways side).

 

[Cruise]

Cruise,
Just curious what the chances are of getting ABE as a domicile. Thinking about making a switch. Thanks.

ABE FO = not sure what's going on there anymore. I'd venture to say it's fairly junior since many of the FO's who were there recently upgraded.

ABE CA = very senior and you're not going there...unless you want to be the endless reserve biotch.

 

[Seggy]

We consistently operate these Saabs with load factors in the 30-40% range. How do we make money?!?!?? (On the US Airways side).

You haven't flown any of the summer flights to MVY, HYA, or ACK. Also the stuff in and out of LGA is very lucrative for us.

And like a typical slaab guy you are forgetting the Beeches, you know the other part of the airline . The EAS stuff we do, especially up to BHB and RKD makes a TON in the summer time. Furthermore carrying 10-15 people back and forth between BOS and HPN/ISP adds up when fares are around $586.00 roundtrip.

 

[Cruise]

You haven't flown any of the summer flights to MVY, HYA, or ACK. Also the stuff in and out of LGA is very lucrative for us.

And like a typical slaab guy you are forgetting the Beeches, you know the other part of the airline . The EAS stuff we do, especially up to BHB and RKD makes a TON in the summer time. Furthermore carrying 10-15 people back and forth between BOS and HPN/ISP adds up when fares are around $586.00 roundtrip.

:whatever: You express guys think you make money......HA! The only reason we 'might' make money off the beeches is because you (the pilots) aren't making any money! :banghead:

BTW, do we still have Beeches?

 

[Rocketman99]

What's a beech? Is that like the place with the sand and water?

 

[SmitteyB]

Seggy- I could never forget about you and the Beech guys. Hardest working pilots in the industry.

 

[jynxyjoe]

:whatever: You express guys think you make money......HA! The only reason we 'might' make money off the beeches is because you (the pilots) aren't making any money! :banghead:

BTW, do we still have Beeches?

*shiver*

ick. you sir have insulted my honor *takes out a flimsy white glove from vest pocket and slaps you across the face with it*! pistols at sunrise!

 

[kellwolf]

The EAS stuff we do, especially up to BHB and RKD makes a TON in the summer time.

Great. What about the other 9 months in the year. Don't want my full RJ flights year round subsidizing some crappy TP flying around with 4 people on it.

 

[OldTownPilot]

4? Don't be too generous. I think they would LOVE to have 4 people on some of those flights now

During summertime, those flights are a license to print money however. 19 off, 19 on all day long.

 

[jynxyjoe]

4? Don't be too generous. I think they would LOVE to have 4 people on some of those flights now

During summertime, those flights are a license to print money however. 19 off, 19 on all day long.

brother u ain't kidding. and if it was 7 flights of saab 340's i'd be willing to bet they'd be full too (if it could actually carry that many people and bags)

 

[Rocketman99]

Nah that'd be about 31 people with bags on the airways side or about 29 on united...

 

[Seggy]

Great. What about the other 9 months in the year. Don't want my full RJ flights year round subsidizing some crappy TP flying around with 4 people on it.

Actually it is subsidized by the DOT.

 

[bareman]

It seems to me that it would be better served by another base though. Right now we just do 2 round trips to Hartford a day. One in the morning and then the plane sits on the ground for about 7 hours and we do another one in the evening.

There has to be something else involved with that ROC-BDL run. I heard once that some company has a contract to buy so many seats per flight. There MUST be something though, because I remember when I was up there flying with you, a Saab would sit in the hanger all day on Sat. EVERY SATURDAY, ALL DAY! I can't honestly believe that they would keep that going if there wasn't some reason.

Not to mention that those LGA flights were usually pretty full, and they took them away to do the BDL only thing with 5 people in the back. WTF?

 

[SmitteyB]

There has to be something else involved with that ROC-BDL run. I heard once that some company has a contract to buy so many seats per flight. There MUST be something though, because I remember when I was up there flying with you, a Saab would sit in the hanger all day on Sat. EVERY SATURDAY, ALL DAY! I can't honestly believe that they would keep that going if there wasn't some reason.

Not to mention that those LGA flights were usually pretty full, and they took them away to do the BDL only thing with 5 people in the back. WTF?

I don't know. Piedmont and Air Wisconsin picked up that flying. My guess is Airways saw what the loads were on those flights and decided they were paying Colgan too much money as where AWAC and PDT will do it for less.