I can remember a hundred years ago when Orville, Wilbur and I used to fly for Allegheny Commuter into and out of upstate NY airports, we would see quite a few Commutair BE-1900(D)s flying around as USAir Express also.

Of course there was some friendly and not-so-friendly rivalry between us and them. However, the two big beefs I had with Commutair back in the early 90's was hearing them make contact on Center frequency with a call like, "
Boston Center, Commutair 5607, 14,500 VFR direct Sandy Point". In the DASH, we would be at 15,000 feet solid IMC conditions and had been that way for the entire flight.

Secondly, I can remember probably three occasions taxiing out behind them and seeing the tail of their plane full of ice, or a quick turn in which they didn't de-ice and it was snowing to beat the band.

I recall that their pilots (Capts) were paid quite well as a part of profit sharing, but to me flying a plane in the soup under VFR rules or flying a 1900 with a load of ice on it isn't worth an extra 5 grand in profit sharing.

That's my two cents of Commutair from back in the early 90's...maybe it has changed. Hope so.

Good Luck,

FF