r0cknry

I sure hope not.

SKNPilot

This was posted by duke990 after a meeting with the president of C5. "He seemed very confident in our future and even hinted that a Part 135 Beech 1900 style thing could be very profitable if certain regs were changed. I think the sticking point is the limit on 9 seats or something. So, I guess we'll just have to see how things pan out." So there might be some truth to it. But this is the internet, so you can't believe everything you see here.

r0cknry

C5 already flew 1900s in the past. Going back to that seems like a step in the wrong direction. I would imagine that most of our pilots want nothing to do with 135 style ops or a smaller fleet type!

rbtower2

I agree. I definitely think that would be a step in the wrong direction. What we really need to do is get more improvements in pay and quality of life. With our CBA ending this year I think the company will be quick to get us improvements. We are having a hard time attracting first officers and we have had 7-8 captains leave in the last 3 months. That's almost 10% of our captains so I think upgrade times are gonna be dropping pretty quick if we can attract enough first officers

Bumbaclot

You sure they're not stopping by Mesa Corporate HQ? Mesa is actively pursuing a Tprop operator or 135 for pilot feed. C5 is probably thinking along similar lines with lakes.
- rspct

rbtower2

Do you mean Mesa is looking for a turboprop operator to merge with to get more pilots on property and then just shut the turboprop operation down?

tom11011

That's a possible strategy. It seems clear though with 20,000 pilots retiring at the majors in the next 5 years and only 15,000-18,000 regional airline pilots available, some regionals are going to close their doors.

The Great Lakes, Silvers, Commutair's, Trans States, and Mesa's of the world are going to have to disappear and have their pilots reabsorbed into wholly owned regional carriers payroll until the wholly owneds themselves disappear as well. Republic and Skywest will also be some of the last to go as they are two of the biggest and will likely absorb some of you as well, but they too will eventually succumb to lack of available pilots and probably become aircraft leasing companies.

Today's regional airline pilot is tomorrows major airline pilot. There is going to be a pecking order. Think about it objectively and I'm sure you too will come to the same conclusion. It's not crazy talk.

Fetzervalve

Took a Commutair flight a few weeks ago to pick up a plane in Ithaca and the flight was well done. Crew was great.

Is the flying better for you guys in the summer or in the winter in the NE? Seems like summer pop-up storms and associated delays could get old.

Also, what do you guys like and dislike about flying the Dash? Fun to fly? I have always been a fan.

r0cknry

I haven't been around long enough to experience all the seasons, but the dash is a blast to fly! Being weight restricted bugs me like no other, especially considering we use practically no runway for take off!

Luv2Rotate

I'd really like some of what you're smoking or drinking. It seems to be great stuff...