I used it every night, M-F, back in 1978-1983. It was our sorting hub for about 12 Aero Commanders (mostly Shrikes, we had the Big Iron, a 690) from all over the Midwest and east coast, hauling cancelled checks.

I got to see a Lear Jet slide off the runway, through the chain link fence and right into the cemetery off the end of the long runway one snowy night! Everyone walked away, no fire, but we thought it was pretty funny because they were already -in- the cemetery! One stop shopping!

We'd all roll in a bit after midnight, racing each other on downwind for a better parking spot, we taxied like SWA, only faster. Then we'd unload the airplane, wait for the ground guys to sort the checks, then we'd load up the NYC and BOS stuff and blast off at 2am for EWR, then BOS. We'd get into BOS about 6am, then I'd be sitting in class at UNH at 8am 'till noon, trying to keep my eyes open. That's how I worked my way through my last two years of college, and two more years after college. I swore I'd never fly all-nighters again!

This was a long time ago, obviously, it was a 'safe' neighborhood back then. Sometimes we'd borrow one of the fueler's cars and go to White Castle for bag of sliders while waiting for the sort.

The airport was small and not much going on at night, except us check haulers. Not sure how busy it is these days, but it's not too far from Lake St. Clair, which was supposed to be a nice place to hang out.

 

I flew in there occasionally when I was doing auto charters, although I spent more time at KYIP. Funny story, took the crew car out at KDET one day to find food. First and last time I ever saw a KFC with tables bolted to the floor, no chairs, and money and food passed through bulletproof plexiglass. Of course this was back in the 90s before downtown Detroit was "gentrified".

 

all the above^^^ I was a regular in the 90's in both the DC3,and the CV340, doing the on demand automotive freight thing, 5000 feet was plenty for the 3, but a tight fit for the 340 gross loaded in the warm months, those R2800s bellowing at 59.5" with ADI water injection, pulling 2400 horses a side,watching the city slide by beneath us as we eased up and away into another hard days/night.

 

That story reminds me, does anyone know what ever happened to Zantop?

I left the Freight Dog world to join the Air Guard in March of 1983, Zantop was still around, but 2 years later, by the time I got back from UPT and got an airline job, I think they were gone. Were they bought by someone, or bankrupt and just shut down?

 

Ztop kept coming and going, at their peak in the early 90's they flew Electras,CV640s,and DC8s were unionized and had a decent contract,by their last gasp in '02 (I think),they were down to a handful of Lockheeds,the remains of which are a mouldering away on the west ramp at KYIP to this day.

 

Seek and ye shall find.



Pilot unionization became a sore point for management, and they created a dedicated FAR Part 125 Certificate that could operate without unionized pilots. Eventually, all of the contracts held by the company were passed along to others. Those marketplaces were observed to change over time, even as other airlines took over ZIA contracts. The remaining aircraft were sold off, save a handful, and eventually the airline lost business momentum. Its operating certificate and FAR 121 Air Carrier Certificate, once deemed highly valuable, was given back to the FAA in beginning years of the new millennium, as was the FAR 125 Certificate. It was then that Zantop International Airlines ceased operations, and their aging but excellent aircraft were marketed elsewhere.

 

Thanks for the info JH and C47. I remember that very loud, very high pitched squeal of engine noise on the ramp when those things would come taxiing by! It would send shivers up my spine.

 

In your example of flying to 82 (ALV) if your next day is a RES day, then the FULL should show up on your schedule as soon as the last trip is complete. However, if you have several X-days following the trip that took you to 82+ (even 80+), then the FULL will not show up immediately, unless you call them. There have been some mistakes by schedulers where they put you on SC when you were FULL but a trip will not go on your line. When they start assigning trips for your first day of RES after you are FULL, then the computer will recognize that you are FULL. Clear?

 

I always call the schedulers and have them manually put "FULL" on my schedule so they won't bother me anymore.

 

***winner***