Originally Posted by camba0a6

Last update we heard was that the 9 seat STC had been approved, as well as the 135 certificate. Next week sometime, the manuals will be reviewed and approved and once that happens, I believe sometime soon after that Lakes should have the 135 cert in hand. Dodge City was on the list for the 135 trial runs and that's about as much info as we have gotten. Rumor is, MSP will reopen under part 135 ops and they will feed most, if not all of the new hires into MSP!

The part that non of us get and are scratching our heads on, is the numbers don't add up! With attraction of the Captains, in about 5 months, we will be down to less then 30 Captains at the rate things are going? Now someone tell me, what can a place like this do with 30 121 Captains and 100 135 FOs that have around 800-1000 TT?

I still fail to see how 135 will be the saving grace of Lakes? But stranger things have happened!

Latest rumor that has gripped the pilot group? EMB-120s are to be replaced with EMB-135s that are sitting in Kingman, AZ! You heard it hear first folks!!

Originally Posted by camba0a6

Last update we heard was that the 9 seat STC had been approved, as well as the 135 certificate. Next week sometime, the manuals will be reviewed and approved and once that happens, I believe sometime soon after that Lakes should have the 135 cert in hand. Dodge City was on the list for the 135 trial runs and that's about as much info as we have gotten. Rumor is, MSP will reopen under part 135 ops and they will feed most, if not all of the new hires into MSP!

The part that non of us get and are scratching our heads on, is the numbers don't add up! With attraction of the Captains, in about 5 months, we will be down to less then 30 Captains at the rate things are going? Now someone tell me, what can a place like this do with 30 121 Captains and 100 135 FOs that have around 800-1000 TT?

I still fail to see how 135 will be the saving grace of Lakes? But stranger things have happened!

Latest rumor that has gripped the pilot group? EMB-120s are to be replaced with EMB-135s that are sitting in Kingman, AZ! You heard it hear first folks!!

Originally Posted by rickair7777

That last bit is probably just the company trying to prime the pilot pump. All they have to do is get the training dept looking at some new manuals, maybe pay somebody to park a big shiny new airplane on the company ramp and pilots are falling all over themselves to take concessions. MAG (who else) pulled that stunt with the 737 about ten years ago. Don't fall for it

Originally Posted by N927EV

I'm glad my tax dollars fund an EAS operation that flies a 9 seat 1900. Even with that thing full, you can't tell me that makes any money. What a waste.

Originally Posted by ClarenceOver

IF Great Lakes gets 135 approved by congress wouldn't that mean ALL commuters or regionals would be able to follow suit?

Originally Posted by Ultralight

I've flown into EAS towns before, and as the only air carrier there, we had TSA agents, fire fighters, ground crew, gate agents, and fuel truck drivers, all just for us. Not to mention the airport facilities and the cost of the flight itself. On average we would see 3 or 4 passengers on the flight, or to put it another way about 1 passenger for every 4 full time employees.
It really does beggar belief when you see it for yourself and is very difficult to justify.
I can see government subsidized medevac flights in remote areas, like Native Air on the Indian Reservations for example, but these passenger flights should not be labeled "essential" when they are no more than a very expensive convenience.