Piston 135 operators
07-12-2020, 11:20 PM
#1
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Piston 135 operators
Retired cargo pilot down in Florida, wondering if and how viable piston 135 passenger and cargo operators still are? I got my start at RAF (now defunct) back in the day. Wondering if they are still in use very much any more? It seems companies like MAC, AMF, FLX/Airnet and Wiggins have grown and bought out many competitors, now flying t-props nationwide doing sub-service (to be honest I think MAC always had T-props). I heard bank checks went digital about 10 years ago. Are medical and radioactive samples still a thing?
Are there still any small mom and pops around? A good friend of mine up in Alaska got his start the same way also (doing fish runs I think?) Amazing all the changes in even the last 15 years.
Thanks.
Are there still any small mom and pops around? A good friend of mine up in Alaska got his start the same way also (doing fish runs I think?) Amazing all the changes in even the last 15 years.
Thanks.
07-13-2020, 07:58 AM
#2
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Originally Posted by Asiabound
Retired cargo pilot down in Florida, wondering if and how viable piston 135 passenger and cargo operators still are? I got my start at RAF (now defunct) back in the day. Wondering if they are still in use very much any more? It seems companies like MAC, AMF, FLX/Airnet and Wiggins have grown and bought out many competitors, now flying t-props nationwide doing sub-service (to be honest I think MAC always had T-props). I heard bank checks went digital about 10 years ago. Are medical and radioactive samples still a thing?
Are there still any small mom and pops around? A good friend of mine up in Alaska got his start the same way also (doing fish runs I think?) Amazing all the changes in even the last 15 years.
Thanks.
Are there still any small mom and pops around? A good friend of mine up in Alaska got his start the same way also (doing fish runs I think?) Amazing all the changes in even the last 15 years.
Thanks.
07-13-2020, 08:10 AM
#3
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Someone like GTA Air out of Dallas still fly piston aircraft. Mostly medical and radioactive specimens. Have runs across the country.
GTA Air, Inc. - About - Fleet - GTA Air
GTA Air, Inc. - About - Fleet - GTA Air
07-13-2020, 12:34 PM
#4
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Originally Posted by starship
Someone like GTA Air out of Dallas still fly piston aircraft. Mostly medical and radioactive specimens. Have runs across the country.
GTA Air, Inc. - About - Fleet - GTA Air
GTA Air, Inc. - About - Fleet - GTA Air
About 10-15 years ago many operators were dumping piston's pretty fast due to looming issues with fuel availability and skyrocketing parts costs on many light twins....
The fact the pilot shortage made it very hard to hire piston twin pilots for 5+ years when they could go straight to a be-99 or caravan sealed the fate of many piston airframes/operators.
not saying they aren't around, but much more on the margins of the industry than before with the exception of perhaps Capr-Air.
07-14-2020, 06:43 AM
#5
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There is a company called Central Air Southwest in Kansas City that kind of fits the bill for what you are talking about. They fly medical samples in Aero Commanders (pistons), They pay peanuts and have a 6 month training contract. The good thing about their routes, is you fly there and back every night. They have routes in many Southern states. This company probably trains the greatest number of sub 25 hour multi pilots in the USA.
Bimidji Aviation in Minnesota is a UPS feeder that flies mainly Queen Airs. You have to sign a 1 year training contract to work for them though.
Bimidji Aviation in Minnesota is a UPS feeder that flies mainly Queen Airs. You have to sign a 1 year training contract to work for them though.
07-14-2020, 06:51 AM
#6
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Originally Posted by Asiabound
Retired cargo pilot down in Florida, wondering if and how viable piston 135 passenger and cargo operators still are? I got my start at RAF (now defunct) back in the day. Wondering if they are still in use very much any more? It seems companies like MAC, AMF, FLX/Airnet and Wiggins have grown and bought out many competitors, now flying t-props nationwide doing sub-service (to be honest I think MAC always had T-props). I heard bank checks went digital about 10 years ago. Are medical and radioactive samples still a thing?
Are there still any small mom and pops around? A good friend of mine up in Alaska got his start the same way also (doing fish runs I think?) Amazing all the changes in even the last 15 years.
Thanks.
Are there still any small mom and pops around? A good friend of mine up in Alaska got his start the same way also (doing fish runs I think?) Amazing all the changes in even the last 15 years.
Thanks.
6EB98A19-BB99-4D79-9BDA-D7D2CB8A6FF5.jpg
07-14-2020, 07:21 AM
#7
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Originally Posted by Asiabound
Retired cargo pilot down in Florida, wondering if and how viable piston 135 passenger and cargo operators still are? I got my start at RAF (now defunct) back in the day. Wondering if they are still in use very much any more? It seems companies like MAC, AMF, FLX/Airnet and Wiggins have grown and bought out many competitors, now flying t-props nationwide doing sub-service (to be honest I think MAC always had T-props). I heard bank checks went digital about 10 years ago. Are medical and radioactive samples still a thing?
Are there still any small mom and pops around? A good friend of mine up in Alaska got his start the same way also (doing fish runs I think?) Amazing all the changes in even the last 15 years.
Thanks.
Are there still any small mom and pops around? A good friend of mine up in Alaska got his start the same way also (doing fish runs I think?) Amazing all the changes in even the last 15 years.
Thanks.
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07-15-2020, 06:32 PM
#8
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Joined APC: Jun 2018
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Thanks for sharing, I didn't mention it but my niece is working on her Commercial and was trying to help her out. My info is pretty outdated, glad to see that side of the business is still profitable.
Last edited by Asiabound; 07-15-2020 at 06:45 PM.
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