I never said Big Sky pilots were of the same ilk as GoJets pilots. MY UNDERSTANDING AND INTERPRETATION is that Big Sky was acquired by MAIR (Big Sky was already a functioning airline) to try and leverage against Mesaba in labor negotiations by threatening to transfer flying from Mesaba to Big Sky. In the same way, TSA created GoJets in order to strong arm TSA pilots. Big Sky pilots did NOT circumvent any seniority lists or take work away from any Mesaba pilots like GoJets did. I simply meant to illustrate how they were used a bargaining tool. Mesaba pilots did a good job of capping Big Sky at 19 seats so it never really became an issue.

 

I didn't mean to make it sound like you were linking the two. I think my words just came out wrong, I was more attempting to get an idea of how people around the industry look at Big Sky...

 

I have heard all the talk about potential growth at Bigsky. They were supposedly going to double the number of pilots (70-140) as well as the number of 1900's (10-20). They were supposed to start a base in FLL and I even read in a Chicago suburban newspaper (sorry cant find the article, but the paper is the Daily Southtown) that they were gonna start service with 1 plane from Midway to Springfield IL.

I've been in their hiring pool since late July and havent heard a word from them. I've since moved on to bigger and better. Anyone else still in the pool waiting??

Exx

 

bigsky currently flies from springfield to midway. they are interviewing into the pool. look for more in the near future.....

 

I was turned down for a job flying with Big Sky in July.

 

Big Sky just changed their hiring minimums about a week or so ago. They use to be 1500 TT 500 multi, but they dropped the 500 multi and made those the captain minimums. Now, f/o minimums are 750 TT 50 multi. That makes a little more sense now, considering you can fly right seat in an RJ at expressjet with only 600 TT 100 multi.

 

We still have a plane and crew in FLL, but all they are doing is charter work. We have a plane and 5 crews in Springfield, IL flying 4 times a day to Midway. We just announced yesterday that we signed an agreement with Delta to fly as a Delta Connection carrier out of Boston beginning in April. Great pilot group, fun airplanes, fun flying, and crappy management.

 

I heard the same thing. I remember seeing somewhere that they were going to have a bunch of flying out of Boise. (I guess that didn't come through) From what I have heard this company is disorganized and still pursuing any EAS flying that sticks. I think this past year they bid on 9-12 routes in KS, NE, SD, WY, CO and won NONE! Out bid by Great Lakes. That is LOL material.

They dropped flying to Great Falls and Kalispell (Their own back yard). Now trying to fly in Florida and Northeast. I would bet that their pilot group will be writing these planes up on maintenance issues to ground them. The snowball effect will be cxl'd flights, poor service, and an over-extended company based on operations. Just a guess. Also, apparently many pilots are leaving to other airlines because they are fed up with the "status-quo": Frontier, Skywest, Horizon, etc. That's all I know.

 

Why is it that their pilot group will be writing planes up and causing other kinds of schedule disturbances?

 

Glad to hear the flying is still fun there. Does the MBC still have drain the keg night? Many good memories.