Atlas has the debt because they have updated their fleet. K4 is going to have to do the same soon if they want long term stability.

+1

the 400 is the new classic

Very good point! If you buy new, or modernize your fleet, guess what, you take on some debt. The difference, Connie is a one-man show....one-man bank account. Atlas is publicly traded, have shareholders that approve taking on new aircraft and more debt. But, they also get more long-term contracts with new and improved aircraft. Last I heard, Atlas pilots still get a profit-sharing check every year??

Connie does not have deep pockets to go buy new airplanes. He has said many times, would require flying everyday+ to break even?? You have to have good contracts for that. So he can and I think wants to increase our fleet, diversify some, but still hard to compete with new equipment!

So, you are saying Connie is the final say over Doug in Doug's business? How do you know this? That is interesting!!

Where did I say that? I don't know the details of Doug's business but you're naive if you think Connie doesn't have a hand in it.

I really do not know. In my mind, I picture Connie years ago walking him through it, but as the years go by, Doug running his own business. But at the end of the day, they are still family, they are business partners, racing business partners and talk every day, like any family business would! I picture Doug making his own Charters business decisions and telling Uncle Connie about it! Again, I would feel much better with Doug at the helm rather than an outside source and then K4 ending up like; ATA, World, North American, Aero Union.......all the companies that were privately owned and then got bought by investors!

Doug doesn't strike me as a guy who's going to buy airplanes and go after new contracts. He'll run things as is until K4 ends up like ATA World etc. My opinion and I hope I'm wrong.