Tag Archives: 1900

Great Lakes Airlines continues operations despite defaulting on a $27.5 million loan

Great Lakes Airlines (Cheyenne, Wyoming) continues normal operations this weekend despite defaulting on a $27.5 million loan with Callidus Capital Corporation according to Wyoming News.com.

Airline officials expect to resolve the issue soon. Both sides are in negotiations to resolve the default according to the report. The lending company could however take back leased assets of the airline at any time.

Read the full report:

Top Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Beech (Raytheon) 1900D N192GL (msn UE-192) taxies at Los Angeles International Airport.

Great Lakes Airlines aircraft slide show:

Route Map:

Four killed in a Beech 1900C crash at Miami Executive Airport

A Beechcraft 1900C, registered as YV1674 (msn UC-47), operated by Servicio Pan Americano de Protección of Venezuela, crashed into trees two miles west-southwest of Miami Executive Airport (TMB) (formerly Kendall-Tamiami Airport) after takeoff at approximately 2:40 pm (1440) local time yesterday (February 11) according to an eyewitness and Miami Dade Police. Four people on board were killed in the crash. The aircraft had departed the airport bound for Providenciales in the Turks and Caicos Islands when it reported a problem and was attempting to return to the airport when it crashed.

According to the company website, the company describes its activities:

“The Venezuelan company is the pioneer and leader in the integral processing of valuables and associated risks. In 2008, we celebrated our 50th anniversary safeguarding the product of the efforts of all Venezuelans, with the highest levels of security, professionalism and efficiency. Every day we work to add value to Venezuela.”

Read the report (with photos) from the Miami Herald: CLICK HERE

Photo of the aircraft: CLICK HERE

Map: Google Map.

Air France to cut another 800 positions through a “voluntary departure plan”

Air France (Paris) will cut another 800 positions due to a “weaker revenue trend”. The airline issued this statement:

In 2015, Air France will benefit from the impact of the measures taken within the framework of Transform 2015 and from the fall in the fuel price. However, as announced in December 2014, the Group will also have to contend with the weaker unit revenue trend that has developed since the summer of 2014, which requires the implementation of additional measures.

Within this framework, the Air France management presented a number of actions to the Corporate Works Council: downwards revision in fleet and capacity growth, new initiatives to drive revenues, the reinforcement of ‘purchasing’ initiatives, maintained wage moderation and productivity efforts and further adaptation of headcount to requirements.

In particular, during a meeting of the Corporate Works Council to be held during the first fortnight in February, the Air France management will provide details on proposed new Voluntary Departure Plans. These Voluntary Departure Plans will relate to ground staff and cabin crew and aim at the departure of approximately 800 people. These measures relate to both the full execution of Transform 2015 and an immediate adaptation to the Group’s competitive environment.

In parallel, the Group is pursuing its efforts within the framework of the new Perform 2020 strategic plan. A progress report on this topic will be given during the Full Year 2014 results presentation on February 19. All the items shared during this meeting of the Air France Corporate Works Council refer exclusively to Air France and its subsidiary, and not Air France-KLM, whose targets remain unchanged.

Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-214 F-GKXJ (msn 1900) climbs away from Heathrow Airport near London.

Air France aircraft slide show:

Air New Zealand to end Beechcraft 1900D operations in August 2016

Air New Zealand (Auckland) has announced it will phase out its 19-seat Beechcraft 1900D fleet operated by Eagle Airways (Hamilton) under the Air New Zealand Link banner. ANZ is acquiring four additional ATR 72s to complete the phase out by August 2016.

Copyright Photo: Colin Hunter/AirlinersGallery.com. Eagle Airways’ Beechcraft 1900D ZK-EAL (msn UE-435) arrives at the Auckland hub.

Air New Zealand aircraft slide show:

Pacific Coastal Airlines to start a new route connecting Victoria with Prince George

Pacific Coastal Airlines (Vancouver) has announced the addition of a new regularly scheduled nonstop service between Victoria and Prince George effective on Monday, January 12, 2015.

The new flight will operate once every day except Saturday. It is scheduled to depart Victoria International Airport (YYJ) at 5:00 P.M. (PST) (1700) arriving at Prince George Airport (YXS) at 6:40 P.M. (PST) (1840). The aircraft will depart Prince George at 7:05 P.M. (1905), arriving back in Victoria at 8:45 P.M. (2045).

Pacific Coastal Airlines has been providing regularly scheduled, charter, and cargo services in British Columbia for almost forty years. Started in Bella Coola by one-time truck logger Daryl Smith, it is now the sixth-largest airline operating at Vancouver (YVR) (based on outbound seats), and third-largest in takeoffs and landings. It is also a major supplier of charter services to fishing lodges and the resource sector.

Operating from its administrative center at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) South Terminal, Pacific Coastal employs more than three hundred people across fifteen bases in British Columbia.

Pacific Coastal Airlines’ seaplane base operates out of Port Hardy on Vancouver Island and from there provides service to a large number destinations along the coast.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Beechcraft 1900C C-GPCY (msn UB-45) arrives at the Vancouver hub with a bald eagle on the tail. Pacific Coastal decorates its tails with scenes from British Columbia.

Tale of the Pacific Coastal Tails:

Route Map:

Pacific Coast Airlines Aircraft Slide Show:

Video:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I4XYE3gq6E?list=PLixK4SvFggTPa7fhOr-2iiEE1dF1YWJBV&w=560&h=315%5D

Great Lakes hires Raymond James to advise on financing and strategic alternatives

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great Lakes Airlines 2nd) (Cheyenne, Wyoming) has issued this statement:

Great Lakes Aviation has announced it has engaged Raymond James as its investment banker to advise the Company with respect to new financing options and strategic alternatives. As part of its assignment, Raymond James will also assist the Company in evaluating changes to its business and fleet configuration.

In March of this year the Company was successful at certifying new FAA Operations Specifications that have enabled the Company to hire pilots despite recent regulatory changes that have had the effect of materially reducing the supply of qualified pilot applicants for the regional airline sector in general. The reductions in small community air service capacity seen across the U.S. in 2014 are a result of this same reduced pilot supply, and are creating the need for a re-invented regional airline industry. The Company intends to respond to that need.

Great Lakes provides scheduled passenger service to over 30 airports throughout the mid-west and western United States operating a fleet of Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias, and Beechcraft 1900D regional airliners.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Beech 1900D N220GL (msn UE-220) in the promotional tail design for Alamosa, Colorado taxies at Los Angeles.

Great Lakes Airlines:

Current Route Map:

Great Lakes Airlines to end service early at several cities

Great Lakes Airlines (Cheyenne) has announced it will end Essential Air Service (EAS) passenger service a month early at Great Bend, Kansas on April 1. The struggling regional carrier will also end passenger flights at Dickinson, North Dakota on March 26 after 21 years. Williston, North Dakota will be dropped on March 30. Great Lakes will also suspend operations at McCook, Nebraska on April 1. The airline is blaming a pilot shortage but critics state the company does pay enough to attract enough pilots.

SeaPort Airlines has bid on the routes with the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Great Lakes has received permission to operate some of their Beech 1900Ds with only 9 seats (please see the seating diagram below) rather than the normal 19 seats so the aircraft can be operated under Part 135 regulations. This allows the company to hire First Officers who have less the 1500 hours FAA requirement. The aircraft still have a captain with at least 1500 hours of experience with an ATP rating. Even with this measure, the airline was not able to stave off the termination of service to these affected cities.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Beech (Raytheon) 1900D N201GL (msn UE-201) with a promotional Pierre, South Dakota image on the tail arrives at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

Great Lakes:

The shrinking Great Lakes Route Map (routes shown as of February 1):

Great Lakes Airlines suspends service to six airports due to a pilot shortage

Great Lakes Aviation, Ltd. (Great Lakes Airlines) (Cheyenne, Wyoming) on February 1 suspended service to and from Devils Lake and Jamestown, North Dakota; Fort Dodge and Mason City, Iowa; Ironwood, Michigan; and Thief River Falls, Minnesota due to the severe industry-wide pilot shortage and its relative acute impact on Great Lakes according to a company statement.

Charles Howell, CEO released the following statement: “Due to the unintended consequences of the new congressionally mandated pilot regulatory requirements, the company feels it is in the best interest of our customers, communities, and employees to suspend service from these stations until we are able to rebuild our staff of pilots in order to provide reliable service. We deeply regret and apologize for this inconvenience.”

All customers with future flights in any of these stations will be given refunds.

Editor’s Comment: Many pilots and pilot groups (as the comments will attest) would strongly argue it is not a pilot shortage issue facing GLA but a pay issue. Simply put, higher pilot wages would probably attract more applications.

Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing/AirlinersGallery.com. Great Lakes promotes many of its destination with area displays on the tails. Beech (Raytheon) 1900D N202UX (msn UE-202) promotes Dodge City, Kansas as it arrives in Los Angeles.

Great Lakes Airlines:

Updated Route Map: Despite its name, the airline does not serve a city on any of the Great Lakes.

Air Georgian to have an expanded role with Air Canada with CRJs

Air Georgian (Air Canada Express) (Toronto-Pearson) will soon have an expanded role with Air Canada with a transferred fleet of Canadair Regional Jets (CRJs).

Air Canada issued this statement:

Following a previously announced Request for Proposals (RFP), Air Canada has announced that it has signed an MOU to expand its relationship and amend its capacity purchase agreement (CPA) with Air Georgian. Air Georgian has been selected to operate a number of additional regional routes including trans-border routes in mid-2014 using Canadair Regional Jet aircraft.

“We are pleased to expand our longstanding commercial relationship with Air Georgian that will allow Air Canada to introduce more cost-competitive operations in a number of our key regional markets,” said Kevin Howlett , Air Canada’s Senior Vice President, Regional Markets. “The competitive bid process generated a significant level of response from a number of Canadian and U.S. regional operators. Following a thorough evaluation of proposals received, Air Georgian was selected on the basis of a broad range of criteria including operational safety, efficiency, cost and service. The award of additional flying to Air Georgian is an important step in our regional airline diversification strategy and ongoing cost transformation program.”

“We are excited with this opportunity to expand Air Georgian’s presence as an Air Canada Express regional operator beginning in 2014,” said Eric Edmondson , President of Air Georgian. “The selection of Air Georgian for this expanded role is based on our proven ability to offer seamless connections and service for Air Canada customers that is of mutual benefit for both airlines. We look forward to continuing to expand our relationship, building on our solid partnership with Air Canada that has developed over the past 13 years.”

The implementation of the amendment to the CPA remains subject to the parties making any necessary filings, obtaining regulatory approvals and finalizing documentation.

Air Canada currently has capacity purchase agreements with four regional airline partners that operate under the banner Air Canada Express: Jazz, Sky Regional, Air Georgian and EVAS.

Air Georgian became a Tier III partner of Air Canada in 2000, operating as Air Alliance under a CPA. Today Air Georgian operates under the brand Air Canada Express, focusing on transborder and domestic airline operations carrying over 350,000 passengers per year for Air Canada from Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Halifax’s Robert L. Stanfield International Airport and Calgary’s International Airport to 19 Canadian and U.S. destinations.

Air Georgian has been providing aviation services and charter flight solutions for more than 25 years. Air Georgian also operates and/or maintains a fleet of corporate jets from its base in Toronto. Air Georgian is an IATA registered airline and recently achieved the coveted ARGUS Platinum Audit Rating along with IS-BAO Stage 1 registration.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Air Georgian currently operates 16 Beechcraft (Raytheon) 1900D turboprops. 1900D C-GORC (msn UE-320) arrives back at the Toronto (Pearson) hub.

Air Canada Express-Air Georgian:

Current Air Canada Express routes operated for Air Canada:

Air Georgian and Regional 1 Airlines sign MOU to merge

Air Georgian Limited (AGL) (Air Canada Express) (Toronto-Pearson) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Regional 1 Airlines (R1) (Calgary), a subsidiary of Avmax Group Inc., a fully integrated aviation company with operations in Canada, United States, Africa and Afghanistan. Regional 1 Airlines and Air Georgian Limited will merge operations under one management team through the creation of a parent holding company.

Air Georgian will continue to focus primarily on its CPA relationship with Air Canada (Montreal). Air Georgian currently operates Beechcraft (Raytheon) 1900D aircraft under the brand name of Air Canada Express. R1 will focus on expanding its domestic presence, specializing in serving the natural resource sector. R1 will further expand upon its existing international operations, specializing in ACMI contracts in remote regions, as well as continuing to support the United Nations World Food Program and other peacekeeping and humanitarian programs.

This strategic merger will allow the new combined entity to position itself as a unique, fully integrated airline leveraging the technical, geographical and asset strengths of Avmax and the professional management and strong operational background of Air Georgian. Air Georgian and Regional 1 Airlines will benefit from having access to the world’s largest private fleet of Dash 8 and CRJ series aircraft, over $100 million in spare parts and domestic maintenance bases in Halifax, Montreal, Kingston, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. International operations will be supported through Avmax maintenance bases in Great Falls, Montana, Jacksonville, Florida, Nairobi, Kenya and N’djamena, Chad in Africa.

Eric Edmondson will assume the President and CEO role at the newly formed parent company, as well as the role of President at both Air Georgian and Regional 1 Airlines. Daniel Revell will continue to be the CEO of Air Georgian and John Binder will continue in his role as CEO of Regional 1 Airlines. Scott Monsen will become the CFO & VP Finance at the parent company and its subsidiaries. Daniel Bockner will be the VP, Flight Operations & Security, while Brad Warren will fill the role of VP, Maintenance & Technical. Rick Giacomuzzi will hold the position of VP, Finance at Regional 1 Airlines. This merger does not impact the current structure or operations of any other subsidiary within AvMax Group Inc.

Upon closing, the combined operations will utilize Beechcraft 1900D, de Havilland Canada (Bombardier) DHC-8-100, DHC-8-300 and CRJ100/200 aircraft types, with the ability to quickly add additional larger gauge aircraft types with the long term goal of positioning the brands as major players in the 18-76 seat turbo-prop and jet market. Air Georgian will continue to operate, maintain and support the corporate jet charter market in Toronto as well as offering third-party training to the airline and corporate aviation sectors.

Copyright Photo: TMK Photography/AirlinersGallery.com. Beechcraft (Raytheon) 1900D C-GORA (msn UE-326) taxies at the Toronto (Pearson) hub in the Air Canada Express livery.

Air Canada Express/Air Georgian:

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