Scone to pay Big Sky $500,000 for RPT services?
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Scone to pay Big Sky $500,000 for RPT services?
From the Scone Advocate this morning:
Airline in holding pattern[
By CARLOS MARTINEZ
Thursday, 17 August 2006
The possibility of a new airline in Scone has been canned for this year, but Big Sky Express maintains that if all goes to plan, we could be taking off from Scone as early as next year.
Regional airline pilot Shane O'Connell said the flight service in Scone had been put on hold for the short term due to Big Sky Express pursuing other ventures.
"In the short term we don't have the resources or capital to look at Scone in the near future," Mr O'Connell said.
However Mr O'Connell also said that later this year steps would be taken to see that this service gets off the ground in the foreseeable future."All going well you could look at starting up early next year," Mr O'Connell continued.
There are still some important factors that must be taken into account before anything is finalised, according to Mr O'Connell, so locals shouldn't pack their bags just yet.
A formal risk assessment of a potential Scone port is said to take place at the end of this year.
Provided the risk assessment is given the go ahead, this year Mr O'Connell plans to meet with the Upper Hunter Shire Council to discuss the venture.
Money and community support are also essential factors in getting this service off the ground, according to Mr O'Connell.
Roughly half a million dollars will be needed to start the airline and guarantee service for a 3-month period.
In order for the service to be sustainable a regular flow of customers will be needed, but Mr O'Connell thinks this won't be a problem.
"To be viable 7 to 8 passengers will be needed for flights in Scone, I think that's more than achievable in Scone and surrounding areas," he said.
After completion of the risk assessment and if Big Sky Express and the Council both think the venture is worthy, Scone will yet again have its very own airline.
For around $200 travellers could enjoy a great view and be in Sydney 35 minutes after take off.
At present the Scone airport receives chartered flights and joy flights, with the region boasting a keen group of aviators, but those wishing to fly on a commercial service must travel to Tamworth, Newcastle or further afield.
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So basically Big Sky Express are asking the people of Scone to cough up all the money for development and approval ... and then give it a 3-month trial run to see if it works?
*edited to remove unsightly brain fart*
Anyone who has operated into Scone more than once knows fog can clag you in until midday any time throughout the year
These guys are currently using Metro's operated by Transair. Are they going to base a 19-seat aircraft in Scone to beat the fog, or are they going to try to drop in off their GDH run when fog permits?
Airline in holding pattern[
By CARLOS MARTINEZ
Thursday, 17 August 2006
The possibility of a new airline in Scone has been canned for this year, but Big Sky Express maintains that if all goes to plan, we could be taking off from Scone as early as next year.
Regional airline pilot Shane O'Connell said the flight service in Scone had been put on hold for the short term due to Big Sky Express pursuing other ventures.
"In the short term we don't have the resources or capital to look at Scone in the near future," Mr O'Connell said.
However Mr O'Connell also said that later this year steps would be taken to see that this service gets off the ground in the foreseeable future."All going well you could look at starting up early next year," Mr O'Connell continued.
There are still some important factors that must be taken into account before anything is finalised, according to Mr O'Connell, so locals shouldn't pack their bags just yet.
A formal risk assessment of a potential Scone port is said to take place at the end of this year.
Provided the risk assessment is given the go ahead, this year Mr O'Connell plans to meet with the Upper Hunter Shire Council to discuss the venture.
Money and community support are also essential factors in getting this service off the ground, according to Mr O'Connell.
Roughly half a million dollars will be needed to start the airline and guarantee service for a 3-month period.
In order for the service to be sustainable a regular flow of customers will be needed, but Mr O'Connell thinks this won't be a problem.
"To be viable 7 to 8 passengers will be needed for flights in Scone, I think that's more than achievable in Scone and surrounding areas," he said.
After completion of the risk assessment and if Big Sky Express and the Council both think the venture is worthy, Scone will yet again have its very own airline.
For around $200 travellers could enjoy a great view and be in Sydney 35 minutes after take off.
At present the Scone airport receives chartered flights and joy flights, with the region boasting a keen group of aviators, but those wishing to fly on a commercial service must travel to Tamworth, Newcastle or further afield.
--------------------------------------------------
So basically Big Sky Express are asking the people of Scone to cough up all the money for development and approval ... and then give it a 3-month trial run to see if it works?
*edited to remove unsightly brain fart*
Anyone who has operated into Scone more than once knows fog can clag you in until midday any time throughout the year
These guys are currently using Metro's operated by Transair. Are they going to base a 19-seat aircraft in Scone to beat the fog, or are they going to try to drop in off their GDH run when fog permits?
Last edited by Bendo; 17th Aug 2006 at 17:27.
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Big Sky & Transair
Hi Fiona,
No doubt your eyes picked up on this. The business I think is a community Co-Op kind of deal with Transair providing the AOC aircraft etc etc...
This is the best I know of and I am sure others will expand on this before too long.
So how is winter up there in the new homeland?
Cheers
J
No doubt your eyes picked up on this. The business I think is a community Co-Op kind of deal with Transair providing the AOC aircraft etc etc...
This is the best I know of and I am sure others will expand on this before too long.
So how is winter up there in the new homeland?
Cheers
J
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*sigh*
OK.. real figures, in less of a hurry.
Pax numbers SCO-SYD were 1496 for the last year of operation.
Given Yanda's timetable of 2 return flights on weekdays and one each Sat am and Sun pm, that's an average of 2.3 passengers per trip.
...only 24 pax per week!
Thats OK if you're running a Chieftain (maybe)... but a Metro?
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Look at other runs that originally had Chieftans on it and were then upgraded to the likes of a metro. The company I work for had a great deal more interest from pax whn they were not confronted with Chieftans but a nicely painted Metro.
Airlink shoud try something bigger on their MDG-SY route, Im sure if they could get a larger aircraft they would be suprised at the numbers they could get considering their loads already in the Chieftan.
Good on Bigsky if they have a go at Scone. But requiring $500,000 up front
we will wait and see.
Airlink shoud try something bigger on their MDG-SY route, Im sure if they could get a larger aircraft they would be suprised at the numbers they could get considering their loads already in the Chieftan.
Good on Bigsky if they have a go at Scone. But requiring $500,000 up front
we will wait and see.
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FIONA,
I thought the witch-hunt had subsided so we aviators could get on and do our jobs - of which I and my crew, conduct with absolute safety foremost our minds - EVERYDAY, EVERY FLIGHT, EVERY MINUTE. Take the GOOGLE Alert off all things Transair and Les Wright. Your not helping anyone, all we have seen is negatives - no positives.
I thought the witch-hunt had subsided so we aviators could get on and do our jobs - of which I and my crew, conduct with absolute safety foremost our minds - EVERYDAY, EVERY FLIGHT, EVERY MINUTE. Take the GOOGLE Alert off all things Transair and Les Wright. Your not helping anyone, all we have seen is negatives - no positives.
