Rumour: No more bank runs? [Archive]

gerry111

2nd Feb 2016, 11:44

I'd be thinking that GA bank runs are now sadly obsolete.

Upon the very rare occasions that I receive a cheque, I can deposit it in an ATM almost anywhere around the country. And once my bank and I agree on the payee and amount, there's perhaps no reason for it to be flown to a capital city for further processing?

jas24zzk

2nd Feb 2016, 11:51

Its actually amazing how many people still use cheques. I write so many myself it isn't funny.

For me as a COD business, its faster and easier for me to write a cheque. I sign it, the delivery comes and the office chick writes the rest. She doesn't have the access to do a pay anyone.

I have 1 supplier where the driver has a business eftpos card. In that suppliers case, we simply swipe it on the Jewish piano and they are paid via a 'refund'

I'm surprised bank runs have gone on this long with the cheque scanning technology the banks have. Totally no need to fly bits of paper all around the country.

Aussie Bob

3rd Feb 2016, 00:31

Its actually amazing how many people still use cheques. I write so many myself it isn't funny.

Interesting comment Jas, if you were a supplier of mine and failed to list direct deposit details I would seek them out and your payment would be delayed.

If you were a client of mine and paid by cheque I would be vaguely annoyed as I would need to go out and queue at the bank or send an employee to do same. It is so long since someone paid me by cheque I forget. It is so long since I have used my cheque book I have forgotten where it is and how to fill it out.

The only thing that surprises me about this thread is that bank runs still exist.

Squawk7700

3rd Feb 2016, 01:28

Cheques jas24zzk? I thought panel beaters were all cash these days...?

Stationair8

4th Feb 2016, 06:50

A lot of history in the old bank run business, goes back to the days of Wilson Aviation, Clark Film Services, Avtex, The Aviation Centre, Tamair, Newcastle Aviation etc. Lots of variety in aeroplanes everything from Mooney's, Piper Arrow thru to MU2's and the Metro.

A number of lives lost over the years, low time pilots high performance aeroplanes, pressure to get in at all ports regardless of the weather.

The old bank run roster of long days, split shifts and a hotel room in a country town.

Plenty of guys and gals spent the down time during the day studying for ATPL subjects, go to tech college in the larger towns and at least one guy got onto a run that allowed him to go and do his year 12 HSC.

Eddie Dean

4th Feb 2016, 07:03

To paraphrase " rumour arrives whilst the truth is still putting on his pants"
Alternative rumour is that the mail run is still on and Horatio wants the tender Cooma Canberra.

illusion

4th Feb 2016, 07:08

Is this the end of GA as we know it?

Well, if you are from Sydney and are too scared to venture west of the Blue Mountains where there are marauding natives, poisonous snakes and desert heat then it probably is the "end of GA as YOU know it.....".
Auspost is quite efficient these days-You can mail your dirty washing to your Mum and have it returned within the week. Katherine in the NT even has a bedwetting clinic :p

Horatio Leafblower

4th Feb 2016, 08:50

Alternative rumour is that the mail run is still on and Horatio wants the tender Cooma Canberra.

Er gawd no thanks.

More interested in the potential for all my friends currently doing bankruns to desperately need to find other charter work for aeroplanes and/or further swamp the market of aircraft for sale.

dhavillandpilot

4th Feb 2016, 09:10

The axing of Bank Runs is just one change.

Think about Aerial Survey, drones will take much of this away. I believe one company already has a section for this.

Cheaper to operate. Pilots award doesn't yet apply and the company doesn't have to pay any allowances.

eternity

4th Feb 2016, 13:36

Horatio Leafblower,

Maybe your friends can lease their aircraft out to operators in the outback.

I haven't been there for a while, but I imagine that there is still a need to fly doctors (specialists), nurses, engineers, out to the aboriginal communities from central hubs like Alice, Tindal...etc etc

eternity

4th Feb 2016, 13:38

.......as an add on.....when I was out there, it appeared that a lot of the aircraft operating in that region were leased from all parts of the country.

5000 metres

4th Feb 2016, 17:04

jas24zzk:

Here in civilized Los Angeles (and most of the rest of the world), the term "Jewish piano" is considered offensive for what I hope are obvious reasons. :ugh:

cf. (and notice "slang, offensive"):
https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jewish_piano

outnabout

4th Feb 2016, 22:11

Eternity, the need to fly doctors, specialists, nurses out to remote communities is met by the Central Ops RFDS for emergency retrievals, hospital transfers and clinic runs.

The name is Porter

5th Feb 2016, 00:59

5000 metres, you're in LAX, this is an Australia/New Zealand thread. I'd suggest that you stop looking for things to be offended by. It makes life much easier :ok: You could probably achieve that by not coming to these pages, stick with the North American threads :ok:

Hoo-roo

Goat Whisperer

5th Feb 2016, 02:40

I'm in Aus and I'm pretty unimpressed with the term too.

Stanwell

5th Feb 2016, 02:48

Stationair8,
Your post #8 took me back to my Bankstown days in the late 70s.
The operators, the aircraft, the pilots and the maintainers.
After-work drinkies, chats and laughs over at the High Flyer are fondly remembered.

Like others, though, I'm surprised that the need to shuttle paper around the countryside has lasted this long.
Of course the future of Bankstown itself, like other similar airports, is threatened by greedy developers and NIMBY new residents.
That subject, though, has been covered well enough on other threads.

p.s. Our interjecting armchair aviator, (above #16), might like to further study metacognition as it applies to his good-self. :=

LeadSled

5th Feb 2016, 04:22

jas24zzk:
Here in civilized Los Angeles (and most of the rest of the world), the term "Jewish piano" is considered offensive for what I hope are obvious reasons. :ugh:

Folks,
Get in quick, start an action under S.18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, it will probably pay better than any GA job.
Tootle pip!!

prospector

5th Feb 2016, 05:22

and most of the rest of the world

I must come from the part of the world that is not included in "most",

I am not offended, in fact I had a good chuckle, good play on words with a modicum of truth contained. Must admit it is the first time I have seen, or heard, the phrase.

Stanwell

5th Feb 2016, 05:54

As long as we're into a bit of thread-drift, I was intrigued by the phrase.. "Here in civilised Los Angeles".
Really? Which part is that? I must have missed it.

Metro man

5th Feb 2016, 08:00

South Central Los Angeles of course.:E

mcgrath50

5th Feb 2016, 09:40

I am not offended, in fact I had a good chuckle, good play on words with a modicum of truth contained. Must admit it is the first time I have seen, or heard, the phrase.

Ah yes, that hilarious jewish stereotype. Racisim is so funny and Australia is definitely the lucky country that we are free to still make jokes and where black face like it was the 1950s unlike tyrannical hell holes like the US and UK.

wishiwasupthere

5th Feb 2016, 09:50

So.........has ths is rumour actually been verified? I did hear that Toll won't be flying the Metro's out of BK anymore. So that only leaves the Aero Commanders and PA31s?

FoolCoarsePitch

5th Feb 2016, 10:37

So.........has ths is rumour actually been verified? I did hear that Toll won't be flying the Metro's out of BK anymore. So that only leaves the Aero Commanders and PA31s?

Off topic. Mod plz remove

The name is Porter

5th Feb 2016, 10:47

Jesus.............I don't get offended at Catholic jokes.........

Can we have separate forum for the precious babies that have no sense of humour.

jas24zzk

5th Feb 2016, 10:59

Hmm some unexpected responses to my post.

Racist? Pigs ring!

I think Mcgrath50 summed up my use of the term rather succinctly. Its a stereotypical saying...interestingly enough, the phrase was introduced to me by a jew....and he had to explain it...i was having a dumb white fella momemt.

To say something about jews and their inane ability to do well financially, isn't racist, its an acknowledgement of that skill that is inherent in their upbringing.

Stanwell also sums it up nicely, your more likely to be shot in LA for saying g'day than you are in Australia for telling a bad joke.

If you think LA is the world Leader in PC, then you are doomed.

jas24zzk

5th Feb 2016, 11:02

5000 metres, you're in LAX, this is an Australia/New Zealand thread. I'd suggest that you stop looking for things to be offended by. It makes life much easier You could probably achieve that by not coming to these pages, stick with the North American threads

Hoo-roo

Glad you said it...i might have been a little more Australian :}

jas24zzk

5th Feb 2016, 11:24

Interesting comment Jas, if you were a supplier of mine and failed to list direct deposit details I would seek them out and your payment would be delayed.
My business runs 90% COD

Yep all my regular suppliers, I have their banking details for. but sometimes i give them a cheque. It is actually amazing that when a delivery driver turns up, they get grumpy at waiting for me to log in and make the payment and print off a receipt, but they are happy to wait while i write a cheque.,,go figure.
As I am COD, sometimes i need support from my suppliers. I tell them before delivery, that payment will be by cheque.. They ask when they can bank it. They know I run on the knifes edge and support me. Sounds difficult to some, but its much better than a monthly account that has no money at the end of the month.

If you were a client of mine and paid by cheque I would be vaguely annoyed as I would need to go out and queue at the bank or send an employee to do same.

Damm right! The 3 biggest insurance companies in the country pay by CHEQUE! IAG (RACV and subsiduries) Suncorp (AAMI and subsiduries) Wesfarmers. RACV if i do not use a factoring company, i will wait 90 days for the cheque....thats if they don't send it to the client. Allianze, Zurich and QBE manage to read the bottom of the invoice and drop it into my account within 7 days.

The only thing that surprises me about this thread is that bank runs still exist.

I'm pretty sure i touched on this in an earlier response. I agree. the bank technology is out there that its uncalled for. Stopping them takes away an avenue of blokes gaining numbers to upgrade. :(

gerry111

5th Feb 2016, 12:06

jas24zzk,

I think you confused the word inane with the more appropriate word innate.

But now back to the thread topic: "Rumour: No more bank runs?"

Stanwell

5th Feb 2016, 15:35

Erm... Gerry, I thought that's what we were talking about before we got distracted.
We're looking at an industry with a seemingly uncertain future - Bank Runs.
Jas has provided examples as to why paper can be preferred to keyboard strokes.
Squawk alluded to the cash economy in certain industries.

Call me old school, but I've always felt more comfortable seeing the piece of paper in my hand.
You'll also have to pardon me if I'm prepared to pay to have certain documents delivered to my office in a timely manner.
Perhaps I've just suffered the consequences of one too many IT cock-ups.

The run-down of commercial GA generally is also making the career path of many youngsters a little uncertain.
Got any answers, Gerry? - otherwise I might have to ask Dick Smith.

BTW, I'm looking at starting up a carrier-pigeon service - anybody interested?
.

5000 metres

5th Feb 2016, 18:11

I'm just a friendly interested longtime observer of this corner of PPRuNe, but

To say something about jews and their inane ability to do well financially, isn't racist, its an acknowledgement of that skill that is inherent in their upbringing.

...seriously?

And

I think you confused the word inane with the more appropriate word innate

...more appropriate, really?

That's all I have to say...I leave you to your stereotyping and God help us all.

The name is Porter

5th Feb 2016, 23:18

That's all I have to say...I leave you to your stereotyping and God help us all.

You mean God help you? We don't prefix everything we do or say or every achievement down here with that sort of talk. Another cultural difference ;)

IFEZ

5th Feb 2016, 23:36

5000m - Adieu..! ;)

Just a reminder, this is an aviation thread. There are plenty of other sites that cater for the PC brigade, morally outraged and perpetually offended members of the community who would love to hear from you. If you want to hang around on here, you need to lighten up a bit!

megan

6th Feb 2016, 00:17

You need to get a life 5000 M, I'm a Jew and not in the slightest offended. Civilised Los Angeles? When is the next riot and torching scheduled? Ever hear of a Jewish stocktake? The PC brigade will be the death of us all. Back to regular programming.

VH-FTS

6th Feb 2016, 02:14

Off topic. Mod plz remove

I'm confused why the quote you mention is off topic, while others have been way further off topic talking about Jews and political correctness.

I heard the last Toll Metro run out of Bankstown occurred on Friday. That base is now closed and a bunch more pilots are on the streets.

Are the bank runs dead because a certain freight company who owns a substantial warehouse alongside a taxi way has lost a number of bank contracts? Honest question.

60 & below

6th Feb 2016, 02:46

My second job was on bank runs out of Mascot & Bankstown.
It was quite a sight to see twelve or so twins lined up in rows at the runup area at Bankstown early in the morning. I was lucky enough to be flying bank runs when the industry transitioned from light twins to Jets (Ciations) or High performance Turbo Prop (MU-2s) it will be a sad time when these runs finally finish as It was one of the best ways to get experience.
You needed to think on your feet and be flexible to achieve the required task.

Safe Flying

Stanwell

6th Feb 2016, 03:25

VH-FTS,
FCP had his tongue firmly in cheek with that comment. :ok:

VH-FTS

6th Feb 2016, 05:39

VH-FTS,
FCP had his tongue firmly in cheek with that comment. :ok:

Oops, my sarcasm radar is normally pretty good.

Aye Ess

6th Feb 2016, 08:53

In 1979 and 1980 I flew bank runs for Purcells Air Service from Sydney. We had three brand new C310 aircraft. Routes were all ports to Coolangatta, south coast Nowra, Moruya, Merimbula. Another went Goulburn Canberra, Cooma. And the shorter one was around Pelican, Cessnock and Cooranbong. My goodness it was hurry, hurry, hurry at Sydney each morning all jostling for a rapid departure before all the other companies.http://i1032.photobucket.com/albums/a401/alan_spears/c310_zpslr92jr7z.jpg (http://s1032.photobucket.com/user/alan_spears/media/c310_zpslr92jr7z.jpg.html)

Stationair8

6th Feb 2016, 21:25

Nice photo, Aye Ess.

Must have been a good job flying a brand new C310R, plenty of hours for the log book.

Must be a few stories in Pprune land about the bank runs?

When did they start?

The runs that GAM do out of Essendon, are they bank runs or a combination of bank documents and freight?

Metro man

7th Feb 2016, 06:38

Bank run flights may not be restricted to bank documents. Overnight courier companies packages, medical specimens for testing, legal documents from solicitors offices, urgent spare parts and even film from traffic cameras goes along as well.

Theses runs are a communication link to smaller distant towns. The question of whether they could survive without the banks business and how necessary they are in the age of high speed internet is up for discussion.

Aye Ess

7th Feb 2016, 18:50

Yes, Stationair..... bank runs in brand new C310s was a dream come true. I was getting valuable IFR twin time rapidly, many instrument letdowns for real. No screaming passengers. And every weekend and bank holiday off. I was like a dog with two tails.

BPA

8th Feb 2016, 03:04

And the C310 on the right was still flying Bankruns out of BK in the mid-90's.

DutyofCare

9th Feb 2016, 12:35

Aye Ess (http://www.pprune.org/members/288085-aye-ess) dam top photo that bloke :ok:

Flying a C 310R back then would of been like driving a Fully Sick WRX now !

Some are saying the END OF AN ERA is closing in on us with these bank runs ending soon :(

How many pilots have built a career out a start runs docs around the State :D

Who / what is responsible for this change & who holds THAT MAGIC CONTRACT of demise :confused:

How will a large company like GAM manage this coming news :{

White Van Driver

31st Jan 2023, 16:56

7 years on from this thread starting - have bank runs met their end? Or are they still holding on?

Ascend Charlie

31st Jan 2023, 20:57

In the early 90s, a helicopter was used to bring bank docs to Sydney from Gosford and the Central Coast. The docs had to be in SY by 7pm. In winter, the run was done Night VMC.

A jealous competitor in the chopper business decided to be an R-sole (well, actually it wasn't a decision, he was an R-sole all the time) and put his own aircraft up at Long Reef at 6.55pm and "perform airwork". Along comes bank runner, asks for clearance, it is not available due to R-sole taking up too much space, delays, anger, multiple requests denied, until R-sole has kept the bank runner out past his deadline.

This went on for 3 nights until a quiet word with ATC by phone alerted them to what was happening, so when R-sole requested takeoff clearance at KSA, tower held him on the ground until the Bank runner was home. R-sole was spitting chips at ATC, but they knew what he was like and just laughed.

giantkingsquid

31st Jan 2023, 21:19

7 years on from this thread starting - have bank runs met their end? Or are they still holding on?

I see a GAM Aero Commander on approach for YORG every afternoon at 4:15 so still going in my neck of the woods.

Peter Fanelli

1st Feb 2023, 21:34

I flew banks runs back in the late 80s and early 90s out of Adelaide.
There were always rumors that bank runs were soon going to end.
When I moved to the US in the late 90s I stayed in the aviation business for a while
but in the last decade prior to retirement I was self employed doing courier work
much of which consisted of, yes, transporting bank documents by road. Again, there were
constant rumors of bank work ending and I can assure you that such work has now ended
in the US, replaced by electronic transmission of images of documents. There maybe a few small banks still doing it,
but it's over for the larger banks.
Sad to say but that probably means the end is coming for Australian bank runs as well.

172heavy

1st Feb 2023, 22:26

7 years on from this thread starting - have bank runs met their end? Or are they still holding on?
They are still happening. GAM Air and Macquarie Air are still going strong out of BK. Macquarie Air has 4 runs being done with Supervans, Cheiftains and a PAC750. GAM has 3 runs I believe. The pay is not bad for an entry level job. GAM 63K Salary and Mac Air $350-400/day rate permanent part-time. Macquarie Air was providing housing but I believe that has recently changed.

Clinton McKenzie

1st Feb 2023, 22:39

172heavy

1st Feb 2023, 22:46

A 208 lobs in and out of YCTM on each morning and evening of each working day. Does a round of various Western NSW towns. Overnights at YHAY.

I call it a ‘bank runner’. I understand it’s contracted to Toll, so I assume it’s moving parcels for Toll.

I understand it used for parachuting (humans, not parcels) on the weekend.
It's one of the 208s Macquarie Air utilise. It's a cross-hire from Sydney Skydivers. Toll frieght Mon-Fri then jump runs on the weekend. That western run is a big one, it's an 11 sector split-duty day but a solid 7-8 flight hours in the logbook for the guy doing it.

TBM-Legend

2nd Feb 2023, 06:54

Ah yes, that hilarious jewish stereotype. Racisim is so funny and Australia is definitely the lucky country that we are free to still make jokes and where black face like it was the 1950s unlike tyrannical hell holes like the US and UK.

Ah, Jacob tell me about the Jewish pleasure finger. Oh it’s the one that works the cash register! Told to me when I was in Israel. They laugh at themselves too you know, but maybe some don’t know!!!

I say let’s lighten up chaps and chapesses and others and enjoy every day.

Aerodynamicer

2nd Feb 2023, 08:50

A quick look at Flight stalker shows MEH headed out to Ceduna via all stops tomorrow, that thing must have 50'000 hours on it by now. Not enough bank documents to fill an envelope when I last flew a bank run 6 years ago. Pathology and overnight packages are the mainstay these days.

Horatio Leafblower

3rd Feb 2023, 11:21

As the OP on this thread I am genuinely pleased that the rumour was wrong or, at least, early by 7-10 years.
It's pretty different to the glory days where Bankstown was like Battle of Britain with MU-2s and SA=227 and a dozen Chieftains and C310s and B58s barrelling down the lane in the dark. Still - great flying if you can get it and good ATPL study time between morning and evening legs :ok: