Air Link (Rex) ceases RPT operations
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I believe that there shouldn't be RPT for any aircraft under 5700kg or less than 9 pax. With the regulatory environment at present it is not economically viable. CASA wants to reduce the fare paying passenger risk by legislating and harassing any small aircraft RPT out of existence.
I doubt they would be too offended Duff.
It seems that they will be offered positions on REX's SAAB. If they have the quals for command (most probably at least hours wise), then provided they come up to scratch, a substantial pay-rise could be in the offing in around 8-10 months!
You never know they may even get the base of their choice?
It seems that they will be offered positions on REX's SAAB. If they have the quals for command (most probably at least hours wise), then provided they come up to scratch, a substantial pay-rise could be in the offing in around 8-10 months!
You never know they may even get the base of their choice?
Another sad day for regional communities that rely on airservices, unfortunately not every community has the luxury of several jet services a day.
I was talking to some Airlink guys last week and they have been short of crew for the B1900 for a while and have had one parked at Dubbo for some time. I had a sticky-beak at one of their C310's and Chieftain and those aircraft are very neat, not like you average GA sh*t box on it's 25 paint scheme!
I have done a few flights with Airlink recently, certainly a lot more impressive to fly with than a few others I had the misfortune to fly with on the East coast. At least they know what an on time departure is!!!
I was talking to some Airlink guys last week and they have been short of crew for the B1900 for a while and have had one parked at Dubbo for some time. I had a sticky-beak at one of their C310's and Chieftain and those aircraft are very neat, not like you average GA sh*t box on it's 25 paint scheme!
I have done a few flights with Airlink recently, certainly a lot more impressive to fly with than a few others I had the misfortune to fly with on the East coast. At least they know what an on time departure is!!!
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Old mate just got older.
They have parked a B1900 for the last year 'cause he can't keep pilots with an attitude like that you see matey. That's the akrat story there for ya matey. I'm not a pilot there but what I'alls do is, ya see, is take that REX offer to fly a SAAB instead of polishing aircraft and sweeping hangers waiting for a charter customer to come along. Fark me, like there is a choice in the matter. 
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Originally Posted by krusty 34
You never know they may even get the base of their choice?
But as you mentioned if they do have the hours then all they will need is 500 on the SAAB and then they will have a command in Sydney after a few months so they can relax in the left seat and sit back and watch the industry for the next 12 months or so while while getting >5700kg multi crew turbine command time which im sure is better than their chieftain time!
Chins up fellas as it just may be a blessing in disguise for you
for those guys that dont go to rex if your interested in heading up to Darwin i dont think you would have much trouble getting a job with chieftain time already. I wouldnt go up there expecting to see the glamourous pistons your used to though or class A maintenance but i definetly think you would get a look in with Hardees, Directair, Air Frontier and Chartair. Good luck to you all.
unfortunately though its not the first to go and im sure it wont be the last over the next <insert time here> weeks, months, years.
cheers all
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So getting back to the pressing issue of EBA neg - is everyone politely refusing to work RDO/Annual leave every numerous time they phone - I am!
It's the only way to improve our EBA, take a stand guys and girls, it's not going to happen without EVERYONE joining forces.
And what pilot shortage - I hear numerous Sim checks were canceled this week due lack of/sick Check Captains. And even the guru himself - all kneel- Capt Nifty - is in the box of terror as I write.
Ha - what pilot shortage
It's the only way to improve our EBA, take a stand guys and girls, it's not going to happen without EVERYONE joining forces.
And what pilot shortage - I hear numerous Sim checks were canceled this week due lack of/sick Check Captains. And even the guru himself - all kneel- Capt Nifty - is in the box of terror as I write.
Ha - what pilot shortage
Rex jumped early on rebate: Minister - Local News - News - General - Daily Liberal
The en-route rebate introduced in “extraordinary” circumstances during 2001 to shore up air services to rural communities would be available to Rex Airlines for another four years, a spokesman for federal transport minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed.
This week Rex Airlines announced it would cease flights from Dubbo to Cobar, Bourke, Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Coonamble from December 20.
Among its reasons was the Federal Government’s intended “termination” of the en-route rebate.
Marginal routes would not be commercially viable without this incentive, Rex managing director Jim Davis said.
However, the minister’s spokesman has told the Daily Liberal that the rebate would be available to the airline for four more years.
He noted that Rex had recently achieved a “record profit” but would not be drawn on its withdrawal from remote airports in western NSW.
“We understand they have made a commercial decision,” the spokesman said.
Nor would the minister’s spokesman indicate if the affected communities had a chance of convincing the Government to continue the rebate.
Instead, he said it had always been a “transitional arrangement” put in place to ensure flights to regional and rural communities were sustained after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and the collapse of Ansett Airlines a day later on September 12 in 2001.
“It was introduced in extraordinary circumstances as a temporary measure,” the spokesman said.
“By the time it ends in 2012 it will have been in place for 11 years.”
Since Rex’s announcement on Monday, the Federal Government has come under fire for moving to wind up the rebate program.
State MP for Barwon Kevin Humphries says if the Federal Government can “subside the Bass Straight Ferry for an alleged $500 million a year”, it should revisit the issue of the remote air operator rebate.
Federal MP for Parkes Mark Coulton is calling on Mr Albanese to “act immediately to protect local communities”.
The minister’s spokesman said the Government was about to release an aviation green paper addressing the major issues facing regional aviation.
“Communities will be asked to have input into that process,” he said.
The en-route rebate introduced in “extraordinary” circumstances during 2001 to shore up air services to rural communities would be available to Rex Airlines for another four years, a spokesman for federal transport minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed.
This week Rex Airlines announced it would cease flights from Dubbo to Cobar, Bourke, Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Coonamble from December 20.
Among its reasons was the Federal Government’s intended “termination” of the en-route rebate.
Marginal routes would not be commercially viable without this incentive, Rex managing director Jim Davis said.
However, the minister’s spokesman has told the Daily Liberal that the rebate would be available to the airline for four more years.
He noted that Rex had recently achieved a “record profit” but would not be drawn on its withdrawal from remote airports in western NSW.
“We understand they have made a commercial decision,” the spokesman said.
Nor would the minister’s spokesman indicate if the affected communities had a chance of convincing the Government to continue the rebate.
Instead, he said it had always been a “transitional arrangement” put in place to ensure flights to regional and rural communities were sustained after the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States and the collapse of Ansett Airlines a day later on September 12 in 2001.
“It was introduced in extraordinary circumstances as a temporary measure,” the spokesman said.
“By the time it ends in 2012 it will have been in place for 11 years.”
Since Rex’s announcement on Monday, the Federal Government has come under fire for moving to wind up the rebate program.
State MP for Barwon Kevin Humphries says if the Federal Government can “subside the Bass Straight Ferry for an alleged $500 million a year”, it should revisit the issue of the remote air operator rebate.
Federal MP for Parkes Mark Coulton is calling on Mr Albanese to “act immediately to protect local communities”.
The minister’s spokesman said the Government was about to release an aviation green paper addressing the major issues facing regional aviation.
“Communities will be asked to have input into that process,” he said.
Wait a minute. The rebate will be available for the next four years! So why is REX winding up Airlink RPT just before Christmas?
Could it be that the Chairman and his cronies are attempting to hold back the Red Sea with a broom? Could it be that the sale of Airlink assets may just keep the profits a little healthier, at least for the next financial year? Lets see now. REX are cancelling flights at an unprecedented rate. Pilots (especially Captains) are now well and truely "over" working on days off. The prospect for the Xmas schedule is looking dire. What will cost more? Marginal profits on the thin routes, or serious brand and revenue damage on the main game over the festive season? The problem of course is that it's already too late to plug the crewing sieve (typical). The few experienced guys from Airlink may bear fruit in some small measure into the new year, but it's too little too late. At least we may have a half dozen more upgradeble F/O's. I mean, that's better than nothing, right?
I wonder if the communities of far western NSW would see the logic in it?
Could it be that the Chairman and his cronies are attempting to hold back the Red Sea with a broom? Could it be that the sale of Airlink assets may just keep the profits a little healthier, at least for the next financial year? Lets see now. REX are cancelling flights at an unprecedented rate. Pilots (especially Captains) are now well and truely "over" working on days off. The prospect for the Xmas schedule is looking dire. What will cost more? Marginal profits on the thin routes, or serious brand and revenue damage on the main game over the festive season? The problem of course is that it's already too late to plug the crewing sieve (typical). The few experienced guys from Airlink may bear fruit in some small measure into the new year, but it's too little too late. At least we may have a half dozen more upgradeble F/O's. I mean, that's better than nothing, right?
I wonder if the communities of far western NSW would see the logic in it?
Last edited by KRUSTY 34; 14th Nov 2008 at 10:59.
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I guess as far as getting the flight hours up goes, CASA will pin their hopes on the all singing all dancing multi crew pilot licence - then all those new folks out there with 70 PIC can breeze into the left seat of a >5700 kgs without a care in the world - or something like that 
I've heard about the "discount" on command hours being proposed for the MPL as distinct from the ATPL!
As far as REX's current crop of Cadets go (around 48 I think), they have been trained and certified under the existing system (CPL-ME/IFR). I can see it now. CASA finally approves the MPL. All future cadets are trained in that system.
MPL Cadets advance to command. They cannot leave for a better position because their MPL is not transferable.
Existing cadets become permanent F/O's because the ATPL requires command hours well in excess of what their course has provided. They cannot leave because nobody at airline level will take them on as they cannot hold an ATPL.
End result: Captive workforce!
Absolutely evil, Absolutely brilliant!!!
Time to awake now LKH, CH, JD...... Wakey, wakey...
As far as REX's current crop of Cadets go (around 48 I think), they have been trained and certified under the existing system (CPL-ME/IFR). I can see it now. CASA finally approves the MPL. All future cadets are trained in that system.
MPL Cadets advance to command. They cannot leave for a better position because their MPL is not transferable.
Existing cadets become permanent F/O's because the ATPL requires command hours well in excess of what their course has provided. They cannot leave because nobody at airline level will take them on as they cannot hold an ATPL.
End result: Captive workforce!
Absolutely evil, Absolutely brilliant!!!
Time to awake now LKH, CH, JD...... Wakey, wakey...
It also might be a very convient way to streamline the fleet. Getting rid of the Beech1900, Chieftains and Cessna 310 and then between Rex and Pelair standardize on the Westwind, Saab 340 and Metro.
I hear the B1900 going into Cobar, that will now be done by the Saab?
I hear the B1900 going into Cobar, that will now be done by the Saab?
Quote:
"I hear the B1900 going into Cobar, that will now be done by the Saab?"
Doubt it very much. 30 uncrewed sectors today alone. Weekends are becoming a nightmare for staff, with absolutely no improvement in sight. Poor old Cobar has lost it's service for good. you can have all the SAABs in the world, but it's not much good if you don't have enough pilots to fly them.
Over the coming months REX will be forced to further "rationalise" it's network. Ports far more profitable than Cobar I'm afraid will be coming under the knife.
But it's OK, "...by years end we will have a surplus of pilots."!
"I hear the B1900 going into Cobar, that will now be done by the Saab?"
Doubt it very much. 30 uncrewed sectors today alone. Weekends are becoming a nightmare for staff, with absolutely no improvement in sight. Poor old Cobar has lost it's service for good. you can have all the SAABs in the world, but it's not much good if you don't have enough pilots to fly them.
Over the coming months REX will be forced to further "rationalise" it's network. Ports far more profitable than Cobar I'm afraid will be coming under the knife.
But it's OK, "...by years end we will have a surplus of pilots."!
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End result: Captive workforce!
In an environment where the consequences for errors can be brutal, a seriously disgruntled workforce (pilots without options) is insane. An MPL, as simply envisioned with Rex above, has Buckley's chance, unless the crew is seriously dumbed down. The industry can't go much further down as it stands.
I'm sure there will be career MPL's, but with most, it will be a step towards further qualifications. From Rex's current position determined not to pay a decent wage, it will probably mean the difference between pilots staying for one year or staying for three.
Last edited by Lodown; 14th Nov 2008 at 15:40.
Hear you loud and clear Lowdown, and absolutely correct!
My comments re: Captive workforce were more or less rhetorical and aimed at the mindset of REX management. They would love to have the scenerio I just described, but because of their complete dislocation from reality, they'll be left pondering their navels when it fails to eventuate!
Airlink, and the communities they served so well are just further casualties of REX management's drive to maintain group profits in the face of a shrinking business.
My comments re: Captive workforce were more or less rhetorical and aimed at the mindset of REX management. They would love to have the scenerio I just described, but because of their complete dislocation from reality, they'll be left pondering their navels when it fails to eventuate!
Airlink, and the communities they served so well are just further casualties of REX management's drive to maintain group profits in the face of a shrinking business.
funny thing is that the 'fed' assistance for regional aircraft does not apply to pistons only turbines <15K kgs....
so what are they saying as only the B-1900 is covered here and the scheme as pointed out has four years to run...
so what are they saying as only the B-1900 is covered here and the scheme as pointed out has four years to run...