Goldair to commence Bendigo-Essendon

[Jethro Gibbs]

FFS ! People Wake Up this bloke has no CASH not going to happen .

[Wally Mk2]

'noms' the trouble with Australia regarding traveling via small planes from regional centers to major captitol cities is population, we simply don't have enough people to support such an adventure. You would need 10 times the amount say a Mill+ to even think that about operating an RPT business, heavens know plenty have tried over the years.
Ballarat to the Gold Coast, there's noway any small RPT operator could make any money out of that route for Eg with the Airlines selling tickets from ML at times less then the cab fare to the airport.Can you imagine just the amount of luggage a family would be totting along for a 10 day stay in the Goldy coast trying to board a M23 for that trip not to mention the cost of the tickets, ain't gunna happen.
We live in a great country (well hopefully from now on seeing as the people voted Krudd out last nite!!!!) but it's a huge place criss-crossed with pretty good roads compared to other vast open area countries & per sq mile this joint is M/T, no one lives here!
The Airlines don't exactly have cash falling out of their pockets & they operate pretty lean these days from centers where there are millions.
As I have said b4 Aussie have a love affair with their cars & will drive a zillion miles to save a few bucks, Aeroplanes just don't figure into their way of thinking other than for an Airline trip to some beach resort with the kids for peanuts!:-)



Wmk2

[Jack Ranga]

Pretty good roads Wal?? What country are you living in??

[nitpicker330]

Haven't been to India or China have you Jack?

Terrible dirt tracks in some places and holes a big truck would disappear into on major highways. Christ the main road to the airport in Bombay is a disaster zone!!

We are indeed well off.

[Jack Ranga]

Sorry nitpicker, haven't been to either of those places, should we compare the rail system in China to Australia or the money they are spending on infrastructure

The roads in Australia are still ****house & getting worse

[peterc005]

Maybe we drive on different roads, but the roads in Australia seem fine to me. Not perfect, but definitely better above average compared to other places in the world.

It's always good to get back to Australia, where things just pretty much work as expected. Roads, electricity, police, justice system etc. We've got it good here.

[Mr.Buzzy]

Yep and after last night, it's set to get a whole lot better!

Bbbzbzbzbzbzbzbbzzzzzzzz

[nitpicker330]

I think that you "don't know Jack"

Add Africa to the list I mentioned.........

Maybe plan a trip overseas if you think we have **** infrastructure here in Oz, we do alright Jack.

[Jack Ranga]

Peter, maybe you should leave the city limits and drive where I drive.

nitpicker, maybe you should leave the city limits and drive where I drive.

And maybe we should compare our infrastructure to other western, developed nations rather than 3rd world ****holes?

I've done plenty of trips overseas & think I 'do know Jack' thank you very much :-)

[Wally Mk2]

'JR' old boy I can understand yr way of thinking yeah we do have crappy roads but take a look at the distance we have to cover & the amount of people paying taxes, bugga all taxes & a zillion miles of road to keep in good cond.

I believe (could be wrong) that we have more roads distance wise than any other country on the planet per head of population, pretty impressive I reckon considering our Govt's waste our tax dollars like it's free & don't have enuf for much infrastructure of any kind never lone roads or aviation!!!
We are indeed fortunate that our country by world std's is flat as a tack & road costs are moderate.

I guess this thread drift will upset some in here but hey it's gunna peeda (peeda, is there such a word?) out anyway soon enuf.

Just briefly back to the core subject I wonder what the DOC's would be for say a Bandit or a M23? Just curious as I'd like to try & understand where people still think this day & age that short hops can be done & still make a buck out of it.

Wmk2

[Jack Ranga]

Wal-sta, you are indeed correct of course! My post was a bit of a pisstake I'm doing a fair bit of driving on roads that are goat tracks, fairly close to major regional towns as well!

I wouldn't have a clue about financing or investing in such ventures but I do know this hasn't got a hope in hell of succeeding!

[dhavillandpilot]

Having been in the industry for 40 years next year, operating small commuter airlines is a way to go broke. The only possible way to make money is to fly to an island with no options or alternatives or fly to a destination that has A mountain between it and terrible roadsi

[training wheels]

The only possible way to make money is to fly to an island with no options or alternatives or fly to a destination that has A mountain between it and terrible roads

And that pretty much sums up the type of regional flying in Indonesia. There's still plenty more untapped route possibilities to literally thousands of islands or remote towns. But Bendigo to Melbourne as a regional route? No way.

[Wally Mk2]

'dehav' that's somewhat true what you say. I believe Port Lincoln in SA is a very profitable route for REX as it's not too far away away dist wise by plane across the Gulf but an all day drive by car around the Gulf.

Seems all's gone quiet with this mob, maybe they are reading what we 'experts' are saying here & having 2nd thoughts

Wmk2

[peterc005]

I can't think of any building at YBDG you could use for a Passenger Terminal anyway.

The country train service from Bendigo to Melbourne is pretty good and it would be hard to compete with this.

There is supposed to be a big upgrade to runway 17/35 to better support jet operations at Bendigo, mainly for the fractional jet ownership operations there I guess. Maybe there are plans to build a Terminal building?

[Berealgetreal]

Suggest a trip to Europe. Subways in cities a quarter the population size of Melbourne. Australia is an A-grade disgrace thats been run by top shelf dickheads for 40 years.

Are we comparing ourselves with India and China now?

[Mach E Avelli]

If Mr Goldair had intelligence to match his imagination, surely he would come to the conclusion that if it was viable, Rex or Brindabella or Sharp or Qantas or Virgin or (insert any established operator of your choice) would already be doing it?

[peterc005]

I've caught the Melbourne-Bendigo train service several times and thought it was fine.

I arrived, paid the fare and ended up at the destination as expected. The train was clean and comfortable.

That's enough for me.

[DeltaT]

Looks like a Emb110 (no props) has just been towed over to where the disused Shrikes are at Essendon this morning. This aircraft type is what GoldAir have said they plan to use.

[PLovett]

Delta, that old Emb110 hasn't flown since Aboriginal Air went into liquidation in Alice Springs in 2004 or 5. In fact it was the straw that broke the camels back in that particular operation. I don't think it even has engines as they were leased and when the company ceased operation the engines were reclaimed quick smart.

Regional aviation is very much work in progress across the country and I suspect that it is going to get very much more expensive in the not too distant future at both RPT and GA levels unless there is some serious reform at the upper level of bureaucracy rather than the current sham inquiry.

Dhavillandpilot was very right in saying

The only possible way to make money is to fly to an island with no options or alternatives or fly to a destination that has A mountain between it and terrible roads.

The last 2 governments and especially the Howard one totally wasted the opportunity offered by the mining boom to invest in Australia's infrastructure but instead they went for buying votes by offering tax cuts instead. We are going to pay dearly for that piece of stupidity.