Problems at Brindabella?
By being an employer people don't WANT to leave after 12 months
From my experience even if you hire older guys saying they'll hang around they usually bail too. That is the plight of those in the middle of the aviation food chain unfortunately.
I'd feel nervous with a loan for $30 odd k in your name with a company 'guarantee' to pay it off in this current situation, especially with what is a pretty useless endorsement in Australia in a J41.
How deep are their pockets, cause even if they get through this current crisis the damage they have done to their reputation is huge, I reakon they will struggle not to go under. Nearly everyone in Moree has given up on them and drive to ARM or TMW to get the link, or catch the train.
I do feel for them, the regional industry is a tough one, and aircraft choices in this market are slim, but the J41 was always a orphan especially in Oz but the whole region, surely the Brasilia whilst more expensive would have been a better choice, and the Metro was a great machine(debatable), 20 odd years ago.
Krusty - re the tender MRZ really did get screwed, QFlink tendered but lost out, funny that a Dash 8, with op spares, access to lounge/FF etc was more expensive than Brindy with a J41 and none of the above. It's not like QF didn't want it, the gov saw a way to save some $$ and took it. Needless to say another regional community feeling forgotten about by elected officials!
How deep are their pockets, cause even if they get through this current crisis the damage they have done to their reputation is huge, I reakon they will struggle not to go under. Nearly everyone in Moree has given up on them and drive to ARM or TMW to get the link, or catch the train.
I do feel for them, the regional industry is a tough one, and aircraft choices in this market are slim, but the J41 was always a orphan especially in Oz but the whole region, surely the Brasilia whilst more expensive would have been a better choice, and the Metro was a great machine(debatable), 20 odd years ago.
Krusty - re the tender MRZ really did get screwed, QFlink tendered but lost out, funny that a Dash 8, with op spares, access to lounge/FF etc was more expensive than Brindy with a J41 and none of the above. It's not like QF didn't want it, the gov saw a way to save some $$ and took it. Needless to say another regional community feeling forgotten about by elected officials!
Puff, the routes in NSW are not subsidised but regulated. The NSW Govt isn't saving money...mostly it is about service levels offered by applicants and community support etc. I think Brindi offered three flights/day vs. QF two for example. This appeals to the council etc etc. I think Brindi offered QF FF points so QF club members could use the QF SYD facilities and collect FF points.
The drought and other factors always play a part in pax loads as well as reliability of course.
The drought and other factors always play a part in pax loads as well as reliability of course.
Councils and passengers can bitch and moan about a service being reduced and/or withdrawn but the plain simple fact remains that if they don't use the service (or drive to other ports to use theirs) it will be withdrawn. Moree Plain Shire Council offer next to no incentive (apart from a single digit percentage rate off the landing fees) to keep the service operating.
Heavily utilised aircraft (possibly over utilised on some days - 15 minute turn arounds were always a winner with crews.... not) of course go U/S from time to time and the airline is expected to pull a spare aircraft out of thin air, weather and traffic delays in and out of Sydney - not to mention try explaining what an hour plus Metron delay is to passengers with connections, or why their service is two hours late getting there because ATC flow massively delayed the first leg of a six sector day and you've had to go like stink just to whittle their delay down to what it is... Of course it is always the airline's fault the short-memoried locals get farted about - it always and invariably is and don't the front line staff get to hear about it...
Puff, there are a multitude of reasons why they didn't use one aircraft over another, pavement concessions and a few other reasons spring to mind as many strips around the place are not built strong enough for many types to operate multiple times a day. Though I will say one thing... BAH did look at the Braz and there were enough good reasons not to use it.
Heavily utilised aircraft (possibly over utilised on some days - 15 minute turn arounds were always a winner with crews.... not) of course go U/S from time to time and the airline is expected to pull a spare aircraft out of thin air, weather and traffic delays in and out of Sydney - not to mention try explaining what an hour plus Metron delay is to passengers with connections, or why their service is two hours late getting there because ATC flow massively delayed the first leg of a six sector day and you've had to go like stink just to whittle their delay down to what it is... Of course it is always the airline's fault the short-memoried locals get farted about - it always and invariably is and don't the front line staff get to hear about it...
Puff, there are a multitude of reasons why they didn't use one aircraft over another, pavement concessions and a few other reasons spring to mind as many strips around the place are not built strong enough for many types to operate multiple times a day. Though I will say one thing... BAH did look at the Braz and there were enough good reasons not to use it.
Ops Normal, I don't work in the airline industry, but I am frequently a passenger. About 9 years back I semi-regularly used the QF MRZ-SYD service. I know that delays happen for various reasons and are at times inevitable. Once experienced a weather related diversion to TMW and a bus to Moree. But the Q Link crew kept us informed every step and as a safety issue, I had no problem with that. What I would have a problem with, is after many years of providing a safe and reliable service, a govt tender is awarded to a company with a poor reputation in that community against the community's wishes and within one year, that company proves once again it is not able to reliably provide the promised level of service.
If there is no guarantee that a flight will run on any given day, and ambiguous information is given at short notice about cancellations and delays for customers relying on the service to get them to business meetings/medical appointments/international connections on time, do you seriously expect they will continue to use it? Especially when there are alternatives available which admittedly might add 3 hours to the travel time, but offer better reliability?
Let me also say, I respect the hard, complex work and long hours put in by both flight and cabin crews, and many years of lurking on Pprune has taught me a regional airline is certainly not the easiest place to work. Because of this in part, and also because I am a generally patient and agreeable person who spent many years in customer service myself, I would not be inclined to vent my frustrations to the customer facing staff who are put under unreasonable pressure by the company's disorganisation.
What I would do is write to management and express my concerns. If these issues continued to occur and there was no satisfactory explanation, such as the airline being unable to perform maintenance on time leading to half its fleet being grounded and continuing to take bookings despite knowing it does not have the capacity to operate all those services, then like the good folk in Moree, I would vote with my feet and no longer patronise this service.
If you regard your customers with contempt, you will go broke very quickly. As a pilot, you have a job because the public need to travel. I hope that Brindabella sort it out because a lot of jobs are on the line and unemployment ain't fun in this economy, not to mention the flow on effects in the towns that will be left isolated if they wind up.
If there is no guarantee that a flight will run on any given day, and ambiguous information is given at short notice about cancellations and delays for customers relying on the service to get them to business meetings/medical appointments/international connections on time, do you seriously expect they will continue to use it? Especially when there are alternatives available which admittedly might add 3 hours to the travel time, but offer better reliability?
Let me also say, I respect the hard, complex work and long hours put in by both flight and cabin crews, and many years of lurking on Pprune has taught me a regional airline is certainly not the easiest place to work. Because of this in part, and also because I am a generally patient and agreeable person who spent many years in customer service myself, I would not be inclined to vent my frustrations to the customer facing staff who are put under unreasonable pressure by the company's disorganisation.
What I would do is write to management and express my concerns. If these issues continued to occur and there was no satisfactory explanation, such as the airline being unable to perform maintenance on time leading to half its fleet being grounded and continuing to take bookings despite knowing it does not have the capacity to operate all those services, then like the good folk in Moree, I would vote with my feet and no longer patronise this service.
If you regard your customers with contempt, you will go broke very quickly. As a pilot, you have a job because the public need to travel. I hope that Brindabella sort it out because a lot of jobs are on the line and unemployment ain't fun in this economy, not to mention the flow on effects in the towns that will be left isolated if they wind up.
Cleared Visual, I hear you and what you are saying for the most part but you are preaching to the choir..... I do think you may be simplifying some of the issues a little, however (as an previous employer and business owner prior to becoming involved in aviation many years ago) I agree with many points you raise with reference to treatment of customers and I will add - their own staff.
You may be reading my post above and feel that I am an apologist for the company. I am anything but such.... I would imagine that these latest issues are enough to destroy any remaining credibility the company had in the eyes of the fare paying public which is a real shame as 7-8 years ago it was a great little company to work for.
You may be reading my post above and feel that I am an apologist for the company. I am anything but such.... I would imagine that these latest issues are enough to destroy any remaining credibility the company had in the eyes of the fare paying public which is a real shame as 7-8 years ago it was a great little company to work for.
Indeed I have simplified the issues, but as I said I don't work in the industry... Although, I can see Brindabella's HQ from my office, and my interest in this primarily stems from observing the growing number of parked aircraft outside the hangar. I'm also a one time resident of Moree, so I summarised as best I could my understanding from what I have read in the media and these pages.
I will not judge or assume anything about you, but I agree the whole situation is disappointing to see happen to a company that seemed to be on the way up not so long ago. Unfortunately, it seems aviation runs on razor thin margins, and the only people investing in airlines these days run them into the ground, make for the hills with a sack of $$ and leave the loyal employees to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. The QANTAS group through Eastern Australia Airlines had a reliable, local and proven track record in Moree, and in the end, the awarding of the tender to Brindabella benefitted neither the community or the airline, but I'll speculate that someone in management got a good deal out of it.
I will not judge or assume anything about you, but I agree the whole situation is disappointing to see happen to a company that seemed to be on the way up not so long ago. Unfortunately, it seems aviation runs on razor thin margins, and the only people investing in airlines these days run them into the ground, make for the hills with a sack of $$ and leave the loyal employees to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives. The QANTAS group through Eastern Australia Airlines had a reliable, local and proven track record in Moree, and in the end, the awarding of the tender to Brindabella benefitted neither the community or the airline, but I'll speculate that someone in management got a good deal out of it.
wheredidwhogo,
You have made too many assumptions, but I do not know who either of you are; nor do I care.
There have been comments made and there have been assessments made and here you are saying that Cleared Visual is just a cleaner.
Has it not occurred to you (you with a masters in aviation obviously and with 50 years experience) that many people have a valid point of view which should be taken on their merits; as you expect yours to be as well.
My quals to comment: I have been an LAME for 47+ years and in this industry all my life as I grew up on an airport where my Father was a pilot and ATC.
Please accept all viewpoints as valid unless you can prove otherwise and start to smell the roses as they smell better than your own posterior.
Please accept the fact that maybe the current airline may not be serving Moree as well as all may wish but possibly the previous airline may not have been doing the same; or simply put, just local politics.
You have made too many assumptions, but I do not know who either of you are; nor do I care.
There have been comments made and there have been assessments made and here you are saying that Cleared Visual is just a cleaner.
Has it not occurred to you (you with a masters in aviation obviously and with 50 years experience) that many people have a valid point of view which should be taken on their merits; as you expect yours to be as well.
My quals to comment: I have been an LAME for 47+ years and in this industry all my life as I grew up on an airport where my Father was a pilot and ATC.
Please accept all viewpoints as valid unless you can prove otherwise and start to smell the roses as they smell better than your own posterior.
Please accept the fact that maybe the current airline may not be serving Moree as well as all may wish but possibly the previous airline may not have been doing the same; or simply put, just local politics.
There are a few of their aircraft still in the air - a J41, a Metro and (as far as I am aware, which may be incorrect if it hasn't come out of the maint it went into early in the week) a J32. From what I am told the crew are still being paid - big thumbs up for that one: , but I fear a great deal of damage has been done to the brand, so to speak.
I do hope that they can recover from this. The world wasn't neccessarily built on small independents giving it a go, but it sure is a nicer place for their efforts....
, but I fear a great deal of damage has been done to the brand, so to speak.I do hope that they can recover from this. The world wasn't neccessarily built on small independents giving it a go, but it sure is a nicer place for their efforts....
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Current hot rumours
One involves a buyout and re-badge and the other implies that some vultures are circling and are ready to cherry pick the best routes. C'mon. Someone out there must know.
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Sky-Brinda-Trans
SW was sniffing around a couple of weeks ago speaking to Management...There's a good match...old aircraft mixed with even older Dash 8 's ...
Think sitting back and watching what happens is the smarter alternative !
Think sitting back and watching what happens is the smarter alternative !
The world wasn't neccessarily built on small independents giving it a go
Don Kendell. Max Hazelton. Jeff Boyd. (You in the back -Yes you Ops Normal - stop laughing). Old mate at Belmont. Old mate at Tamworth. Peter Collings. David Miller. Connellan. Hudson fkn Fysh for god's sake.
The Australian airline industry WAS built on the independent bloke and he built it to the stage where he was then worth eating to the big bloke.
Story of all Australian industry really.
NURSE!
Oh you reprobate..... 
Whilst imparting my verbal caning (please Sir, may I have another....
), you forgot probably the most important one to a dearly departed family member - Reginald.
Have no idea why I wrote "neccessarily" when I originally though to write "completely", meaning more to do with this age of large conglomerates. My bad, fair cop.
Whilst imparting my verbal caning (please Sir, may I have another....
), you forgot probably the most important one to a dearly departed family member - Reginald.Have no idea why I wrote "neccessarily" when I originally though to write "completely", meaning more to do with this age of large conglomerates. My bad, fair cop.
Whilst in the early days of flying here in Oz the backbone of aviation was indeed started by independents but it's not the case these days that was a very diff era. Back then there where opportunities, hope & a growing economy where aviation was needed & indeed flourished, the need now is still there that's for sure even more so due population expansion since those early days but that's all as it's a totally diff world we live in now compared to the Don, Max & even the Reg days fore Eg, those guys have long since gone so to speak as well as the opportunities they had.
There's no money in aviation these days here in Oz we are seeing that more so than ever, yes indeed nurse, where's the nurse !
Wmk2
There's no money in aviation these days here in Oz we are seeing that more so than ever, yes indeed nurse, where's the nurse !
Wmk2