End of an Era - Skytrans GA finishes
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End of an Era - Skytrans GA finishes
After 15 years as one of the leaders in GA, the new owner of CS-based Skytrans has decided to park its GA fleet (C310, C402, C404, Bongo & B200) to concentrate on an all Dash-8-102 operation.
The remaining GA pilots have been made redundant this week
. Some have scored other gigs, some not.
Some of the fleet has sold to other operators in CS, DN and AD; the rest are on the market. Some of the long-standing routes have been cancelled.
Many many drivers spent their best GA years at Skytrans, usually their last stop before getting their airline gig; their comments would be welcome.
The remaining GA pilots have been made redundant this week
. Some have scored other gigs, some not.Some of the fleet has sold to other operators in CS, DN and AD; the rest are on the market. Some of the long-standing routes have been cancelled.
Many many drivers spent their best GA years at Skytrans, usually their last stop before getting their airline gig; their comments would be welcome.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: sydney australia
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Bloody Shame.......... some of my best aviation memories where flying for Skytrans in their GA FLEET!!
Was a great company, with great people!, when S&D owned it and RA was CP!
Good Luck to the people who are affected by this.....
Was a great company, with great people!, when S&D owned it and RA was CP!
Good Luck to the people who are affected by this.....
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Fleet story? Human story?
As somebody who knows absolutely nothing about the company or the region:
So what happens to all the GA fleet? Have they been sold mostly together or seperately? Will somebody else move in and take over the old market? What about any contracts in the GA fleet?
With regards to the people:
Who without a Dash endo stayed on (hours etc)? Who (hours etc) had to pay for an endo to keep their job? What, if anything, did those who were made redundant get to help them find employment elsewhere?
I'm really interested in the human story. I've been there when a long-standing company closed down (different story I know) and it can be scary with only about 600 hours and responsibilities.
FRQ CB
So what happens to all the GA fleet? Have they been sold mostly together or seperately? Will somebody else move in and take over the old market? What about any contracts in the GA fleet?
With regards to the people:
Who without a Dash endo stayed on (hours etc)? Who (hours etc) had to pay for an endo to keep their job? What, if anything, did those who were made redundant get to help them find employment elsewhere?
I'm really interested in the human story. I've been there when a long-standing company closed down (different story I know) and it can be scary with only about 600 hours and responsibilities.
FRQ CB
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Gidday Doc The chinese character representing 'crisis' is a combination of the symbols for 'danger' and 'opportunity'. Can't say I'm at ALL happy about the circumstances 
, but it has opened up some possibilities that previously I would not have considered viable.
The MA Dash woulda bin on the Gunpowder charter contract run. All the existing GA contracts have gone to other CS operators.
When RA was CP it was a very different company to today.
The human side? Assurances made were not upheld, offers of upgrades were withdrawn, lots of people (pilots, admin staff, families) directly and indirectly hurt; care factor from company.....ZIP.
The fleet as of Titans, 310s, bongos and the SKA are for sale / sold as previously indicated. In fact, they were all advertised for sale several months ago but were supposed to be progressively replaced with new B200s. Obviously didn't happen.
, but it has opened up some possibilities that previously I would not have considered viable.The MA Dash woulda bin on the Gunpowder charter contract run. All the existing GA contracts have gone to other CS operators.
When RA was CP it was a very different company to today.
The human side? Assurances made were not upheld, offers of upgrades were withdrawn, lots of people (pilots, admin staff, families) directly and indirectly hurt; care factor from company.....ZIP.
The fleet as of Titans, 310s, bongos and the SKA are for sale / sold as previously indicated. In fact, they were all advertised for sale several months ago but were supposed to be progressively replaced with new B200s. Obviously didn't happen.
Join Date: Dec 2002
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Back in the day when operators treated wannabees as pests these guys had the reputation as the best piston operator in the country.
Pilots were dime a dozen and jobs were rare as hens teeth back then.
Pilots were dime a dozen and jobs were rare as hens teeth back then.
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If SKN is going cheap I’d like to put it up on a pole in the backyard. SKC was always the pick of the fleet so I’m not surprised it sold quickly.
Cairns airport won’t quite be the same without the regular low growl of the Skytrans Titans.
Hope everyone involved is able move on to greener pastures…
Cairns airport won’t quite be the same without the regular low growl of the Skytrans Titans.
Hope everyone involved is able move on to greener pastures…
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I like SKC its a good fly, when it was first purchased by Air South, it needed very litttle work, however the other A/C (Wish I could remember the tail) needed some heavy work on it... I belive they gave it a new left engine... (I think....)
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Some of the fleet, back in the day.....
SZP, imported from SA by Skytrans, the only Titan with the lights in the engine cowls
Some of the Titans on the ramp
The Kingair
SZP, imported from SA by Skytrans, the only Titan with the lights in the engine cowls
Some of the Titans on the ramp
The Kingair
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Air South has pretty well left the Titans lookinh the same...
Only Red Tail= Now Yellow
and "Skytrans" along the side = "Air South" (Charter or Regional, I think only Regional so far)
Only Red Tail= Now Yellow
and "Skytrans" along the side = "Air South" (Charter or Regional, I think only Regional so far)