Swanberg???

[Tube Driver]

How are they doing? Are they going to continue to operate or will it be a case of discretion being the better part of valor?

[Ogee]

They should be fine. They said in an ad a while back that they had the best flight operations team in Canada.

[wannabatp]

Things are going great! Crews are getting trained, planes are coming back online and the future is looking surprisingly rosey. And yes, management knows what they are doing.

More to follow...

Cheers!

[FBO Manager]

lol

[wannabatp]

lol

What's so funny?

[FBO Manager]

this is not the first time they have been shut down. It's now been too long since they have operated. The smartest thing to do would be to shut the doors for good. Transport Canada will no longer let companies run their airline like a trucking company like those guys did. Anyone want to buy a bunch of junky Jetstreams?

[Chuck Ellsworth]

Transport Canada will no longer let companies run their airline like a trucking company like those guys did. Anyone want to buy a bunch of junky Jetstreams?

When did TC change the way they operate?

[wannabatp]

this is not the first time they have been shut down. It's now been too long since they have operated. The smartest thing to do would be to shut the doors for good. Transport Canada will no longer let companies run their airline like a trucking company like those guys did. Anyone want to buy a bunch of junky Jetstreams?

Hmmm, where do I start?

Ok, I'll try to be civil.

First, why are trying to alienate a potential customer from YQU? If in fact you are an FBO manager, I would think you'd be thrilled to have another commercial turbo prop operator on the field regardless of your personal feelings for Swanberg Air.

Secondly, I'm new here, I don't have any preconceived notions about Swanberg Air or the previous management, except from what I've heard through the grapevine. I can tell you that I'm probably a lot closer to the people involved than you though, and that you should probably make sure of your facts before opening your mouth. You clearly have no clue why Swanberg had to shut down.

Thirdly, in your capacity as an FBO manager, how much experience do you have running an airline? Being a pilot, and having been a truck driver I can tell you that they operate in pretty much the same way. It's a business, some business's are better run than others. The Swanberg's have been around a heck of a long time, and they could have easily decided to close up shop and call it a day, but they didn't. Instead, they're re-opening soon and determined to be competitive.

And, by the way, why are you to call our Jetstreams junk? Are you an AME? It might be argued that all Jetstreams are junk, much like all Metro IIs or KA90s might be junk, but to single out Swanberg's to be less airworthy than someone else's, without the facts to back it up is, at best, irresponsible. I'd be more worried about how you take care of your trucks right now.

Like I said, I'm new here, but I really like what I see so far, and where it's going to go. Grande Prairie looks like a lot nicer than a lot of other places I've been to recently. Anyone who wants further info can PM me.

[Tube Driver]

I have seen a fair number of Jetstreams in my travels, some are nice and some are junk. Swanberg's in all reality are about a 3-4 on a scale of 10. You can put lipstick on them, but they are still working Jetstreams. Most sched Jetstreams fall into a range of 3 to 6. So they are industry standard for a Jetstream for what it is worth.

[FBO Manager]

[quote="wannabatp

Secondly, I'm new here, I don't have any preconceived notions about Swanberg Air or the previous management, except from what I've heard through the grapevine. I can tell you that I'm probably a lot closer to the people involved than you though, and that you should probably make sure of your facts before opening your mouth. You clearly have no clue why Swanberg had to shut down.

Thirdly, in your capacity as an FBO manager, how much experience do you have running an airline?



When the Swanbergs first bought aircraft years ago they were in my hangar. I guess i have been around longer than you wannabatp. I have seen much more than you. did transport not show up and shut them down? How long have you been an employee there now? I have known many pilots that worked there in the past. If you've only been an employee for a couple months i wouldn't say much.

next, Swanberg bought our charter company when they started so i guess i may know more than you about the airline thing.
You said i should check my facts. I offer you the same advice my friend.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

All that aside FBO Manager when did TC start regulating the industry where they shut down all operators who deserve to be shut down?

If they are now doing that it is about time because they sure as hell didn't when I was flying in the industry in Canada.

[kingeddie]

If Phil Cook can't keep this company going then no one can .

[Strega]

this is not the first time they have been shut down. It's now been too long since they have operated. The smartest thing to do would be to shut the doors for good. Transport Canada will no longer let companies run their airline like a trucking company like those guys did. Anyone want to buy a bunch of junky Jetstreams?

Heaven forbid, pilots would have time off, good pay, mandatory rest periods throughout the day....

[osprey]

I love how wannabe is talking good about this company. Knowing him and the company it makes sense those two are a match made in heaven! That being said neither should be in the air.

Wannabe saying how the OLD management was the problem shows how you really don't know the company you are working for. The management never changed. Its the same thing as before. If the Swanberg's can get an OC back, I give it two years max

[wannabatp]

I love how wannabe is talking good about this company. Knowing him and the company it makes sense those two are a match made in heaven! That being said neither should be in the air.

Wannabe saying how the OLD management was the problem shows how you really don't know the company you are working for. The management never changed. Its the same thing as before. If the Swanberg's can get an OC back, I give it two years max

I'm not sure who you are, although I have an idea. To suggest that neither I nor the company I work for should be flying is a heck of a charge. Takes big balls to make an 'anonymous' accusation like that. As far as a match made in heaven? Too early to tell yet.

Nevermind though. This thread started with Tube Driver asking about Swanberg. I've tried to answer as best I could with facts and invited further inquiries via PM. I stand by that.

Having said that, here are the facts:

The GM, Ops Manager and C.P. are all new. All have a great breadth of experience in the aviation industry. Ownership is well finanaced and are dedicated to seeing Swanberg Air fly again, which will happen in the very near future. Crews (Captains and F.O.s) are being sent to Flight Safety for sim training. Four J31's are being readied for service as we speak. None of which are "junk".

I can't comment on the obvious bad blood between FBOmanager and the Swanberg's or what Osprey has against me or the Swanberg's either.

All I can say is that I've been well treated so far, and very much look forward to the future.

That's all I have to say. If some of you want to dwell on the past at Swanberg, or perhaps my past, I can't and won't comment on that here. If someone would like more specific information, feel free to PM me.

Happy Turkey Day!

[ahramin]

The GM, Ops Manager and C.P. are all new. All have a great breadth of experience in the aviation industry. Ownership is well finanaced and are dedicated to seeing Swanberg Air fly again, which will happen in the very near future. Crews (Captains and F.O.s) are being sent to Flight Safety for sim training. Four J31's are being readied for service as we speak. None of which are "junk".

This is incorrect. The GM is not new. When he fired two pilots and then bad mouthed them behind their backs he started the process that ended with the OC being pulled. Hopefully the lesson has been learned. This was once a company with very loyal pilots.

[Captain Cobalt]

so far it seems like a good place to work... i dont know what the problem is?

[Tube Driver]

the GM is a real estate guy (ie. sell the building) and has no fixed wing experience just ask him.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

You had me willing to give you the benefit of doubt with regard to the quality of the new Swanberg Captain Cobalt until I got to here.

but it makes you look extremely uninformed about the industry you are in.

You obviously really have not seen much of this industry or your expectations are not very high because the aviation industry in Canada is pathetic at best.

By the way who made the decisions that resulted in two of Swanbergs female Captains losing their jobs just prior to them shutting down?

[osprey]

To all you new guys at Swanberg. There is no way you will convince this community that it is a good place to be. We saw how they treated people in the past and the main person for that is still there.

The J-31's should be shiny and new looking now, maintenance has had since march to work on them.

Exceptional training and all that is cool, I'm happy there are willing to do that for you. Just to let you get all rusty waiting for that OC to come in!

But hey if you are salaried and don't really like working it's the place to be, they just didn't offer me enough to sit around waiting!

[ahramin]

maintenance has had since march to work on them

Actually they were shut down April 17th.

Captain Cobalt, I would suggest you wait to learn more about your company and see how they actually operate before you start telling people intimately familiar with it that they are ignorant. A couple weeks of not operating does not make you an expert.

[osprey]

Close enough!

[TAXIservice]

The GM, Ops Manager and C.P. are all new. All have a great breadth of experience in the aviation industry. Ownership is well finanaced and are dedicated to seeing Swanberg Air fly again, which will happen in the very near future. Crews (Captains and F.O.s) are being sent to Flight Safety for sim training. Four J31's are being readied for service as we speak. None of which are "junk".

This is incorrect. The GM is not new. When he fired two pilots and then bad mouthed them behind their backs he started the process that ended with the OC being pulled. Hopefully the lesson has been learned. This was once a company with very loyal pilots.

The previous chief pilot and ops manager were not the problem. They were very good at their jobs but unfortunatly were only names on paper, no matter how much good they tried to do for the company. I wonder why it is so hard to hire new pilots? I hope this company has learned from its mistakes, but I somehow doubt it.

[TAXIservice]

Also, to the new hires, I hope dont expect per diems, hotels, or any other benefits which are industry standard. Enjoy cleaning airplanes and sweeping hangar floors between flights.

[looproll]

what color are the "new" Jetstreams?