I'M OUT!!! sort of...

This forum has been developed to discuss aviation related topics.

Moderators: lilfssister, North Shore, sky's the limit, sepia, Sulako, I WAS Birddog

Post Reply
User avatar
Airtids
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1643
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:56 am
Location: The Rock

I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by Airtids »

After 8 years of running our own operation, Mrs. Airtids, Airtids Jr., Airtids-to-be (early March), and I are moving on to bigger and (hopefully) better things :D . I’d like to give a big thanks to everyone who helped to make our voyage a great one, and all the advice, encouragement and wisdom offered along the way. In particular, Andrew Werner, Chris Massey, Don Milburn, and Corey Booth- the best staff a family could ask to work with, and we couldn’t have done it without you :supz: . Going away beers are on us!

I take great pride in having started High Alpine Air with one C172 (and a big bank loan), and turning it into a successful, viable, and profitable five machine (single/multi/wheels/floats) 406/702/703 operation along with an AMO. When we first got into this, all I wanted to do was fly airplanes in what I believe is absolutely the BEST area on the planet. I’ve been very fortunate to have gotten to do that, and in spades. However, I’ve learned that the flying is the easy part. This has been a tremendous learning experience- there was SOOOO much I didn’t know from a management perspective :oops: . We went through a few of the toughest years this industry has seen (post 911), and somehow managed to survive while others around us didn’t. It has been one hell of a ride, I’ve got some amazing stories, and we’re going out on top; just the way I wanted to.

The business is good, the flying is spectacular, and the characters we deal with are second-to-none, regardless of their idiosyncrasies :rolleyes: ; certainly one of the more interesting aspects of this job. I’m really going to miss it, but with Mrs. Airtids being such an integral part of the business, and another little one on the way, there’s just no way we could keep it up, and continue to run the safe, professional operation we have always aspired to. We live in a great spot, and I have to credit Nelson, B.C. with being a big part of our success :smt023 . I’m going to miss this place (beginning of ski season too!) but we’re relocating to another pretty desirable location so I can’t really complain too much.

I’ve also been very lucky to have gotten to deal with great folks at T.C.: Brian Penner, Craig Alguire, Leigh Manyk and Bruce Boechler (the hardest working civil servant I’ve ever had the pleasure of answering my telephone call at 17:06 hrs on a Friday). Thanks for your help everytime I had a last-minute problem that needed a signature “yesterday”.

Finally, a big cheers to the Avcanadians who have been so supportive too: Cat, twotter, Northshore, xsbank, birddog, Apache64, marktheone, Dust Devil, all the members of the Chief Pilots/Ops Manager forum, ahramin, mikegtzg, and of course Joe for providing a place where we can all come to get help flattening out our own respective learning curves.

Keep the shiny side up!
Robin Tidswell

ps. If anyone is looking to get into the ownership side of this industry, I know of this place… pm me. Tids
---------- ADS -----------
 
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
DA900
Rank 7
Rank 7
Posts: 705
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 3:21 pm
Location: CYYC

Post by DA900 »

Congrats on the move Airtids

Nice to read a thread that isn't trashing TC and flying in general. Too many of us including myself use this forum as a bitch session to point out everything that is wrong with aviation, and rarely anything right. You do bring a refreshing pause to it.
Nice place you choose to start. It is hard to beat BC for a beautiful environment to work in. Hope you have all the success in the future. Congrats on the new little one on the way.

Take care…

DA900
---------- ADS -----------
 
Rectum, damn near killed 'em
co-joe
Rank 11
Rank 11
Posts: 4731
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 2:33 am
Location: YYC 230 degree radial at about 10 DME

Post by co-joe »

Good to hear you are moving somewhere you want to go. Keep us up to date on your adventures. Too bad you're missing ski season...more fresh lines for me over new year's I guess.

CJ
---------- ADS -----------
 
xsbank
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 5655
Joined: Thu Apr 15, 2004 4:00 pm
Location: "The Coast"

Post by xsbank »

So you've finally decided to go back to work, eh?

Seriously, though, congratulations! Life always has mysterious ways of keeping things interesting!
---------- ADS -----------
 
"What's it doing now?"
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
User avatar
mikegtzg
Rank 5
Rank 5
Posts: 306
Joined: Tue Mar 23, 2004 12:05 am
Location: 1000' & 66 kts. above Manitoba

Post by mikegtzg »

Mr. Airtids...Good luck with your future endeavours. And all the best to Mrs. Airtids and little Airtids and your staff.
Perhaps our paths will cross again sometime. Aviation is a really small place. And if you and the family are ever out in YWG. I'll gladly flip you the keys (actually it doesn't have keys...but) for an aviation fix.

ALSO...does this move require you to sell the Landcruiser? LOL
---------- ADS -----------
 
. ._
Top Poster
Top Poster
Posts: 7374
Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:50 pm
Location: Cowering in my little room because the Water Cooler is locked.
Contact:

Post by . ._ »

The only constant in life is change.

Good luck, Airtids! I hope with your new undertakings you can spend more time with your family and less time hunting through the CARs.

-istp :D
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
Apache64_
Rank 5
Rank 5
Posts: 322
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 8:07 pm

Post by Apache64_ »

Good Luck Tids!!

Keep us posted with your new adventures. Congrats on the new addition to the family.


Apache
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
Vickers vanguard
Rank 7
Rank 7
Posts: 533
Joined: Mon Aug 23, 2004 2:04 pm
Location: YUL

Re: I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by Vickers vanguard »

Airtids wrote:, Mrs. Airtids, Airtids Jr., Airtids-to-be (early March), and I are moving on to bigger and (hopefully) better things :D .
come-on, give us a hint to where you're heading next ?? out of BC ?? you've given up on Fort nelson?? after all that fight to keep the airport open !
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
seniorpumpkin
Rank 4
Rank 4
Posts: 238
Joined: Fri Aug 24, 2007 7:54 pm

Post by seniorpumpkin »

Thanks to Robin, Bonnie, and Laurel for giving me the greatest experience of all my training!! Flying with you folks was tremendous, and the memories will always remind me of the best flying I've done! Nelson will surely miss you folks, I wish you all the best!
---------- ADS -----------
 
Flying airplanes is easy, you just need to PAY ATTENTION. Finding a good job on the other hand takes experience, practice, and some serious talent.
User avatar
ski_bum
Rank 6
Rank 6
Posts: 424
Joined: Mon Feb 16, 2004 9:07 am
Location: Weinerpeg

Post by ski_bum »

Good luck Mr. AirTids... Congrats!
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
Airtids
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1643
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:56 am
Location: The Rock

Post by Airtids »

Well, thanks for all the good wishes. While I don't want to get too in depth about where I'm headed until I get a chance to meet my new staff/co-workers/partners/friends face-to-face, suffice it to say I'm staying in the industry, moving onto WAY bigger equipment, and residing in BC. Really couldn't ask for more, and would also like to take this opportunity to thank my new employers for giving me this phenomenal opportunity. I'll do my best to make sure you get everything you're hoping for, and then some!

Vickers, I'm not so much giving up on Nelson (not Ft. Nelson, totally different beast), as taking the opportunity to move on to something better. I still own a place here, call Nelson home, and this town is my back-up plan. Gotta go to work somewhere else for a (hopefully long) while, though!

mikegtzg, the Landcruiser stays. At this point I believe the proper terminology for parting ways with that beast is “divorce” :P ! BTW, after a hellacious end of summer, the whoopee cushion you gave to my daughter mercifully had its last ‘toot’ sometime in early October. Many thanks for that :roll: , and I too hope our paths cross again.

xs, like anything in this business, when things are going well, it’s really hard to call it work 8) . I’m incredibly excited (and sort of terrified at the same time :shock: ) about the prospects, and of course will keep everyone updated on the unfoldings.

co-joe, judging by the dump we had here two days ago, there'll be plenty of freshies for both of us! Have fun. It was a sad day at the Whitewater office yesterday returning my pass, but I assured them I'll be back to cut lines whenever I can. :wink:
---------- ADS -----------
 
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
User avatar
Captain CADORS
Rank 2
Rank 2
Posts: 54
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2006 4:36 pm

All the Best to You Folks

Post by Captain CADORS »

Airtids,

Thanks so much for your courtesy and positive influence on this site! I second the topnotch work from Brian Penner of TC. More attitudes like yours and Penner's would do us all a lot of good. All the best at your next job and with the new little one to come!

Yours,

CADORS :smt039
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
Airtids
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1643
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:56 am
Location: The Rock

Re: I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by Airtids »

OK. I'm here now, and things are settling in :shock: .

I'm the new Ops Manager, Chief Pilot, and CFI of Pacific Sky Aviation Inc. http://www.pacificsky.ca, the new incarnation of Juan Air http://www.juanair.com down here at CYYJ, on beautiful Vancouver Island. Please note, website amalgamation will be one of our first priorities, but this will give you an indication of what this operation does. I'll be onto the Conquest right away, and then into the Boeing after we get some things under control. I'm not in any hurry, to be honest; seems my learning curve is going to be steep enough...

I've met my staff, and have to say I really couldn't ask for more. Everyone is young, capable, and keen. With the exception of the engineer who is the same crotchety old fart he was when I worked here a decade ago. It's a good thing he's so damn good at his job :wink: . Our fleet is absolutely the nicest I've seen, both for the school and the charter sides.

I'm really excited about this opportunity. We have the staff, the location, and the resources to turn this place into a really amazing operation. The previous owner did a smashing job for the past 30ish years, and I'm honoured to be trusted to take over the reigns under the new guard and see where we can take it.

Stay tuned...


Tids
ps, as before, the offer always stands: Drop by for a visit anytime you're in the neighborhood. I'm a bit of a talker... :oops:
---------- ADS -----------
 
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
sky's the limit
Rank Moderator
Rank Moderator
Posts: 4614
Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2005 11:38 am
Location: Now where's the starter button on this thing???

Re: I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by sky's the limit »

Congratulations Tids, sounds like a positive change for you and your family. YYJ is great, I have a condo for sale if you're looking.... ;)


stl
---------- ADS -----------
 
Chuck Ellsworth
Rank 11
Rank 11
Posts: 3074
Joined: Sat Sep 22, 2007 6:49 am
Location: Always moving

Re: I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by Chuck Ellsworth »

and then into the Boeing after we get some things under control.
Did you ever get time to read all those Boeing manuals I gave you? :mrgreen:
---------- ADS -----------
 
The most difficult thing about flying is knowing when to say no.

After over a half a century of flying I can not remember even one trip that I refused to do that resulted in someone getting killed because of my decision not to fly.
User avatar
Airtids
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1643
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:56 am
Location: The Rock

Re: I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by Airtids »

.,
I looked at the contents page, but there weren't enough pictures for me, so I found something else to do :mrgreen: . Looks like I'm going to have to buckle down, though. I have a buddy who's just gone to WJ this past year who said he's happy to drag me through the program even before I go on course.

STL,
Thanks. The market here is INSANE compared to what I'm used to. $400,000 will get you a nice crack-house in Esquimalt. Family of four plus dogs, cats and chickens, unfortunately a condo will not do. If you've got a nice place on a few acres in Saanich, though...


Tids
---------- ADS -----------
 
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
CYOX
Rank 4
Rank 4
Posts: 208
Joined: Wed Jan 26, 2005 3:13 pm

Re: I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by CYOX »

Is the 37 going to be re-registered to a C reg from a VP?
---------- ADS -----------
 
180
Rank 7
Rank 7
Posts: 636
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 2:10 pm

Re: I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by 180 »

Best of luck in your new gig Tids.

It's not as close as Washington, but if you're into T-bar accessed touring, you have to check out Mt. Cain between Woss and Sayward, north of Campbell.

Have fun...
---------- ADS -----------
 
User avatar
Airtids
Rank (9)
Rank (9)
Posts: 1643
Joined: Sat Feb 21, 2004 12:56 am
Location: The Rock

Re: I'M OUT!!! sort of...

Post by Airtids »

CYOX,
The management of the Boeing is not really my responsibility, but as far as I know it has never been a VP. It was formerly P4 (Aruba, I think), and for the past few years has been C-F.

180,
Thanks. You're the fourth who's recommended Cain. Coming from WH2O, it looks like it's right up my alley.
---------- ADS -----------
 
Aviation- the hardest way possible to make an easy living!
"You can bomb the world to pieces, but you can't bomb it into peace!" Michael Franti- Spearhead
"Trust everyone, but cut the cards". My Grandma.
Post Reply

Return to “General Comments”