Bank Check Aviation

The Los Angeles Times has an article about pilots who fly bank checks
around the country each night. With the modernization of check
processing, these flights will be needed less in the future.

"AirNet's 128 planes, many of them speedy Learjets, are small enough and
nimble enough to pack and leave at a moment's notice. Safety is
important, but so are deadlines."If there's a runway, we'll fly. Ice? No
problem. Tornadoes? Go around 'em," said pilot Joe Pyka. "We had guys
flying checks to the banks during the hurricanes in Florida, even though
the banks were shut down. Nothing stops us."


Los Angles Times Article: http://tinyurl.com/3zeqc

Ron R wrote:
The Los Angeles Times has an article about pilots who fly bank checks
around the country each night. With the modernization of check
processing, these flights will be needed less in the future.

"AirNet's 128 planes, many of them speedy Learjets, are small enough
and
nimble enough to pack and leave at a moment's notice. Safety is
important, but so are deadlines."If there's a runway, we'll fly. Ice?
No
problem. Tornadoes? Go around 'em," said pilot Joe Pyka. "We had guys
flying checks to the banks during the hurricanes in Florida, even
though
the banks were shut down. Nothing stops us."

Yea, the world seems a bit different when you have a great de-icing
system, weather radar, flight dispatchers updating your weather/route
in flight on company freq.

-Robert

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
oups.com...

Ron R wrote:
The Los Angeles Times has an article about pilots who fly bank checks
around the country each night. With the modernization of check
processing, these flights will be needed less in the future.
It's estimated that in less than ten years such tranfser will be equivalent
to the Pony Express.


"AirNet's 128 planes, many of them speedy Learjets, are small enough
and
nimble enough to pack and leave at a moment's notice. Safety is
important, but so are deadlines."If there's a runway, we'll fly. Ice?
No
problem. Tornadoes? Go around 'em," said pilot Joe Pyka. "We had guys
flying checks to the banks during the hurricanes in Florida, even
though
the banks were shut down. Nothing stops us."

Yea, the world seems a bit different when you have a great de-icing
system, weather radar, flight dispatchers updating your weather/route
in flight on company freq.

And eventually all for naught.


--
Matt
---------------------
Matthew W. Barrow
Site-Fill Homes, LLC.
Montrose, CO

"Robert M. Gary" wrote in message
problem. Tornadoes? Go around 'em," said pilot Joe Pyka. "We had guys
flying checks to the banks during the hurricanes in Florida, even
though
the banks were shut down. Nothing stops us."

Yea, the world seems a bit different when you have a great de-icing
system, weather radar, flight dispatchers updating your weather/route
in flight on company freq.

Eh? I used to know a couple of check fliers about 20 years ago. They all
flew 150's and 172's. Has the industry changed that much?

--
Jim Fisher

Jim Fisher wrote:

Eh? I used to know a couple of check fliers about 20 years ago.
They all
flew 150's and 172's. Has the industry changed that much?

Maybe, maybe not. This article was talking about LearJets. I'm sure
others work differently, but I was responding to the article.

Robert M. Gary wrote:
Jim Fisher wrote:

Eh? I used to know a couple of check fliers about 20 years ago.
They all
flew 150's and 172's. Has the industry changed that much?

Maybe, maybe not. This article was talking about LearJets. I'm sure
others work differently, but I was responding to the article.

Depends on where the checks are going. If you're hauling large
loads of checks from L.A. to Seattle, you're probably going to get
better service from a well equipped turbine.

The check operations that I'm familiar with used to haul checks
around towns within a state. These generally used smaller piston
powered GA aircraft.

John Galban=====N4BQ (PA28-180)

wrote in message
oups.com...

The check operations that I'm familiar with used to haul checks
around towns within a state. These generally used smaller piston
powered GA aircraft.


There you have it. With a half dozen banks slowly taking the whole industry
over you're going from a point-to-point operation to a hub-and-spoke one.
Paper checks- just one more piece of the old world that our grandkids will
find impossible to believe ever existed.

-cwk.

flight dispatchers updating your weather/route
in flight on company freq.

Where do you get that from? Most of the 135 operators that carry checks have
dispatchers, but we don't get updated weather enroute from them. It's good ol'
flight watch or just talking to the controller.
Also, a majority of the airplanes are singles and light twins. Most do not have
things like radar and de-icing equipment can be marginal at best. Most don't
even have autopilots.

Companies like Ameriflight operate Metroliners single pilot with no autopilot,
radar, etc...talk about a handful at times.

Incidently, Airnet's fleet is mostly piston twins.







-John
*You are nothing until you have flown a Douglas, Lockheed, Grumman or North
American*