Category: Transportation
Changing Planes at O’Hare: God Smiles on Me!
I’ve now experienced this sort of a very pleasant, unexpected airline experience twice…. in 15 years. Changing planes recently at O’hare, I literally jogged from one end of Terminal B to the far end of terminal F in 9 minutes, trying to catch an early flight to Madison. I arrived at the gate with 6 minutes to spare.
The gate attendant waved me through and I walked outside, toward the 50 seat jet. A member of the ground crew then told me that because the Canadair jet’s doors had just closed, I had to return to the terminal. During this discussion, the Air Wisconsin (United Express) Pilot sent another ground crew member toward me to walk me to the plane. They opened the aircraft and I walked on board…..
Flying through O’Hare several times the past few months, I noticed that flights are far more reliable and predictable than one year ago. I emailed Kevin LaWare, Air Wisconsin’s Vice President of Operations to thank him for this vast improvement in service.
LaWare is in a tough spot, working with a bankrupt major carrier (United Airlines). United is evidently shopping their regional services again (squeezing prices) – putting some more pressure on Appleton based regional carrier Air Wisconsin.
I’m impressed with their service and hope they continue to improve.
UPDATE: The Boyd Group takes apart a recent Wharton Study on the airline industry’s problems.
Dave Zweifel on Madison’s Rail Service
Dave Zweifel keeps the flame burning on Madison rail service. I do think it is time for a serious run at this, perhaps funded by an increase in the gas tax (money that currently funds roads). High speed rail that links Minneapolis, Madison, Milwaukee and Chicago would be a wonderful public good AND help to improve the O’hare morass.
Marquette Interchange Website
Today the Milwaukee Journal has a story about the state’s no bid
website for the Marquette Interchange project. $685,000!!!!?
More on Microjets
Sara Kehaulani Goo on Microjets or Very Light Jets (VLJ’s) and the emerging air taxi system ($6/mile):
The fledgling industry is “going to be looked upon like the Wright brothers in 1903,” said Ken Hespe, a spokesman for the National Consortium for Aviation Mobility, a nonprofit group that has been studying and developing new uses for the nation’s tiniest airports and for small jets with NASA, which estimates a market for 8,300 microjets by 2010. “It’s going to be a revolution in the transportation industry,” Hespe said.
Analysts say microjets will appeal to a cross-section of customers including corporations, which might add planes to their fleets, and wealthy travelers who are looking for a less-expensive alternative to owning a jet. Since 2001, companies such as NetJets have grown by providing access to planes around the world for members who pay for fractional ownership of aircraft. Aviation experts say air taxis with all-microjet fleets could serve as an even more affordable version of the fractional ownership aircraft model.
The Next “Big Thing” in Travel – Good News for Madison
Jay Palmer on the booming world of private jets; or why the emerging micro jet based air taxi services will improve Madison’s transportation options:
It used to be that if you wanted to use a private jet, the only choice was to go out and buy one, and that’s still the way that most of the 25,000 corporate aircraft in the U.S. are operated. Out-and-out ownership is still rising, but the biggest growth is coming elsewhere.
Aircraft charter activity, for instance, is booming. Todd Rome, president of Blue Star Jets, claims 350% annual growth in business since the company’s founding in 2001. Other schemes are also taking shape, particularly the idea of small “air taxis” that you could simply summon to a local airport for a quick hop at a reasonable rate.
Don Burr, founder of the erstwhile air pioneer People Express, and former American Airlines CEO Robert Crandall have joined ranks to set up such a service in Connecticut and southern New York state, with plans to eventually expand down the Eastern seaboard. Finance permitting, Pogo, as the company will be named, will start next spring using a new breed of four-passenger “micro jets,” which are less expensive to manufacture and operate than traditional jets. Though a round-trip fare will be higher than a first-class commercial ticket, it will be far less than chartering a private jet.
But such deals remain small beer compared with the real action, which is in fractional ownership schemes — a form of time sharing at 30,000 feet. NetJets, a subsidiary of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, is easily the world’s biggest operator of business jets, with a fleet of than 535 planes, including some based in Europe and a small fleet in the Middle East. Its three big rivals are all owned by the major corporate jet builders, Bombardier’s FlexJet, Raytheon’s Flight Options and Textron’s CitationShares.
Now, if we could only get wireless internet access at the Dane County Airport (it is nearly 2005, after all).
Passing time at O’Hare
Walking from gate to gate at O’Hare recently, I observed two mischevious fellows (dudes?) using a string to tempt travellers with a $1 bill tied to a string – tied to their cell phone. They told me that during the past 45 minutes, 20 people chased the dollar bill…… click on the photo to view a larger version
Spaceship One Photos
Alan Redecki just posted some gorgeous photos from SpaceShipOne’s most recent flight. Somehow, I doubt that NASA tows its vehicles with a pickup truck. Classic.
Madison Air Travel Update
The US DOT’s Air Travel Consumer Report (300K PDF) summarizes quality of services issues for national frequent flyers. The Dane County Regional Airport reported the following for July, 2004:
- on time arrivals: 66.5%
- on time departures 79.6%
In a related note, former American Airlines CEO Bob Crandall discussed the industry’s woes and announced his new air taxi service (Pogo) during a speech yesterday at the Wings Club.
I believe “Pogo” type services will be the rule, over time, particularily for short routes.
Portland Aiport Gets Free WiFi
Nigel Ballard of Personal Telco reports that Portland International Airport will have free Wi-Fi: Ballard told an audience at a meeting of the community wireless group this evening that the Port of Portland will turn on 25 access points by Oct. 1 to offer free service at gates and check-in areas. They’re committed to covering the cost of operation for the first year, and then re-evaluating whether fees would be added. Ballard is part of the Portland Telecommunications Steering Committee, and an active community networker and commercial infrastructure builder….
The Dane County Regional Airport, unfortunately, plans to (finally!) add WiFi. However, it will be rather unfriendly – users will have to pay via credit card to use the service (Editors note: I wonder if the cost to administer the paid service will be covered by the small amount of revenue that DCRA WiFi will generate. The airport is just not that big and frankly, flight delays are likely the only time most people will sign up). Send a note to Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk if you’d like to see another approach. Albuquerque’s Sunport also takes an enlightened position: WiFi is free to all. The DCRA position makes no sense.