[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 140 (Thursday, October 8, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S12024]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 BIG SKY AIRLINES TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to congratulate a 
small business in my state, Big Sky Airlines, on their 20th 
Anniversary.
  Big Sky Airlines commenced scheduled passenger service on September 
11, 1978. The initial flight flew from Billings to Helena with 
continuing service to Kalispell. The aircraft was a Hadley-Paige 
Jetstream with a seating capacity of 19.
  Today, Big Sky operates a fleet of six nineteen-passenger Metro III 
aircraft, with service to 12 cities in Montana and Spokane, Washington. 
The company operates out of its hub in Billings and provides connecting 
opportunities from Eastern and Central Montana to it's markets in the 
west. The Montana cities are Glasgow, Glendive, Miles City, Wolf Point 
and Sidney in the east. Havre and Lewistown in central Montana and 
Great Falls, Helena, Missoula, Kalispell and Spokane in the west. All 
of the eastern and central Montana service is operated under the 
Essential Air Service subsidy contract with the Department of 
Transportation.
  Big Sky Airlines has been through a lot in their 20 years of 
providing service in Montana. They've had their good times and bad. 
However, through it all they continued to provide service to remote 
areas that would have been further isolated from the Nation's economic 
centers without them. The Essential Air Service program is critical to 
these communities. Without this service, these communities would be 
seriously hampered in their efforts to attract new business or even to 
retain those they now have, resulting in further strain on local 
economies and loss of jobs.
  In my visits to the state, I frequently fly on Big Sky Airlines. In 
our state, to many cities, it's the ONLY way to fly. I've had lots of 
experiences, I could tell you about. However, I'd rather talk about the 
many families I've seen reunited as the Big Sky plane lands in those 
rural communities.
  I'd like to congratulate the Board of Big Sky Airlines and their 
chairman, Jon Marchi for their foresight and perseverance. I'd also 
like to congratulate the officers of the company: Kim Champney, the 
President and CEO, and Craig Denney, the Executive Vice President and 
Chief Operating officer. Kim has only been there a short time, but is 
moving the company in exciting new directions. I've personally seen 
Craig load the luggage, check in the passengers and send the airplane 
on it's way. He knows how to do every job in the company and do it 
well.
  I'd also like to congratulate John Rabenberg and the other members of 
the Essential Air Service task force for the hard work they do in their 
communities for this program.
  Big Sky Airlines currently employs 103 people throughout its system 
(all in Montana). And you can tell it's a good company to work for. 
Whether you are checking in at the counter, or watching the pilots get 
ready to take-off, they are very customer service oriented. It's a 
pleasure to fly with them, and Mr. President, it's a pleasure for me 
today to congratulate them on their 20th Anniversary and to wish them 
many more years of flying the big sky of Montana.

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