Late Breaking News-USM and the Plane - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Mar 20, 2005

RE: Late Breaking News-USM and the Plane

Date: Mar 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Robert Campbell
"... One rationalization I've never heard at Clemson is that the university plane makes it easier to pull in the big grant bucks. Probably because our entire administration knows how absurd such a claim would be. Robert Campbell "

It might be because that such a large percent of USM's "grants" are pork, rather than competitive grants, that more handshaking in D.C. is required.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

$55K for 75 trips to Washington, D.C. = $733 per person.

Assuming these flights are out of Pine Belt on Northwest Airlink (see http://www.nwa.com/, with round-trip flights from PIB to WAS), they are costing nearly three times coach class with 3 weeks notice, and over two times coach class without much notice at all.

So, are these flights predominantly first-class? Typically that isn't done at state expense, and it sounds as though they are talking about "saving" Mississippi taxpayer money.

And the flight is already 5.5 hours on a jet plane. Are the sports folks really going to fly to DC on a plane at half that speed? That would tie up personnel for at least an extra day, with all the associated per diem.

Sounds like false "savings"--the school could save more by flying coach.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

USM used to have an airplane and got rid of it during AKL's regime. Perhaps someone even older than me can remember the dates and details.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

"a university that's circling the bowl, accreditation-wise"

This phrase, by RC, merits some kind of award. Thanks also to RC for giving us the highly useful term "Metaphor Alert," which has now become part of the standard lexicon of the board.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

i taught a class at the old natchez campus, the "company" plane flew us over each week for the night class

Date: Mar 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Bean counter
"Are the sports folks really going to fly to DC on a plane at half that speed? That would tie up personnel for at least an extra day. . . "

An expression among private airplaine owners is "If you've got time to spare, go by air." This saying refers to the fact that bad weather can really screw up the flight plans of private aircraft; the larger commercial craft, by comparision, are much more reliable in bad weather.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

when dealing with a private aircraft two things are certian

when you are justifying the purchase...you are saving money

when you are selling the plane....you are saving money

what is the first thing a corporating in trouble does to save money? sell the company plane

the plane being purchased is a 600 mile aircraft, great plane for a trip to atlanta or dallas

one trip to d.c. on this plane and you wont make any more!!

the general thought of saving money is based on the value of time of those flying nothing to do with real $$

Date: Mar 20, 2005

A 20 year old plane isn't necessarily an antique. It's the number of hours on the old girl that's the real indicator of age, not the year of manufacture. Having said that, if the travel expense figures cited are supposed to justify the purchase, they don't. They only illustrate that the person or persons who have booked flights to D.C. in past years don't give a rat's a$$ about advance planning or saving Mississippi taxpayers money. Those flights should have cost less than half the monies spent. The responsible parties should be terminated. That's the solution, not purchasing an airplane. I'm pretty sure one can fly from Jackson to D.C. on Southwest Airlines (which has no first class seats) for two hundred bucks and change, even less than that for Shelby after taking his senior citizen fare discount.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Chuck Yeager
"A 20 year old plane isn't necessarily an antique. It's the number of hours on the old girl that's the real indicator of age, not the year of manufacture. Having said that, if the travel expense figures cited are supposed to justify the purchase, they don't. They only illustrate that the person or persons who have booked flights to D.C. in past years don't give a rat's a$$ about advance planning or saving Mississippi taxpayers money. Those flights should have cost less than half the monies spent. The responsible parties should be terminated. That's the solution, not purchasing an airplane. I'm pretty sure one can fly from Jackson to D.C. on Southwest Airlines (which has no first class seats) for two hundred bucks and change, even less than that for Shelby after taking his senior citizen fare discount."

I have been flrying pretty regularly to DC over the past few years and have myself loisted on orbitz, etc. for fare chnages. I don't know if I've ever paid more than $250 out of Gulfport to get to Reagan, BWI or Dulles . . .

But then, I tend to pinch my pennies, fly coach, and don;t mind the 50 minute drive to and from Gulfport.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: stephen judd
" I have been flrying pretty regularly to DC over the past few years and have myself loisted on orbitz, etc. for fare chnages. I don't know if I've ever paid more than $250 out of Gulfport to get to Reagan, BWI or Dulles . "

Precisely my point. Thanks.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

The plane is all about big time sports and prestige. Flying in to talk
to a prospect makes you look good. Buying the plane impresses sports
boosters that you are trying to move up. This isn't about trips to
Washington. It's about bragging rights -- like say that you have the largest enrollment of any school between Purvis and Petal.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Hop Harrigan
"The plane is all about big time sports and prestige. Flying in to talk to a prospect makes you look good. Buying the plane impresses sports boosters that you are trying to move up. This isn't about trips to Washington. It's about bragging rights -- like say that you have the largest enrollment of any school between Purvis and Petal. "

OK, now I get it. It's all about resolving a case of USM aeronautical penis envy.

Date: Mar 20, 2005

quote:
Originally posted by: Chuck Yeager
"OK, now I get it. It's all about resolving a case of USM aeronautical penis envy."

"USM aeronautical penis envy!" Ya gotta kick this one.