UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington DC 20549
FORM 8K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) October 09, 1998
Big Sky Transportation Company
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
MONTANA 1-7991 81-0387503
(State or other (Commission (IRS Employer
jurisdiction file number) identification
of incorporation) number)
1601 Aviation Place, Billings MT 59105
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (406) 245-9449
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Item 1. Not Applicable
Item 2. Not Applicable
Item 3. Not Applicable
Item 4. Not Applicable
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Item 5. Other Events
BIG SKY AIRLINES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE TO
SOUTH-CENTRAL UNITED STATES COMMUNITIES
Billings, MT--Big Sky Airlines ("Big Sky"), a regional passenger airline
with principal place of business in Billings, MT has been selected by the
U.S. Department of Transportation ("DOT") to provide Essential Air Service
("EAS") operations in the south-central United States. The DOT selection
order was docketed on October 8, 1998. The selection order provides that
Big Sky shall take over EAS operations to eight communities in three states:
Texas, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Big Sky is to serve as an emergency
replacement carrier for Aspen Mountain Air, which has been providing these
services.
The communities to be served in Arkansas are Hot Springs, Mountain Home,
Jonesboro, Harrison, and El Dorado; in Texas, Brownwood; and in Oklahoma,
Enid and Ponca City. Service hubs will be Dallas, TX and St. Louis, MO.
Services will be phased in by Big Sky over the next sixty days. Aspen
Mountain Air is required by the DOT to continue providing service to the
affected communities until Big Sky's services begin.
Big Sky projects that by December 1, 1998, it will be operating a fleet of
thirteen Metroliner III Aircraft to twenty-four communities in seven states.
Big Sky's employment will increase from 105 to approximately 185 persons.
Ten of the new employees to be hired are expected to be stationed in
Billings, MT, increasing Big Sky's Montana based personnel to approximately
115 persons. Big Sky hopes to employ displaced personnel from Aspen Mountain
Air to fill positions needed for operations in the south-central United
States. Under the selection order Big Sky Airlines shall receive an annual
subsidy of $6.3 million for the new services through November, 1999.
Big Sky recently celebrated its 20th Anniversary of providing scheduled
passenger air services as a regional carrier.
Item 6. Not Applicable
Item 7. Not Applicable
Item 8. Not Applicable
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
BIG SKY TRANSPORTATION CO.
d.b.a BIG SKY AIRLINES
By:/s/ Kim Champney
Kim Champney
President
Dated: October 9, 1998
