Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak with Gad Barnea, the Chief Executive Officer of Miwok Airways, Inc. (Photo courtesy of Esther Dyson to the right). We talked for over an hour with a lot of enthusiasm about his planned operation. Here is some more information from Gad:
- Miwok will operate as a franchise and will provide opportunities for others in other geographic areas. Northern California is next.
- Miwok has been working on its algorithms and software for over two years.
- The implications of social networking by leveraging the Internet are fairly significant. Miwok's website will allow you to keep track of those flying the same routes as you, identify those with whom you have flown before and will allow others to do the same with you if you choose to make your flights public. This makes a lot of sense for the frequent travelers who see the same faces on the same routes. This concept reminds me of a "win win" scenario much like a vehicular mandated 2-3 person carpool HOV lanes in DC. You might pick up a total stranger from the "slug line" to benefit from the ability to travel in the HOV lane and then decide to travel regularly with that person.
- When you book a flight by yourself, you will pay the full fare . If others join you, your cost will decrease and you will get a credit after flight completion.
- You will enter geographic addresses of departure and origin and the software will tell you the nearest secondary airfields. It will also identify other already scheduled flights which might accommodate your request. You can choose to join one of the existing flights or book your own hoping others might join you.
- You can also choose for your flight to be private, thereby not allowing others to see your schedule of flights or join your flight.
- To qualify as a Miwok franchisee, the operator will need to have a single engine Part 135 certificate with Cirrus aircraft on its operations specifications. Miwok will then screen you pursuant to its selection criteria also. Other aircraft might be considered at a later date, but the model intends to follows a "keep it standardized and simple" model just like Southwest Airlines has done so successfully for so many years.
- Miwok will operate as a hybrid - not really an air taxi model on the meter, but cost apportioned of the ticket for the route based on the traditional airline "per seat mile."
- The locations of the flights will be passenger demand driven. Destinations and departure fields will be driven by passengers' requests and not specifically identified in advance by Miwok.
- Like a traditional air carrier website, you will have the opportunity to book a rental car or other accommodations on the Miwok site.
Like many in this field, Gad has a very strong technology background. He has also assembled a fine team of professionals with aviation backgrounds to advise him. A thirty minute flight in a Cirrus for about $85 sure beats two and a half hours on Interstates 5, 105, 110, 405, 605 or 710.
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