-------------- Original message --------------
From: "truenorth1106" <truenorth1106@...>

just stumbled onto this site. And saw some old names I knew. I flew for
AIA/Markair from 1978 to 1987. Was some of my greatest times. And we
had some of the best employees in the industry. Hope to see some more
posts. Dave Krone

Just stumbled onto this site. And saw some old names I remember. I flew
for AIA/Markair from 1978 to 1987. Some of the best people in the
business worked for this company. I really enjoyed my time there. I
hope to see some more posts.   Dave Krone

just stumbled onto this site. And saw some old names I knew. I flew for
AIA/Markair from 1978 to 1987. Was some of my greatest times. And we
had some of the best employees in the industry. Hope to see some more
posts.    Dave Krone

Glad I found this site...what a surprise.! I was in the 5th flight
attendant class in Anchorage.  What great memories I have from being
at Mark Air.  We graduated in Feb of '86?  I flew up until the
expansion to Seattle...I look forward to hearing of any further
reunions & any other 'stuff'!!

Oh, I forgot....my name....Kris Shiesl....not a blonde...just gett'n
old!!

> FROM: cdbowdish@yahoo.com
>
> blaine---I wanted to see and share the pics
> with people here at Spirit Airlines (in Flordia)
> but was unable to retreive them.

Go to http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/markair/. Then log using
your Yahoo ID and password. On the left, you'll see a menu which
includes "Photos." Click on that and you'll see three photo albums.
The second album has the accident photos. If you still have problems,
let me know.

Blaine Nay

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Thanks Stephanie,
I had no idea that there were reunions taking place. I
would love to come to one. Your name sounds familiar
to me. Have we met before?

Kevin

--- stephslaughter@... wrote:

> Hey Kevin,
> Sorry you could not make the reunion.  It was a
> great time.  Take care.
> Steph Slaughter
> flight attendant
>
> -------------- Original message --------------
> From: "kevinbergt" <kevinbergt@...>
>
> > Thanks for the invitation
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Instead of thinking of reasons why it can't be
> done, find ways to do it." --
> > Neil Bergt, Chairman & CEO, MarkAir
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "kevinbergt" <kevinbergt@...>

> Thanks for the invitation
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
> Check out the new improvements in Yahoo! Groups email.
> http://us.click.yahoo.com/6pRQfA/fOaOAA/yQLSAA/VBhwlB/TM
> --------------------------------------------------------------------~->
>
> "Instead of thinking of reasons why it can't be done, find ways to do it." --
> Neil Bergt, Chairman & CEO, MarkAir
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> <*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/markair/
>
> <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> markair-unsubsc ribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
> http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
>
>
>

Thanks for the invitation

> FROM: cdbowdish@...
>
> blaine---I wanted to see and share the pics
> with people here at Spirit Airlines (in Flordia)
> but was unable to retreive them.

Go to http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/markair/. Then log using
your Yahoo ID and password. On the left, you'll see a menu which
includes "Photos." Click on that and you'll see three photo albums.
The second album has the accident photos. If you still have problems,
let me know.

Blaine Nay

I have added some photos of the accident in which N674MA landed 72
feet short of runway 12 at Dutch Harbor on 25 Sep 1985 -- about 3
months before I joined the company. Nancy Pullen provided the
pictures. The photos are at
http://finance.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/markair/photos/browse/c44b.
The accident report is online at
http://amelia.db.erau.edu/reports/ntsb/aar/AAR87-02S.pdf.

Blaine Nay

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

I have added some photos of the accident in which N674MA landed 72
feet short of runway 12 at Dutch Harbor on 25 Sep 1985 -- about 3
months before I joined the company. Nancy Pullen provided the
pictures. The photos are at
http://finance.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/markair/photos/browse/c44b.
The accident report is online at
http://amelia.db.erau.edu/reports/ntsb/aar/AAR87-02S.pdf.

Blaine Nay

"Nancy (McGlaughn) Pullen" <luckyduck0925@...> wrote:
>
> I hope this BB isn't just for pilots!

This forum is for everyione who worked for MarkAir. Even the Bergts are
welcome (if they dare <g>).

Blaine Nay

By the way - I've got several (8 or 9) photos of the Dutch Harbor
crash in 1985 - at least I think that's when it was - '85 or '86.  I
found them while going through some old boxes.  If anyone wants them
I'll gladly mail them to you.  As I recall, no one was injured, - but
pieces of the 737 were scattered the length of the runway.  The pics
also show the plane's final resting spot, kind of on one side.  It
wasn't the best landing ever. : )  I don't have any use for them, but
if there's a Markair historian out there you're welcome to them.

Nancy (njpullen@...)

Hi ~ I hope this BB isn't just for pilots! I'm hoping to reconnect
with some of the original Fairbanks girls ~
Jackie,Nancy,Connie,Donna,Pam,Susie,etc. What a fun bunch!! We all
scattered, some to Northwest, some  to United, some to Alaska Airlines
- I think some went on to other careers (Lyneen is now president of
the Fairbanks Chamber - anyone surprised??). I'd love to hear from any
of the Farbanks girls that remember frozen jetways, burning mosquito
coils under the ticket counter, working the Night Rider with crazy
Mike Wilcox, the Dove bar fiasco...and Steve Thomas, the resident
pervert..."Oops, I dropped my pencil down your shirt". If you're out
there, send me a line so we can catch up.  I'd love to hear your
stories!!

Nancy (McGlaughn) Pullen  -  luckyduck0925@...

Cooper Landing resident Wayne "Fritz" Koecher Jr., 24, died in an
airplane accident Jan. 2, 2006, near Seward.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Kenai Lake Baptist Church in
Cooper Landing.

Mr. Koecher was born April 15, 1981, in Soldotna to Wayne and Sharon
Koecher. He attended Cooper Landing Elementary, Skyview High School
in Soldotna and Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle.

A lifelong Alaskan until his college years, Mr. Koecher returned to
Alaska and worked for the Alaska Railroad in 2003 and Summit Lake
Lodge in 2004. He went on to work at Sawyer Oar Factory in Talent,
Ore., during fall 2004, then returned to Alaska one year later.

Family members and friends remember his "gentle, quiet, and loving
personality, which made him a truly unforgettable young man," they
said. "Fritz had a special talent for music and art paired with an
active appreciation for nature and the great outdoors. His love for
music and the ability to express himself through his art will be
greatly missed.

"He was a treasure that we were only able to enjoy for a short time,
and he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him. As a
final generous act, Fritz gave the gift of life through organ
donation to make life better for many others."

Mr. Koecher is survived by his parents, Wayne and Sharon Koecher of
Cooper Landing; sister and brother-in-law, Farrah and Adam Weinert of
Portland, Ore.; brother, Zachary Koecher and his companion, Laurann
Hall of Soldotna; nephew, Cooper Koecher of Soldotna; and
grandparents, Gene and Ann Stafford of Ellendale, N.D., and Genevieve
Koecher of Stacy, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Leonard Koecher, and
aunt, Hazel Richardson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fritz Wayne Koecher
Jr. Memorial Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank.

Published Anchorage Daily News, 8 Jan 2006
http://www.adn.com/news/obituaries/story/7342738p-7254845c.html

Son dies, dad lives in plane crash
Bear Lake Glacier: Bad weather kept rescuers away for hours.

By Julia O'Malley, Anchorage Daily News

Published: January 4, 2006

After circling for hours over socked-in Bear Lake Glacier on Monday,
the helicopter carrying Alaska Air National Guard pararescuer Ben
Walker finally caught a break in the weather, dropped in and lowered
Walker and his partner to the deep powder snow.

By the dusky light of flares, Walker glimpsed the wreckage of a
single-engine airplane.

"It was pretty well augured in. The left side was peeled back," he
said. "The wing was still there but not connected to the plane like
it should have been."

Nearby, on a steep embankment, he saw Cooper Landing residents Wayne
Koecher, 60, and his son, Wayne Koecher Jr., 24, under a tarp.
Immediately, Walker could tell the situation on the isolated
snowfield about seven miles east of Seward was more complicated than
he had thought.

"Earlier (from the air), all we saw was one person moving down there,
and we were pretty sure it was going to be a one-person pickup,"
Walker said.

"When I got down there and talked to (Wayne Koecher), he said there
was another person there and a dog. He said that his son had been
alive after the crash, but he wasn't sure how he was now."

At that point, the Pave Hawk helicopter and the HC-130 airplane that
accompanied it were low on fuel. Walker estimated he and his partner,
Dave Johnson, had 20 minutes to rescue the men.

"We were all cutting it pretty close," Walker said.

First, Walker and Johnson loaded the younger Koecher, who had been
bleeding, into a rescue basket lowered from the helicopter, and
Johnson took him up.

As Walker helped the young man's father, who had seriously injured a
leg, into the basket, he called for the dog, a chocolate Lab.

"The dog was on the other side of the aircraft, buried in the snow,
not moving," he said. "I went around and yelled and it popped up. I
dragged it over to the litter and strapped him in."

The father was conscious during the flight out. "He was very
concerned about his son," Walker said.

After the flight to Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage,
the younger Koecher was pronounced dead, according to a report from
the Alaska State Troopers. The elder Koecher remained in stable
condition Tuesday. The dog was taken by an on-call veterinarian.

The National Transportation Safety Board was investigating the crash
Tuesday, said Jim LaBelle, NTSB regional director. No flight plan had
been filed, he said. Investigators could not talk to Koecher because
he was in surgery, he said.

"(Wayne Koecher) said something about a down-draft," Walker said. "He
tried to escape down the valley and lost control."

Airflow coming from the mountains can push a plane down faster than
it can climb, Walker said.

There was no mayday distress call over the radio before the crash,
according to Tech. Sgt. Terry Kurth with the Air Force Rescue
Coordination Center at Fort Richardson.

The Coast Guard picked up a signal from the Cessna 185's emergency
locator device around noon Monday, but rescuers were unable to reach
the site until 8 p.m. because of the weather, Kurth said.

Wayne Koecher Jr. was a 1999 graduate of Skyview High School in
Soldotna, according to the school's Web site. His father holds an
airline transport pilot certification, according to the Federal
Aviation Administration.

The Koecher family was not available to comment Tuesday.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7332365p-7244494c.html

Plane crash near Seward kills man
By Julia O'Malley. Anchorage Daily News

Published: January 3, 2006

A single-engine Cessna 185 crashed on a glacier east of Seward on
Monday, killing a young man and injuring his father, according to the
Alaska State Troopers.

Wayne Koecher Jr., 24, his father Wayne Koecher, 60, and a dog were
plucked from Godwin Glacier by the Alaska Air National Guard. The
men, both of Cooper Landing, were taken to Providence Alaska Medical
Center, according to the troopers.

The younger Koecher was pronounced dead upon arrival. Tuesday
morning, the elder Koecher was in stable condition, the report said.

The U.S. Coast Guard first received a signal from an emergency
locator device at noon on Monday, but weather hampered rescue efforts
for more than eight hours, according to the Air National Guard.

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/7330382p-7242516c.html

President's former employer reflects on a younger Bush
Monday, November 14, 2005 - by Bill McAllister

Homer, Alaska - George W. Bush is more familiar with Alaska than any
other U.S. president in history. He lived in Fairbanks for about two
and a half months in the summer of 1974.

Neil Bergt remembers Bush fondly and has supported him politically,
although they have not spoken in 31 years. But Bergt acknowledges
that even though Bush's father was then chairman of the Republican
National Committee, he didn't see in the young man working for him
the makings of a future world leader.

"It was his only job in Alaska. He's the only president that's ever
lived in Alaska and worked in Alaska, which is nice. And he's
certainly the only president that's ever worked for me," said Bergt.

Bergt owned Fairbanks-based Alaska International Air during the
construction of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline in 1974. Bergt, a
prominent Republican, hired future President Bush on the advice of a
Houston, Texas contracting firm. To this day, Bergt says he doesn't
know why his company got the call, or why the Harvard Business School
student even needed a summer job.

"Why did he need a two and a half month job?"

"You know, I don't know. That, I've wondered about that since then,
too, because the family is obviously wealthy and he's going to
Harvard. Damned if I know. Maybe his dad was mad at him or something.
Maybe he was doing penance," said Bergt.

Bergt, now retired in Homer, has avoided the spotlight since the
controversial demise of Mark Air, the successor to Alaska
International Air. But to talk about George Bush, Bergt agreed to his
first interview in several years.

"I was impressed with him. He was a very nice guy. And he called me
sir, which not many people called me sir. But you could tell that he
had good southern upbringing. And a soft-spoken guy," said Bergt.

Alaska International was busy flying materials to the North Slope at
the time, so Bergt handed Bush the task of writing a business plan
for the company, to satisfy bankers who were making loans to the
company.

"He did a good job. And he produced a good business plan. It was
really a good-looking document. I was very impressed with it," said
Bergt.

"Did you follow it?"

"Probably not," said Bergt.

Bergt said Bush was completely professional.

"When George ran for president the first time, there was this, you
know, that he was a cocaine-snorting, whiskey-drinking wild guy at
one time in his life. That wasn't him. I mean, that wasn't the George
Bush that I knew. The George Bush I knew was serious, hard-working,
reliable, polite, good-looking, clean-cut, Ivy League, you know,
clean-cut guy that we had no problem with at all," said

When he last appeared at Elmendorf Air Force Base in 2002, the
president mentioned his time in Alaska. But it's a subject he has
discussed only in passing. So in recent years there has been
speculation that Bush, whose father once served as director of the
Central Intelligence Agency, was doing some of Bergt's contract work
for the CIA. Bergt says it isn't true. But he says once he got an
angry phone call from the elder Bush after The New York Times had
inquired about an alleged connection between his son's summer job and
interference with federal aviation regulators.

"I'll tell you one thing about George Bush Sr. I know when he's mad,
he can chew some butt," said Bergt.

George W. still remembers Bergt, as evidenced by this handwritten
note from 2002, in which the president wrote, "Best always, I hope to
see you soon."

"W. is not slick. I really like W. I'm a big Bush supporter. I just
wish he was slicker," said Bergt.

Although the war in Iraq has helped to erode Bush's popularity, Bergt
says history is still withholding judgment.

"If Bush is successful in Iraq, he's going to go down as one of the
great presidents," said Bergt.

But Bergt acknowledges he had no inkling of that in 1974.

"In terms of this being this sort of standout superstar, you know,
with a light shining around him, I don't remember that at all," said
Bergt

The president made little mention of his time in Alaska at his speech
today.

http://www.ktuu.com/cms/templates/master.asp?articleid=1931&zoneid=1

How about a report on the reunion from some folks who attended? Photos
too, if you have 'em.

Blaine Nay

Hi Gary,
Did Toni get you the necessary information to forward to the Atlas pilots?
I am pretty sure that most of them are aware by now of the reunion.  Jamile
was going to send out a group voicemail last month to the Atlas pilots.  Are
you planning to attend the reunion party?
Steph~ (206) 323-0318

The following is forwared from Steph Slaughter
(stephslaughter@...)

----

Markair 10 Year Reunion...Be Friendly...Be Flexible...Be Fun

Host:  Stephanie Slaughter & Toni Monroe
Location:  Tam O'Shanter Golf & Country Club
When:  Tuesday, October 25, 6:00pm
Be Flexible, Be Friendly & Be Fun!

Hello BF Friends,

We are inviting you to a MarkAir 10 Year reunion celebration! MarkAir
was a special company for many reasons, but I think most would agree
it was the extraordinary people that made it such a great company to
work for. For that reason, we would like to invite all former MarkAir
employees to Seattle for a celebration.

We are switching the location of the event to a larger facility in
hopes of providing a more enjoyable experience. The name of the
facility is Tam O' Shanter Golf & Country Club, located in Bellevue,
WA.. The Chef at Tam O' Shanter is wonderful. The cost for attending
is $25 per person which will include dinner, dessert and the use of
the facility for the evening. Cocktails are available for purchase.
Tam O'Shanter has a cash only bar, no cc accepted.

The slide show and open microphone are still part of the agenda. If
you have photos that you would like to share, please send them to me
in jpeg format.

After I receive the rsvp count, I will contact you with the agenda
for the October 25 party (times for dinner, activities etc).

Please post your attendance reply asap. It is very important that we
know how many people are planning to attend.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me. Looking
forward to seeing you in October!

please put out an e-mail and I will try and pass it to the Mark Air guys at Atlas;

Atlas Pilots---Dave Furber, Bob Peterson, Bub Hallett, Bill Hiatt, Kris Paul, Pete Heppe, Blane Nay, Mike Koskovich, Lew Allen, Greg Amussen, John Roberts, Mike Mommsen, Max Woodcock, Dan Redford, Myles Thomas, Jim Lessler, Tom Falley, Don Kipfer, Kurt Oberg, Don Klindt, John Crane, Greg Fink, Mike Grow, Grant Stephens, Tom Rupert, Dave Danielson, Jamile ?

Thanks.  Gary Schlabaugh

There are still some of us up here in Fairbanks, so I'll pass the word along to
Miles
Thomas, John Seamonds, Ray Peters, and I'm in touch with Jerry Chism (in New
Zealand
now) and CP Smith (back East). In which restaurant will it be held. What hotels
are close
by?
Chris and David Lace

-Hi!  I was a first officer with Mark Air  on the Herc's  and the 737
from 1989 untill the end in 1995 I now fly for Atlas Air along with
about 35 fomer pilots of Mark Air.  Let me know the location of the
reunion and I will spread the word to the pilots that I see here in
Anchorage.  Thanks     Gary Schlabaugh-- In markair@yahoogroups.com,
Stephanie Slaughter <stephslaughter@c...> wrote:
> on 8/1/05 11:50 AM, Winton at winton_clark@y... wrote:
>
> > --- In markair@yahoogroups.com, Stephanie Slaughter
> > <stephslaughter@c...> wrote:
> >
> >> I am trying to put together a slideshow for the reunion.  Is that
> >> something that would interest you?
> >
> > Great idea, although I have no photos to share.
> >
> >> Another idea is to supply a microphone for people that might want
> >> to share their favorite Markair memories throughout the night.
> >
> > Another great idea.
> >
> > Do you have a date and place to hold the reunion?
>
> The reunion party will be on October 25, 2005, in Seattle.  There
> will be a lot of people in attendance.  All former MarkAir Employees
> are welcome.  I think we are going to have the slideshow going
> continuously throughout the night.  Warren Long has the MarkAir
theme
> song recorded, I never knew there was one!  I am going to get a
> wireless microphone to pass around, the stories should be great.
> the MarkAir list is now up to 70 people. I am hoping to have more
> people added to the list soon.  Word will get out to everyone I'm
> sure.
>
> I am meeting with the restaurant owner on Monday, August 8, to work
> out a few details.  Let me know if you have any ideas,
suggestions.
>
> I think the yahoo page is an excellent idea.
>
> I will be in touch soon.
> Steph Slaughter~

on 8/1/05 11:50 AM, Winton at winton_clark@... wrote:

> --- In markair@yahoogroups.com, Stephanie Slaughter
> <stephslaughter@c...> wrote:
>
>> I am trying to put together a slideshow for the reunion.  Is that
>> something that would interest you?
>
> Great idea, although I have no photos to share.
>
>> Another idea is to supply a microphone for people that might want
>> to share their favorite Markair memories throughout the night.
>
> Another great idea.
>
> Do you have a date and place to hold the reunion?

The reunion party will be on October 25, 2005, in Seattle.  There
will be a lot of people in attendance.  All former MarkAir Employees
are welcome.  I think we are going to have the slideshow going
continuously throughout the night.  Warren Long has the MarkAir theme
song recorded, I never knew there was one!  I am going to get a
wireless microphone to pass around, the stories should be great.
the MarkAir list is now up to 70 people. I am hoping to have more
people added to the list soon.  Word will get out to everyone I'm
sure.

I am meeting with the restaurant owner on Monday, August 8, to work
out a few details.  Let me know if you have any ideas, suggestions.

I think the yahoo page is an excellent idea.

I will be in touch soon.
Steph Slaughter~

--- In markair@yahoogroups.com, Stephanie Slaughter
<stephslaughter@c...> wrote:

> I am trying to put together a slideshow for the reunion.  Is that
> something that would interest you?

Great idea, although I have no photos to share.

> Another idea is to supply a microphone for people that might want
> to share their favorite Markair memories throughout the night.

Another great idea.

Do you have a date and place to hold the reunion?

Hi Everyone,
I am trying to put together a slideshow for the reunion.  Is that something
that would interest you?  Another idea is to supply a microphone for people
that might want to share their favorite Markair memories throughout the
night.  My friend, Rick is in the music industry, so I will ask for his
assistance with that.  As far as the slideshow, I think the equipment
required will have to be rented.  I will be asking for pictures to be
submitted that you want to be a part of the show.  You can either send a
postage paid return envelope if you want your photos back immediately, after
scanning, or you can pick them up the night of the party.  Start looking
through your photos and pull out a few favorites.  We don't want the slide
show to be too long, so probably not more than 3 pictures from everyone
interested in submitting.
If you have any ideas or suggestions please let me know.  The rsvp has been
beyond what I expected.  It's going to be a fun time, can't wait to see
everyone.
Steph Slaughter~