Focus

[CAP E TON]

Anyone know anything about the lifestyle at focus air.

 

[dutch747]

Use to work there. Pay is fairly good for ACMI. Some strange work rules though. But overall, they are trying to built an airline. Which means they take care of their crews. They don't have the parts that Southern & Kallitta have. So they are hanging on by a thread to a cut throat industry. Future is gloomy.

 

[countbat]

When everybody is doing a moderate hiring and someone like Focus is doing all these agresive hiring advertising should tell you something. It is weird. I had the chance to talk to some Focus employee and all said the same thing. If you can find another job go for it. All seemed miserable and unhappy. Thanks God I'm retired. Check older threads about Focus. It is a good place to get screwed easy.

 

[dutch747]

When everybody is doing a moderate hiring and someone like Focus is doing all these agresive hiring advertising should tell you something. It is weird. I had the chance to talk to some Focus employee and all said the same thing. If you can find another job go for it. All seemed miserable and unhappy. Thanks God I'm retired. Check older threads about Focus. It is a good place to get screwed easy.

The first year or so was absolutely miserable. And I have never had anything good to say about them. I personally hope the Chief Pilots looses control of his bladder. But I have to be fair, and comparatively speaking I.E. Tradewinds, Southern Air, I think those are worse. I think the people that own Focus are trying to do right. But they do have a serious uphill battle. Many of my friends still work there, always wishing them the best.

 

[avbug]

How do you think they compare to Kalitta?

 

[Junkflyer]

I would say Kalitta has a better long term outlook.

 

[countbat]

I believe Kalitta Air(only) is a better bet. Safer, better bennies and future. More of a career, better name.

 

[mrvmo]

Ask the guys who left Southern for Focus two years back about that.......me thinks they wish they were still at Southern.

The first year or so was absolutely miserable. And I have never had anything good to say about them. I personally hope the Chief Pilots looses control of his bladder. But I have to be fair, and comparatively speaking I.E. Tradewinds, Southern Air, I think those are worse. I think the people that own Focus are trying to do right. But they do have a serious uphill battle. Many of my friends still work there, always wishing them the best.

 

[WabiSabi]

A friend recently left Focus and he said that they hit rock bottom after a big embezzlement shake up followed by the firing of many managers. However, now things are starting to look up and a trend to recovery is apparent. The big problem now; they're very short on crews.

 

[dutch747]

Ask the guys who left Southern for Focus two years back about that.......me thinks they wish they were still at Southern.

I did, and initially I'd agree with you. But I'll bet right now they are on the fence post.

 

[khsgt]

Training pay is the best of all the ACMI's, 30 hour guarantee plus perdiem and hotel ($59/hour and $48/day perdiem). Full 60 hour guarantee starts the day of your checkride.

As far as QOL. The company basically owns you 19 days a month (or more technically, 38 out of every 2 months). You will go anywhere and everywhere, alot of sitting, some flying. Crews are good. Home based, long positive space commutes in coach (AKA: SFO-DXB for 27 hours). Hotels are nice, company makes sure you have a hot breakfast (no continental breakfast bull, you can put it on the company Credit Card if you have to). Company also pays all the internet connect fees at every stop (some as high as $40 per day), so keeping in contact back at home is pretty easy. $2.00 perdiem from the time you leave home

There has been a MASSIVE shakedown and remanning of upper management in the last year. They have fired a whole bunch of bad apples. The long and the short of it is the current folks that are in the President/DO/Chief Pilot slots were all hired at Focus as regular line pilots. They are actively making attempts to better this place and get pilots to stay. They arn't always succeeding, but I believe they are honestly trying.

There have been some changes to the "contract" (we are non union) recently, all the companys doing, and all in favor of the pilots. Block or better, DH pay, 30 day pay cycle (instead of 60). We have 4 airplanes, we have flying for 4 airplanes we are just lacking crews right now. There is a backlog of IOE going on right now. Rumor (nothing more) is that the 5th airplane is coming in March (200 RR nose loader from Saudia Arabian)

If you don't mind long stints on the road, you will be rewareded with long stints at home, and they won't bug you on your days off. Guaranteed 11-12 days a month at home (30 or 31 day month) and all traveling to/from work is considered a work day.

Would I recommend coming to work here, as far as ACMI's go I think we probably have the best work environment. If this place hangs around, I think its going to turn into an alright spot to be, ASSUMING it hangs around. We are not in threat of closing down right now I don't think as the investment company has thrown a bunch of money at us in the last 2 years, and we are just now starting to have money making potential. The work rules are somewhat strange, but the folks are good, and there is some respect as to your home life. The best way I have heard it put "This isn't a great place to work, but it has potential"

Cheers

 

[Palmtree Pilot]

Were hiring at World.

Ptp

 

[unwashed]

What kind of NAV systems are you guys running? 72's, 92's GPS updating? Are you using PMS or straight AT?

 

[dutch747]

What kind of NAV systems are you guys running? 72's, 92's GPS updating? Are you using PMS or straight AT?

Focus uses HT9100's (FMS Platform) on 2 aircraft, and litton 92's on the other two.

 

[dutch747]

What kind of NAV systems are you guys running? 72's, 92's GPS updating? Are you using PMS or straight AT?

Oh yeah.... No PMS. Just a Flight Engineer instead.

 

[Koslen]

Oh yeah.... No PMS. Just a Flight Engineer instead.

My wife has PMS...... @^&#!

 

[heilhaavir]

"This isn't a great place to work, but it has potential"

Cheers

Seeya in a few days C :beer:

 

[khsgt]

Seeya in a few days C

Are we gettin to fly together? I'll keep my fingers crossed as that would be F'IN AWESOME!

Your boys out here arn't kicking my butt too bad, couple of black eyes and a bleeding nose, but I don't think anything is broken...and I might just survive the experience. Now the BKK experience, that I am not so sure I am going to survive
:beer: