JetDirect

[oops!]

You know I never do understand ********************ty attitudes like this.

It's like you think there are only two choices in dealing with a job that abuses you, Quit or accept it. Well that's lame. How about stand up and fight for better compensation or treatment. How about complain to make things better. It's a supply and demand issue. These kind of employers don't give a ******************** about you, only about how you can make them money. And for some reason if that is not OK, then your suppose to just quit. Bullcrap.

If you are a professional that do your job like your suppose to, then you should be compensated like a professional. And if your not, then you should complain, bitch, and work with your fellow employees to make things better.

This attitude of well if you don't like it leave, is pathetic, and it just supports the company's attitude of "having this job is a privilege".

i work for them.. I'm totally with you..
there are way to many negatives at this company for me to recommend this place. hopefully this stuff works out and it doesn't become another shady charter company.. time will tell

 

[LNJPilot]

Yea, I thought about leaving but like someone else said, I'm not a quitter. I put too much into getting here with the hopes it will turn into someplace worth staying at. I do have the right to complain and I will until it either changes or I get fired. The management we have now are scrambling to keep their jobs and I believe once the smoke clears things should be fine and it will be a good place to work. That may take some time but hopefully not too much longer. I am still on the lookout for a better job, but who isn't? Until then I will do the best I can to weather the storm and make it work.

As for the ads they have on 350, it is my understanding thats been there for awhile and we were just told in a meeting that they are not looking to hire and that there are too many SIC's and there was a possibility of a layoff but they are so short of PIC's and the current management was told to do some internal upgrades. Problem being when the last CP left, he took the check airman authority with him so there was no one who could do 299's. But as of two weeks ago, they hired some one who was a check airman for another company and all they had to do was transfer his authority here. Of course there is no on qualified to do 297's so they are sending us to Simcom in Dallas....oh well.

"What's done is done...."

 

[Publishers]

There is no question that the industry is going through some interesting and challenging times. To put all these companies under one umbrella and make it work is a moumental job.
What gets me with all the bitching is that the industry has opened up in a way that presents many opportunities. A few years ago, people were asking me for any leads for any kind of flying job at all. Now that the market has changed for a bit, those same people act like they are owed something. If it had not been for the growth of the charter and fractional companies, a significant number of the professional pilots would be unemployed. If anything the fracs and charter companies work in a manner more predictable than xyz corp.
I asked a corporate pilot what he was doing yesterday and his answer was, "waiting for orders". He said he has been waiting the 24 years of his pilot career.

 

[AZFLYER]

Any new info on life with Jet Direct. I was hired by a Jet Direct company out of VNY (Spirit) and am debating on weather to take the position or not. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[charter dog]

Nobody knows anything other than what Sentient wants them to know. And that ain't much!

But they did announce the acquisition of The Air Group last week.

The Borg collective of charter!


You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

 

[getonit]

Nobody knows anything other than what Sentient wants them to know. And that ain't much!

But they did announce the acquisition of The Air Group last week.

The Borg collective of charter!


You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

But when you are doing a trip for Sentient they will ask you 10,000 questions, send 30 faxes, make multiple phone calls to your ops, the FBO's, you, your copilot, the family dog etc.

 

[oops!]

But when you are doing a trip for Sentient they will ask you 10,000 questions, send 30 faxes, make multiple phone calls to your ops, the FBO's, you, your copilot, the family dog etc.

he's not kidding, I don't answer the phone when they call any more

 

[BobbyBiplane]

he's not kidding, I don't answer the phone when they call any more

Let me see if I understand this ... a company that wants to maximize customer service by understanding everything from the customers' reactions during the flight to the customers' comments after the flight is a problem for you.

Why are you in this line of work if you are not interested in customer service?

Bob

 

[oops!]

Let me see if I understand this ... a company that wants to maximize customer service by understanding everything from the customers' reactions during the flight to the customers' comments after the flight is a problem for you.

Why are you in this line of work if you are not interested in customer service?

Bob

that makes me laugh... you obviously don't understand...

good luck with that Bill

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

U can't do ANY customer service if whoever is constantly calling you on the phone-U have to ignore the customer to talk on the phone.

cliff
YIP

 

[RedBehren]

For what its worth, I have been in this business for over 20 years and I have never seen a company be so passionate about customer service as the folks at Sentient Flight Group. You guys can knock them for their phone calls all you want, but these people "get it" when it comes to how to treat a customer and I would submit that it will define their success in the industry.

And by the way, if you think about it for just a minute, you will probably agree that if it werent for loser pilots not giving a shlit, going to the wrong FBO, not showing up on time, wearing hideous clothing, forgetting to pick up the catering, and not stocking airplanes properly - maybe they wouldnt have to call us so much!

Sentient may be disorganized right now, but I am happy to be here. In the next two years, it will become the place people are begging to work - you can count on it.

 

[*#$% Headwinds]

Sentient may be disorganized right now, but I am happy to be here. In the next two years, it will become the place people are begging to work - you can count on it.

Only if they start paying NetJets+ and get a good schedule.

 

[wildcard]

Well I used to work at the base in Dallas now year later they've gone to 15 to 3 AC. Pilots are leaving left and right. Other than the pilots there has been over a 90% turnover. People like to say that there in transtion. Time will tell. However if they continue with the way there treating their pilots it won't be good. Take what I say with a grain of salt.

 

[ruhroa]

Redbehran........""And by the way, if you think about it for just a minute, you will probably agree that if it werent for loser pilots not giving a shlit, going to the wrong FBO, not showing up on time, wearing hideous clothing, forgetting to pick up the catering, and not stocking airplanes properly - maybe they wouldnt have to call us so much! """ i disagree, over the yrs I flew alot of sentient trips................what they do is called "micro Management" they were the toughest people to fly trips for......... it is amazing that you say what you did in fact disappointing ........99.99999% of all pilots I know do there damndest to give the best service they can no matter what they feel about the way they are treated by their companies... i remember the fedex packages with the sentient napkins ,letterhead ,etc that they wanted put on the plane........ they used to charter the plane expect you to pretend you work for them and then treat you like a 6 yr old........ don't even go there ok..........

 

[RedBehren]

ruhroa, I'm not completely sure I understand what you wrote, but I believe you are saying that you feel miocro-managed because Sentient wants to make sure their customers are being treated to the experience they were being charged for (and you in turn paid to give)??? Perhaps that may make you feel like a 6 year old, because maybe you're better than the average bear... but I suspect it was the result of countless disappointments and letdowns on their part. I happen to know that they go to greater length than most to ensure their customers (your pax) have a good experience. I guess I don't know we pilots have to grind on them so much about it. Afterall, it IS the job we are paid to do.

 

[ruhroa]

you know i am tempted to make a really juvenile remark to you redbehren................ so I won't cept this .............................. if you want a reasonable objective discussion about Sentient and how they did business then fine but please quit trying to paint them as a goody two shoe outfit..............

 

[ruhroa]

ps one question redbehron........................... you sure sound like sentient management are you actually a part 135 line pilot for them?????????????

personaly i think not

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

I hope, for their sake, that Sentient has stopped having the crews pretend that they work for Sentient.

The FAA is SEVERELY cracking down on these types of practices, where one entity books travel, and then tries to get their customers to believe that they have operational control of the aircraft they are flying in, when if fact another organization has control.

Any organization doing these types of practices is in danger of FAA action.

I think the above is one reason why Sentient is buying up all these companies, so they actually do own/control the aircraft, which is what the FAA is looking for.

cliff
GRB

 

[Capt1124]

I don't really want to get in the middle of this, but the pilots need to be able to devote *some* mental energy to actually flying the airplane.

The problem is people flying on Learjets want to pretend they are flying on Gulfstreams. I'm not a caterer, I'm not a butler, and I'm not a flight attendant, and if you want a certain level of service you should be prepared to pay for it, and no chartering a Learjet does *not* mean you have paid for a Gufstream style experience. Brokers want to promise and sell things like they are adding value but they are not, other than getting the trip booked.

The people who can actually afford to own a plane are far more relaxed, and reasonable in their demands.

 

[Paradoxus]

ya

You know, I began to notice that in the recent past as well....the owners are FAR more reasonable in their demands (IF they voice any at all) than many of the charter pax.

 

[*#$% Headwinds]

The whole concept of the pilot seeing to the pax needs also comes back to compensation. If I am making typical "135" pay, I really don't feel I should owe the pax any more than basic amenities like a clean stocked airplane and I will load the bags etc. In that situation, I won't really respect my employer or care about the success of the company since I will be always looking for another job. If I am making industry leading pay, schedule and bene's (see NetJets), it gets a lot easier to care about passenger comfort, since they are the key to my company continuing to pay my good wages. Suddenly, my company is the gold standard of the industry and every multi-million+ net worth individual wants to brag at the country club that they are a (insert your company here) card member. Currently, guess who the prestige private aircraft provider is? (NetJets)

 

[jumppilot03]

Thats pretty gutsy talk considering you wouldn't have a job if the pax were not there. No matter how you are paid they still deserve the same level of service. You pay is between you and your employer, not you and a passenger who rents your airplane.

 

[*#$% Headwinds]

That kind of misses my point. In such a situation, the passenger is getting everything they pay for. If they aren't getting the level of service they desire, they will probably find their way to a provider who pays their pilots exceptionally. Those are the pilots who will give exceptional service. I mean, how can a company begin paying the highest salaries and benefits in the industry AND turn its first profit in years all at the same time? Hmmmm?

 

[Capt1124]

Could somebody actually at Jet Direct PM me? I would like to know what's actually going on there now.

 

[stupidpilot]

I just got hired. I'm really not sure how its going to go. There are great hopes that the pay is going to come up quite a bit. Also, the new benefits package has alot of choices and seems pretty good. 401K matching up to 6% and you are vested 100% from day one. Here's to hoping this place turns out to be a pretty good place to hang my hat for a while.

 

[johnsonrod]

I just got hired. I'm really not sure how its going to go. There are great hopes that the pay is going to come up quite a bit. Also, the new benefits package has alot of choices and seems pretty good. 401K matching up to 6% and you are vested 100% from day one. Here's to hoping this place turns out to be a pretty good place to hang my hat for a while.

What types of aircraft is Sentient hiring into these days? Are they primarily hiring FOs or do they hire both SICs and PICs? Which bases are being offered?

 

[stupidpilot]

What types of aircraft is Sentient hiring into these days? Are they primarily hiring FOs or do they hire both SICs and PICs? Which bases are being offered?

They are hiring for all kinds of aircraft both PIC and FO at alot of different bases. If you've got a Climbto350 account you can find them all there.

 

[Rerouted]

Think about this - Sentient grew VERY quickly by purchasing other companies....they still are trying to figure out what they are doing. Are they hiring? Yes. Is there a reason people are bailing out so they need to hire? Yes. Think twice guys.

 

[LNJPilot]

Yea, thats all true but also the reason why some of these folks left was for personal reasons and there's always going to be attrition no matter where you go. Plus Sentient, AKA JetDirect...et al is doing some expanding, getting other aircraft as some are leaving for whatever reason....there's still hope....and theres still risks...BUT....it's always rough on the ground floor....

 

[Rerouted]

Some expanding? LOL, that's like saying there's some sand in the desert. I wish Sentient and all who work there the best. They are undertaking a huge task in a challenging economy. It will be interesting to see how well they do with it.