Clay Lacy Charter @ VNY

[johnsonrod]

Buddy from my flight school days is out of work in SoCal with types/experience on a Lear 35, 60 and Citation CJ2. He tells me there are many laid off corporate/charter pilots in California right now - so, not many good job opportunities for pilots (very competitive job market).

With regard to Clay Lacy Aviation, I've heard good and bad things over the years but I have never spoken with anyone who works for them. And yes, I know Clay Lacy is a UAL SCAB. Got it. Nobody respects a scab. Still, he seems to have a pretty successful charter operation/FBO.

Without reliving the UAL SCAB issue, can anyone speak to:

- Current hiring onto the charter fleet?
- Do they hire onto a small jet and then promote to the bigger aircraft as openings arise? Do you need a type rating on the aircraft to be considered?
- If hired onto a Lear 35 or 60, what type of salary would be expected first year and how does salary increase across time and fleet types? What is the salary range in general at Clay Lacy - what can a Gulfstream Captain bring in?
- Do pilots tend to fly multiple types (i.e., Lear Captain and Gulfstream FO) or just focus on one type?
- Is it realistic to think that if you start on a smaller airframe and you are a good pilot/employee that you would be considered for larger aircraft slots as they open?
- Is the charter side like most 135 operators with very little "scheduled" time off? What is typical for days off per month?


Thanks for any updates. Haven't seen much updated information lately.

PMs also welcome.

 

[Heavy Set]

CL adding more Phenom 300s?

Just flipped through this month's ProPilot magazine and the lead article mentioned that Clay Lacy is expected to replace many smaller Lears with an "anticipated fleet of Phenom 300s." I presume the current Lear guys will switch over to Phenom 300s as they arrive.

Anyone hear about those details - does Clay Lacy have a bunch of Phenom 300s on order (perhaps existing Lear management clients switching over)? Those 300s are probably a lot more versatile than the older Lears.

 

[Joecool3]

Clay Lacy is looking for a Legacy pilot right now!

 

[veneratio]

During the 29 day United Airlines pilot strike of May 1985 Lacy was one of the first pilots to cross the picket line and go to work on May 17, 1985.

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

Was he a scab?

 

[johnsonrod]

Website says looking for Legacy & Phenom 300 pilots

Website says Clay Lacy is currently looking for Legacy and Phenom 300 pilots. Sounds like the Phenom 300 expansion rumors might be true. I asked several questions recently (friend looking) with no serious replies.

So, 3 questions:

- What are the pay ranges for newhires (FO and Capt) on both the Legacy and the Phenom 300?

- How many days off monthly on average (I realize it is 135 charter)?

- Are pilots typically rated on one or multiple types? Any general pros/cons working for CL?

Serious replies please - we know Clay Lacy was a scab in the 80s...

PMs also welcome.

 

[frostyboy]

Was he a scab?

yes, and still is

 

[G4dude]

yes, and still is

I would have scabbed too. Get over it.

 

[J.Otto]

yes, and still is

I think he just likes to fly planes...

With more flying hours in jets than anyone on earth, Clay Lacy, founder and chief executive officer of Clay Lacy Aviation, is one of the world’s most respected and accomplished pilots. Over the past six decades, he has flown more than 300 aircraft types, established twenty-nine world speed records, performed over 2,000 aerial photography missions and logged more than 50,000 flight hours.

Clay was born in 1932 and grew up in Wichita, Kansas, the birthplace of aviation manufacturing. His passion for flight began at an early age and, at age 12, he piloted his first aircraft by trading work time for flying time at a local airport. His professional career includes serving as an airline captain, military aviator, experimental test pilot, air race champion, aviation record-setter and aerial cinematographer.

 

[sshrae]

I might be wrong but I was under the impression that Clay Lacy was more of a management company and most of the airplanes came on the certificate already with pilots. I don't think they actually have equity in the planes. I have known several that worked there and they did not stay long if that says anything, but that was a while back.