Change is in the air at XOJET...

[t-bone]

...and some changes are good. COO/DO has resigned. Moving on to MGM in LAS, according to an email they got today.

 

[bartttman]

Please provide any insight you have ....
good or bad on DC. I have friends at MGM that would appreciate any info you are willing to provide. Thank you.

 

[t-bone]

Sure thing! Just as soon as I'm done celebrating.

 

[X-rated]

Congrats to all the XO guys!!! Will BH take over as DO, or will the TWC guy take over after the merger?

Condolences to the MGM flight department. This is not good news for you.

 

[CALRepublic]

...and some changes are good. COO/DO has resigned. Moving on to MGM in LAS, according to an email they got today.

I thought everything was groovy at XOJET. I was under the impression the company was cruising in smooth air, on autopilot?

 

[bartttman]

Congrats to all the XO guys!!! Will BH take over as DO, or will the TWC guy take over after the merger?

Condolences to the MGM flight department. This is not good news for you.

Details please why outgoing DO so bad? I thot all was good at XOJet. I also hadn't heard anything about a merger but only a partnership with TWC and TMC.

 

[LaGarbage Man]

Was he a former ACA/Indy guy ? (DC) If so I hope the guys/gals in Vegas like an abundance of memory items and a very chatty cockpit. I still feel the need to call out all FMA's

 

[bartttman]

Was he a former ACA/Indy guy ? (DC) If so I hope the guys/gals in Vegas like an abundance of memory items and a very chatty cockpit. I still feel the need to call out all FMA's

YUP same guy from ACA. Any other insights good or bad? I believe he was a regional CP for awhile at ACA.

 

[LaGarbage Man]

Wish I could help you out more but I had very limited interaction with him. He was known for not playing well with the other kids sort of mentality. (my way or the highway) he was integral in the CRJ training program that soon became known for an abundance of pink slips. (lucky me, I dodged that bullet). In his defense, we had lost a J41 not that long prior and heavy emphasis was being placed on the transition of long time steam gauge pilots over to glass, so that may have had something to do with his approach. I don't necessarily disagree with the philosophy but in my opinion he lacked the people skills to implement them with out pissing off most that he came in contact with. It's all water under the bridge for me but many I know would not have pissed on him and a few others if they were on fire. Your mileage may vary. I guess it comes down to what capacity MGM is hiring him. If his interaction with the masses is limited you will fine (he isn't a dummy) but if his social skills are still underdeveloped then it may be interesting. My info is a bit dated so maybe some of the XO guys/gals can give you some up to date intel on him. Good Luck

 

[bartttman]

Wish I could help you out more but I had very limited interaction with him. He was known for not playing well with the other kids sort of mentality. (my way or the highway) he was integral in the CRJ training program that soon became known for an abundance of pink slips. (lucky me, I dodged that bullet). In his defense, we had lost a J41 not that long prior and heavy emphasis was being placed on the transition of long time steam gauge pilots over to glass, so that may have had something to do with his approach. I don't necessarily disagree with the philosophy but in my opinion he lacked the people skills to implement them with out pissing off most that he came in contact with. It's all water under the bridge for me but many I know would not have pissed on him and a few others if they were on fire. Your mileage may vary. I guess it comes down to what capacity MGM is hiring him. If his interaction with the masses is limited you will fine (he isn't a dummy) but if his social skills are still underdeveloped then it may be interesting. My info is a bit dated so maybe some of the XO guys/gals can give you some up to date intel on him. Good Luck

Thanks so much. People grow and change for the better often times over time. Hopefully this is the case as he will be leading another flight dept with the newest most advanced large cabin biz jets. Good people there who wanna know. I will pass it on. Anyone from XOJet care to offer additional info?

 

[X-rated]

I guess it's best to let them decide for themselves since there's not much they can do about it anyway.

 

[propsarebest]

I wonder if his gang of merry men will follow...

 

[t-bone]

I thought everything was groovy at XOJET. I was under the impression the company was cruising in smooth air, on autopilot?

We just don't air all our dirty laundry on this website. But this Dark Cloud seems to be moving on and that in itself makes a significant difference for the better

 

[t-bone]

Thanks so much. People grow and change for the better often times over time. Hopefully this is the case as he will be leading another flight dept with the newest most advanced large cabin biz jets. Good people there who wanna know. I will pass it on. Anyone from XOJet care to offer additional info?

From what has been said about his past, and what we have seen the last few years, nothing has changed. His first few years here were great, where he even mentioned his old self in past tense. Then TPG brought in their ax man in Fall 2008 and in my opinion DC decided that was the path he wanted his career to take. It has been ugly ever since under his rule. I feel for MGM, but if its true that they pursued him, then I guess they brought this upon themselves.

 

[t-bone]

I wonder if his gang of merry men will follow...

Sure hope so!

 

[LaGarbage Man]

So unfortunately it looks like the leopard can't change his spots. Ohh well looks like the folks at MGM are in for a bit of a shake up. Like I said "Good Luck"

 

[hammer2]

Rumors are they're in some sort of talks with Flight Options.

 

[jetwash]

Rumors are they're in some sort of talks with Flight Options.

I heard that XO wants to know the name of our tie supplier.

 

[t-bone]

Rumors are they're in some sort of talks with Flight Options.

We are??? Hmm...rumors abound lately. So far nothing announced by the company, I'm sure we'll be the last to know after the ink is dry. Acquisitions have been a topic of conversation during recent conference calls, though for obvious reasons nothing too specific. It won't necessarily be a company that adds pilots or aircraft to the roster...for whatever that is worth.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Sure hope so!

I sure hope NOT. Never much like it when a new boss is named and he brings along a band of syncophants at the expense of the folks that have been with the department for years. It's happened before but maybe not this time.

Lots of great people at MGM. I'm sure they will decide for themselves on the new boss.

 

[propsarebest]

I sure hope NOT. Never much like it when a new boss is named and he brings along a band of syncophants at the expense of the folks that have been with the department for years. It's happened before but maybe not this time.

Lots of great people at MGM. I'm sure they will decide for themselves on the new boss.

that is exactly what happened at XOJ. The merry men started showing up a few months after he arrived.

 

[t-bone]

I sure hope NOT. Never much like it when a new boss is named and he brings along a band of syncophants at the expense of the folks that have been with the department for years. It's happened before but maybe not this time.

Lots of great people at MGM. I'm sure they will decide for themselves on the new boss.

Oh I hope MGM reconsiders sometime after he's left XOJet and he gets left high and dry. In no way am I wishing ill will on anybody out there. We just want him and his web of yes men (and women) gone so that this place can return to the potential it had years ago. There are several questions MGM evidently didn't ask, and they must have been very selective in who they talked to when checking his background. Good luck to MGM folks...

 

[t-bone]

I heard that XO wants to know the name of our tie supplier.

Ties? We don't wear no stinking ties!

 

[gret]

Wonder what this guy has to say about his critics? I had heard that he only had good things to say about them.

Usually, when you disrespect a current or former supervisor, or employer, you disrespect yourself for not leaving if it was so bad. However, it is a natural human reaction to gripe as it seems to deliver some short term pleasure.

I literally just got off the phone with my "no good idiot son-in-law" who just heard that didn't get a promotion he wanted...lost out to another fellow who "is a 100% hack who nobody likes". I explained that obviously some people did appreciate the guy's work and that if he wanted to be a real man and get the next bump, he should approach the situation with a positive attitude which includes congratulating the guy who got the promotion. He said I was full of it and that he hoped the guy would fail greatly. What a wonderful way to deal with a minor event in one's life...

 

[ProFracPilot]

Rumors are they're in some sort of talks with Flight Options.

This rumor just CAN'T be true. That is, unless XO has a fleet of "previously enjoyed" GV's that no one knows about...

 

[X-rated]

Wonder what this guy has to say about his critics? I had heard that he only had good things to say about them.

Usually, when you disrespect a current or former supervisor, or employer, you disrespect yourself for not leaving if it was so bad. However, it is a natural human reaction to gripe as it seems to deliver some short term pleasure.

I literally just got off the phone with my "no good idiot son-in-law" who just heard that didn't get a promotion he wanted...lost out to another fellow who "is a 100% hack who nobody likes". I explained that obviously some people did appreciate the guy's work and that if he wanted to be a real man and get the next bump, he should approach the situation with a positive attitude which includes congratulating the guy who got the promotion. He said I was full of it and that he hoped the guy would fail greatly. What a wonderful way to deal with a minor event in one's life...

gret,

Sorry to hear about you're son in law. Sounds like he's still young and needs some perspective.

As for XOJET, I did leave, and I resigned a top 10 seniority number in doing so. Yes, I left for a better job, but don't think for one second the man in question did not figure largely into my decision. I generally think you are fairly insightful, but in this case you couldn't be further off the mark. When EVERYONE has the same opinion, and you have personally witnessed repeated and consistent atrocious behavior over years, there is more to it than a few young guys griping. I hope he cleans up his act and learns from his experience at XO. There was a large line at the new CEO's door complaining about this gentleman's bad behavior, and he's leaving a massive pile of would be stock options behind. You do the math.

 

[gret]

Sounds like things worked out well for you. Finding a new opportunity and crediting the decision partly to a unsavory character is fair and warranted.

My point wasn't to justify a bad apple's behavior, but to suggest that trashing a fellow who has left is bad form and can come back to bite you in the butt. Assuming he was a creep and everyone is happy he is gone, have a drink and some laughs...don't lower oneself to a level that makes you look petty. Solid people don't participate in schadenfreude...the joy in the misfortune of others.

I'll trust you view that he had serious flaws...hopefully he will work thru them...and that his former employer and co-workers are in a better place.

 

[Club ORD FO]

I dunno how I came across this site, but it seems none of the reviews have anything nice to say about management there: http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/XOJET-Reviews-E229772.htm

 

[BushwickBill]

I don't see things changing. Just as the copilots at XOJET are forced to become a chameleon and suffer through endless "technique" brow beatings, our DO did the same for those far above his pay grade. Nothing has changed at the daddy war bucks level, therefore nothing will change for the employees of XOJET.

MGM sounds like a wonderful flight department. While I breathe a sigh a relief that my application arrived to late to be considered during the last wave of hiring. I do not worry for my friends in the flight department. Likely XOJETS former DO will be treated as well as the pilot group of MGM and they will continue to be paid well, pilots will continue to flourish and be allowed to grow with a quick upgrade much unlike XOJET.

Like a totem pole or a toilet bowl it all comes from the top down. I don't feel the current system of oppression was due to one man.

 

[gret]

I dunno how I came across this site, but it seems none of the reviews have anything nice to say about management there: http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/XOJET-Reviews-E229772.htm

Geez...that's depressing reading...same theme over and over again.

Wonder what would happen if you had the same type of review for any other company...would the comments basically be the same? I think so...but I don't know.

If I felt that bad about my employer, I would take a hike.