My thoughts

[UncleKenn]

Flexjet pilots,



I want to take a moment to share my vision for the future of One Sky and Flexjet. As soon as the threat the union poses to our organization has been eliminated, with your help of course, I will be implementing a few exciting changes. I think the best way to explain a few of those changes to you is to share several excerpts from my book, Management by Trust. I hope this will clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen, here on Flightinfo, about my intentions toward you.

 

[UncleKenn]

At Flight Options, our company grew so fast from 1999 to 2002 that we hired more than 1,000 pilots in three years. We had to decide what type of pilot to hire. Did we want to use the regional airline/charter model, paying low wages to stopover employees? Or did we want to emulate the major carriers, with their seniority programs and payrolls full of trapped employees? We didn’t particularly like either choice.



What we sought to develop was a program that allowed a comfortable – but not too comfortable - environment for stopover employees and an exceptional environment for committed employees. In other words, we simply wanted to under-compensate those who were there merely to build flying time and experience so they could move on to the job they really wanted, and overcompensate those who were committed. This would not only reward those committed employees who were a significant benefit to the company but, would also provide an example for stopover employees, perhaps providing an incentive for them to become committed.



To accomplish this, we devised a two-part compensation strategy. The first involved a compensation differential: How much more and in what ways would we compensate committed versus noncommitted employees? Second, and perhaps more importantly, how would we determine who the committed employees were?



We developed a two-tier pay and benefits program. The basic concept was to pay those in the committed tier – we called them Senior Flight Officers – above average and the rest of our pilots below average. For example, if the industry average for a certain type of aircraft was $75,000, we made sure nobody made $75,000. Senior Flight Officers might earn $90,000, while the remaining pilots earned $60,000. In the end, our salary costs were not much different from companies that paid everybody $75,000. But look at the incentives we created for people to achieve Senior Flight Officer status – in other words, to be committed.

 

[luckydog]

You really paid money to be able to post this?

You must be one of the over compensated guys you reference.

 

[el raton]

"senior flight officers"!!!! I hope the teamsters can save Flex before it's too late!

 

[ghostrider64]

Some day you'll all wake up and wonder what the hell was I thinking? I thought I'd be living the dream and flying a 777 international. Then reality struck, hell I'm going to be at flex, options, xo, tmc and yes netjets for the rest of my adult life.

Do what you must, but never come back here spouting off about how crappy you have it, now that you're stuck...

Either make your dream a reality. Or accept that you've succumbed to being a slave for the rest of your professional life.

 

[Hawker dude]

Flexjet pilots,



I want to take a moment to share my vision for the future of One Sky and Flexjet. As soon as the threat the union poses to our organization has been eliminated, with your help of course, I will be implementing a few exciting changes. I think the best way to explain a few of those changes to you is to share several excerpts from my book, Management by Trust. I hope this will clear up any misunderstanding that may have arisen, here on Flightinfo, about my intentions toward you.

why don't you just negotiate with the union?

 

[el raton]

To the pilots of Flops who consistently post on Flight Info:
This thread is a perfect example of why you have become the laughing stock of Flight Options of FO pilots in the eyes of most at flex. You guys are brushed off and not taken seriously at all.

Like "Uncle Kenn", you are an embarrassment to the pilot group at FO. A few reasons why.... Your message always starts packaged in some form of deceit. This message, when delivered, already starting with a loss of credibility, attempts to convince pilots at flex to sell their future to one of the most corrupt outfits (the teamsters) in US history. Combine this with FO's past performance of contract negotiations and you have what most call a "joke". Just the the fact that the IBT hasn't publicly asked you to stop posting your drivel shows what an inept operation they are.

Life at Flex hasn't been perfect, there have been some short falls (especially for furloughees and first officers) but for most of us, we've been treated very well considering the economic state of the last 7+ years. With that being said combined with the lack luster of your contract and your clown show here at flight info, do you understand why the pilot group at flex has discounted the teamsters? Also your message comes across as nothing more than a form of self preservation with no ambition to grow.

Stop posting! Regroup! Figure out a better way that we can all stick together "stick together". Right now we see little value in selling our livelyhood to this form of mediocrity you guys live with and have presented as our future way of life.

 

[Praetorian]

Some day you'll all wake up and wonder what the hell was I thinking? I thought I'd be living the dream and flying a 777 international. Then reality struck, hell I'm going to be at flex, options, xo, tmc and yes netjets for the rest of my adult life.

Do what you must, but never come back here spouting off about how crappy you have it, now that you're stuck...

Either make your dream a reality. Or accept that you've succumbed to being a slave for the rest of your professional life.

I don't know brother. I've always liked the kind of flying we do as Fractional pilots and have never really had any ambition to fly for the airlines. A to B to C and repeat seems kinda dull to me. So I don't feel "stuck".

Things have changed at FO since you left. We aren't slaves any more. Problem is there are those who haven't come to terms with that reality yet. I'm willing to give it some more time for that evolution to take place.

 

[dime line]

why don't you just negotiate with the union?

Dam your funny, this is why pilots shouldn't be allowed to negotiate anything. Go ahead and try to get a rich guy to do something he doesn't want to do, it becomes a game to said rich guy.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

el, you certainly changed your tune, again. Uncle gave us a free copy of his book so we could understand his vision.
When you interviewed for the job,you came away with the feeling that this was a place where, if I went above and beyond, I too would become an SFO. Didn't turn out that way, but that's just aviation.
And el, if you are counting on the teamsters to save you,don't hold your breath. The Flex pilots are going to have to do that for themselves.

 

[luckydog]

And el, if you are counting on the teamsters to save you,don't hold your breath. The Flex pilots are going to have to do that for themselves.

Are you the guy in the Captain Obvious commercials?

That is what most FJ pilots have been saying all along

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

No but i did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[OHGOON]

el RATon,

Teamsters, "one of the most corrupt outfits in US history" ?

Have you any unbiased statistics to back up this claim? Have you ever paid dues to them? Worked for or with them? Do you "KNOW" anything"?..or are you just another confused right wing drone that channels your inner Hannity whenever confronted with anything that makes you uncomfortable due to a lack of understanding.

Everything is a ok in your own selfish little world, "life's not perfect, but from your own myopic perspective, you've been treated "very well"...so far. Who cares about those others below you on the seniority list. They only matter when you need coffee, ice and papers and when you once again are saved from yourself in the cockpit.

You should take your own advice and stop, back up and regroup. Make an effort to educate yourself before you embarrass yourself again. Good luck, you know many are rooting for you, even some of those lowly FOs you take for granted every day.

 

[el raton]

Ohgoon,
being against bringing the IBT to Flex is selfish?

Also, I happen to be in the bottom 50% of the seniority list at Flex.


You cannot deny the Teamsters have had a checkered past.

 

[dime line]

Ohgoon,
being against bringing the IBT to Flex is selfish?

Also, I happen to be in the bottom 50% of the seniority list at Flex.


You cannot deny the Teamsters have had a checkered past.

Oh and I forgot how squeaky FLOPS management is/was

 

[OHGOON]

Ohgoon,
being against bringing the IBT to Flex is selfish?

Also, I happen to be in the bottom 50% of the seniority list at Flex.


You cannot deny the Teamsters have had a checkered past.

Stop living in the past.

The Teamster Rep that you are so hung up about comes from the JFK era when Bobby Kennedy made hay prosecuting Jimmy Hoffa Sr. Them thar days are long gone and today's Teamsters are the most supervised and transparent Union in America. They have the Feds sitting in their own building in DC to make extra sure.

Look it's obvious you don't know anything factual about the Teamsters and have no first hand experience with them. Today's IBT airline division is populated by mostly ex ALPA leaders who have been there and done that... They know the score and they know your current management... You on the other hand seem to have no clue about who is really signing your meager pay check these days.

I would advise you inform yourself by engaging IBT1108 leadership directly. Ask them about your concerns and see if you don't come away with a different picture of the current Teamsters...if you're honest, you'll realize instantly that they are all dedicated volunteers trying to make our profession better. They are nothing more than your colleagues.

Time for you to put childish prejudices aside and realize where your allegiances should actually belong if you're interested at all to create a job and career you can be proud for once.

 

[OHGOON]

....oh and yes, being against something just because.....wait for it, wait for it...might negatively impact your relative position and or income opportunities vs your fellow Flops pilots is selfish.

IBT is simply a legal way to speak truth to power without risking loss of income. Being against that because it might cost you a pittance in dues money or it offends some precious ideological claptrap you can't live without...is selfish my friend because it puts your own personal needs and desires ahead of what undoubtedly will be better for all in the long run.

 

[el raton]

Stop living in the past.

The Teamster Rep that you are so hung up about comes from the JFK era when Bobby Kennedy made hay prosecuting Jimmy Hoffa Sr. Them thar days are long gone and today's Teamsters are the most supervised and transparent Union in America. They have the Feds sitting in their own building in DC to make extra sure.

Look it's obvious you don't know anything factual about the Teamsters and have no first hand experience with them. Today's IBT airline division is populated by mostly ex ALPA leaders who have been there and done that... They know the score and they know your current management... You on the other hand seem to have no clue about who is really signing your meager pay check these days.

I would advise you inform yourself by engaging IBT1108 leadership directly. Ask them about your concerns and see if you don't come away with a different picture of the current Teamsters...if you're honest, you'll realize instantly that they are all dedicated volunteers trying to make our profession better. They are nothing more than your colleagues.

Time for you to put childish prejudices aside and realize where your allegiances should actually belong if you're interested at all to create a job and career you can be proud for once.

Ok, now that you finished blowing smoke for the IBT, tell me, why is it selfish for me to oppose Flexjet organizing when we have had a good (not perfect) working relationship with our management for many years? Who exactly am I screwing in your opinion?

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

The pilots that worked for this company know what can happen without a contract. Your pilot group has a vested interest in what happens to the FO pilots. When he is done with us, FX pilots are next. And I know the teamsters are not perfect, but they are improving. For one thing they added an airline rep for the East Coast.

 

[OHGOON]

Ok, now that you finished blowing smoke for the IBT, tell me, why is it selfish for me to oppose Flexjet organizing when we have had a good (not perfect) working relationship with our management for many years? Who exactly am I screwing in your opinion?

You can't see it can you?

I'm not blowing smoke, I'm talking from experience, direct experience while all you are doing is aping other's non-factual prejudices. Please enlighten me with what your Teamster experience was....we're all waiting.

Working relationship with your management...that's the real joke. You have new management now, and you know nothing about them. Just because it's the same suit lying to you, he is now working for a new overlord. Are you really too dense to grasp the implications?

Flops guys dealt with those folks and found the Teamsters to be beneficial. You know nothing about who is really running your life but you choose to believe nothing will change as long as you keep your eyes and ears firmly shut.

You must be the guy who doesn't lock his doors in a new neighborhood despite of hearing about recent breakins until they are actually in your living room taking your sh!t....

How sad, another one who refuses to learn from other's hard won experiences.

Ohh, and btw, you're mostly screwing yourself, never mind all your colleagues.