AIR TRANSPORT of the CAROLINAS (FLO)

[G-force]

Need some info on this outfit!!!!!! They are seeking a chief pilot also!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[belchfire]

I wonder if it is a resurrection of the old Carolina Air Transport (from Lincoln County, NC) or if the name is a coincidence?

In 1999 & 2000 when I was hauling checks in the Mid-Atlantic there was a nice FBO and a few business type aircraft in Florence. I was waiting for the courier one day when the now long gone "Air Museum" was being dismantled and someone managed to set the grass on fire!

Kind of pissed me off, they were cutting up some kind of righteous old radial powered airplane when they started the fire...

 

[G-force]

Not sure if it is a resurrection of some other company,but I did find out a few things,they have NO ops manual,no mgrs as outlined in PT 119,so no proficiency checks in previous 6 mos,no approved maint program, no training program,violating ALL of PT 135,no oversight by anyone except a guy who works out of Charleston with a title of VP of Air Ops,but he has NO aeronautical experience of any kind,does not hold an FAA airman certificate!!!!!
This is a disaster waiting to happen!!!!!!! Someone will get KILLED in this operation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?????

 

[belchfire]

There is a cutout for one man part 135 ops, or at least there was and all of the things you point out may have been purchased and the FAA is nesting on them. Now if they are in the process of trying to move from one classification to another that might explain things. Or maybe they aren't up and running yet and that is why they are looking to fill the CP spot...

There are lot's of CEO's skimming the cream off the top of the gross revenue of many airlines who had no previous aviation experience...

 

[G-force]

There is a cutout for one man part 135 ops, or at least there was and all of the things you point out may have been purchased and the FAA is nesting on them. Now if they are in the process of trying to move from one classification to another that might explain things. Or maybe they aren't up and running yet and that is why they are looking to fill the CP spot...

There are lot's of CEO's skimming the cream off the top of the gross revenue of many airlines who had no previous aviation experience...

According to their website,the company was purchased in 2018,and then moved from CRE to FLO!!! They have a guy listed as Dir.of Maint who is an "avionics tech",unsure if he has a "A&P certificate".They show 2 aircraft,both PA-31 Chieftains that are 1977 models(40yrs old),and they are doing charters as we speak.
PT 119 says they must have a Dir of Ops,Chief Pilot,and Dir.of Maint. that the controlling FSDO(CAE),must approve,however,the CAE FSDO has another "bad operator" in CAE,Bankair, from the 1960's,which has a deadly record of killing 20 plus people,many of them pilots,they also DO NOT rate a PT 135 certificate,but they have had one for all of these years,and the reason was a "political payoff",to the late Sen E. Hollings,who greased the track for them!!!!! One wonders if the same thing is going on currently at Air Transport of the Carolina's at FLO!!!!!!!!

 

[belchfire]

Regardless, more management does not make flying safer. In fact it is frequently the case that FAA mandated management is the problem rather than the solution. I don't know much about Bank Air but I have worked with a couple of guys who had done time at a certain Convair operator and lived to tell about it...

You want to explain to me how a couple of Navahogs can support that much management?

It can't be done and there are a hell of a lot of dead and gone 135 certificates to prove it!

 

[G-force]

Don't know how 2 PA-31's can support all that mgmt,not even if they flew a charter trip everyday 4-5 days/week!!! My guess is they are not supporting things,financially anyway!!!!
The CP position is still open as of 3 days ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[G-force]

This outfit needs a Dir of Flt Ops!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[belchfire]

Not if they don't have any flights!

 

[G-force]

Not if they don't have any flights!

PT.119/135 says a Dir of Ops is required!!!! Unless the controlling FSDO will issue a waiver allowing company to deviate from regs!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[belchfire]

Place sounds like a tax write-off to me...

 

[G-force]

Place sounds like a tax write-off to me...

Very possible!!!!!! No one should go near this place,its a ROGUE 135 operation,breaking practically ALL the PT.135 regs,pilots have no flight checks every 6 mos,Dir of Maint does NOT have an A & P certificate,ALL flights and maint is bogus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[G-force]

Waiting to hear that this outfit has been closed down!!!!!! Since they rightfully deserve it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[belchfire]

One would presume at some point they had to be up and running to be closed down...

I'm sure if you asked Adam Schidt it is all President Trump's fault and somehow it is a Ukrainian/Russian operation to subvert free elections in the US.

 

[G-force]

I wonder if it is a resurrection of the old Carolina Air Transport (from Lincoln County, NC) or if the name is a coincidence?

In 1999 & 2000 when I was hauling checks in the Mid-Atlantic there was a nice FBO and a few business type aircraft in Florence. I was waiting for the courier one day when the now long gone "Air Museum" was being dismantled and someone managed to set the grass on fire!

Kind of pissed me off, they were cutting up some kind of righteous old radial powered airplane when they started the fire...

Not sure about this from Lincoln County NC!!! What I do know is that they are recruiting again for Chief pilot,check ad on indeed.com,will see it there if it hasn't been filled already!! They cant seem to get anyone to stay for very long,would believe that tells you something!
They are seeking a candidate with 3 yrs experience in last 5 yrs as chief pilot,with no waivers!!!! The aircraft are 2, 1977 vintage Piper Chieftains,the guy who would supervise the chief pilot works out of Charleston,is NOT an aviator at all,no FAA certificates of any kind,would be substituting his judgement for the chief pilot in aeronautical matters!!!!! Already interviewed there,the salary info was not disclosed to me,and not included on indeed ad either!!!!!!!! Was not offered job and would not accept it if they did make an offer!! One aircraft is NOT equipped with wx radar,both aircraft are NOT equipped with oxygen!!!!!!!!!!
Let the buyer beware of this place!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[belchfire]

No need for an 02 system on the in the Mid-Atlantic, it's not like even a P-hog could climb over a thunderstorm so that isn't even a worthy point. Seriously, if you're dodging storms in the Carolinas (and not in the Western end of the states in the mountains) you're better off down at 4-5000 feet under the bases and flying around the rain shafts!

I honestly don't know how any of the wxr's work in those things anyway, the one's in the J-ball most frequently weren't worth the weight of dragging them around.

I'm not sure about how you know the way the relationship between the CP and the "supervisor" would be run-if accurate that would be a bad situation but there is no evidence provided and I doubt that anyone would be foolish enough to disclose that in an interview...

Still, not looking for that kind of a job but if you like pecans Florence is the place to be!

 

[G-force]

Since June of 2019 this outfit has had 5-6 chief pilots!! Would seem these persons are only staying about 4-6 months then quitting for better jobs,and why not!!! The guy you would be working for with a VP Air Ops title has NO FAA pilot certificates of any kind!! No pilot that is worth 2 cents wants to get violated by the FAA for because the were ordered to by higher mgmt!!!!!!!!!

 

[belchfire]

That's some ugly turn over. And a lesson about the organization itself to be perfectly honest...

 

[G-force]

That's some ugly turn over. And a lesson about the organization itself to be perfectly honest...

This outfit had ANOTHER job ad on indeed.com 2 weeks ago wanting to hire a line pilot/Ass't Dir of Ops!! A revolving door is going on at this place since any pilot that goes there quickly finds our that he/she doesn't want to stay,for very good reason.You're being managed by a VP of airborne Ops person that has NO FAA certificates of any kind,no aviation education,knowledge,training,or experience,but he runs a PT.135 on-demand charter operation.FAA regs/airsafety does not matter much to these guys at all,since a pilot could face legal action against their certificates if they don't knuckle under,and follow unsafe instructions from their ignorant upper mgmt.

 

[G-force]

This outfit has ANOTHER ad for a LINE pilot on jsfirm.com,they require absurd qualifications,refuse to say what the job pays,another example of the revolving door at this place!!!!! All pilots should avoid this place!! There are far better places to work than Air Transport of the Carolinas at FLO!!!!!!!

 

[Private.Jet.Pilot42]

This outfit has ANOTHER ad for a LINE pilot on jsfirm.com,they require absurd qualifications,refuse to say what the job pays,another example of the revolving door at this place!!!!! All pilots should avoid this place!! There are far better places to work than Air Transport of the Carolinas at FLO!!!!!!!

I'm looking into this place as we speak. What is the best place to do more research on this operator? I'm considering responding to the ad, I am local to the area.

 

[belchfire]

I wonder what they do-tough to make money with piston airplanes (especially twins!) unless you have a niche like Cape Air does...that kind of turnover makes me wonder-how regularly they write paychecks that clear?

 

[G-force]

I'm looking into this place as we speak. What is the best place to do more research on this operator? I'm considering responding to the ad, I am local to the area.

If I were you,KEEP LOOKING!!!!! Don't apply at this place!! You don't want to lose your FAA pilot certificates in a legal action,since you would be ORDERED to violate FAR's,safe operating practices,etc,etc,etc
You could also end up dead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[G-force]

I'm looking into this place as we speak. What is the best place to do more research on this operator? I'm considering responding to the ad, I am local to the area.

Hey fella,at this place,its a case of the BLIND leading the SIGHTED,since upper mgmt types have NO FAA certificates,aviation training,knowledge,or experience!!!!!!

 

[G-force]

This place has been strangely quiet for the last few months,no adds on indeed.com or jsfirm.com for pilots or chief pilots,or Dir of Ops position! Either they have closed down completely,or those pilots working there have decided to stay for awhile until better opportunities come along,which they undoubtedly will in this economy!!!!!!!!

 

[belchfire]

But...

Florence is home to the World's Largest Pecan Sheller-how could you pass on that opportunity?

And just ask anyone who has driven to Murder (formerly Myrtle) Beach through Florence-let's just say that since there is a seat belt law in SC, and given that the population is mostly right handed, those with valid CWP's might consider a cross-draw option as opposed to the usual IWB Strong Side carry while making that portion of the trip.

Florence is an old farming community with some failed industries and others struggling and it doesn't take much of a wrong turn to get into sketchy parts of town where others may not put as high a value on your existence as you do...

And as far as that goes it saddens me no end that MB is no longer the Family Friendly vacation spot that it was in years past. A campground just South of the downtown area had a flyer posted about keeping ice chests and coolers locked up because they were being stolen!

I got the "Murder Beach" moniker from a native of a little town South of MB who explained that when friends are in town visiting they get clear of MB before dark as the place has gone to the drug gangs and the cops-who used to squash any out of control behavior from fat, white, drunk golfers to riotous bikers and college students or whatever with enthusiasm given the family fun billing of the area they are now handcuffed by political correctness and other revolutionary, Anti-American movements...

It's been seven or eight years since my wife and I took off to Myrtle Beach and we had a hotel that we had been going to for 15 years. We had a lot of fun (and not quite all of it in the sack with the surf crashing outside the opened door to the balcony mind you, you dirty minded pilot types!) but the last time we were there it just had changed so much we've never gone back and that is really, really a sad commentary on the state of the Nation.

hell, for my two cents ya might as well go a bit farther and go to Destin or the Space Coast and send the MB Better Business Bureau a one finger salute indicating that they need to get their feces together and disposed of properly!

 

[G-force]

What about Florence????? Stayed there recently???????

 

[belchfire]

I used to do a sit there waiting for the bank couriers after dropping off DHL material early in the morning. The airport is kind of neat in the "wants to be more" way many bypassed rural places present but to me it was better when the boneyard/museum was still there!

Florence is home to Young's Pecans, the largest Pecan sheller in the World and they have some wonderful products. I don't know how they grade pecans but the ones they sell under their own logo carry two or three times the normal price and you can taste the difference...and a redeeming quality to the place.

I've gotten a good deal on diesel fuel there a time or two-50 to 70 cents a gallon off the I-95 price if you know the right place.

Beyond that, well, I normally only carry one spare mag for the 1911 but some places I may be inclined to opt up for two or three. I've never had a problem but certain places inspire a bit more awareness of one's surroundings than others. I can't say I ever spent the night in Florence and I can't say I ever saw a motel, hotel or restaurant that inspired any desire to kick back and sit a spell.

 

[G-force]

The revolving door has started again at this place!!! Another ad from indeed.com today for PIC on PT 135 PA-31 Chieftains(2).Pay ranges from $27.6k to $35K!!!!!!!!!! Another good reason why this place can't retain any pilots for very long!!!!!! The salary range is WAY below industry pay levels,plus the working conditions not good either!!!!!!!!!! They also mention that the PIC must must have a Citation type rating,and they are paying this low rate?????? Go figure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[G-force]

This place is more than likely a major tax-write off for the big company that owns them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!