135 Charter Job in FXE

[flydaddy0499]

Concerning Execstar - They have a C-207 in ATL in which one wing is higher than the other. You must hold continuous LEFT rudder just to hold straight and level. Rudder trim is ineffective. They will not fix alternator issues, they will wait until you have NO radios and NAV equipment to fix anything. They will expect you to fly into Class B airspace with no comms, aircraft unairworthy by a major margin (ie the high wing on the 207, not just the small stuff). They expect you to write up maintenance issues on anything but the log, etc. The list of sqwaks must equal to the total time on the airframe before they will fix ANYTHING!

I had a complete electrical failure in IMC and Class B. I had to use a handheld GPS and some very tricky flying to make the approach. On top of all that; they expected me to have the aircraft hand-propped and flown back to FTY with a handheld radio and GPS. Of course, that was the last straw for me.

The thing that really pisses me off is that the FAA will go apesh!t over a pilot not having a chart or a rivet missing during a ramp inspection but these unsafe operators continue operations unabated. What the he11 GIVES?

 

[mmmdonut]

LOL... would that be N97AK? hehe... ahhh the good ole days

 

[767200]

Concerning Execstar - They have a C-207 in ATL in which one wing is higher than the other. You must hold continuous LEFT rudder just to hold straight and level. Rudder trim is ineffective. They will not fix alternator issues, they will wait until you have NO radios and NAV equipment to fix anything. They will expect you to fly into Class B airspace with no comms, aircraft unairworthy by a major margin (ie the high wing on the 207, not just the small stuff). They expect you to write up maintenance issues on anything but the log, etc. The list of sqwaks must equal to the total time on the airframe before they will fix ANYTHING!

I had a complete electrical failure in IMC and Class B. I had to use a handheld GPS and some very tricky flying to make the approach. On top of all that; they expected me to have the aircraft hand-propped and flown back to FTY with a handheld radio and GPS. Of course, that was the last straw for me.

The thing that really pisses me off is that the FAA will go apesh!t over a pilot not having a chart or a rivet missing during a ramp inspection but these unsafe operators continue operations unabated. What the he11 GIVES?

I'm sure the local FAA FSDO would be interested in listening to this (and other stories). Did you or anybody else reported it?

 

[Groundpounder]

I work for an FBO at FXE, and Execstar is a scary place. They have an Aerostar that from what I saw doesn't have an artifical horzion on the pilots side of the aircraft, but they still fly it all the time. Also, someone ran one of their barons into a king air a few weeks ago.

 

[flydaddy0499]

Well, my experience with reporting a company to a FSDO is not very promising. It basically boils down to a disgruntled employee squeeling on the big bad boss man. In the end, maintenance logs get changed, and the "go ahead and prove it" attitude ends up scaring the Fed's every time they get into court. The burden of proof always lies with the government and that seems to be very elusive in today's 135 business. The FSDO office never ends up backing the pilot and my license is all of a sudden in play; no thanks!

The only way to catch these guys is to have recorded conversations that are not admisible in court. The only way to shut them down is for the pilots to stay away and not fly for them. But we all know that hungry CFI's looking for multi time are not going to pass up that opportunity as it is a major stepping stone to the regionals.

Just once I would like to hear of someone like Execstar going out of business because everyone is too d@mned smart to darken their doors.

Boycott? Not as long as there are hiring minimums.

 

[Duderino]

To those saying FXE is full of these type of Operators, you are very mistaken. I can only think of a few operators that are bad here. Execstar definately taking the cake. Very few companies at FXE have bad problems. In fact there are a lot of very good companies here. Above average charter companies. There are a lot of whore's down here driving down the pay, but I think that is mainly due to the heavy alien status. I guess they gotta start somewhere. I think that OPF and FLL have more in per airport than FXE. I have found much much worse conditions in states like Texas, and NM. But to say that FXE is a pit of degenerate 135 companies is heavily biased.

Take 'er easy,
Dude

 

[jaxpilot]

Im a line guy at CRG and Execstar keeps a couple of Barons and 207s at the FBO I work at. Those planes are HORRIBLE. On N97AK there is duct tape on the leading edge of the elevator. The nosecone on a lot of their barons is thread bare (you can literally see the fiberglass threads). They recently had a gear up in Panama City that took out N930BD. The pilot and the company argued with each other about whether the pilot put the gear down or not. The pilot says he put it down and then it came back up with no indication. I've talked to one of their pilots and he was saying something about PFT if I wanted to fly with him. With the way he describes the place and the fact they expect you to fly straight lines through squall lines and not be a minute late, I never got back to him, not that I would do PFT in the first place. He did have something wierd about him and didnt seem to mind working there. The last time I talked to him, he was wanting to know if I knew anyone with 500 hours to fly VFR 135 (Im sure they would expect you to fly through clouds if it meant getting to your destination on time), he said they are pretty desperate for pilots.I'd rather get on with a company like Flight Express.

 

[EMB170Pilot]

did the whole 135 out of fll and i thankg God for watching over me b/c doing that alomst made me get out of aviation. but i hear a lot of horror stories out of fll and fxe and is because of all the 134 and 1/2 charter companies. their are soo many of them that its hard to find the GOOD 135 companies.

Born and raised in ft. laud so know a lot of the 135 companies down there

if anyone flies 135 down there BEST OF LUCK

 

[CorpLearDriver]

Although Execstar is worthy of all of the negative publicity here, it is my suggestion that anyone who even considers flying for ANY operator at FXE take a few minutes and consider that there are a lot of other ways to risk your life and make money ex:FEAR FACTOR!!!

There is one operator I consider a good outfit at FXE and that is Florida Jet. Others may have different opinions but in my experience in dealing with Terry and John when he was alive, was nothing short of first class. Terry can be tough, but they are a good group. IMHO.

 

[aeronautic1]

Execstar

I too went to one of those pilot cattle calls for ExecScar. And, having worked a Citation out of a hanger across the street, I have had the destincted vantage point to walk by and peak into their hanger on more than one occasion. All of their a/c are POS. I mean really BAD!!!

So, I went to a cattle call just to see what these guys are made of... there must have been 20 pilots from all over the east coast for the interview. A couple of guys I spoke to were sincere but clueless... most were misfits. I was the only one out of the bunch with ANY turbine time and ExecScar made the full court press on me.

When they started taking PFT, I simply thanked them and walked back across the street and had a good laugh with my D.O. ExecStar if anything, is a dangerous place to work. But then, any Lear 35 air ambulance driver (did that too) can tell you plenty of stories too.

Florida Jet... ACES HIGH for sure.

 

[CUEBOAT]

Florida Jet is top shelf all the way. You could eat off the landing gear of any of Terry's planes they are so clean. Trust me, I know. Its all about tough love in that hangar. Terry is a great guy no matter what anyone says.

 

[CorpLearDriver]

Florida Jet is top shelf all the way. You could eat off the landing gear of any of Terry's planes they are so clean. Trust me, I know. Its all about tough love in that hangar. Terry is a great guy no matter what anyone says.

Whenever I talk with Terry he is very upbeat, tough for sure, but in a positive way. They had a tough rough last year with John's illness, but they seem to have things moving along. I still can't belive he's gone.

I read the boards from time to time and often find only the operators we have negative feeling for being talked about. I would think it is better to uphold the very best operators often to show what people should strive for. Of course, I know I that pilots all have to start someplace but the way you choose to begin with creates a pattern for your career. Often times it is not easy, but careful choices make for more rewarding and positive futures. IMHO

 

[88_MALIBU]

Its almost comical reading about this execstar. It makes for interesting stories. haha. Thanks for the laughs guys.