PilotChapin
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2005
- Posts
- 109
I have been at Avantair for many years. Myself, as well as other “young guys” who don’t all live in Florida (26 gateway cities) do see this as a career destination job. The company has grown from 1 aircraft in 2002 to 46 aircraft currently. The delivery rate of one new Avanti II every three weeks last year is expected to continue this year. Current orders through 2011 would bring aircraft totals to 114. What I like best about it here is the incremental improvements. By the way, our seniority list is nearly 200 pilots now, if what Flybait3 said was true then we would have to hire and train up to 400 pilots a year to keep up.
Flybait3 also has his training time off by 2 – 3 weeks. Initial training is 21 - 22 days start to finish including travel. Hotel room (no sharing), and transportation are furnished. Per diem check is issued at the conclusion of training.
Funding has been an issue for Avantair. The company has transitioned from the CEO using his home as collateral, to private funding out of Reno to private funding out of Palm Beach and now Avantair is a publicly traded company. Pretty impressive accomplishment if you ask me. I have no trouble getting a home loan but cant imagine getting some one to fund an upstart aviation company.
Avantair is not propped up (no pun intended) by the Warren Buffet Empire or any aircraft manufacture like the bigger/older four. (Well, Flight Options was a manufacture affiliate until Raytheon pulled out). Avantair must make money or the investors will pull the plug. When I read the reports I see a company trending in the right direction.
In addressing duty time and tour issues, the company is coming out of a growth spurt and pilot to aircraft ratios are getting better. Using the seniority list and the aircraft numbers it is easy to see why we worked as hard as we did in ’07. The number of aircraft deliveries since the first Avanti II came on the property has been astounding.
Fractional is not for everybody. It is very demanding when we are on, but the time off is great and the problems are predictable.
Last I heard the CEO and DO had a couple of screenames on flightinfo. Soooo I'm guessing this is a new one?