Avantair

[gunfyter]

Reality

I am one of your fans. But I don't think seeking employment should mean you take the first job that comes along whatever the pay. You have the unemployment benefits for a defined period of time. Make the best use of that time to get the best job you can.

Taking an underpaying flying job because you Are on unemployment can lead to declining pilot salaries for everyone.

 

[fischman]

What do you think you should do? Blow unemployment on 100/hr skyhawk rental???

There are a ton of pilots laid off right now, and I doubt 10% have the means to pay for flying. I just don't see the value of spending your family's food money on flying.

In the end, you will get a job based upon who and what you know, not how whether you have 3,672 hrs or 3,674 after renting the local skyhawk for and hour a month..

No need to get fancy with a skyhawk.

Consider it an investment in your future. If I were furloughed, I would maintain my currency. Having said that, do what you think is best for your family.

 

[realityman]

Gun, I didn't know I had any fans. I'm so lonely.:crying:
Actually, knowing a little about your intellectual background I have no choice but to take it as a compliment.:beer:

I suppose it depends on your point of view. I can certainly see where you're coming from, but suppose the really good jobs just aren't available? Perhaps the only job(s) that are available (at least in aviation) are the lower paying ones. So if the pay at a crappy aviation job is the same (or slightly better) than what he'd make on unemployment, he should stay on unemployment?

We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. If another job is available where he can at least squeak by, then the unemployment compensation has served its purpose: to prop him up until he can find gainful employment again.

I don't think using unemployment as a psuedo strike-fund (I won't take a crappy job because I want to help improve the industry) is a proper use for it.

If he is living off his own funds, or is finding other, non-taxpayer supported means to live off of, then fine. By all means hold out for the good job so as not to drag the industry down.

Of course, he certainly doesn't have to take a job in aviation. Perhaps he has other interests that could pan out into a nice living?

Hey, if I'm furloughed, come on by my pizza joint! Forget flying!! I'll even front you a pie, free of charge!!!

 

[BeenThereDoneIt]

GLASS: It's curious that the discussion of unemployment comes up on the thread titled about a company that seems to be the most distant from having it's pilots need that service.

ME: Pilots certainly haven't needed it, but 5% of the office-staff did.....WAY before NJ cut their office staff.

 

[glasspilot]

Avantair has never laid off 5% of any work group. We did, almost a year ago, see the economic writing on the wall and start to trim fat. Most notably we procured fuel contracts with national chains. As a current pilot flying the line and not someone throwing stones over a non-flying fence I can say I have seen a huge improvement in the price I pay on the road for fuel as a result.

We also trimmed redundant positions created by our senior acquisition from FlightOptions with the initials TC. This lady did a number on FLOPS and, regrettably, got to us and did a number on us too. I believe the FLOPS pilots here could back me up on this. Anyway, at no time did Avantair axe 5% of any group.

We did, however, have the benefit of letting one pissed off FO go. Unfortunately, he has decided to occupy his time going after the company that took a chance on him and his inexperience because, in his eyes, the world economy failing was a direct assault on his upgrade and who better to blame than Avantair? If he can't be a Captain at Avantair then darn it...everyone should know how crap they are! It's a tad inconvieniant that if he had upgraded then he'd still be at Avantair. Don't let that distract you from his message about how bad it was though.

Hey, I have and idea. How about, like a man, you stand by your decision to leave and...well...ya know...leave.

 

[mainiac]

Hey, I have and idea. How about, like a man, you stand by your decision to leave and...well...ya know...leave.

Second the motion...give it a rest

 

[RTRHD]

If he can't be a Captain at Avantair then darn it...everyone should know how crap they are!

Well maybe Yall need a union. There helping us..OK this is supposed to be funny.

 

[BlueNose]

We also trimmed redundant positions created by our senior acquisition from FlightOptions with the initials TC. This lady did a number on FLOPS and, regrettably, got to us and did a number on us too. I believe the FLOPS pilots here could back me up on this.

She was quite an empire builder at FO. Didn't care much for pilots, though. She made vendor deals that made her look great with the boss, but hurt the company and po'ed a bunch of folks who had to live with the terms. She struck the deals with our crew hotels to get rid of free breakfasts for our crews to save $5 a room night - great move all around, for both productivity and pilot morale. Didn't check with anyone from Flight or Ops before doing it, either - real team player. MS loved her. I hear she's at XO now, wonder what they think of her?

 

[corpflunkie]

My condolences go out to the XOJet folks if that is where she went.

 

[myrealnameis]

She was quite an empire builder at FO. Didn't care much for pilots, though. She made vendor deals that made her look great with the boss, but hurt the company and po'ed a bunch of folks who had to live with the terms. She struck the deals with our crew hotels to get rid of free breakfasts for our crews to save $5 a room night - great move all around, for both productivity and pilot morale. Didn't check with anyone from Flight or Ops before doing it, either - real team player. MS loved her. I hear she's at XO now, wonder what they think of her?

She's at XO Jet.....that is a mistake they will regret. Nothing but a trail of crap left in her wake.

 

[clydefastly]

I don't know if this TC lady is in fact here, but I have only seen improvements in hotel and other "on the road" living conditions.

 

[BeenThereDoneIt]

Cam, there are a LOT of former Avant personnel who were "released" while I was in training who will say, "What planet is Glass on? We were laid off!"

 

[glasspilot]

My name is not "Cam". It's Cameron. I don't know why you like to drop my name so easily on this forum, but whatever.

Here are some FACTS:

1.) You left Avantair.

2.) You created "BeenThereDoneIt" as a reference to you've been to Avantair and "done" it and your first post was titled "A review of Avantair" subtitled "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly" where it was totally biased against Avantair.

3.) You were straight out caught making numerous screen names on FlightInfo.com. On one occasion you were busted making a comment to yourself on the wrong screen name. That post was quickly deleted by you when you were called out for doing it. I understand why you would want to add to the illusion of support for your viewpoint, but making up fictious posts so you can own both sides of the conversation is VERY misleading to the very people you purport to be informing.

4.) The company you left and now slam is what I, and many others, expect to put our kids through college. I look to Avantair to pay my mortgage and put food on the table. When I see anyone attack my company on this and other public forums I get just a little defensive. I can't imagine anyone just laying down to misinformation about their company by a former employee.

5.) Your avatar is designed with the sole purpose of pointing out how Avantair "forced" you to fly broken planes. However, if you look at the picture the needle looks to be in the green to me. Also, if you felt it was unsafe I would remind you that both rudder pedals are equiped with toe brakes and you did not, in fact, have to take off.

6.) You have on many times called me out. This is totally unwarranted. My only complaint with you is you insist on getting on a public forum and hurl insults at Avantair. Remember, that's the company I work for and have a vested interest in it's survival.

7.) I understand you are upset that you didn't upgrade. I understand you couldn't see second year FO pay making the grade. I understand.

Please understand I simply want the best for all Avantair employees. We are all pulling on the same rope to help insure future survival, like many other fractional companies.

I still can not understand why you care so much about a former employer. It's obvious you take great pride every time something negative about Avantair comes up..be it aircraft mishaps or stock price falls. You're right there to point them out to everyone.

Please stop. Please move on. You have made your position very clear to everyone. So have I. Can we let this be, or have you become engrossed in the demise of Avantair to the point you can't stop yourself?

 

[mainiac]

My name is not "Cam". It's Cameron. I don't know why you like to drop my name so easily on this forum, but whatever.

Here are some FACTS:

1.) You left Avantair.

2.) You created "BeenThereDoneIt" as a reference to you've been to Avantair and "done" it and your first post was titled "A review of Avantair" subtitled "The Good, The Bad, The Ugly" where it was totally biased against Avantair.

3.) You were straight out caught making numerous screen names on FlightInfo.com. On one occasion you were busted making a comment to yourself on the wrong screen name. That post was quickly deleted by you when you were called out for doing it. I understand why you would want to add to the illusion of support for your viewpoint, but making up fictious posts so you can own both sides of the conversation is VERY misleading to the very people you purport to be informing.

4.) The company you left and now slam is what I, and many others, expect to put our kids through college. I look to Avantair to pay my mortgage and put food on the table. When I see anyone attack my company on this and other public forums I get just a little defensive. I can't imagine anyone just laying down to misinformation about their company by a former employee.

5.) Your avatar is designed with the sole purpose of pointing out how Avantair "forced" you to fly broken planes. However, if you look at the picture the needle looks to be in the green to me. Also, if you felt it was unsafe I would remind you that both rudder pedals are equiped with toe brakes and you did not, in fact, have to take off.

6.) You have on many times called me out. This is totally unwarranted. My only complaint with you is you insist on getting on a public forum and hurl insults at Avantair. Remember, that's the company I work for and have a vested interest in it's survival.

7.) I understand you are upset that you didn't upgrade. I understand you couldn't see second year FO pay making the grade. I understand.

Please understand I simply want the best for all Avantair employees. We are all pulling on the same rope to help insure future survival, like many other fractional companies.

I still can not understand why you care so much about a former employer. It's obvious you take great pride every time something negative about Avantair comes up..be it aircraft mishaps or stock price falls. You're right there to point them out to everyone.

Please stop. Please move on. You have made your position very clear to everyone. So have I. Can we let this be, or have you become engrossed in the demise of Avantair to the point you can't stop yourself?

Second time, seconding Glass's motion...

and, moving on will probably make you a happier person.

 

[mainiac]

Oh, and just to back up my happiness with my job:
Day 1 off, just got back from a nice fall foliage ride on my Harley, got my Sugarloaf (Ski) season pass in the mail today, paid my daughter's college tuition bill, paid my mortgage, sat in my hot tub...

Can't fit it all on one of those "Life is Good" T-shirts

(I'm not trying to gloat, lots of great folks out of work, and I feel for them, having been there, but I feel really lucky to be where I am!)