Berry?

[Dirk Diggler]

Deftone

I have to agree with Deftone on this. Deftone seems to have heard the same things I have heard from the people I know who were associated with Berry. Anyway, it is too bad that a company has to fail just because of bad management, but it happens all the time. I was told by a friend of mine that when they had the dual flameout on the east coast receintly that the crew was told to lie about their story, and they were threatened with their jobs if they didnt. Its a bad market out there now, but to quote Deftone, it is not worth the consequences, especially for a company like this.

 

[trainerjet]

My only point was that this "lying about what happene with the dual flameout", etc..would never have happened at this company when the two guys I mentioned earlier were in charge. They ran a first class operation. It's unfortunate that things have deteriorated to the point that they have. And it's my opinion that's it's because now, without these strong, experienced individuals in the DO and Chief Pilot positions, the owner of the company puts undue (read..unsafe) pressure on the guys that are in those positions now, and this makes it's way down to the crews.

I was not defending the company, or advocating that it would be a good place to work to gain experience. I was just remarking that it wasn't all that long ago (maybe 3-5 years), that it really was a first class operation, and giving credit to the two guys that made it so.

I will also be the first to agree that for younger pilots striving for experience, especially the opportunity to gain turbine time, you must look long and hard at the risk vs. reward factor. When my buddy flew there, the rewards were great, and the risks minimal...particularly for this type of operation. It's too bad, especially in this tough employment environment, that things have turned so dramatically in the other direction.

 

[Berryair]

berry no

currently working for berry. prefer to be vague. not ready to loose job yet. the DO and the Director of MX will both piss on your head and tell you its raining. The chief pilot is a pretty stand up guy but with little real authority. xle a flight, or attempt to for wx or mx and it will result in an immediate call from the DO, or Chief pilot who WILL PRESSURE you to complete the flight. below mins... others have made it in, airplane broke.... its not that broke!! others have made it! it is perfectly clear if you xle too many fights you will be given a call and told your services are no longer required!! (several capts have had this happen) call out sick too much, you services are no longer required (former dispatcher). etc. this was indeed a good place to work about three to two years ago. it has gone downhill since. the old chief pilot and DO was a good guy. he did keep the owners and MX in check. this is no longer the case. the owner won't even say hi to pilots in the office, in training etc. I have worked there for a while and seen the owner several times, he has yet to even say hi let alone introduce himself... unusual for a Texan even. the quality of MX has dropped alot in the last 8 months or so, the schedule now sucks, and the pay is below industry standards by about 30-40% for 19 seat pax airplanes. we are a currently profitable company, and the pilots have not been given a raise in at least 3 years or more. there is no COLA, perdeium, or expensies for meals etc. This company is in real need of a union. know any unions that take a company with 30 pilots or so? im sure i can get 18 or 19 to sign cards?

unknown for good reason

 

[t-ride]

I fly for Berry and hate it...

I currently fly for Berry and hate it.

I can't say where; as you can tell from earlier posts they are pretty liberal with the axe. It isn't about pay, per diem, and other things as much as it is the attitudes of the Chief Pilot, D.O., and owner. If they didn't always seem so out to get us it'd be so much better. The chief pilot is a small man; not to generalize, but he seems to have short man syndrome. He didn't do my checkride but he seems to like to belittle people to let them know they have answered incorrectly.

I heard out on the East Coast we had a crew take the Metro off the runway empty, into a snowbank.

The kneejerk: Now F/O's can't T/O and land.

Berry is better than no job. But that's about it...

 

[metrodriver]

I flew metro's for a little commuter a few years back and the pay was $15.- per hour with a 70 hour guarantee for fo's,and about $10.- more for the left seat. Before taxes I made a whopping $17.000.-, this included many hours overtime. I know berry still has some higher time Capt's on furlough, and from one I know it probably is going to be permanent (I guess it's a nice way of saying 'you're fired').

 

[Lou3]

I have an interview scheduled with Berry Aviation next week, if anyone has a gouge for them I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

You know, Im not going to bash any company and there reputations. Ive heard alot about berry, had a few friends fly for them for a year and minus all the bantering about a/c problems, they are a great place for low timers to get lots of turbime ME time and some excellent cross country expirience. Thats great. However, I have heard many bad things about the maintenence of a/c and heard the chief pilot was a bit difficult to deal with. For all the good and bad just search out the site. All companies have good and bad. They had a dual engine flame out last year im sure which was due to ice intake but I don't want to speculate. Never got a follow up on that one. But i do know from a few pilots of many maintenence issues that were overlooked even know the a/c was not airworthy in the condition they were in. Just watch your back, don't fly a plane you don't think is up to par and good luck with everything. With the aviation market the way it is your lucky to have an interview with them. FO pay is low, but youll get a good 1000hours a year, depending on what your base is but its good for the low timers. Definatly makes your marketable to the regionals after a year and corp ops as well. My friend flew for them for a year and then went to Skywest and is on the CRJ.

 

[FL240]

Berry Aviaition

the DO and the Director of MX will both piss on your head and tell you its raining.

I concur!


Low budget operation that claims to have excellent maintenance and training. Stay away....far away. If you value your life, sanity, and want to make a good living (especially as an FO).....Go somewhere else!

And that guy who is at Skywest now that Lrjtcptn is talking about would say the same!

That's my gouge for ya!


BTW How is ATC Lrjtcaptain?

 

[Lou3]

I appreciate the honest feedback, thank you. However, that said (and I really do value my neck) things are down right tough out there, I have sent resume's to every regional and cargo outfit that I know of and after 2.5 yrs of flight instructing, it is time that I put some more advanced a/c hours in my logbook. I really wish a decent regional would give me a buzz, but it has not happened yet, and I am not getting any younger. This business is all about timing I know, and mine has not been real good....

I am going to pay them a visit and see how it goes, I will be sure to let you guys know after I get back. I figure if I don't at least try to I will be hating myself a few hours into a C-172 as to 'what might have been'.

Thanks again.