Berry?

[airpilot]

Anyone have any info on Berry Air? I saw a few posts from earlier last year, but nothing more recent. Any updates? Currious about bases, pay and aircraft.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Berry

I understand that this used to be a good company, however in recent times I have heard the complete opposite. I have heard that the management is bad along with the planes. I dont know anyone there so my information is all second hand. Good Luck.

 

[skysurfer]

One of my buddies used to work there doesn't have anything good to say about them...he has long since moved onto a better job and is glad his life isnt in danger flying Metros anymore..lol

If you look into Berry's history, it isn't so good, especially that dual flameout incident. And last I heard, they have been laying off the guys who have been there awhile so that they can hire new people and not have to pay as them as much.

 

[Lrjtcaptain]

My friend used to be an F.O. there and never seemed to have many good things to say. He enjoyed it at first racking up lots of SA227 time but after a while he mentioned many times that those airplanes should not be flying. I know in the old days they used to be a respectful freight company, however in rescent months I have heard only negatives.

 

[metro]

Berry is not presently doing any hiring. Still have @ least (that I know of) 1 FO out on furlough from major axe swinging this summer when there was a bit of a slow down and panick button got pushed. Best way to get in is to get to know the pilots. Reason: Generally a specific Captain is paired w/ a specific FO and 90% of all your flying is done w/ that person so if there's an empty seat coming up and the guy in left seat knows you to be someone he would like to work with alot a request for you to the chief pilot goes a LONG way.
Three major areas of operation are: east coast (NY and primarily VA) -mostly Dept of defense contracts and Atlantic CitY Casinoes, West Coast (northern CA and primarily San Diego)-dept of defense contracts, TX-Again DOD contracts and some flying for college sports teams.
The company does not treat the pilots very well...I would say a 3-4 on a scale of 10 but the guys that you actually fly with on the line are all very great to work with...NO complaints! Pay not good either. Flying however is invaluable experience ....multi turbine time in a 19 pax plane...IMC ...Approaches lots of flying and in and out of very big and busy airports as well as small county airports... you name it we do it.
As for safety and plane condition: yes the planes could always be better but remember these are 20 yr. old planes w/ tons of hours on them so they are not new. I have found them to be in generally good working order and safe.
Hope this helps whoever is asking.

 

[airpilot]

Hiring?!

Metro,

I have an interview with Berry in a couple of weeks, so apparently they must be doing some hiring. Thanks for the informative message. I've been waiting for some good, first hand info and finally got it. Do you currently work for them? If so, where are you based? How many hours on average do you get?

airpilot

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Perfect Example

What a perfect example of that fine establishment. That is exactly what I heard about them from my friend. Apparently they have an FO furloughed, and they are hiring new people. I admit its great to get that multi turbine time especially in todays environment, but I have seen crappy places like this change peoples thoughts on flying and making them leaving the industry all together. After doing some more research I have heard some more disturbing things about this place, which makes me feel sorry for anyone there. Good Luck.

 

[metro]

Yes I work for them. Likely, I would guess you are interviewing for a position on west coast or TX as the furloughed FO is on east coast and apparently not interested in moving if not let me know I would be interested to find out otherwise. The flying is great you would like it alot. I did not want to sound like a complainer in my earlier posting...I'm being completely honest about the company based on my personal experience. It would not take much for them to turn it around and treat people right...like they used to...just wish they would actully do that. Hope it works out well for you. I noticed the original posting asked what type of equipment we fly. 100% metroliners...some cargo some pax configuration. Only other plane is a lear 55 the owner and director of ops fly occasionally. Also base locations...Richmond VA, Farmingdale NY, San Marcos TX, San Diego CA, Louisville KY and Nebraska. Where are you interviewing for?

 

[airpilot]

Where

The posting I applied for was in Farmingdale, NY, but that was in September of last year, so it may have changed by now. I'll find out the details at the interview I guess. I would definitely prefer the Texas or the West coast since I am from the west, but I don't want to be picky at this point. How easy is it to find affordable housing out east? I am married, however, my wife may have to stay put for the time being. Not sure yet how we'll work it out. I understand Farmingdale can be a bit expensive for housing. Let me know what you think. Just out of curiousity, what kind of schedule do you fly?

airpilot

 

[Future SNA]

I got a call from Berry about a year and a half ago to fill an opening in one of their groundschools...........and it started in 5 days! No interview, no nothing, just a call saying "can you, you're hired if you can," I couldn't...subsequently...had just moved and couldn't move to the East Coast from the Midwest after ground school, Oceana I think was where I was going, and at the time, I was 50 short of the 135 minimums with barely 100 multi, not exactly a stellar prospect, who knows?

 

[metro]

depends on where you get stationed as to schedule ...some are very fixed others have nearly no "schedule" at all. Yes Farmingdale slot was already filled this fall so not sure what is in mind for you. Farmingdale EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE to live..that's why nonone on furlough wanted it. Pay is $18,000/ yr. to start and not much better till upgrade. Not sure what the guy meant by not meeting 135 multi minimums...there are no multi engine minimums for 135 and no hourly minimums at all for 135 SIC which is the new hire position.

 

[country]

Is 18K the current starting pay for F/Os at Berry?

When does Berry Air let you know were your living(base) or is it one of those show up and you will find out after training is completed?

Any gouge on the interview process?

Thx in advance.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Where do I apply. As bad as some have said this is, it still beats the hell out of flight instructing at Western Michigan.

 

[airpilot]

where?

As far as I know, interviews are over for now. I applied through AEPS.com back in September, but nothing new has come up since then. Check their website at berryair.com.

 

[trainerjet]

Not if it gets you violated or killed!

A little harsh, don't you think? You know of anyone being violated or killed at Berry? Violated, maybe.....but killed?

I think you'd stand just as good or better chance at a few other operators..like maybe Superior Aviation or Grand Aire, just to name a couple. As long as you feel the need to bash companies, why not include the ones where these things have actually happened...instead of airing whatever personal grievance you have with Berry?

It's true it's not the operation it once was, but I think that's primarily because several years ago they had an excellent DO and Chief Pilot that had been there a long time and were very experienced and very good at what they did. They have since moved on, (the DO to Southwest) and I think the quality of the operation has suffered because of it. Not so much because of the guys that replaced them, but since the previous DO and Chief Pilot left, the owner of the company has a much greater influence on what goes on. Whereas when the other guys were in place, they had the influence and experience to do things their way. It was definitely a better operation because of it.

I never actually worked there, but am very close friends with someone who did, and is still very familiar with the company.

 

[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.