Big News from Flight Options?

[skyismyoffice]

Dear Fellow Team Member:

We are proud to announce that Flight Options is adding a new best-in-class light jet to its fleet, the much-anticipated Embraer Phenom 300.

In addition, our purchase by global private equity firm H.I.G. Capital is now complete.

Flight Options has contracted with aircraft manufacturer Embraer to purchase 100 Phenom 300 light jets over the next 10 years, with an option for 50 more. The order is nearly $1 billion, by far the largest in our history. This is a huge leap forward for Flight Options, and demonstrates our commitment to a future of growth and long-term success.

A light jet with super-light jet capabilities, the Phenom 300 is a best-in-class aircraft featuring everything our Owners have told us they want—efficiency, speed, comfort and ample baggage capacity.

Also, Flight Options is now officially part of the H.I.G. Capital portfolio of companies. H.I.G. shares Flight Options’ innovative vision of future growth in private-jet travel.

We should all be thrilled about both of these developments, as they herald great times ahead for the Company and all our constituents. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact your supervisor.

Below you will find the press release, issued today, regarding these exciting announcements.

Thank you for your continued dedication to making Flight Options a leader in private-jet travel.

 

[CA1900]

Looks like a great replacement for the BeechJets. There are some real advantages to not being owned by a manufactuer, eh?

 

[dime line]

Looks like a great replacement for the BeechJets. There are some real advantages to not being owned by a manufactuer, eh?

Well, we still might be owned by a manufacturer, just not Raytheon. Maybe like Embraer. Kinda like HIG=front (us owned company) and Embraer=behind the scenes pulling the strings....

This is just my opinion!!!!!

 

[*#$% Headwinds]

100 Penoms!?!? YHGTBFSM! Are they gonna pay those guys even less than the Beechtruck drivers? Where are they planning on finding 500 pilots willing to work for those wages?

 

[Freedom]

No Growth, just Fleet Modernization

By last count, didn't Options have 80-85 Beechjets?

Aren't they the Small Cabin in their 4 Fleet Type plan to include Small, Mid, Super Mid, and Large Cabin?

I predict for every Phenom 300 that shows up, one Beechjet will leave.

This should also help feed their plan on attracting Low Time Pilots with Shiney Jet Syndrome (SJS).

Come and fly a New Next Generation Light Jet!

That management team had better settle the Contract with the Pilots pretty darn soon. I can't imagine HIG putting pen to paper on the checks for these new airplanes unless they know their labor costs will be within what they have planned for.

Freedom is not Free.

 

[Cavpilot]

Best in class????

Have they even built one of these things yet?

 

[*#$% Headwinds]

Nice. DayJoke must be scared shiatless.

 

[marqmarq]

Phenom 300

The 300 is well above the Beechjunks. Don't confuse them with the 100s Avantair is getting. The numbers are pretty impressive (not dissing the 100s either, the 300 is just more comparable to jets currently on the market). RTS was looking at them as a replacement for the ultra. He probably would have bought them if the appropriate MX support was available. You'll probably see some at CMH some day.

 

[Guitar Guy]

RTS was looking at them as a replacement for the ultra. He probably would have bought them if the appropriate MX support was available. You'll probably see some at CMH some day.

I think the CJ4 is going to be the entry-level jet at NJA, not the Phenom 300. But we'll see

FLOPS guys and gals - good luck and I hope next year brings a good contract to you. My best wishes during the holiday season.

 

[hawkerflyer]

Where are they planning on finding 500 pilots willing to work for those wages?

You're kidding right ? If it took them an hour to get 500 resumes I'd be surprised.

 

[Guitar Guy]

You're kidding right ? If it took them an hour to get 500 resumes I'd be surprised.

What are the current minimums at FLOPS to apply? I checked website and didn't see anything stated.

 

[jetwash]

The order is nearly $1 billion, by far the largest in our history. This is a huge leap forward for Flight Options, and demonstrates our commitment to a future of growth and long-term success.
.

OK

Now SHOW ME THE MONEY !!!!!!!!

 

[NETFLIER]

they aint gonna be able to buy shiza til they pay my pilot peeps mo money:beer:

 

[Semore Butts]

Netflier

Word!!!!

 

[holden1]

So if FLOPS never made money with all of the prior Frax programs....how is this one going to be different?

 

[I Hate Freight]

You're kidding right ? If it took them an hour to get 500 resumes I'd be surprised.

Lots of young kids out there with SJS. They'll fly for next to nothing. Prikks.

 

[RNObased]

Flight Options has contracted with aircraft manufacturer Embraer to purchase 100 Phenom 300 light jets over the next 10 years, with an option for 50 more. The order is nearly $1 billion, by far the largest in our history. This is a huge leap forward for Flight Options, and demonstrates our commitment to a future of growth and long-term success.



Thank you for your continued dedication to making Flight Options a leader in private-jet travel.

100 jets and 10yrs.... Huh, from the guys I talk to that work at Options, they don't seem to think the place will last 10 months, much less 10 years.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Making money

So if FLOPS never made money with all of the prior Frax programs....how is this one going to be different?

Options could make money with the current fleet, the aircraft have never been the problem. Until we have management that is willing to recognize that it is they that are flawed and are what needs to be fixed or replaced, Options will not be profitable no matter what jets we are flying.

 

[learflyer]

deleted

 

[skanza]

100 jets and 10yrs.... Huh, from the guys I talk to that work at Options, they don't seem to think the place will last 10 months, much less 10 years.

Yeah, but consider your source. Bad news from negative people, good news from positive people... take your pick.

 

[dime line]

Yeah, but consider your source. Bad news from negative people, good news from positive people... take your pick.

Where is the good news?

 

[RNObased]

Yeah, but consider your source. Bad news from negative people, good news from positive people... take your pick.

I do consider the source. The fact is that Options is in trouble, believe it or don't. If I can see it from standing around looking at the body language of the crews, you should be able to see it from your position of knowledge. Can it be turned around with some shiney new, unproven jets from South America, NO.

Here is a fact that you or mangement at Options may not understand, but other places have grasped. The pilots are the front line in the fractional world. They are the face of the company, if they think they are getting screwed they will have a hard time putting on a happy face for the owners. The owners pick up on this, these people are far from stupid, and start to look for other options.

Bottom line, jets aren't the answer, a contract maybe is. The crews are also fleeing that place at a high rate. None of this is good news.

 

[Publishers]

Someone might want to bring up the fact that these companies do not own these aircraft themselves. They sell them and to sell them, one has to have a product that makes sense under the fractional plan. They obviously feel the Phenom is going to be a marketable aircraft in its class and something they can remarket to the customer. Pilots are only needed if we are successful in this part of the model. Jets are the answer RNO, for if the program is successful, pilot opportunites follow, they do not lead.

 

[RNObased]

Someone might want to bring up the fact that these companies do not own these aircraft themselves. They sell them and to sell them, one has to have a product that makes sense under the fractional plan. They obviously feel the Phenom is going to be a marketable aircraft in its class and something they can remarket to the customer. Pilots are only needed if we are successful in this part of the model. Jets are the answer RNO, for if the program is successful, pilot opportunites follow, they do not lead.

Wow, so I guess the jets fly themselves, that is something new in my world!!! If the people flying the jets aren't happy it doesn't matter.

My point is that the place may not be around long enough to take the silly jets, if things continue on the path they are on. In this case with the pilot opportunites following you are wrong. NO one and I mean NO one, in their right mind is going to buy a jet from a place with the labor issues that Options has. These jets have limited support network in the states and the manufacture has no track record in corporate aircraft. You may think a jet is going to solve all of Options issues, I seriously doubt it.

 

[johnsonrod]

When are the first Phenom 300s expected to arrive on the line?

 

[dime line]

When are the first Phenom 300s expected to arrive on the line?

End 09'

 

[jonjuan]

NO one and I mean NO one, in their right mind is going to buy a jet from a place with the labor issues that Options has.

Do you mean NO ONE? Isn't that from a movie? LOL. Then who has been buying the shares the past two years?

 

[RNObased]

Do you mean NO ONE? Isn't that from a movie? LOL. Then who has been buying the shares the past two years?

Jon Juan, I have said this to you before, but it needs to be repeated. Stick to stuff you know about. If you think Options is growing, you have another thing coming.

 

[Publishers]

RNO, I don't know many people in the business who doubt Embraer ability to bring a good product to the marketplace. The Legacy seems to be doing fine. Pilots always get their underwear in a uproar if anyone implies that they are somehow not necessary to the equation. Of couse they are an element but as the airlines prove daily, good pilots, bad pilots, good contract, bad contract, if you do not figure out the market and how to serve it effectively, losses will soon follow. The Fractional business starts with having something to sell fractions in. It is sort of essential to the whole game plan. No plane, no fractions, no customers, no pilots is sort of how it works...

 

[jonjuan]

Jon Juan, I have said this to you before, but it needs to be repeated. Stick to stuff you know about. If you think Options is growing, you have another thing coming.

Never said they were growing. They are shrinking indeed. Just disputing your contention that people won't buy planes from flops with their current labor issues. All I hear about from people who know nothing of the labor issues is that the place is succeeding in its turn around plan with HIG and now the new order for the fenom 300.
Are they shrinking? yes. Are they selling planes? Yes. Will they sell 10 300s a year. Very doubtful. They can buy 10, but they still have to re-sell them. I doubt HIG will like 5 new planes sitting on property, unsold in a hangar.
I do enjoy the "No one and I mean No one" and "You have another thing coming" quotes. LOL....