Empty GV Cockpits!!

[Kayman]

Layed off in June of 05 after 10 years of service with a corporate Gulstream V operater.

Typed and FSI PIC current (Oct 05) in the GV with international experience in all regions.

Hoping to continue living in SouthWest FL. but am having difficulty finding all these operators that need V crew I've been hearing about.

Anybody have any suggestions

 

[HawkerF/O]

Kayman,

I go to Naples from time to time and when I have at least a day, I look up the parents of a friend of mine I grew up with who took his own life in college. Last time I were there, his dad was telling me over dinner that the real-estate development company he works for was a Netjets customer and they are in the process of moving away from that and buying a new G550 to operate on their own, PT91, no charter; Did I know anybody? He is not the kind of guy that just talks, so I take him at his word. As much as I would have liked to do something like that, or reccommend somebody, it was more than I would feel comfortable doing at this stage and I just don't know anyone qualified to do that. Are you in the Naples area? Are you PIC capable, not just qualified? They do some international work. They are a 1st time actual owner, so their aviation knowledge is limited. I'll put in a phone call to him and ask what the situation and how far along they are. No promises, but I'll at least find out how what the situation is. We had that conversation in October, so there is no telling what has happened since.
I will say that I don't want to call them with any BS, so if you are not capable of going in and starting a place like that from scratch, please just be up front about it. If you are, then I'll at least put you in touch with them, but I won't vouch for you, as I just don't know you. You'd be on your own in terms of me saying that I know what kind of guy you are or what kind of stick you are. Not being rude, just honest. Let me know and I'll make that call as soon as I hear from you.

Layed off in June of 05 after 10 years of service with a corporate Gulstream V operater.

Typed and FSI PIC current (Oct 05) in the GV with international experience in all regions.

Hoping to continue living in SouthWest FL. but am having difficulty finding all these operators that need V crew I've been hearing about.

Anybody have any suggestions

 

[matchthehatch]

Last time I were there, his dad was telling me over dinner that the real-estate development company he works for was a Netjets customer and they are in the process of moving away from that and buying a new G550 to operate on their own, PT91, no charter;

HawkerF/O,

Good for you trying to help a guy out. Glad to see it on this board. Are you sure the company is buying a 550? I know of a company with a G200 on order in APF. They are a real-estate development company, too. The initials of the company are GBG. If it's not the same, then I apologize for sticking my nose in.

 

[HawkerF/O]

HawkerF/O,

Good for you trying to help a guy out. Glad to see it on this board. Are you sure the company is buying a 550? I know of a company with a G200 on order in APF. They are a real-estate development company, too. The initials of the company are GBG. If it's not the same, then I apologize for sticking my nose in.

You have nothing to apoligize for and you're not sticking your nose into anything. I am certain it's a 550 because the guy telling me about this whole thing knows very little about aviation, and 550 came right out of his mouth. He didn't have to think about it at all. He knew exactly what they were getting, so that let me know he had not been told a bunch of different aircraft types, he seemed to know for sure exactly what it was, it's size, and it's range. They do INTL work and the CEO had taken a trip in the EJA airplane and had to stop once for fuel and he didn't like that. Not that the CEO is some arrogant person upset cause he had to stop, but his issue was that the guy selling him the airplane assured him that was an easy non-stop trip for the aircraft and it turned out not to be the case. I see his point. Not sure what type they had from EJA.

Since I am not a Gulfstream pilot, I really couldn't help him, and everyone I know that is a G pilot and reliable with enough experience to do this was not interested in moving to FL. I just figured I'd stay out of it since this type of task was out of my league for the experience I have at this point, but if I came across someone I'd at least pass their name along. It's been several months, and a lot can happen in that amount of time, so I don't know where they are at this point with everything, but I'd look for a new G550 to show up down there in the next few months if it is not already on property. i don't know anything about the company, what kind of folks they are, pay, or any thing like that. I just know my friend's dad, and he is a stand-up guy, so I assume it has got to at least be something to look at for someone qualified.

 

[matchthehatch]

You have nothing to apoligize for and you're not sticking your nose into anything. I am certain it's a 550 because the guy telling me about this whole thing knows very little about aviation, and 550 came right out of his mouth. He didn't have to think about it at all. He knew exactly what they were getting, so that let me know he had not been told a bunch of different aircraft types, he seemed to know for sure exactly what it was, it's size, and it's range. They do INTL work and the CEO had taken a trip in the EJA airplane and had to stop once for fuel and he didn't like that. Not that the CEO is some arrogant person upset cause he had to stop, but his issue was that the guy selling him the airplane assured him that was an easy non-stop trip for the aircraft and it turned out not to be the case. I see his point. Not sure what type they had from EJA.

Since I am not a Gulfstream pilot, I really couldn't help him, and everyone I know that is a G pilot and reliable with enough experience to do this was not interested in moving to FL. I just figured I'd stay out of it since this type of task was out of my league for the experience I have at this point, but if I came across someone I'd at least pass their name along. It's been several months, and a lot can happen in that amount of time, so I don't know where they are at this point with everything, but I'd look for a new G550 to show up down there in the next few months if it is not already on property. i don't know anything about the company, what kind of folks they are, pay, or any thing like that. I just know my friend's dad, and he is a stand-up guy, so I assume it has got to at least be something to look at for someone qualified.

Thanks. Must be two different companies. The G200 will be used almost exclusively for domestic trips and will be under management.

 

[AA717driver]

Kayman,

I go to Naples from time to time and when I have at least a day, I look up the parents of a friend of mine I grew up with who took his own life in college. Last time I were there, his dad was telling me over dinner that the real-estate development company he works for was a Netjets customer and they are in the process of moving away from that and buying a new G550 to operate on their own, PT91, no charter; Did I know anybody? He is not the kind of guy that just talks, so I take him at his word. As much as I would have liked to do something like that, or reccommend somebody, it was more than I would feel comfortable doing at this stage and I just don't know anyone qualified to do that. Are you in the Naples area? Are you PIC capable, not just qualified? They do some international work. They are a 1st time actual owner, so their aviation knowledge is limited. I'll put in a phone call to him and ask what the situation and how far along they are. No promises, but I'll at least find out how what the situation is. We had that conversation in October, so there is no telling what has happened since.
I will say that I don't want to call them with any BS, so if you are not capable of going in and starting a place like that from scratch, please just be up front about it. If you are, then I'll at least put you in touch with them, but I won't vouch for you, as I just don't know you. You'd be on your own in terms of me saying that I know what kind of guy you are or what kind of stick you are. Not being rude, just honest. Let me know and I'll make that call as soon as I hear from you.

Well, you sure scared the pi$$ outta me... TC

P.S.--being a qualified and competent G550 capt. is quite different than being qualified and competent to start a department. IMO.

 

[HawkerF/O]

Well, you sure scared the pi$$ outta me...

You lost me there.

being a qualified and competent G550 capt. is quite different than being qualified and competent to start a department. IMO.

Oh, I agree 100%, and believe I tactfully stressed that very point in my initial email by asking him to be upfront about whether he is able or not to do it. Did you not read it as such?

AA717, while you and I seem to see eye to eye on that, I'm certain if you present 99% of pilots out there with some jet time (regardless of their experience) with an opprotunity to do something like this, they would all jump at it, thus teaching the 1st time aircraft owner a valuable lesson, possibly souring them to aviation by not getting the right people in there. It seems that asking for help is something we as a group are allergic when it comes to something like this, whether it's ego, fear of looking like you don't know what you are doing, or most of the time, pure arrogance, and let's not kid ourselves, there's plenty of that out there.

I do think it is something I could have done, simply because I know enough people I consider professionals I could call at anytime that have done this before and would be glad to help me out to make sure it's done right, but in my eyes, that would have been what I'd consider learning on someone else's dollar, and I don't think that would have been fair to those (aircraft owner) who deserve better. Does that make sense? IMO, I don't think most pilots would have approached it with that attitude if they were in my same position.

Nevertheles, had I known Kayman at that time, he'd probably be having this conversation with you telling you about a great new job he has putting his knowledge and skill to work for a new outfit he started down in Naples rolling G550 style.......

 

[AA717driver]

You lost me there.

You made your point about having to have your stuff together for the position in Naples so convincingly that you scared me away from ever wanting to tackle that job.

BTW, when did they decide to get a G550? Unless it was quite a while ago, the lead times on the 550's are pretty long. I know the 450 is sold out for a couple of years now. I doubt the 550 is less than a year. Kayman might not be too late.

We will probably get our 450 a mere 16 months after the deal was signed.TC

 

[FlyingMoose]

Kayman,

I go to Naples from time to time and when I have at least a day, I look up the parents of a friend of mine I grew up with who took his own life in college. Last time I were there, his dad was telling me over dinner that the real-estate development company he works for was a Netjets customer and they are in the process of moving away from that and buying a new G550 to operate on their own, PT91, no charter; Did I know anybody? He is not the kind of guy that just talks, so I take him at his word. As much as I would have liked to do something like that, or reccommend somebody, it was more than I would feel comfortable doing at this stage and I just don't know anyone qualified to do that. Are you in the Naples area? Are you PIC capable, not just qualified? They do some international work. They are a 1st time actual owner, so their aviation knowledge is limited. I'll put in a phone call to him and ask what the situation and how far along they are. No promises, but I'll at least find out how what the situation is. We had that conversation in October, so there is no telling what has happened since.
I will say that I don't want to call them with any BS, so if you are not capable of going in and starting a place like that from scratch, please just be up front about it. If you are, then I'll at least put you in touch with them, but I won't vouch for you, as I just don't know you. You'd be on your own in terms of me saying that I know what kind of guy you are or what kind of stick you are. Not being rude, just honest. Let me know and I'll make that call as soon as I hear from you.

HawkerF/O,

I am very good friends of two pilots that were hired later last year to fly a Part 91 only G550 for a real estate guy based in Naples. I can't imagine there are too many G550 operations matching the same description at any field yet so I wonder if this is the same. They took deliver of the aircraft around December and they do a lot of international and long stuff. The only thing is I don't recall him being a NetJets customer/owner; actually he was a customer of where I and the two pilots were working together at the time they were hired. There was a third pilot that was hired at the same time who left and has since been replaced as far as I know so I don't think they have any openings (if it is the same place). If I hear otherwise I will post what I learn.

I would've guessed that Kayman would be aware of this or another G550 operator at Naples since you are already flying V's in that area, there aren't that many around yet. I am also surprised that you haven't found an opening down there fairly easy with that experience, it seems like there is a late model Gulfstream opening posted every week down there. On the other hand, Florida (especially south) is notorious for a whores pilot market so maybe it would be a good opportunity to move on elsewhere.