Evergreen or Gemini

[Flyguyz69]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for the good,bad and ugly on both of these companies. Ive been flying 135 cargo all of my life, so I'm used to the cargo industry. If you don't wanna comment on here go ahead and send me a PM. Some of my concerns is traveling to and from the A/C from home,hotels,schedules,QOL on the road, and basic company treatment.

 

[Junkflyer]

I don't work at either of these, but do work for Connie if you are interested. Word is 3 or 4 new hire classes next year.

 

[B737Dvr]

caution

If you do your research you can find many threads on here and the other sites about QOL, flying, schedules etc etc....

Beware though, at least at Evergreen they are now doing scheduled flying into Afghanistan, so know that before you go. The questions relating war zone insurance exclusions have not been addressed. There is not one extra dime for going in there, I wont go into specifics, but for anyone with at least half a brain, you may have other questions regarding ops into these places and let me pre-empt any questions with the one answer that we all have regarding them. the answer is no. Have they addressed......, what about ........, what if........., no no and no.

I dont know about the other carriers, but according to the AMC their C-17's are getting flown to death and they need help so are now wanting to make widebody flying there a bit more regular.

for your consideration.......

 

[cherry20's]

I know the starting pay is better at Evergreen. Some buddies work there and seem to really like it so far. Got the Dreamlifter contract to, not just military contracts.

 

[MD11Drvr]

World airways is also hiring and it appears that it will be seats in the DC-10 as well as the MD-11.

WOA.com

 

[EMB_driver2002]

I'm a Gemini guy on the 11, and I have a good buddy at EZ and we regularly discuss the pros and cons -

Travel: At Gemini its from your door to the AC, whereas EZ has domiciles of JFK and CHS for the LCF. EZ has some sort of travel bank system that takes a couple of months to work it, eventually you can bypass the whole JFK thing. You need an EZ guy to explain the inner workings of that. Biz or better for Africa/India at GAC, I think at EZ its based on the length of the flt.

Hotels decent for the most part, there are security concerns in the garden spots of the world such as Lagos. Hotels vary alot depending on the contract you are flying.

Skeds- with monthly carry overs at GAC its possible to be out 30 plus days, as a jr guy I've been averaging about 20- with 13 to 15 off after that.

Gemini is shrinking, 10s slowly going away with regular propaganda from the head shead about new airplanes, more MD's or 747/777/330 you name it. Upgrade is in the 6-7 year range at GAC. EZ has the LCF and with it come -400s, I think the upgrade is closer to 2 years there.

Morale here is not the best. Alot of Sr. dudes that have been here from the beginning are pissed about how the place has gone downhill for the last 5 years. Younger guys that can afford to bail are doing it, either to UPS or places like Emirates. I've only been on the line a few months, but my take is the future here is very much in question.

Both carriers are in bed with the military, I think GAC's mil flying is more AD hoc where as EZ's is more long term. Both are going into Afghanistan, and thats' just an appetizer apparently at GAC, worse places to come soon. With the LCF deal and 787's selling like hotcakes EZ wins the stability race hands down.

my 2 cents fwiw, good luck with your decision

 

[propsarebest]

A little on EZ...

The travel bank thingee is kinda neat. If you can hitch a ride on an EZ airplane, 1/2 of the cost of the ticket that they would of purchased for you to get home or back to base is added to yer travel bank. You can use it as you need to. All travel on commerical airlines is business, unless it is unavailable, or the market isn't served (for instance if you get a commerical home and you live in appleton, WI... RJ's only there- no 1st class.).

The LCF flying is a 25 year contract. There are two planes now, the third one being converted now and #'s 4 and 5 waiting in the wings to be converted. The LCF crews are gonna have a real kickass schedule when the whole program finally gets up to full speed.

Yes, we are flying into Afghanistan, both to KBL and OAIX. we have flown 3 trips total I think, and they are in and out trips. MOST of our flying for the DOD is US to europe/middle east however, and we do have some nice juicy pacific flying thrown in as well.


Moral here is OK, the whole contract thingee has everyone down. Hopefully it will be settled soon. Upgrade here is currently running 2- 2 1/2 years. That will stay the course for the next year or so, then will go down a little bit as the -400's come on. the bossman says that we have purchased 3 747-400's from Air France that will become -400BCF's. They will replace the -100's. Those will become supertankers full time, unlike the one now that is currently flying freight (or at least trying to).

We also have some special rights to fly freight from China, HKG and PVG. There are 5-6 flights a week normally.


Overall, its not that bad here. People here are GREAT.

We have stopped hiring PFE's and now only are hiring SO's and FO's. The first class is in a few weeks- I have no idea how the company is planning on picking guys to sit right side or sideways. All training is being moved to DEN where the sim is.

You can live anywhere in the world, but the company owns you up to 17 days a month.

 

[avpro91]

Gee, how different the view is from behind a desk in Mickyland!

Morale sucks. It's lower than low. Nobody is interested in getting shot down in a war zone, any war zone, and management and the old man could care less. "Don't want to do it, take a hike!" "You say our insurance doesn't cover you in a war zone?" "That's beacsue we're to cheap and indescent to pay for it...or tell you what the coverage really covers!"

Only international travel and domestic over 6 hours is business or better, and they try to skimp on that every chance they get.

Last I heard, the first SO they hired took off like a fart in the wind after he got here and found out what a "class act" operation this really is. You can't live anywhere in the world, you have to have a US address, and the company is not very accomidating to those that do reside in other parts of the world.

18 days a month is now the norm, as scheduling mismanages crews so bad that they lose track of you for you entire reserve line and leave you sititng in a hotel doing nothing only to extend you on your 16th day to cover some other screw up that shouldnt have even happened.

The company wants a concessionary contract...we are already the lowest paid operator of our kind! There's nothing to give back, but they want more. New contract...2 more years atleast.

The LCF is probibly the only positive thing going and there is already signs that EIA is screwing the pooch on that deal.

That bad wet dream of the old man's called the "supertanker" is a sore reminder of the amount of money that gets wasted on a daily basis! If it was such a success, why isn't it fighting fires?

China was a distant memory for the last 6 months. The only reason it's picking up now is beacuse it's the holidays and everybody else is already at capacity. Trust me, we're the last ones to get called for the job.

The only good thing going is that the guys are great. Best crews you'll find anywhere!

The company can truley care less about the crews who work the hardest to get the job done. It's apparent on a daily basis and it starts at the top. Isn't going to change soon. If you can swallow that cup of tea...come on. But atleast half the senority list right now is in the hunt for something else....anywhere else.

 

[fokkers&beer]

I'm not at Gemini anymore but a buddy of mine said they were not only going to Afghanistan, but now the 10's are making the scenic flights into Baghdad as well.
I did enjoy my time there. I miss the crews, but I don't miss 4 day layovers in Lagos. I'm sure sad to see the 11's are scraping into the bottom of the barrel markets.
Management always said the 11's are in such high demand the juicy contracts are lined up out the door. I guess that door must have closed.

 

[fogrunner]

but now the 10's are making the scenic flights into Baghdad as well.

Not true..............