Fair Wind Air Charter Info ?

[sunkilr73]

This outfit out of KSUA.... Anything good or bad to say about them ?

 

[StarHustler]

As far as South Florida Charter is concerned, they are the biggest and the best (of course, it is still South Florida..). Strong management team that have all been there over 10 years. They have over 20 a/c based in the South Florida area, all managed. From a King Air 90 up to a Global Express. They have a good reputation with the FLL FSDO and try to do things safe and right, they don't break reg's or take short cuts. They follow a strict pre-determined duty day and will not break or bend it for anyone, even if it means losing the charter. If you need specifics, ask.

 

[sunkilr73]

Thanx Star Hustler..... That's pretty much what i wanted to hear...If i don't happen to be current on Type do I have to pay for training??

 

[StarHustler]

Not at Fair Wind, they don't make you pay for your type. If they like you, they will type you. That said, they may make you sign a promisory note for the first year to insure that investment in you.

 

[Xcorporate]

I'm pretty sure they do make you sign a bond for initial training. Good bunch of guys from the few I've met.

 

[sunkilr73]

Thanx the info guys.

 

[TimsKeeper]

Fairwind

Pretty much as good as it gets for South Florida Part 135.

 

[skyismyoffice]

Pretty much as good as it gets for South Florida Part 135.

Agreed

 

[can99]

Pretty good company, some growing pains especially in the dispatch office area, the rest of the place is run pretty darn well. Great owner, management pilots and back office people, you will be paid from the day of hire, everything straight up no surprises, its one of those nice companies where you are welcome to drop in anytime and shoot the breeze with anyone. They are stickler for running it by their ops manual and by the regs which is a good thing. You are really on call, every day and night up to 9pm which is your automatic into rest time, its good its defined but dont expect much notice for most trips and some trips that are just out and backs might turn into a 2 week adventure with no notice. This is the biggest downside to working here is the lack of forward notice to flights and scheduling.

 

[Lou3]

This is the biggest downside to working here is the lack of forward notice to flights and scheduling.

That is pretty much what you can expect at any, every, and all, Part 135 Charter outfits. It just comes with the job, hence the term, "non-scheduled on Demand".

 

[can99]

Not ALL at all, 2 I worked for over the years were very good at the scheduling and letting crews know, but they had a lot of their own clients and werent living off the brokerage boards to get flights.

One I shouldnt have left (grass is always greener syndrome) had a schedule that was good for the next month, and only 1 time in 5 years did we get a pop up trip and that was for a lung donor flight... on demand isnt always "on demand" like a cab service and with owners desperate to get an income to pay for their toy... just saying....

 

[StarHustler]

on demand isnt always "on demand" like a cab service and with owners desperate to get an income to pay for their toy... just saying....

In South Florida it is....

 

[G-force]

80% rule!!!!!!!!!

This outfit out of KSUA.... Anything good or bad to say about them ?

If I were you,I would do alot of HOMEWORK to find out as much as possible about this outfit,that is if you're seeking a position with them,since it will pay rewards later if you do!!
Rule of thumb:80% of ALL PT 135 On-demand/Charter outfits are really Pt 134.5 outfits,that cannot afford to operate the type(s) of aircraft they operate!!! :angryfire:angryfire

 

[can99]

I say Fair Wind is not in your 80% of operators you mention. At Fair Wind you write it up it gets fixed... the only grumblings ever come from the mechanics who sometimes didnt want to travel to fix the plane when it wasnt in base in the middle of the night, but they did a great job. Management was very proactive in the maintenance area and adamant dont fly with a write up and get the MEL item fixed asap no matter where in the world you were, even small cuts in the tires caused mechanics to be called and tires replaced to be on the safe side.

 

[osy007]

at Fairwind, if you write it up they get it fixed becuase they don't care..It's not coming out of their pocket. They don't own any aircraft. They're all managed.

Also, the D.O/VP is a racist German. During my interview he threw out an epithet not knowing that I fit into that category. I needed a job bad so I just bit my tongue and took it up the a...Other than that, he's a nice guy. So is the CP and the other office workers.

Just don't think that your job is secure. If the a/c owner ever sells his aircraft, then you don't mean squat to Fairwind.

 

[StarHustler]

Just don't think that your job is secure. If the a/c owner ever sells his aircraft, then you don't mean squat to Fairwind.

That's not 100% correct. I have seen them continue to pay Pilots out of their own (not owners) pockets when planes get sold and they really want to keep the Pilot on staff for a future aircraft. They really value good people. They would have those employees work in the office until they could get them on another aircraft. I have seen this multiple times. However, if they can't or don't want to keep you on staff, then yes, you are 'on your own'. But that is true at any Part 135 Charter Operator.

As far as the D.O. being a "Racist German", well, it is true that he is German and he is definetly a 'Type A' person (arn't all Germans), but I have never heard him say anything Racist in public or private. I'm not saying that you didn't, only that I never have. Most Racist's tend to espouse that type of rhetoric on a continual basis to almost everyone around. He wants things 'perfect' but I really can't blame him for trying to run a good organization. The "Monday Morning Quaterbacking" can get annoying at times but it really doesn't happen all that often and sometimes it is actually needed. Overall, it is still the Best 135 Charter Company in Florida I believe.

 

[G-force]

No assets to speak of????

As far as South Florida Charter is concerned, they are the biggest and the best (of course, it is still South Florida..). Strong management team that have all been there over 10 years. They have over 20 a/c based in the South Florida area, all managed. From a King Air 90 up to a Global Express. They have a good reputation with the FLL FSDO and try to do things safe and right, they don't break reg's or take short cuts. They follow a strict pre-determined duty day and will not break or bend it for anyone, even if it means losing the charter.

Sounds good about the "strong mgmt team",but ALL aircraft are managed,so the company really has no assets to speak of,unless they own the hangars,or some other assets that have not been mentioned!!!

 

[can99]

I dont think I would personally label the D.Ops a racist.. but it depends on your sensitivity level and what your definition of racism is (I once was called a racist for saying to another Pilot who was caucasian "what you talking about willis" !! ) I loved the light hearted banter in the FWAC office, it was a fun and inviting place to visit no matter who you talked to.... and the break room is always full of 'health food' . And I enjoyed the fun we had with my heritage and accent.

FWAC may be a management company, but from what I saw its a very healthy one. I have never worked at a management company before where there is 2 new crew cars sitting outside that are company owned, lunch is given to all employees most days, even if you are a free loader pilot wanting a free feed! You are paid from the minute your drug test is taken , normally on day of interview. Your pay is in your bank account at midnight, and your per diem and reimbursement checks arrive like clockwork every week. As far as the finances and the ownership you couldnt find a better operator on the SE coast I think. You can always go and sit with the owner, his office is down the back and his door it open.

 

[osy007]

AB and I were having the free lunch during INDOC and watching the news. A news flash came on talking about some illegal Brazilians doing something bad. AB shakes his head and says, "f'ing portagees". I'm 3rd gen Port from the mother country and not Brazil. I thought he would been smart enough to figure out that my last name is not the typical Northern European English name.

FWAC was a decent place to work but they are still a 134.5 operator. After Sentient dropped their contract with FWAC in '09. FWAC could only find a couple of trips a month for us. The owner lasted 4 months after that and parked his plane. AB notified us in the coldest possible way, via email, and said sorry you have no job.

 

[G-force]

Economic Hiccup!!!!!!!

One more hiccup of any significance in the economy and this place could close the doors without losing hardly anything except the office furniture and the computers,since they have NO REAL assets of any kind to speak of,how solid is a place like this anyway???? In my opinion NONE!!!!!!!
:angryfire

 

[emspilot 01]

One more hiccup of any significance in the economy and this place could close the doors without losing hardly anything except the office furniture and the computers,since they have NO REAL assets of any kind to speak of,how solid is a place like this anyway???? In my opinion NONE!!!!!!!
:angryfire

Hey Special G-Farce dude, Why are you always so negative? It must be bad being such a little man in a big world. Did this company also fire you butt??:laugh:

 

[PA-44Typed]

I was cut like fart right before Christmas a few years ago as an owner was selling his LR31. He was getting a LR60. fWAC laid me off right before Christmas and hired guys with the LR60 type AND still charged the owner for the 2 type ratings. Facts are facts, FWAC is a "south Florida Lear operator" just lke all the rest.
Do some non flight info.com research about the former owner that is is federal perison right now.

 

[StarHustler]

The guy you mention being in prison has not been affiliated with Fair Wind for many years (not for at least the last 6)and sold his interest in the company a very long time ago. As far as being a South Florida Lear operation, well, it is in South Florida and they do have some Lear's but they also have a Global, G 3,4,5, Challengers, Falcon 50's, etc...of 20 plus airplanes, about 5 might be Lears (and only one of those are a 31).

Sounds like some of the bad experiences mentioned might be a tad dated. Fair Wind is still a 135 outfit, but by my accounting, they try to do it right.

 

[PA-44Typed]

His assets (FWAC) were sized by the government and sold to A.B. and another partner. As far as the DO being a recist. He is kinda a ******************************, but i never heard him make any recist remarks or jokes. The chief pilot is good guy. My comments about them being just like any other crappy south Florida 135 is spot on. There are several charter management companies just like FWAC. Low pay, washing the airplane on your day off. Sitting reserve at the hotel for days on end. I was on the road about 21 days a month. I'll be the first to admit my info may be dated. I was there several years ago. But I can't see it changing with the sAme management still in place. Dont be fooled do your research. You are an expense to them nothing else. These stories about keeping people on with no airplane to fly are just that, stories. I was laid off right before Christmas via EMAIL. Alex didn't have the decency to call me on the phone or have me come in. Your experience my have been different then mine. As with most things there are 2 sides to every story.

 

[PA-44Typed]

Wow we can't say _d_o_u_c_h_e,

 

[Lou3]

His assets (FWAC) were sized by the government and sold to A.B. and another partner. As far as the DO being a recist. He is kinda a ******************************, but i never heard him make any recist remarks or jokes. The chief pilot is good guy. My comments about them being just like any other crappy south Florida 135 is spot on. There are several charter management companies just like FWAC. Low pay, washing the airplane on your day off. Sitting reserve at the hotel for days on end. I was on the road about 21 days a month. I'll be the first to admit my info may be dated. I was there several years ago. But I can't see it changing with the sAme management still in place. Dont be fooled do your research. You are an expense to them nothing else. These stories about keeping people on with no airplane to fly are just that, stories. I was laid off right before Christmas via EMAIL. Alex didn't have the decency to call me on the phone or have me come in. Your experience my have been different then mine. As with most things there are 2 sides to every story.

Man, I am not sure where you got some of this info, but A.B. definetly does not own any of Fair Wind, it is owned entirely by C.H. and his Dad, Ray. A.B is just the D.O. and is an employee of the company like everyone else. They may have been another 'crappy South Florida 135' before but not now, and not for a few years now. I don't know ANYONE that has EVER had to wash a plane there and I know AT LEAST 4 guys that were paid to stay on while a new a/c was found for them. Most guys average about 15 days of flying/sitting on the road. Very few one way's are ever sold anymore and if you sit waiting for a trip back home it is usually only a day or two.

That said, I can completly see A.B. sending an email as a form of laying off a crew as he has done it to others as well. Do I agree with that? Absolutley Not! Can he be an overbearing person at times? For sure! However, the company has improved over the years and is not a bad place to work - for a Charter company.

 

[G-force]

Contradictions!!!!!

Some serious CONTRADICTIONS about this thread!!!!!! :angryfire:angryfire

 

[PA-44Typed]

I'm glad to hear things have gotten better.