FlexJet FURLOUGHS

[BigFlyr]

Just got the call less than two hours ago!!! Don't know how many will be affected. BUH-BYE!!!

 

[ultrarunner]

I really don't think anyone believed this WASN'T going to happen. It's a bummer.

 

[vixin]

BigFlyer,

Where were you on the senority list? How many were below you?

 

[Heavy Set]

BigFlyr,

Sorry to hear the news. Any details on how many and the "predicted" time out?

The aviation industry (minus Southwest, Jetblue and Airtran) is IMPLODING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BigFlyr]

As I mentioned on the other thread... There was one class of 6 or so hired after me and there were 3 guys below me on the LR31 along with 8 guys on the LR60 and LR45... who were all junior to me (age wise). So that's like 17 or 18 right off the bat. They said they were furloughing strickly to seniority also... Good luck guys, and hang on to your jobs as long as you can!

 

[mobs]

Hate to see the furloughs at Flex,but with the well quail. pilots and the contacts they have made at all the FBOs I am sure they will do well in finding another job. I wish I had the contacts,but as a retiring airline guy I was on the wrong side of the airport,but still looking. Good hunting Flex guys/gals. Mobs

 

[bailey]

Anyone konw how many were furloughed.

 

[fr8doggydog]

I turned down an interview at LXJ a few months back, what a tough environment. Good luck to all those affected.

 

[RJL]

I saw some Flexjet pilots last night. They said they didn't know anything about recent Flexjet furloughs or layoffs. They said that business has has been slow but they are "hanging in there along with the rest of us." Did this really happen?

 

[Crucianpilot]

laid off again

I got the call yesterday. I am officially laid off again on the 20th. Hopefully, it won't be too long but who knows these days. Chief pilot said he had no idea when we would be called back if they call us back at all. He said this wasn't a furlough but it was being done in order of seniority? Sounds a lot like being terminated. Time to start sending out resumes again.

 

[BigFlyr]

Re: laid off again

He said this wasn't a furlough but it was being done in order of seniority? Sounds a lot like being terminated. Time to start sending out resumes again.

It's a good thing that its not a "furlough" because otherwise we wouldn't be getting severance pay! Whether or not they call us back will depend mostly on whether or not they sell more airplanes... Who knows? If Bombardier's upper management doesn't see Flexjet as a money-maker maybe they'll do away with it all together! I sincerely hope not.

 

[wheelbarrow]

last time

The last time they furloughed it was in conjunction with a Bombardier wide layoff and every division was required to cut (just after 9/11)
All those "furloughed by seniority" I believe were brought back rapidly. I think that Bombardier is in the same mode now and I would not be surprised if the the outcome is the same.
I think Flexjet tries to staff as lean as possible and the staffing needs don't suddenly disappear (like an airline) so it is likely that those furloughed are still needed.
But hell, I am usually wrong about most everything.

 

[fracman]

Re: Re: laid off again

Whether or not they call us back will depend mostly on whether or not they sell more airplanes... Who knows? If Bombardier's upper management doesn't see Flexjet as a money-maker maybe they'll do away with it all together!

I understand Flex just hired a new VP of sales & marketing. Sounds like the plan to continue selling for a while.

 

[Snakum]

Just curious ...

A 30+ year veteran at Bombardier is in the office with us this month and he says they were, at one time, able to put one CRJ out the door every day. He says right now they have around 300 orders and are only putting one out every 1.5 days due to a number of issues. He says there are shortages of men and materials from a number of cost-cutting initiatives and the production line is suffering as a result.

He also says that Bombardier is courting potential buyers of the LearJet operation in Witchita, and are also considering selling off the De-Havilland operation. All this to focus on the CRJ and it's derivitives, which is becoming their bread and butter.

So, I'm wondering if they are not investigating whether or Flex is going to be a long-term money-maker or not. Would Bombardier sell it, or just close up shop, if they decided that it just can't be sustained?

Minh

 

[LXJ31]

I can't comment on the sale of various divisions within Bombardier as frankly, I just don't know much about it. But I do know in business everything has a price and the company is in business to make money. American Airlines is not in business to offer employment to pilots and mechanics, it exists to make money for AMR. As far as Flexjet goes, its been profitable the last two years in terrible economic conditions which is a plus. My take is that Bombardier rightly views Flexjet as another way to sell airplanes, no more, no less.

I would like nothing more than to see people like Bigflyr and others back with us soon.

 

[Snakum]

Yeah ... think that's logical. Does anyone know, or have an opinion as to, how a company/division like FlexJet would be dismantled if it proved to no longer be profitable for it's parent? I certainly hope that doesn't happen in this case and having met FlexJet pilots my opnion is that they're a great group of guys - very personable and gladly answered all my beginner questions and I'd be honored to work with them one day - and I hope Flex pulls thru and everything's back to normal quickly. But if a parent company (Raytheon, W. Buffet's group, etc.) did need to divest themselves of a fractional operation, how would that most likely be handled? Would they sell it, or is that even an option in today's climate? Or would they liquidate the assets? I'd imagine they couldn't due to the customer contracts, and would need to divest incrementally as contracts terminated and hopefully furlough in seniority order. Just curious.

On another note, I know another Bombardier engineer who worked on the CRJ project before it was a CRJ and learned alot of interesting stuff about the aircraft. He (an Aero Engineer/Designer - Structural; orginally from Egypt, now a Canadian citizen) said that the CRJ began as a replacement for the Falcon 20s that FedEx started flying with. But that in the end it wasn't going to meet design specs (if I remember correctly) and so Regional/National airlines were approached with it. The rest, as they say, is history, for better or worse, depending on your view. I'd always heard that it was designed by Bill Lear as a business jet from day one. Anyone know?

Thanks for indulging my curiosity ...

Minh

 

[flyboycpa]

.

 

[NJA Capt]

The Challenger (600) and the CRJ are only distant relatives. The Challenger was developed by Canadair in 1978. Bombardier developed the CRJ in 1989, after buying Canadair.

Some of the original CL600 out there have a canopy type entry door (lifts up like a cargo door) with fold out steps. These were the ones FedEx had wanted. Sort of strange looking to see the door hinge up.

This site has some good history on both products, but leaves out the FedEx connection.

http://home.ca.inter.net/~rapickler/

 

[414Flyer]

The Challenger is actually a Bill Lear design. I think it was going to be called the Lear Star 600, but the design was sold to Canadair who made a few changes to it and it became the Challenger, but retained the 600 designation

 

[BigFlyr]

Back on the original subject of this thread... According to the information I was sent from "company" there were 39 pilot positions at Flex "selected for layoff," leaving 343.

 

[Bumz_Rush]

Flex Europe

Here back in the old country, FlexJet tried to set up a European operation, but that was not to last. I got out before the fan hit the sh*t. Many more were there when it happened. In general the termination deal was very generous. We felt that Europe would only last two years, until Dallas management realised that losses were vast. One major problem was the belief that if it works in Dallas it will work in Europe. But it was not working in dallas, so what hope Europe. I understand that the Middle east operation has faltered, and is now being run as part of Europe...
I have several good friends from Flex USA, so I wish you all happy hunting.....

 

[Avee8tr]

Misunderstanding

The last time they furloughed it was in conjunction with a Bombardier wide layoff and every division was required to cut (just after 9/11)
All those "furloughed by seniority" I believe were brought back rapidly. I think that Bombardier is in the same mode now and I would not be surprised if the the outcome is the same.
I think Flexjet tries to staff as lean as possible and the staffing needs don't suddenly disappear (like an airline) so it is likely that those furloughed are still needed.
But hell, I am usually wrong about most everything.

Sorry to say this, but you are wrong:
The last time Flexjet "Furloughed", they FIRED and it was definately not "by seniority" Some were very senior and NONE were brought back. It was the VP of Flt Ops way of getting rid of noise makers. Just thought Id clear that up

 

[TrumanSparks]

Actually the "noise" makers were let go and not invited back. The folks that were at the bottom of the list and were in good standing with Flex were invited back.

The latest round of layoffs were in seniority, and I've gotten the impression that when more crews are needed they will be the first ones invited back.

 

[LR45JI]

I was one of those people at the bottom of the list who was "let go" back in October 2001, just a few days after getting the type.

I was in fact called back by FX in Feb. 2002 but I already took a job with NJA and declined.

If memory serves me correct: There were 7 of us at the bottom who were let go and then called back. Of the 7: 1 is at SWA, 4 here at NJA; 2 went back to FX and one has since resigned.

Wish the guys at FX all the best, a good groups of guy/gals over there.