Brett Hull
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flexjet
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falcondriver
Well-known member
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I spoke to someone in Flexjet's Dallas office in April, sent him my resume in May, and was told yesterday he was laid off with several others.
Did they lay off pilots or just admin. type office people? I read a lot about Flight Options and Executive Jet here. Why isn't there any talk about Flexjet? Are they that good or that bad to work for? Is there something I am missing? I know Bombardier has had some setbacks, but I though FLexjet was A-OK.
RJ
Did they lay off pilots or just admin. type office people? I read a lot about Flight Options and Executive Jet here. Why isn't there any talk about Flexjet? Are they that good or that bad to work for? Is there something I am missing? I know Bombardier has had some setbacks, but I though FLexjet was A-OK.
RJ
NJA Capt
Member
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- Jun 4, 2002
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Although I do not work at Flexjet, I do speak to their pilots often. None of the pilots I have spoken to have been upbeat, regardless if they were captain or FO.
All have spoken of reduced fleet size (less than 100 aircraft...est.), 2 year FOs with no upgrade in sight, downgraded hotels, bad labor relations, etc. I don't seem to cross paths with Flex'ers as much as I used to, either in the air or at the FBOs. I'm not sure what is going on there. I wish them the best of luck. It doesn't appear that Montreal is interested in making them the powerhouse they once were.
Regards,
NJA
All have spoken of reduced fleet size (less than 100 aircraft...est.), 2 year FOs with no upgrade in sight, downgraded hotels, bad labor relations, etc. I don't seem to cross paths with Flex'ers as much as I used to, either in the air or at the FBOs. I'm not sure what is going on there. I wish them the best of luck. It doesn't appear that Montreal is interested in making them the powerhouse they once were.
Regards,
NJA
Pilot's Wife
Active member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2002
- Posts
- 33
Where to Begin?
I'm not sure what all to tell you about Flexjet. First off, for those who don't know, my husband is a CA at Flexjet. And he loves flying learjets for them. With that said, most of what NJA Capt says is also true. There have been some tough times for Flex. I also think it's interesting that not many people post on here regarding Flex.
We haven't heard of any layoffs in the offices. We know of some new pilots though so I don't have any idea what happened with RJL. I can't imagine they are laying office personnel off when Flex had it's best quarter ever last quarter. I may be wrong in this, but I think they were the only fractional who posted a profit last quarter.
There have been some serious "labor problems" for the last 1-2 years. Well before 9/11. Upgrades are non existent and some of the other issues mentioned by other posts are true also. The hotel issue is a big one right now. Flying 7 on and 3 off is biggie too. Also a reason other pilots don't see them as much in FBO's is because the company is regularly flying the pilots 12+ hour days. They are in the air all the time now. It makes for some long days as a pilot, but it also could be part of the reason for making a profit last quarter.
Any other info you want let me know. As far as I know they are still accepting resumes and hiring.
I'm not sure what all to tell you about Flexjet. First off, for those who don't know, my husband is a CA at Flexjet. And he loves flying learjets for them. With that said, most of what NJA Capt says is also true. There have been some tough times for Flex. I also think it's interesting that not many people post on here regarding Flex.
We haven't heard of any layoffs in the offices. We know of some new pilots though so I don't have any idea what happened with RJL. I can't imagine they are laying office personnel off when Flex had it's best quarter ever last quarter. I may be wrong in this, but I think they were the only fractional who posted a profit last quarter.
There have been some serious "labor problems" for the last 1-2 years. Well before 9/11. Upgrades are non existent and some of the other issues mentioned by other posts are true also. The hotel issue is a big one right now. Flying 7 on and 3 off is biggie too. Also a reason other pilots don't see them as much in FBO's is because the company is regularly flying the pilots 12+ hour days. They are in the air all the time now. It makes for some long days as a pilot, but it also could be part of the reason for making a profit last quarter.
Any other info you want let me know. As far as I know they are still accepting resumes and hiring.
I don't want to beat a horse when it's down on its knees but I will give you my insight into Flexjet.
There are many reasons why people at FX are so unhappy but here is a big one. When they laid-off people in October they did it OUT of seniority. They basically laid-off people they didn't like and after they got ride of those people they went to the bottom of the seniority list and laid off about 7 guys that were new-hires. So, for those of you who think a UNION isn't worth the $$$$$....think again!!
Nevertheless, FX has continued to go down the tubes thanks mostly to Montreal. Flexjet is about the most Micromanaged Company I have ever seen - the "Big Boys" up in BC tell the "Managers" in ADS what to do and they do it. As a result there is massive understaffing....people are flying 7/2 and 7/3 schedules consistently, poor hotels (CLC Card) and upgrades are now 3-4 years as the fleet continues to shrink. Management does not listen to the pilots and has now basically taken the stand of: "If you don't like it, leave. There are plenty of people who want your job." The "Bean Counters" have taken over FX and the results are evident.
There is again a push toward Unionization at Flexjet but don¡¦t think it will ever happen and if it does happen Bombardier will probably just shutdown Flexjet as it's not a moneymaker and don't want to deal with additional labor issues.
Just my 2 cents from a former Flexjeter ļ
There are many reasons why people at FX are so unhappy but here is a big one. When they laid-off people in October they did it OUT of seniority. They basically laid-off people they didn't like and after they got ride of those people they went to the bottom of the seniority list and laid off about 7 guys that were new-hires. So, for those of you who think a UNION isn't worth the $$$$$....think again!!
Nevertheless, FX has continued to go down the tubes thanks mostly to Montreal. Flexjet is about the most Micromanaged Company I have ever seen - the "Big Boys" up in BC tell the "Managers" in ADS what to do and they do it. As a result there is massive understaffing....people are flying 7/2 and 7/3 schedules consistently, poor hotels (CLC Card) and upgrades are now 3-4 years as the fleet continues to shrink. Management does not listen to the pilots and has now basically taken the stand of: "If you don't like it, leave. There are plenty of people who want your job." The "Bean Counters" have taken over FX and the results are evident.
There is again a push toward Unionization at Flexjet but don¡¦t think it will ever happen and if it does happen Bombardier will probably just shutdown Flexjet as it's not a moneymaker and don't want to deal with additional labor issues.
Just my 2 cents from a former Flexjeter ļ
jetwash
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 30, 2002
- Posts
- 879
I am sorry to hear that Flex management is putting the screws to the pilots.
I was told that over a year ago Flight Options wanted to enter into talks with Flex for a merger but were turned away. Then Options went to Travel Air and worked out an agreement. A week before the Flight Options / Travel Air deal was announced Flex contacted Flight Options and said they were now interested but Flight Options told them it will have to wait a while.
I know that Ken Ricci at Flight Options wants to grow the company quick to match EJA in size ASAP so another merger might be in the future for Flex and Options once everything is settled with Travel Air.
As for the union issues, the teamsters are trying to get into Flight Options now and I was told by an EJA union rep that their plans are to get into all the fractionals and set a standard contract for all pilots at all the fractions with regards to money, pensions work rules etc...
I was told that over a year ago Flight Options wanted to enter into talks with Flex for a merger but were turned away. Then Options went to Travel Air and worked out an agreement. A week before the Flight Options / Travel Air deal was announced Flex contacted Flight Options and said they were now interested but Flight Options told them it will have to wait a while.
I know that Ken Ricci at Flight Options wants to grow the company quick to match EJA in size ASAP so another merger might be in the future for Flex and Options once everything is settled with Travel Air.
As for the union issues, the teamsters are trying to get into Flight Options now and I was told by an EJA union rep that their plans are to get into all the fractionals and set a standard contract for all pilots at all the fractions with regards to money, pensions work rules etc...
I heard about recent layoff in the Flexjet Dallas office last month- not sure if this also applied to Flexjet pilots.
I was also told that Flexjet laid off a significant amount of pilots and other staff last Fall- I didn't 100% believe the story, so I searched and found this article- I guess it's true.
24 October 2001
The Canadian Press
MONTREAL (CP) _ Bombardier Aerospace, battered by turmoil in the global airline industry, is set to announce production plans for a new business jet Thursday.
Aviation journalists and aerospace industry leaders have been convoked to the company's headquarters in the Montreal suburb of Dorval for a briefing on the new aircraft, which a company spokesman said Wednesday was a business jet.
She refused to give further details.
The company, the world market leader in regional aircraft, is also a leader in the business jet field. Analysts say business aviation is the only industry sector that has not felt a dramatic impact of the worldwide aviation slowdown since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The new aircraft is probably a derivative of an existing model. Bombardier makes the Challenger 604 wide-body corporate jet in Dorval, while producing the three-member Learjet family of smaller business jets in Wichita, Kan.
It also makes two large corporate jets: the long-range Global Express, and the Continental.
The company, a unit of Bombardier Inc. of Montreal, is the third-largest civil aerospace company in the world, well behind Boeing Co. and Airbus Industrie.
Besides manufacturing aircraft, it has a growing business jet fractional ownership company called Bombardier Flexjet, and does aircraft maintenance and pilot training.
However the company had to announce last month the layoff of 3,800 employees in the aerospace sector to cope with the aviation slowdown it expects will translate into lower aircraft sales. And if sales don't pick up next year, the company warns it could chop a further 2,700 jobs.
Bombardier Inc.'s other divisions also make rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products like the Ski-Doo.
The company employs 79,000 people in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Revenues for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled $16.1 billion.
In trading on the Toronto stock market Wednesday, Bombardier shares closed unchanged at $12 in trading of more than 3.6 million shares.
I was also told that Flexjet laid off a significant amount of pilots and other staff last Fall- I didn't 100% believe the story, so I searched and found this article- I guess it's true.
24 October 2001
The Canadian Press
MONTREAL (CP) _ Bombardier Aerospace, battered by turmoil in the global airline industry, is set to announce production plans for a new business jet Thursday.
Aviation journalists and aerospace industry leaders have been convoked to the company's headquarters in the Montreal suburb of Dorval for a briefing on the new aircraft, which a company spokesman said Wednesday was a business jet.
She refused to give further details.
The company, the world market leader in regional aircraft, is also a leader in the business jet field. Analysts say business aviation is the only industry sector that has not felt a dramatic impact of the worldwide aviation slowdown since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The new aircraft is probably a derivative of an existing model. Bombardier makes the Challenger 604 wide-body corporate jet in Dorval, while producing the three-member Learjet family of smaller business jets in Wichita, Kan.
It also makes two large corporate jets: the long-range Global Express, and the Continental.
The company, a unit of Bombardier Inc. of Montreal, is the third-largest civil aerospace company in the world, well behind Boeing Co. and Airbus Industrie.
Besides manufacturing aircraft, it has a growing business jet fractional ownership company called Bombardier Flexjet, and does aircraft maintenance and pilot training.
However the company had to announce last month the layoff of 3,800 employees in the aerospace sector to cope with the aviation slowdown it expects will translate into lower aircraft sales. And if sales don't pick up next year, the company warns it could chop a further 2,700 jobs.
Bombardier Inc.'s other divisions also make rail transportation equipment and motorized recreational products like the Ski-Doo.
The company employs 79,000 people in 24 countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific. Revenues for its fiscal year ended Jan. 31, 2001 totalled $16.1 billion.
In trading on the Toronto stock market Wednesday, Bombardier shares closed unchanged at $12 in trading of more than 3.6 million shares.
Yes they did lay off in October. And that was in part, a witch hunt. However, they have been hiring pilots and office staff for the last few months. They are also planning on hiring pilots for the next few months. Things are difficult at flex now, but they are looking better. They had a lot of growing pains. We will have to wait and see what happens. Everyone fly safe and I hope you are doing well.
TheFlyingWeasel
Member
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2002
- Posts
- 24
So, in short for someone shopping for a fractional slot needs to rethink the FlexJets situation before applying?
I’m looking hard at the fractional side and was beginning to compile my files on the companies.
Gonna print this post out and file it with my FX stuff.
Thanks guys and gals for the info
Weasel
I’m looking hard at the fractional side and was beginning to compile my files on the companies.
Gonna print this post out and file it with my FX stuff.
Thanks guys and gals for the info
Weasel
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