Flight Options Interview/Questions

[On Your Six]

Mason,

3 year upgrade. Doubt it. My year 2 anniversary is 2 months away, I can't even get in the Hawker right seat. This company will not make it with the current management. They are pissing off the 2 groups of people this company needs to stick around. The pilots, and more importantly the owners. If you want to live in ATL, don't mind signing a training contract, working a flex schedule, and not upgrading for awhile come right in the water is fine. However, the pilots are trying to unionize here. Not working great yet, we have a bunch of kool-aid drinkers. And the owners are leaving faster than pilots are. The poop is about to hit the fan as management is taking away things left and right and as of July 1 its really gonna get ugly. So if you don't mind coming to the most troubled company in the industry, we are the place for you. Otherwise try Citationshares. Quicker upgrade and better pay over there.

Good point about Citationshares - and I think ATL is one of their domiciles.

 

[SheGaveMeClap]

Don't plan on getting hired into anything but the Beechjet. Its happened in the past and there was an uprising, they won't make that mistake again.

The upgrade won't be three years. I'm over 3 1/2 years and there's no upgrade in sight. We are talking at least three more years. As they phase out the Citation and King Air fleets, those PICs will filter into the beechjets and take any available upgrade slots. Those fleets won't be completely phased out for three or four more years, so there probably won't be any new bids until then.

As was previously mentioned, management is pissing off the pilots and owners. If the owners leave, this company will tank. Pilots leaving is a given, its a mass exodus right now. I haven't met a pilot in four months that's not actively looking for another job. Higher Power is getting great business from us.

I won't even get started with the flex schedule. They make it to be advantageous for the pilots, but it won't happen. They find a way to screw up the 8/7 sked, they will have a hayday with a flex sked. Its ridiculus.

Good luck with the interview, if that's what you really want. I wouldn't recommend this job to my worst enemies.

 

[FAcFriend]

do you think if the co folds the pilots will be assimilated into nja

 

[Frac Daddy]

Thanks for the feedback. Do the majority of you guys think the company isn't going to make it long haul? That seems to be the vibe I get from some, if so why?

FYI-I was told in a phone interview that upgrades were around 3 years---according to this board that doesn't seem to be the case.

Who told you 3 years for upgrade?

 

[Frac Daddy]

Up Grade In 5 Years, Only I Wish. I Have 5 Years Here And Maybe 2-3 More For Upgrade. With The Pay Scale What Ever Aircraft You Get In Beginning Is The Best Bet, Stay There And You Get Pay Rises. You Move Between Aircraft And You Get Locked Into Paying For Your Type Rating Because You Get Held At Same Pay For 1-2 Years. Over A Career You Will Pay For Every Type You Get At Flops.

I gotta ask: I have been here just over 5 years ago as well and have been captain for four of them. There are also many junior to me that are PIC as well. Why do you see 2-3 more years to upgrade for you? Are you waiting for the Hawker? No flame, just curious.

 

[learflyer]

i've been here 5 yrs as well, and I still have no idea when I am going to upgrade.

 

[dime line]

Yo Learflyer I's nows why you be not up-gradin....beezache



whats up hommie?

 

[learflyer]

wassup? I tried to PM ya. Turn that thing on! I'll BB you later.

 

[dime line]

yo G send me some ching ching on the BB

 

[minimums]

?

Is this one of those Hallmark moments???

 

[dime line]

I love you man!!!!!

 

[hawkercpt]

get

a room!!!

 

[GerryG]

GerryG.

Don't do it. Everyone here is out looking. Mangt. has it head up its a**. Why would you wanna be part of that. I'm thinking of quiting to go work at home depot. I'm serious dude, don't mean to piss in your oatmeal but we are loosing about 25 a month right now, some are getting out of aviation. Buddy of mine just up and quit with no other job lined up. Groups of pilots sit around fbo's fantasizing about the way in which they will quit when it finally happens. The gulf between CGF(mgt, dispatch, scheduling) and the pilots widens every day. Pilots are in open revolt. I've been here 6 years and have never seen it this bad, and I don't think its gonna get better. Other guy is right go with a small charter job before you even think of working here.

 

[Heavy Set]

Don't do it. Everyone here is out looking. Mangt. has it head up its a**. Why would you wanna be part of that. I'm thinking of quiting to go work at home depot. I'm serious dude, don't mean to piss in your oatmeal but we are loosing about 25 a month right now, some are getting out of aviation. Buddy of mine just up and quit with no other job lined up. Groups of pilots sit around fbo's fantasizing about the way in which they will quit when it finally happens. The gulf between CGF(mgt, dispatch, scheduling) and the pilots widens every day. Pilots are in open revolt. I've been here 6 years and have never seen it this bad, and I don't think its gonna get better. Other guy is right go with a small charter job before you even think of working here.

Are Flight Options pilots leaving for other fractional jobs? Citationshares seems like a better deal and they are growing like Flexjet (CL300 and Lear 40). Doubt many Flight Options people would consider NJA at the moment with its own management/pilot group problems... Avantair is hiring too.

 

[HSDriver]

Why not?

"Don't plan on getting hired into anything but the Beechjet. Its happened in the past and there was an uprising, they won't make that mistake again"

Why cant they hire into the hawker? Anybody thats been here in the Beechjet since the last hire date would be stupid to bid into the hawker because of the slide to parody. My guess is there will be plenty of openings for sic and pic seats that people will not want to bid because of the pay loss. There will soon be a large number of sic's that are making pic pay. Why would they want to go through the hassle of upgradidng for no more pay.

Just a thought...