For the furloughed Flexjet guys/gals....

[unclepetey]

OK, "internal memo" was a bad choice of words. But, he has said, and repeated by others, that we are carying more pilots than necessary, and if things don't improve they will be furloughed. I believe the common number kicked around is 15.

So, what gives?

In the big picture, will laying off an additional 15 pilots really help? Its like when they let go 3 flight attendants.

The only person Fred Greed cares about is himself and his bonus.

 

[bunman45]

I don't know where you heard these numbers. Last I was told from an ACP was currently 12 over during the busy season and 20 for the slow. If you look at our position legs and charter, it shows we do not have the staff to cover what demand we have. Also, based on the conference call yesterday, we are not downsizing any fleets which means we cannot afford to cut 50 pilots. The bottom line for all of of guys/gals on the street is this, nobody has a bloody clue.

All of the data that the company currently has is showing that we have bottomed out. We are doing demos and sales are beating on the doors of anyone who will listen. We are hoping for the best and cannot wait to see all of our folks back on property. Personally, I am hoping that we begin recalls next summer. I just don't see it until then. The reason being is that I cannot see them bringing folks back on a temporary basis, which is what it would be if brought some back now.

Not true. They said there would be some fleet downsizing with flat growth in 2010.

 

[DirtyBeech]

I don't know where you heard these numbers. Last I was told from an ACP was currently 12 over during the busy season and 20 for the slow. If you look at our position legs and charter, it shows we do not have the staff to cover what demand we have. Also, based on the conference call yesterday, we are not downsizing any fleets which means we cannot afford to cut 50 pilots. The bottom line for all of of guys/gals on the street is this, nobody has a bloody clue.

All of the data that the company currently has is showing that we have bottomed out. We are doing demos and sales are beating on the doors of anyone who will listen. We are hoping for the best and cannot wait to see all of our folks back on property. Personally, I am hoping that we begin recalls next summer. I just don't see it until then. The reason being is that I cannot see them bringing folks back on a temporary basis, which is what it would be if brought some back now.

The chief pilot is the source. He said 50 was extremely unlikely, but those were the numbers that were being looked at if demand was flat or continued to peter off. So it isn't line gossip or anything, but straight from the horse's mouth.

Dooker,
Hope you're right.

 

[Ref]

Well if anything happens I will be out of a job so maybe its time to start looking for a new career.

 

[flex*wife]

Cl300pilot, I listened in on the same conference call yesterday with my husband and tc very clearly stated there would be MORE layoffs after easter. Now maybe there's a lot about the biz I don't understand and maybe you can still be sort of right but the man did say kinda the opposite of what you said. Also said it's going down to 80 aircraft. At 4 or 4.5 pilots that's roughly 350 with a very top heavy list so more downgrades are likely, no?

 

[japhy]

I don't know where you heard these numbers. Last I was told from an ACP was currently 12 over during the busy season and 20 for the slow. If you look at our position legs and charter, it shows we do not have the staff to cover what demand we have. Also, based on the conference call yesterday, we are not downsizing any fleets which means we cannot afford to cut 50 pilots. The bottom line for all of of guys/gals on the street is this, nobody has a bloody clue.

All of the data that the company currently has is showing that we have bottomed out. We are doing demos and sales are beating on the doors of anyone who will listen. We are hoping for the best and cannot wait to see all of our folks back on property. Personally, I am hoping that we begin recalls next summer. I just don't see it until then. The reason being is that I cannot see them bringing folks back on a temporary basis, which is what it would be if brought some back now.

According to what our CP said on the conference call, they aren't even thinking about recalls next year. They ARE thinking about more furloughs of some unspecified number to no furloughs with some fleet down sizing. I'd imagine if things turn out better than planned we could call back pilots, but I'm not optimistic.

I too can't see what difference 15 pilots would mean to the bottom line, except to boost Fred's bonus and ruin 15 families.

 

[unclepetey]

According to what our CP said on the conference call, they aren't even thinking about recalls next year. They ARE thinking about more furloughs of some unspecified number to no furloughs with some fleet down sizing. I'd imagine if things turn out better than planned we could call back pilots, but I'm not optimistic.

I too can't see what difference 15 pilots would mean to the bottom line, except to boost Fred's bonus and ruin 15 families.

I understand that this is a business and not a charity. But I and 84 other pilots personally know what its like to come to work each day not knowing if its your last day.

Management constantly repeating the fact that they are overstaffed doesn't help morale either.

On a good note it looks like CS is recalling.

 

[CL300Pilot]

I admit I came in on the call 15 minutes after it began, maybe I just missed something. Lord knows I am far from perfect. Lets just pray that nothing happens and we begin recalls for the next busy season.

 

[FastJP4]

Not trying to be Debbie Downer, but I think it will be a long, long time before the Flex 85 are recalled. FG would sell his mom for a buck, and will continue, as his history clearly shows - to sell pilots for a nickel.

 

[ArtVandalay]

I disagree, I bet we recall a few next year similar to what citation air has just done; and I'm the most pessimistic person on this board.

 

[Hung Start]

So,,we have people on the street, planes sitting uncrewed, but we need to charter a CITATION to do our job????

The owners must be very happy.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/LXJ819

 

[ultrarunner]

Maybe they had a mechanical.

 

[Hung Start]

Maybe they had a mechanical.

Could be,,, but with 12 aircraft sitting uncrewed,,,maybe we could have had one ready to recover if that were the case.

Maybe I'm wrong,, but don't owners sign on to a program because they are promised to be on the program equipment, operated by the program trained crews??
Heck,,, it certainly would be cheaper to go with Joe-Blow's charter service from the beginning.

Just not cool IMO.

 

[FastJP4]

Could be,,, but with 12 aircraft sitting uncrewed,,,maybe we could have had one ready to recover if that were the case.

Maybe I'm wrong,, but don't owners sign on to a program because they are promised to be on the program equipment, operated by the program trained crews??
Heck,,, it certainly would be cheaper to go with Joe-Blow's charter service from the beginning.

Just not cool IMO.

Well said.

 

[bunman45]

Unfortunately, Fred doesn't care about the product, but his only concern is the bottom line. If we had a rest policy that conformed to the FAR's there wouldn't be anymore talk of potential furloughs. The only thing we would be talking about is recalls. As long as crews are willing to answer the phone in rest and work overtime, our management team will continue to try and stretch us as thin as they can. Sure, it may lead to more charter, but it still pads the bottom line. Less pilots and up the yield. Make the pilot more productive. If I was in the bottom 50 of the seniority list, I would make damn sure I didn't leave any sick time on the books. Call or email your ACP and find out how many days you have left and make sure you use them because you won't be compensated for them if your furloughed. Just my two cents.