Gemini

[porra]

I heard that Gemini is about to furlough some pilots, any truth to that?
They're asking people to take time off with no PAY!

 

[Junkflyer]

Time off with no pay sounds like a pc term for layoff.

 

[jercdevil]

Slow time of year. We have alot of Military folks, they often jump at the chance to take the leaves. January's always a slow time of year. I don't think they will furlough. They just finished training about a 100 new hires.

 

[bombinha]

yeah and they still have the pay freeze going on!! why fourlough?

 

[fogrunner]

I heard that Gemini is about to furlough some pilots, any truth to that?
They're asking people to take time off with no PAY!

You posted in Jan 2005 that you were in the Feb class. So I take it you are a Gemini pilot.
I think your time would be better spent emailing Brent or Matt and asking them your question. Rather than asking the question here. Unless you actually believe that the folks here on flightinfo know more than the people who actually work for the company.
We have an aircraft down for a "C" check in Jan through June, so we have an extra 18 crew members. Remember some of our most jr people are in the 11.
All the 11s are on long term contracts, so Gemini would have to train DC10 guys to replace the MD11 people. (big bucks).

 

[Z_Pilot]

Slow time of year. We have alot of Military folks, they often jump at the chance to take the leaves. January's always a slow time of year. I don't think they will furlough. They just finished training about a 100 new hires.

100 Newhies? Are you sure?
There are only 180 pilots at Gemini according to AirlinePilotCental's Gemini Page:

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/cargo/gemini-2005030133.htm

Z

 

[fogrunner]

100 Newhies? Are you sure?
There are only 180 pilots at Gemini according to AirlinePilotCental's Gemini Page:

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/cargo/gemini-2005030133.htm

Z

There are over 250 flight crew members at Gemini. From the Oct 2005 snr list. Since Jan 05 we have hired approx 70 f/o's and some engineers. We added two DC10s to the fleet (from the desert). We increased the crew manning per a/c. Some guys left, some retired.

 

[vindiesel]

you know, the new guys arent union protected so the can do whatever! heard that all probationary fo's are gone-
flamebait!

 

[porra]

"Fogrunner"
You guessed right, Iam with Gemini, and do you think that calling the CP or the DO they'll actually tell you the truth or what you want to hear? That is the believe between the F/Es and Capts I have been flying with. The F/E I flew with last month told us that in his reserve unit some of his compadres were asking him if Gemini was furloughing yet?
Also during basic indoc they all said that fedex was done buying a/c and that now we could move forward, one year later nothing has changed. The sales and Marketing were also saying how we have the best sales team in the industry and so on....
I hope you are right and the slow down is because we have A/C in for MX and that would be no furloughs.

 

[Cassive Mock]

In this business, the one thing you can be certain of is that there are no certainties.

 

[fogrunner]

and do you think that calling the CP or the DO they'll actually tell you the truth or what you want to hear?

Do I think the CP or DO would give you a fair and truthful assessment of the current situation at Gemini. Absolutely. They have always been truthful with me when I have asked questions.

The F/E I flew with last month told us that in his reserve unit some of his compadres were asking him if Gemini was furloughing yet?

So, if they had asked him if we were hiring, or buying 757s would that make it true. I remember the same type of folks saying this time last year that we were about to park a/c and furlough. Did it happen, no in fact we picked up a very lucrative contract with FedEx. Which we are still flying.

Also during basic indoc they all said that fedex was done buying a/c and that now we could move forward, one year later nothing has changed.

This is a great source of frustration for many of us. I think if we were to get three MD11s tomorrow they would be on long term contracts in no time. Have you seen the MD11 bid package for Feb. Those a/c don't stop.. A group of us were told by the CEO last Feb that all the conversion slots were full until 2nd QTR 06.

The sales and Marketing were also saying how we have the best sales team in the industry and so on....

Hmm... I think World has a better team. The lady who does our military contracts is outstanding. She came from World..

I hope you are right and the slow down is because we have A/C in for MX and that would be no furloughs.

It is a function of the time of the year as well. The bottom 3 guys are MD11 pilots. They start IOE shortly. If we were to furlough, the 11 guys would be first to go. Now that would not be smart and be very expensive in retraining DC10 f/o's to replace them.
I have no Crystal ball, however, I think you would find better information from other sources than some of the snide, arrogant, self serving individuals here on this board. With nothing more to offer than Bovine Excrement.

 

[cbeyw]

Very nice post Fogrunner.

 

[bombinha]

Way to go Fogrunner.
congrats.

 

[porra]

Fogrunner,
I guess you are right...
Even if they were to furlough, and since we are here less then one year and not covered under the contract, you think they 'll furlough by seniority? Like you said that would cost them more money to cross train.

 

[fokkers&beer]

The way I understand it we are covered by ALPA for everything but probationary disciplinary action, specifically firings. That would mean we would be covered through the way they furlough.
Would it work that way in the end? I don't know.

And cheers to the AMC lady, that is fun flying.

 

[JohnnyCash]

is this a serious thread? come on, realy- furloughs? i thought gac was doing rather well.

j

 

[fogrunner]

Fogrunner,
I guess you are right...
Even if they were to furlough, and since we are here less then one year and not covered under the contract, you think they 'll furlough by seniority? Like you said that would cost them more money to cross train.

Yes. I would be very surprised to see us furlough. You are flying with some grumpy old men who are miserable and love stirring the pot.
Centurion just furloughed something like 30 guys and sent their DC10-40 back to the lessor. We had some Gemini guys leave last year to go over there. They have all been furloughed.

 

[dojetdriver]

Yes. I would be very surprised to see us furlough. You are flying with some grumpy old men who are miserable and love stirring the pot.
Centurion just furloughed something like 30 guys and sent their DC10-40 back to the lessor. We had some Gemini guys leave last year to go over there. They have all been furloughed.

Does that mean that GAC will hire them back or did they burn their bridge? That's all that those of that want a job at Gemini is 30 DC-10 qualified guys running around looking for a job.

 

[fogrunner]

Does that mean that GAC will hire them back or did they burn their bridge? That's all that those of that want a job at Gemini is 30 DC-10 qualified guys running around looking for a job.

I don't know. The majority of the guys who left here were PFE's.

 

[dojetdriver]

I don't know. The majority of the guys who left here were PFE's.

I see, thank you for the clarification.