Great News!! Flight Options Has Been Bought!!!!!

[Correcting]

FLOPS is done in the frax biz. Those planes and pilots are going to be used by HIG to support 135 charter ops. The current FLOPS share owners don't get renewed. Nothing changes for those that buy the FLOPS jet cards. The operation gets packaged up really pretty by HIG, then sold to some big charter operator like TAG for a quick and tidy profit.

It will be interesting to see how much HIG paid for FLOPS once Raytheon's financials come out for the next quarter.

 

[skyismyoffice]

Then remind yourself THEY are IBT to top off this whole mess.

Must be with the IBT Airline division cause they are not part of the 1108. Big difference!

 

[Frac Cap]

I also share "owners" opinion. I feel M.S. will either pursue or be told to pursue other interests. If I was a betting man (which I am), I would say it will happen within 9 months from closing. One of the main reason is, that for H.I.G to do what they hope to in a relatively short period of time, they can't do their "go forward" plan with the poisonous atmosphere caused by the current management. They have slashed the company as far as you can slash it. Their job is done.

Now would be the time they could come in with a clean slate and a fresh start with their own people and take the company forward. But in my opinion, H.I.G. has a small window of opportunity to prove they are not the "bad guy" do right by the employees and most importantly, the pilots. Because the pilots as we all know are the face of the company. We can make the product a positive one, something people once again can brag to their friends about. Or it could be just another "bus" ride, one that know one will pay a premium for. I just hope they don't squander this potential honeymoon period of optimism and unbroken promises, and quickly do the right thing and at least bring our pay to industry standards. Without that, most pilots will continue to go down this bitter path that we all want to get off of.

 

[Publishers]

Owner is correct as always. Committed management just not the guys we have now. Still, considering the current owner just wanted out and took a severe hit to his financials in the disposition, anyone who has a plan and is invested with a purpose is welcome. These companies do not exist to employ, they exist to profit. Many of the private investment groups are re-packagers who buy right, implement a plan, get it going on that plan, and sell off or IPO off. There are a number of potential markets out there to be served. Embraer might be a good relationship to fracitonalize with a marketing arrangement. Time will tell. Regardless, today is likely better than yesterday for all FO employees.

 

[jetwash]

Our current management was brought in to do the cutting. (Which they did)
I don' feel they have the ability or ideas to grow the company which the new owners want. That's why I give them less then a year before they are replaced with a new management team.

 

[RossTwivel]

Bought??

Bought!! By bought, do you you think they will actually pay an amount. More likely being paid to take it.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

TAG won't be buying FltOps.

Their shell company (AMI Jet Charter) that held their -135 certificate just had their certificate suspended and then revoked by the FAA.

They sold their US flight ops to Sentient.

cliff
YIP

 

[TurboJetCpt]

Owner is correct as always.

uke:

 

[HSDriver]

Who is this guy?

Bought!! By bought, do you you think they will actually pay an amount. More likely being paid to take it.

RossTwivel,

Who do you think you are? You only have five posts and you come on here and make a one-liner statement like that! We talk about serious stuff on here and you can't just come on here and say something like that unless you have lots of posts already!

HS

 

[guido411]

Actually. . .

RossTwivel,

Who do you think you are? You only have five posts and you come on here and make a one-liner statement like that! We talk about serious stuff on here and you can't just come on here and say something like that unless you have lots of posts already!

HS

This is a free country and a public message board so he can say whatever the "F" he wants. BUT, that also means WE are allowed to expose people like this and show others what they really are. . .tools.

 

[IronManNDFW]

Are you kidding me here?

A 5th grader could run this company better! Sorry about all the MBA's running around thinking they know Jack Shcmidt!

I think it is about time to let this turd sink.

 

[WabiSabi]

RossTwivel,

Who do you think you are? You only have five posts and you come on here and make a one-liner statement like that! We talk about serious stuff on here and you can't just come on here and say something like that unless you have lots of posts already!

HS

Sorry to pop your bubble but, there is no "seniority" system on this board.

 

[netjetwife]

Why not remodel instead? Throw out whatever (more like whoever) doesn't work and rebuild from the top down. The service is in demand and there are professional pilots in place to provide it. Surely an investment group that owns several other aviation companies can install a competent management team. Needless to say, smart managers would make it a chief priority to hammer out a contract. Without motivated pilots it seems impossible to accurately determine the future potential of the company.
Hang in there!
NJW

 

[Publishers]

While not wanting to burst the bubble here that Netwife seems to always have, motivated pilots are not so high on the list of priorities. Motivated owners and customers might be a good start. Come up with a plan to serve some customers in a profitable way. Business models are about finding a need and serving that need in a way that generates profits. Pilots are a cost of business that certainly needs to be addressed in a positive way but this is not a critical part of the model. There have been some positive steps over the years, reducing the number of models, etc... They have to find a niche, being another Netjets is most likely not one of them.

 

[skanza]

Flight Options being sold changes, changes, umm, uhh, umm, absolutely nothing. How bout a new tag phrase, "Flight Options: We give you more-of our hard working pilots money." Or how about "Flight Options: Pilots financing bad management decisions since 1999." Or even better, "Flight Options: Pilots subsidizing another Billion dollar company." We stay focused on what we need to do as a pilot group, PERIOD.

Told me to what? I guess I didn't listen to you because this is the fu(kin' internet, dude. But I'll gladly crawl in your hole if you'd like.
love, Ben Dover.

 

[glasspilot]

Needless to say, smart managers would make it a chief priority to hammer out a contract.

Are you smoking crack? A contract is the last thing HIG wants. That would cost money. They bought the thing to make money, not spend it. If you don't believe me then just look at the actual airlines they own already. Ya won't see any contracts there even though your beloved Teamsters have been voted in now for over 3 years. Think about that, teamster representation for OVER 3 years and no contract.

Oh yeah, and no negotiations either. The union officers have been fired or quit. Nothing on the horizon. Zip, Nada.

FLOPS will see nothing resembling a contract with this new management.

 

[Hobbes]

Are you smoking crack? A contract is the last thing HIG wants. That would cost money. They bought the thing to make money, not spend it. If you don't believe me then just look at the actual airlines they own already. Ya won't see any contracts there even though your beloved Teamsters have been voted in now for over 3 years. Think about that, teamster representation for OVER 3 years and no contract.

Oh yeah, and no negotiations either. The union officers have been fired or quit. Nothing on the horizon. Zip, Nada.

FLOPS will see nothing resembling a contract with this new management.

WHO is smoking crack? Union voted in March 2, 2006....how is that OVER three years?

Negotiations ongoing, every month.

HIG will never make any money here without a contract, that is obvious. And there isn't any more "fat" to cut.

So, do tell where you get your great info? And, by the way, be careful next time you get drug tested, whatever YOU are on is sure to be found.

 

[netjetwife]

Some corrections are in order

Are you smoking crack? I realize that such comments are fairly common but I find it offensive as I value a healthy lifestyle. It is possible to disagree without being rude you know... A contract is the last thing HIG wants. That would cost money. When it comes to service, you get what you pay for--as NJA discovered. They bought the thing to make money, not spend it. Smart managers invest in the business. If you don't believe me then just look at the actual airlines they own already. They don't own a frac, do they? It's a whole different ballgame. Ya won't see any contracts there even though your beloved Teamsters have been voted in now for over 3 years. 1108 is a part of my life. Teamsters is not. I fully support the NJ pilots who want to start an in-house union. Think about that, teamster representation for OVER 3 years and no contract. First contracts are difficult and usually take longer, especially when management is dragging their heels. The NJ 2005 CBA was fought over for 4 yrs, but was definitely worth it in the end.

Oh yeah, and no negotiations either. The union officers have been fired or quit. Nothing on the horizon. Zip, Nada.

FLOPS will see nothing resembling a contract with this new management.

My husband told me those other pilot groups were just building time and didn't stay long. Each group has to be judged on its own merits and good leadership is critical. The determined Options pilots have been advised by Strong Union, the same leaders who helped the NJ pilots get their current contract and the latest IBB proposal. One only has to look at the NJ pilots to see what a difference motivation can make. I presume that HIG has researched the industry to find out what is working and why.

To Flt Ops pilots: In these uncertain times it is more important than ever to stand together and follow the directions of your leadership. I'm pulling for you! NJW

 

[netjetwife]

While not wanting to burst the bubble here that Netwife seems to always have, motivated pilots are not so high on the list of priorities. Motivated owners and customers might be a good start. ... Pilots are a cost of business that certainly needs to be addressed in a positive way but this is not a critical part of the model. ...

It must be noted that I was right about NJA all along while you kept posting that they couldn't be profitable, especially if they paid the pilots better. It did all boil down to motivation (and the lack thereof) and that's exactly why RTS settled with the pilots in 2005. Profits rose and he and has now agreed to a proposal that gives hefty pay raises for those who were still behind. NJA knows that satisfied owners and motivated pilots go hand in hand that's why all the pilots are getting a pay raise and a signing bonus just 2 yrs after the last increase. Positive reinforcement pays for itself--HIG should try it.

 

[glasspilot]

WHO is smoking crack? Union voted in March 2, 2006....how is that OVER three years?

Negotiations ongoing, every month.

HIG will never make any money here without a contract, that is obvious. And there isn't any more "fat" to cut.

So, do tell where you get your great info? And, by the way, be careful next time you get drug tested, whatever YOU are on is sure to be found.

Wrong airline. I was refering to Amerijet who voted in a union nearly 4 years ago and have made zero progress. The union is dead over there. No meeting, no table discussions, no progress. It's done.