ImHereDoingIt
New member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2010
- Posts
- 3
Hello all,
The purpose of this post is to give an FO's perspective on Avantair.
I accepted an FO position with the expectation of becoming a captain and building that precious turbine PIC time, and of course, the money and 7 days off. I was told to expect to become a captain but it was not promised. During my interview, I was explained what would be expected of me. The interviewer even displayed a slide of the payscale. This payscale contained various years of captain pay and of course, various years of FO pay. Shortly after I was hired, the economy tanked. The hiring stopped and there was no movement in the company. Since I'm towards the bottom of the seniority list, I don't expect that captain position for a long time, maybe even years depending on the industry.
We have something called the Pilot Advisory Committee. They brought up the subject of FO pay and our expectations of being captains to management. Shortly after, the FO's were given raises...raises during one of the worst recessions. I, as a second year FO, make about $50,000. Yes, I'm including per diem. $42,000 salary and an average of $310 of per diem per pay check times 26 pay checks. I include per diem because that's money the company gives me. I don't spend $48 a day so I profit from per diem. I know it's not technically income and am not going to argue that matter, but it's money in my pocket so I count it. So if I was lied to in the beginning, then I was lied to during my interview because I was told second year FO's made a salary of $37,000. Yes, I was given a $5,000 raise. The company could have said, "we didn't promise anything, and you knew what you were signing up for so just suck it up because we can't afford it during this recession, etc." Since they gave us raises, I think that shows class and care for employees.
Maintenance - I have never flown an unsafe airplane. When the plane was broke, it was broke and got fixed where it was broke. When it wasn't a safety related issue, we repo'ed it to a maintenance facility. 90% of the time, the captain even asked me if I was ok with the flight.
Management probably doesn’t even know me (I’m sure they would at least recognize my name in all the time I’ve been here though). However, they and those I talk to in pilot services and flight following treat me well. Some people call in yelling and complaining and then wonder why their life sucks. Treat people with respect and they treat you the same way. It’s how most, not all, the professional world works.
I complain. It’s part of being a pilot right? This company is not perfect as is no company. Yes, I want more money. Yes, I want to be home more. But those jobs where you fly 200 hrs/yr and make $200,000/yr are pretty much non-existent. The worst tours/rotations, whatever you want to call it, are the ones with whiners. A good attitude is just as infectious as a bad one. We all know these types of people in our personal lives too. Do you party or hang out with whiners or the fun ones? If your friend is having a good time, then you probably are too. To those who hate the job, then leave and do what makes you happy. To those who left, then leave (get on with your life.) I too have had a job that I despised. I left for something that has made me happier, yes, it’s Avantair. Since I am happier here I no longer harbor such resentment for my previous employer.
For those of you who notice that this is my first post and are suspicious...yes, I do have another screen name on here, not one you’d recognize. And I have never posted with it in the Fractionals section. I chose not to use the other one because it gives away who I am. I prefer anonymity. Avantair has been getting alot of attention lately. I felt the FI world needs a perspective from another FO.
On another matter....I log all of my time as SIC. I'm designated as SIC, and I do NOT have final authority. It did not take me a year of working here to figure that out.
The purpose of this post is to give an FO's perspective on Avantair.
I accepted an FO position with the expectation of becoming a captain and building that precious turbine PIC time, and of course, the money and 7 days off. I was told to expect to become a captain but it was not promised. During my interview, I was explained what would be expected of me. The interviewer even displayed a slide of the payscale. This payscale contained various years of captain pay and of course, various years of FO pay. Shortly after I was hired, the economy tanked. The hiring stopped and there was no movement in the company. Since I'm towards the bottom of the seniority list, I don't expect that captain position for a long time, maybe even years depending on the industry.
We have something called the Pilot Advisory Committee. They brought up the subject of FO pay and our expectations of being captains to management. Shortly after, the FO's were given raises...raises during one of the worst recessions. I, as a second year FO, make about $50,000. Yes, I'm including per diem. $42,000 salary and an average of $310 of per diem per pay check times 26 pay checks. I include per diem because that's money the company gives me. I don't spend $48 a day so I profit from per diem. I know it's not technically income and am not going to argue that matter, but it's money in my pocket so I count it. So if I was lied to in the beginning, then I was lied to during my interview because I was told second year FO's made a salary of $37,000. Yes, I was given a $5,000 raise. The company could have said, "we didn't promise anything, and you knew what you were signing up for so just suck it up because we can't afford it during this recession, etc." Since they gave us raises, I think that shows class and care for employees.
Maintenance - I have never flown an unsafe airplane. When the plane was broke, it was broke and got fixed where it was broke. When it wasn't a safety related issue, we repo'ed it to a maintenance facility. 90% of the time, the captain even asked me if I was ok with the flight.
Management probably doesn’t even know me (I’m sure they would at least recognize my name in all the time I’ve been here though). However, they and those I talk to in pilot services and flight following treat me well. Some people call in yelling and complaining and then wonder why their life sucks. Treat people with respect and they treat you the same way. It’s how most, not all, the professional world works.
I complain. It’s part of being a pilot right? This company is not perfect as is no company. Yes, I want more money. Yes, I want to be home more. But those jobs where you fly 200 hrs/yr and make $200,000/yr are pretty much non-existent. The worst tours/rotations, whatever you want to call it, are the ones with whiners. A good attitude is just as infectious as a bad one. We all know these types of people in our personal lives too. Do you party or hang out with whiners or the fun ones? If your friend is having a good time, then you probably are too. To those who hate the job, then leave and do what makes you happy. To those who left, then leave (get on with your life.) I too have had a job that I despised. I left for something that has made me happier, yes, it’s Avantair. Since I am happier here I no longer harbor such resentment for my previous employer.
For those of you who notice that this is my first post and are suspicious...yes, I do have another screen name on here, not one you’d recognize. And I have never posted with it in the Fractionals section. I chose not to use the other one because it gives away who I am. I prefer anonymity. Avantair has been getting alot of attention lately. I felt the FI world needs a perspective from another FO.
On another matter....I log all of my time as SIC. I'm designated as SIC, and I do NOT have final authority. It did not take me a year of working here to figure that out.
