Is Flight Options Changing Their Name?

[TailDraggerTed]

I heard today that Flight Options is changing their name. Is this true? I was told that they are changing their tail #'s, paint schemes, logos, uniforms, everything.

If it is true, I don't understand why they would do it. "Flight Options" seems like the perfect name for a fractional company. The only reason I can imagine is that they want to dump some of the "baggage" that is attached to their history, past CEO, lawsuits, etc. I don't want to start a rumor, I just thought that some people who read this board might know more.

 

[RJL]

Flight Options just registered and reserved hundreds of "LX" tail numbers. I can't imagine why they would spend the money to do that unless they were changing their name or the fleet was going elsewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if a merger or buyout is in the works. I bet Raytheon wants to cut their loses as fast as they can. I would ask the Flight Options Mgmt. next time you fly them. I am sure they know.

 

[Grim Reaper]

We all hear many things. Most, if not all, of what we hear in false, but I must give you guys and gals credit for the power of imagination and for the desire to believe in something even if that something is only rumor!! But, we are all entitled to believe what we want.

You will SEE the CW and TA tail numbers Change to LX I guess???

You will SEE the color scheme chagne so that FO can dispose of the mixed bag of CW and TA color schemes currently confusing the fleet.

It really did not cost all that much to reserve the letters. Com' ON guys, how tough is it to change 797TA to 797LX or 312CW to 312LX? NOT VERY!!

You will NOT SEE a uniform CHANGE. (The New Tie is better isn't it?)

This is nothing more than getting rid of the TA call letters and colors that are of Raytheon making and the CW call letters and colors that are of Corporate Wings makeing.

 

[Schrode]

Ok. You may be correct. But, then why not TELL anyone? Why make this a secret?

Me thinks sumethings a big uhappenin.

 

[2000flyer]

....
It really did not cost all that much to reserve the letters. Com' ON guys, how tough is it to change 797TA to 797LX or 312CW to 312LX? NOT VERY!!

....

Let's see, $10 per tail number being reserved is what the FAA charges. How many airplanes x $10 is what it costs.

I've seen a few of the "white tails" and frankly, I think they look good in white

2000Flyer

 

[SkywayFO]

I hear the Number change is do to Ricci wanting the CW Numbers back. But how know and who really cares, as long the checks keep coming.

 

[FracCapt]

Let's see, $10 per tail number being reserved is what the FAA charges. How many airplanes x $10 is what it costs.

So we're talking roughly $7500, right? Do you really think that's a significant amount of money for a fractional?

 

[longrangekiller]

Why wouldn't Flight Options change its call letters? Why have two different color schemes and two different tail number suffixes?

Anyway, like one guy said, "Who cares as long as the checks keeps coming."

 

[PHX767]

Fuzzy math?

At $10 per tail number that would be about $2,000. (About 200 planes x $10). Chump change.

LX tail numbers? Hmmm.

Long range eXpress?

Limp eXercise?

Land Xtra Careful?

Loose eXcercise?

Loud eXclamation?

Load eXtra bags?

C'mon guys, give me a hand here.

Suffice it to say management has not told the masses anything as yet about this ultra secret operation. OOhh can't say ultra, sounds like a Cessna product.

I kinda like the all white airplanes.

 

[FracCapt]

Re: Fuzzy math?

At $10 per tail number that would be about $2,000. (About 200 planes x $10). Chump change.

I think it's $10 to reserve a tail number....which they apparently reserved 749 of them. Still, we're only talking about less than $7500 here - which, as we all know, when talking airplanes is absolutely nothing.

 

[flyboycpa]

Lotsa Xp's

 

[hawkerpilot]

Rumors

I would just like for someone to tell me why Santulli has been up to CGF for visits......and that is fact, not rumor.

 

[FracCapt]

I would just like for someone to tell me why Santulli has been up to CGF for visits......and that is fact, not rumor.

Sorry man, but it's rumor until there is some proof to substantiate it. Proof is not some nameless, faceless guy on a message board saying that it's fact. Just to fuel your rumor(sorry, fact), the reason Santulli has been to CGF is to negotiate the unconditional surrender of NJA to Flight Options. Flight Options will then surrender to Bombardier. It's a plot by the French and Canadians to overthrow the US. Pass it on.

 

[BrnJetFuel]

Got to admit that it's much easier to put NetJets stripes on a white airplane than having to remove CW and TA colors. NetJets didn't do a deal with Raytheon just because if felt good. Raytheon has wanted out for a long, long time. In the most sincerest way, we would love to have you but you will have to have your resume's up to date.

 

[Frac Daddy]

In the most sincerest way, we would love to have you but you will have to have your resume's up to date

So...What exactly are you trying to say? Everyone will have to reinterview?

 

[BrnJetFuel]

So...What exactly are you trying to say? Everyone will have to reinterview?

If and I am saying If. If NetJets was to take Raytheons interest in Flight Options and then consolidate flops owners into it's own, any pilots wishing to come over to NJA would have to go through the normal interview process. When EJM, a sister company, downsized after 9/11 the pilots were given priority in the interview process but still had to interview. Not all were taken.

Netjets touts it's safety and training record all over the place. You can bet that the trend would continue where any new pilots who come over will have to go through the normal selection and training process that we all experienced. If essentially for no more than just simply maintaining quality control for the owners. Also this satisfies the union by avoiding a merger with a non-union group. All new pilots simply come in the standard way. From the bottom. Those we hired from our sister company, regardless of years served at Executive Jet (management), had to come in at the bottom.

 

[Frac Daddy]

Or........

God forbid that Raytheon sells to an investor that wants to actually compete against NetJets. I know that is shocking to many. As I recall, Ricci had an investor on the line but they balked. Seems Nahill has been turning things around, thus making FLOPS more attractive to potential buyers.

BrnJetA,

Hiring a handfull of EJM pilots is one thing. Who will be flying the Options owners while 1000 Options pilots interview? A little unrealistic. Also, are you implying that Options pilots need to be interviewed to "maintain it's safety an training record"? What are you trying to say about Options pilots? Those that live in glass houses should not throw stones.

 

[VivaZapata]

Santulli in CGF could mean a lot of things. Do you think that he just might be there for a visit? CEO's visiting the competition is not uncommon. Some folks must feel empowered when they think they're privy to an inside line or it makes people feel good to think they're in-the-know.

 

[BrnJetFuel]

A little sensitive there fracdaddy? I can understand, I would be too. Nothing against flops pilots at all. But NJA can never assure employee quality to it’s owners unless it hires and processes each and everyone to the same standards. Don’t assume NetJets is buying anyone. It’s no secret that Raytheon has been trying to unload it’s share of the frac industry over to NJA for at least a few years. Heard it from NetJets founder myself in a huge hangar meeting last year. I think NJA got the Hawker 400xp’s for a song from Raytheon as long as they create an effortless transition for the original Travel Air owners. This year is no doubt going to be interesting. Don’t want to see anyone lose their jobs. Just really anticipate a reduction in competition and a movement of troops into the union fold.

 

[Frac Daddy]

A little sensitive there fracdaddy? I can understand, I would be too.

Hardly. Just trying to make sense of your cryptic posts. Sensitive behavior is what you see when you ask a NJA pilot about their contract.

I think NJA got the Hawker 400xp’s for a song from Raytheon as long as they create an effortless transition for the original Travel Air owners.

Ummm.....OK. Let me know when you have proof of this theory.

 

[hawkercpt]

Burnt...

" But NJA can never assure employee quality to it’s owners unless it hires and processes each and everyone to the same standards. "

Give me a break.

I'm not saying Options guys are the cream of the crop but, I know some of the EJ pilots personally, it makes it kind of hard to see "high standards" in looking at them.

Another options could be that Santulli was so torked at Cessna and Raytheon offers the only other "entry level" jet that was proven and available.

or...

Options is kicking EJ's butt in entry level sales and the only way to compete is to offer the same product.

You know immitation is the grandest for of flattery.

 

[WileE]

New Paintjobs.

Have started rolling out. White with green and gold stripes similar to the old TA racing stripes but a bit different. If I find a picture of the new scheme I'll try to post it if I can. Eventually the entire fleet will have the same paintjob and new id's. It'll probably take two years to get all of them done as busy as we are now.

 

[Dep676]

You did not say green and gold stripes? What are they thinking? I thought we were trying to get away from the them trailer park colors?

 

[JetCapt69]

Re: New Paintjobs.

If I find a picture of the new scheme I'll try to post it if I can.

This pic has been floating around the net for awhile.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/539120/M/

 

[SheGaveMeClap]

Wouldn't they use green N-numbers on the ghosts if that's the color scheme? Why are they using the maroon?

Did they just decide to change the paint scheme? That would make sense if they planned on using the Raytheon colors, keeping the N-numbers maroon.

The colors don't look too bad in the photo. Beats what we have now (on the pre-owned side, anyway).

 

[Da Man]

Looks like Citation Shares paint

hmmm....

 

[longrangekiller]

Very interesting string.

The latest spin on this big puddle of BS is Gates of MS is buying FO and doubling the pay retro-active back to the date of the RTA / FO merger of two years ago. Guess I can pay the college bills without working 10 more years?

I really like this one the best.

Oh well, tell me when Elvis get here. How many of you guys are going to attend dead Elvis week this year?

 

[JetCapt69]

Oh well, tell me when Elvis get here.

The King has left the FBO. I just dropped him off in Vegas Baby!

I like your spin on Options. I choose to believe that one. Thanks, I will sleep much better tonight.

 

[Andrew_FO]

I see you guys posted the link to my picture on Airliners.net. I'm Andrew Malgieri and I work for Corporate Wings at CGF, we do all of the line service and cleaning for Flight Options on that field.

Anyhow, the new color scheme is exactly that of the CW/TA mix that we now see taken off all of the pure white aircraft - the colors are just different. The stripes are all in the same positions and are all the same size but they're back to the old grey/green/gold that the CW aircraft had originally. I personally like this new scheme a lot, but I wish that they still had the stripes coming across the nose. I think that looked great on the BeechJets and KingAirs. I guess it makes it hard to swap radomes though, oh well.

I have one more picture of the new scheme on 794, and from what I know it's only on one other aircraft, 897 I believe. If anyone would like to see it, the picture is just of the tail section. I wonder what new paintjob they'll start spending money on when the new LX corporate image comes into being.

-Andrew