Latest at Flexjet?

[ArtVandalay]

In 3 years we'll have another group called the pilot enhancement association. They'll tell us that the focus group didn't really fulfill what they intended it to but, this new fresh group is here to listen. Each pilot will have his own personal representative to forward complaints and issues to. Upper management will be directly spoken with on these issues, yada yada yada. Because each pilot will have his own representative on the association group, we will need to hire an additional 400 pilots to cover each pilot. Those extra 400 pilots will be able to effectively negotiate crew meal choices for each pilot but only on a monthly basis. If you want chicken, you'll get chicken, 3 times a day for every rotation for the entire month. Chicken enchiladas, chicken and dumplings, chicken and rice, etc...We will be able to get a PDF version of the FOM within the next 6-8 years but only available on the original blackberry's, not the curve; therefore, we will need to hire an additional 400 pilots to create a focus group for the 2nd 400 pilots to study the effects of switching to an Iphone and what impact this will have on the company and how to implement the FOM into the iphone.

Ok so a little bitterness here. What the hell do we have 4 ACP's for?? They know the complaints we have but, they want US to come up with solutions?? I have a solution, management needs to fix problems, not us.

 

[notapilot]

Well said Art.

 

[Nolife]

Actually I heard plenty of good cost saving solutions to issues while I was there and those solutions were always shot down by DG among others for various non-sensical reason... like "because I said so" from your Dad. Basing is a good example and I never could get a good reason why they were so limited. It's not that they want pilot to find solutions, it's that they don't want to change.

 

[ArtVandalay]

Until certain people are no longer at flex, the status quo will be the norm. It's not a bad place to work, in fact, I'm quite happy here; however, in the 7+ years I've been here, crew meals have always been an issue and here we are still trying to figure it out when all the company needs to do is the right thing. Make it right. Ok it's going to cost a hair more to give these guys a choice in their meals, SO WHAT. What the company is really saying to us is that WE are not WORTH them spending the money to make us happier. That is what all this boils down to and crew meals is just a metaphor for how the company really feels about our happiness.

 

[Flyingdog1]

If you want chicken, you'll get chicken, 3 times a day for every rotation for the entire month. Chicken enchiladas, chicken and dumplings, chicken and rice, etc...


What about the KFC Double down?? That's got to be healthy, no bread.

 

[DirtyBeech]

If you want chicken, you'll get chicken, 3 times a day for every rotation for the entire month. Chicken enchiladas, chicken and dumplings, chicken and rice, etc...


What about the KFC Double down?? That's got to be healthy, no bread.

Sounds like one of our standard breakfast servings. Still, two chickens sandwiching some cheese would be a refreshing change from the standard egg and potato flavored grease.

I'll consider it real progress, food choices or not, when the company realizes that my hunger isn't tied to an owner's presence on the airplane.

 

[netjetwife]

Actually I heard plenty of good cost saving solutions to issues while I was there and those solutions were always shot down by DG among others for various non-sensical reason... like "because I said so" from your Dad. Basing is a good example and I never could get a good reason why they were so limited. It's not that they want pilot to find solutions, it's that they don't want to change.

Being so close-minded points to an ego problem and/or lack of respect for pilots. NJA had their own domicile debacle for awhile... You're right, there is no good reason for it in the frac industry that's why it got changed during negotiations. When pilots negotiate a contract, management has to work with them to find solutions -- not just to company-identified problems -- but to those put on the table by the pilotgroup, as well.

Most NJ pilots now get to fly from their local airport and those hired after 2005 have 100 bases to choose from. It works just fine and there are even provisions for changing between them, too. It's a quality of life issue that all our frac pilots and families deserve.

 

[frac pilot]

In 3 years we'll have another group called the pilot enhancement association. They'll tell us that the focus group didn't really fulfill what they intended it to but, this new fresh group is here to listen. Each pilot will have his own personal representative to forward complaints and issues to. Upper management will be directly spoken with on these issues, yada yada yada. Because each pilot will have his own representative on the association group, we will need to hire an additional 400 pilots to cover each pilot. Those extra 400 pilots will be able to effectively negotiate crew meal choices for each pilot but only on a monthly basis. If you want chicken, you'll get chicken, 3 times a day for every rotation for the entire month. Chicken enchiladas, chicken and dumplings, chicken and rice, etc...We will be able to get a PDF version of the FOM within the next 6-8 years but only available on the original blackberry's, not the curve; therefore, we will need to hire an additional 400 pilots to create a focus group for the 2nd 400 pilots to study the effects of switching to an Iphone and what impact this will have on the company and how to implement the FOM into the iphone.

Ok so a little bitterness here. What the hell do we have 4 ACP's for?? They know the complaints we have but, they want US to come up with solutions?? I have a solution, management needs to fix problems, not us.

Seriously? Your arguing about a group that's being proactive to work through problems, what kind of food you get, you have to carry your manuals instead of having them electronically? Things must be pretty bad here! Your a f@$king idiot!

Oh, you say "what they think about you"? Get a grip, to refresh your memory - we got a 4% raise this year, 4.5% bonus (that was paid to furloughed pilots also). Does any of that say how they think of us?

I'm going out on a limb here but I think we have 4 ACPs because we operate 4 different types of airplanes - just a guess though.

 

[DirtyBeech]

Oh, you say "what they think about you"? Get a grip, to refresh your memory - we got a 4% raise this year, 4.5% bonus (that was paid to furloughed pilots also). Does any of that say how they think of us?

Ummm, they didn't have a choice with regards to the bonus. We, the pilot group, earned that based on rules they created at the start of the last fiscal year.

As for the raise, it was COLA + 1 %. I'm not sending the checks back, but I'm not exactly getting the knee pads ready either.

And no, our monetary compensation isn't at the top of my FlexFixIt list.

 

[frac pilot]

Ummm, they didn't have a choice with regards to the bonus. We, the pilot group, earned that based on rules they created at the start of the last fiscal year.

As for the raise, it was COLA + 1 %. I'm not sending the checks back, but I'm not exactly getting the knee pads ready either.

And no, our monetary compensation isn't at the top of my FlexFixIt list.

Your right, we hit the targets and got a bonus. Nice to get a check when the company had a tough year financially. I guess if I was as negative as everyone else on this board I would have guessed the company would have suspended the bonus program knowing how challenging the year would be - didn't seem to go down that road did they? Maybe suspend the 401k match - nope. Maybe jack up insurance premiums - well okay, they went up a buck.

COLA + 1%, ahhh no. They could have left the payscales alone and everyone would have still got an annual adjustment. But being a crappy company they decided to increase the payscales 4%. So not only did you get one adjustment to your pay in May, you will get another one on your anniversary date. Wow, crappy company to work for!

Great to hear they still haven't made it a "reasonable" place to work based on your standards.

Let me guess, Gateways? Wow - maybe you should have considered moving to one when you signed up for the job, most of us did and don't see a problem with our QOL.

Last day rules? Go back to the airlines where they can reduce your rest to 8 hours and work you to 16 without crewmeals, then come back to me about your QOL. Does it suck, yeah but count how much hourly OT you racked up last year for riding in the back of an airline or sedan. How many free ailine tickets did you get in your career from the company flying you around. Hotels? Do you ever pay for a vacation anymore?

Kool Aid, you got it - I'll drink all I can because in my eyes, life isn't real bad. Union basher? Not in the least, as said many times before on this board - Unions should be in place to seal the relationship, not forge it!

Sorry folks, not trying to attack anyone but it gets old listening to how bad are jobs are.