Tommy Boy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2005
- Posts
- 99
December 9, 2005
To all Pilots, Flight Attendants, and Flight Operations team members
First, Sanjay Aggarwal our VP of Operations and Planning, Jerry Bemis our VP of Maintenance, and I would like to share with you a number of positive changes that have taken place over the last couple of weeks. Then I want to look at what’s likely to happen in the near-term. Lastly, allow me to make a couple of observations.
POSITIVE CHANGES
There is an unprecedented feeling of cooperation among Operations, Maintenance, and Flight Operations. We are meeting together daily to identify problems, resolve conflicts, and promote better understanding of our team’s mission. The leaders of each department have been charged with instilling a culture that crewmembers in the field are the “Point of Service.” It’s our joint responsibility to trust and respect pilots’ concerns.
Here are just a few of the changes:
Operations
2. Save the location in your "Favorites" folder in Internet Explorer
3. On the login screen, enter the user name and password you use when you first log on to a computer at Flight Options.
4. After you log in you will see the Flight Options Dashboard website.
5. Look for the link, Web Mail, to get to your email.
If you have used the e-mail link on the internal web site then you are already familiar with what you will see from your home computer. In the event you experience problems, please submit a help desk ticket.
Maintenance
Here’s part of our weekly corporate message: In November, we saw our 10th consecutive month of year-over-year improvement in the occupied rate and we set an all-time record for the Company. Dispatch availability of the fleet recorded its 4th consecutive month above 68% which is an increase of 10 aircraft better than last year. Our owner satisfaction rating was above 96% for the 6th consecutive month. On-time performance was slightly better than last year which marks our 5th consecutive month of improvement. Our strong upward trend continued as we set records in our occupied rate and dispatch availability while keeping the same on-time performance as last year. As you may know, the fourth quarter is the busiest time of the year for sales. Right now, we have more than 10,000 hours out in proposals. This is a phenomenal opportunity for us and signifies marketplace acceptance of our Go-Forward strategy and Future Fleet aircraft. We sold a record 5,300 hours last December. We are poised to break that record this month.
In Flight Operations a number of initiatives are being actively pursued. Each has only one goal: to provide the quality of life improvements we all deserve while remaining committed to our Go-Forward business plan. Specifically, we are working to find a balance of competitive compensation, a more reasonable domicile policy, productive scheduling, and responsible benefits that still allows the Company to have a sustainable business model.
For years we’ve prided ourselves as being among the highest paid, most professional crewmembers in the fractional industry. Our Owners continue to tell everyone Flight Options pilots are the best. Yet recent NetJets and Citation Shares pay changes caught up and in many cases exceed our current pay rates. Word on the street is FlexJets remains undecided how to react. Some Wall Street analysts can’t figure out how the fractional business model that’s been unprofitable to date can take on additional debt.
It’s been said that all boats rise on the incoming tide. It’s essential to keep pace with our competition but we simply must remain true to our business plan that provides security and sustainability for all of us. I’m eager to see the results of our team efforts. We hope to have everything firmed up in the next few weeks.
OBSERVATIONS
It’s been an interesting two weeks since I wrote to you the day before Thanksgiving. I’ve grown to appreciate the depth of experience, professionalism, and passion of our crewmembers. There has been lots of change at Flight Options over the years: companies have been bought and sold, promises have been made, and management teams have come and gone. One thing remains constant: You.
You have a lot invested in Flight Options so you should have a say about where we’re going and how we’re going to get there. And you do. I’ve welcomed your calls, letters, e-mails, faxes, and drop-in visits. I’ve heard you “5 by 5” over the past six weeks. Every single improvement that we are working on has come from one of you.
We also hear about acting responsibly. You want management to be held accountable. On the other hand you are concerned when others act irresponsibly. It's sad there are those among us who insist on twisting the truth. You are outraged at those who spread distortions. Misinformation loves a vacuum. It seems we need to communicate even more. So we will.
In the meantime, stay in contact with your Program Managers and Assistant Program Managers. They need to know when you have unresolved problems. Here is their contact information:
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.
Warmest regards,
Bob Tyler
Vice President, Flight Operations
To all Pilots, Flight Attendants, and Flight Operations team members
First, Sanjay Aggarwal our VP of Operations and Planning, Jerry Bemis our VP of Maintenance, and I would like to share with you a number of positive changes that have taken place over the last couple of weeks. Then I want to look at what’s likely to happen in the near-term. Lastly, allow me to make a couple of observations.
POSITIVE CHANGES
There is an unprecedented feeling of cooperation among Operations, Maintenance, and Flight Operations. We are meeting together daily to identify problems, resolve conflicts, and promote better understanding of our team’s mission. The leaders of each department have been charged with instilling a culture that crewmembers in the field are the “Point of Service.” It’s our joint responsibility to trust and respect pilots’ concerns.
Here are just a few of the changes:
Operations
- Tail specific dispatch is complete on all 4 rows. When you call you will be prompted to enter your tail number. Your call will be routed to a specific dispatcher assigned to that aircraft.
- You now have the ability to provide feedback regarding your hotel accommodations via a “Crew Comment” section on the pilot website. A rating system allows you to evaluate properties based on a pre-determined set of criteria. The information you submit will assist the Logistics team in identifying hotels that may not meet our standards. Your critique will allow us to reconcile issues or choose a new preferred property if those issues cannot be resolved. We encourage you to use this tool to convey your valuable feedback. After logging on to the website, find ‘Hotel Rating New!’ link on the bottom left corner. The following pages are self explanatory. If you do not have a login for the pilot’s website, please use your username and password as ‘admin’.The link is http://pilots.flightoptions.com/.
- The OCC now has the capability of recording phone calls. The purpose of the recordings is to ensure we maintain professionalism and that we conduct quality, accurate, and meaningful communication. We’ve recorded Owner Services calls for years as a helpful tool to coach, counsel, and monitor effectiveness.
- Starting last Friday OCC personnel are attending a training program similar to the companywide Service Initiative that will further enhance their service skills.
- IT has set up a method for accessing Flight Options email without the use of the VPN. This means you can access your email from any computer that connects to the Internet. Here are the instructions:
2. Save the location in your "Favorites" folder in Internet Explorer
3. On the login screen, enter the user name and password you use when you first log on to a computer at Flight Options.
4. After you log in you will see the Flight Options Dashboard website.
5. Look for the link, Web Mail, to get to your email.
If you have used the e-mail link on the internal web site then you are already familiar with what you will see from your home computer. In the event you experience problems, please submit a help desk ticket.
Maintenance
- There’s a new process when handling calls received on the “Red Phone” in the OCC. When a pilot calls, the MDM on duty will determine the fleet type and ask the pilot to standby while a Check Airman on the Row can join the conference. The issue will be identified and the problem will be worked by everyone as a team.
- You can direct specific questions to senior maintenance on the pilots’ website. Jerry Bemis introduced himself this week in his letter posted on the Aircraft Maintenance forum. Either Jerry, Todd Hattaway our Director of Maintenance, or one of their direct reports will respond to your concerns. It’s an opportunity to share your issues about MELs, lavs out of service, autopilot inop flights, dispatch reliability, you name it.
Here’s part of our weekly corporate message: In November, we saw our 10th consecutive month of year-over-year improvement in the occupied rate and we set an all-time record for the Company. Dispatch availability of the fleet recorded its 4th consecutive month above 68% which is an increase of 10 aircraft better than last year. Our owner satisfaction rating was above 96% for the 6th consecutive month. On-time performance was slightly better than last year which marks our 5th consecutive month of improvement. Our strong upward trend continued as we set records in our occupied rate and dispatch availability while keeping the same on-time performance as last year. As you may know, the fourth quarter is the busiest time of the year for sales. Right now, we have more than 10,000 hours out in proposals. This is a phenomenal opportunity for us and signifies marketplace acceptance of our Go-Forward strategy and Future Fleet aircraft. We sold a record 5,300 hours last December. We are poised to break that record this month.
In Flight Operations a number of initiatives are being actively pursued. Each has only one goal: to provide the quality of life improvements we all deserve while remaining committed to our Go-Forward business plan. Specifically, we are working to find a balance of competitive compensation, a more reasonable domicile policy, productive scheduling, and responsible benefits that still allows the Company to have a sustainable business model.
For years we’ve prided ourselves as being among the highest paid, most professional crewmembers in the fractional industry. Our Owners continue to tell everyone Flight Options pilots are the best. Yet recent NetJets and Citation Shares pay changes caught up and in many cases exceed our current pay rates. Word on the street is FlexJets remains undecided how to react. Some Wall Street analysts can’t figure out how the fractional business model that’s been unprofitable to date can take on additional debt.
It’s been said that all boats rise on the incoming tide. It’s essential to keep pace with our competition but we simply must remain true to our business plan that provides security and sustainability for all of us. I’m eager to see the results of our team efforts. We hope to have everything firmed up in the next few weeks.
OBSERVATIONS
It’s been an interesting two weeks since I wrote to you the day before Thanksgiving. I’ve grown to appreciate the depth of experience, professionalism, and passion of our crewmembers. There has been lots of change at Flight Options over the years: companies have been bought and sold, promises have been made, and management teams have come and gone. One thing remains constant: You.
You have a lot invested in Flight Options so you should have a say about where we’re going and how we’re going to get there. And you do. I’ve welcomed your calls, letters, e-mails, faxes, and drop-in visits. I’ve heard you “5 by 5” over the past six weeks. Every single improvement that we are working on has come from one of you.
We also hear about acting responsibly. You want management to be held accountable. On the other hand you are concerned when others act irresponsibly. It's sad there are those among us who insist on twisting the truth. You are outraged at those who spread distortions. Misinformation loves a vacuum. It seems we need to communicate even more. So we will.
In the meantime, stay in contact with your Program Managers and Assistant Program Managers. They need to know when you have unresolved problems. Here is their contact information:
Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season.
Warmest regards,
Bob Tyler
Vice President, Flight Operations
