Need 411 on Empire Air

[blingair]

This is from a well respected, intelligent, senior Captain who has worked his rear off. I agree that it was a very good company but over the past year or two a few key individuals, who for some reason, don't seem to care for the pilot group have eroded moral to ground level (we are now on a points system that reduces how many days off a month a pilot gets which has forced many pilots to quit their second jobs). The upside is the pilots have been working very hard to form a Pilot Group to ensure mutual success for everyone in the company but seems to be fighting a uphill battle. But regardless we keep hope and a positive attitude that Empire can regain what it has lost. I only say these things to be open and honest with those who are looking to come here and to give accurate information so you can make an informed, long term decision.

 

[Lionofzion]

i know that they will pass people over for upgrade when they see fit . i have been passed over and have witnessed others. the thing in cwa was the more senior didn't have the hours at time of bid but was told that it was the hours at time of triaining that counted which he would have that is why it is messed up. my guess is that it gets the company out of having to pay for a move. this company used to be nice now it is a hole that i wish no one would come to so it could just die. it is a 135 operator with a 121 certificate. as far as training contracts changing the terms of the contract at will vilotes and deems contract viod by doing so. so if you whant don't pay it and i know of a laywer who would love to take the case. this bothers me that they think they can do that stuff. and it kinda bothers me that people stick up for a company that screws their brothers over.

Don't go there it will cost you! During your interview ask them why empirees CFO left and went over to Mountain Air Cargo.

 

[thunderworm]

i don't think he left on his own accord. but at least he is with a better company. blingair is totally right that the group has worked very hard to get where they are at and it is a very uphile battle that dosen't need others trying to push them back down. i hope they are able to accomplish what they seek out to do. that point system really sucks. why can't they just give us time off like every other job out there that includes non aviation. soon it will be if you aren't working then you are not getting paid or on reserve. but all this will contiue if peole keep whoreing themselves out to who ever will take them. it is borderline pft. this seems to be the case in the industry, now as things shift towards the pilots hopefully people will start asking to be treated more like people rather than someone to exploit to make a profit. that is my opion i know others have varying opions as they have had different experiences. so maybe i went there but htere isn't much else that can be done to make it worse.

 

[fokkers&beer]

Wow it does look like stuff has gotten worse over there. My wife and I went out for drinks with DB in dispatch, and she said you guys were working your tails off, sorry.
I always said, if you are so miserable in your job it is time to leave. My time was two summers ago. And I must thank Mr Gibb for giving me my motivation. It sounds like I would even be more miserable if I would have stayed. I do look back at my time there and it was alot of fun. Like when Mr Trippe threw up at the Sand Bar, and beers with Mr Sharted, and Mr Bling. That was a pretty fun summer up there.

 

[blingair]

Less than ideal working conditions which has spawned a mass exodus (3 this month, 5 slated for next month, which IMO could cause us to park A/C and put our contract in jeapordy) coupled with an improving job market is creating a very heavy work load for us pilots which makes our current problems even worse.
As for leaving, I'm not a fair weather employee and I refuse to leave my friends/coworkers/brothers/sisters in a bad spot. When I interviewed I told my bosses that I would be here through thick and thin and I have. I've seen this company when it was top notch and I won't leave until it's back to that level and will do what it takes to get it back there. I'll leave when I can tell my future employer that I was a proud Empire pilot and a member of the best dam pilot group that ever walked this earth (or at least puked at the Sandbar, Juneau, Republic of Alaska).

 

[atr42flyer]

hey bling whos all leaving and from what base. sounds like i left in the nic of time

 

[thunderworm]

check out the sweet hoff

 

[Schicer]

Perry went to Mountain Air? WTF

 

[fokkers&beer]

The Hoff kind of freaks me out. Have you ever heard an interview with him? He actually said that Night Rider was serious acting.

 

[thunderworm]

maybe kit was doing some serious acting. but he did give us baywatch and the slow motion swimsuit running.

 

[Julybabyee]

Perry went to Mountain Air? WTF

He was let go by EA. Whatever he chooses to do from there is up to him...

 

[blingair]

Its way too bad for Empire, it's employees and the pilot group. John was one of the very few people in corporate that cared about the pilot group. He was a very good man. What a shame.
We lost another senior captain today. His wife went into labor and let the company know that he would be out for a few days, you know, to see his new baby. He was told tough titty so he had to quit. The pilot group is working it's tail off to improve moral and thus productivity but the company, for some unknown reason, refuses to acknowledge the pilot's easily solved problems. Since we not only lost our days off, we can now build a deficit of days off that are owed to the company. We are asking for very little but the only response we get is, "don't like it, leave!" My motto is "if it's broke, lets fix it" or maybe we can't do that.
What once was a boil seems to be turning into a full blown, malignant cancer. The pilot group has more than shown it's good intentions in improving the company, if only management would meet us half way or at least take even one step forward. Everyone is talking union which is a lose, lose situation in my book but may the only/final solution.

 

[tsky]

He was let go by EA. Whatever he chooses to do from there is up to him...

Yeah, I think that we'll all miss him-he seemed like a pretty straightforward person who was easy to talk to and from what I hear was an advocate for the pilots.

 

[DogBoy]

The Hoff kind of freaks me out. Have you ever heard an interview with him? He actually said that Night Rider was serious acting.

I prefer the Condi Rice hulk kid-look out Kim Jong Ill.

 

[blingair]

You got that right dog boy!

 

[thunderworm]

wouldn't let him have a few days off due to pregnacy wtf. soon they will not give us time off if we lost a leg in a unfortunate smelting accident.

 

[blingair]

Its way too bad for Empire, it's employees and the pilot group. John was one of the very few people in corporate that cared about the pilot group. He was a very good man. What a shame.
We lost another senior captain today. His wife went into labor and let the company know that he would be out for a few days, you know, to see his new baby. He was told tough titty so he had to quit. The pilot group is working it's tail off to improve moral and thus productivity but the company, for some unknown reason, refuses to acknowledge the pilot's easily solved problems. Since we not only lost our days off, we can now build a deficit of days off that are owed to the company. We are asking for very little but the only response we get is, "don't like it, leave!" My motto is "if it's broke, lets fix it" or maybe we can't do that.
What once was a boil seems to be turning into a full blown, malignant cancer. The pilot group has more than shown it's good intentions in improving the company, if only management would meet us half way or at least take even one step forward. Everyone is talking union which is a lose, lose situation in my book but may the only/final solution.

Clarification:/upgdate: it turned out this pilot actually did not quit and is still flying for us. Seems we are spring loaded and tension is high.

 

[willi7]

New boy..

Despite some my feelings on some issues that need addressing at EA, they have been extremelly easy to work with on getting days off for large events like the birth of my boy. Despite the rumors that were flying around before he was only a day old, EA was very understanding and has not even called me regarding not going to work on Monday.. Later, BT

 

[thunderworm]

looks like you got a little linebacker in training. congragulations.hope the wife and child are doing well. enjoy the vaca.

 

[blingair]

Congrats on your new son and I hope all goes well with him and your wife. Hopefully you find some comfort in knowing your fellow pilots totally have your back.