Most common questions I have asked by crewmembers.
Q: Why are we selling off so many flights?
A: As I mentioned in a previous thread, 4 main reasons that I can think of right now:
1) NJA no longer has a 'core fleet' (aircraft owned by Netjets). Bash Marquis all you want because of that... but not too hard. Who kept us afloat after 9/11 when we were all twiddiling our thumbs listening to the rumors of 'NO MORE GENERAL AVIATION!'? Don't forget that.
2) imagine you're in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere in rest. above you a QS tail breaks with PAX on board and has to land nearby. You're perfectly rested, however we can't ASAP you out there to recover the flight due to the whole 'prespective rest' issue. This explains your 5 hour show-go's.
3) we have a large number of crewmembers, and a large number of aircraft. we can only communicate to each other so much. as crew services, we want you to communite to us. Tell us if you see a perfectly fine airplane across the ramp sitting there to recover a flight instead of sending one 500 miles away. We want to know this information. This will cut back on sellofs.
4) show times are static. passanger bookings are fluid. we can't predict when and where a trip will pop up. we do what we can with the 'hot spares' and 'hot standby' created by the planning and forcasting department. There is a large difference between 'hot spare' and 'hot standby' by the way in case anyone is curious...
Q: Help! I'm rotting in an FBO/Terminal. I'm not attached to a tail and I don't have a partner!
A: Everyone must be on duty at some point on their duty days. When we put you on the schedule, the schedule planner will create your show time and the computer will default to a 14 hour duty day. You'll be thrown down in a pile into the "don't have anything to do" list, and scheduling doesn't really pay attention to the guys sitting around with nothing to do. Give crew services a call in this situation, We'll try to send you home or to the hotel as soon as possible
Q: My first day out brief sucks! Can I change it?
A: Maybe. Again if you're not attached to a tail, we may be able to change your showtime. Call us the day before and we may be able to 'rebrief' you for something better.
Q:Some pilots have it easy all the time. Why do my tours always suck? Scheduling must have it out for me...
A: Nothing could be further from the truth. Schedulers are problem solvers. They see a hole and they patch it. They really do care about all of you guys, but sometimes they may seem unfair because they have to do everything in their power to make the customer as happy as possible when things go wrong.
Q: I've worked over 12 hours every day this tour! Why!!?
A: Simple. Because when we shut you down early, we lose a crew that can help keep us from selling off a flight should an airplane break elsewhere.
Q: I have a 4 hour show-go? What happened to the normal 1 or 1.5 hour?
A: Please read reason #2 for why we sell off so many flights.
Q: Where's my crew food?!!!
A: Should be there... If it isn't, we'll do everything we can to get it on the next leg. Actually, and this is new, when you guys order food, we in crew services will add 2 or 3 steps to your order process to help ensure that it gets there should a ferry get deleated overnight (along with your crew food). It's getting better. If you still don't get fed, let us know immediately. We'll try to get something to you as soon as we can.
Q: I'm tired. Can I stop flying now?
A: KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!!!!!! I cannot stress this point enough. Nobody is going to think any less of you if you call in fatigued. Sure it may screw up some owner trips or throw a wrench into scheduling's plan for you guys but that's not the point. If you start making mistakes because you're tired in flight then let us know about it as soon as possible! You guys bust your asses off every day! We want you guys to go home safe and sound at the end of your tour.
Q: Is crew comm down?
A: Yes
Q: Where's my release?
A: It might be there, it might not. Ask crew services 'Do you see a dot above our upcoming trip?'. If they say "Yes", then chances are, your release isn't there. a dot = probably no release as of yet. This will help dispatch out by cutting down the call volume to them so they can get your release to you as soon as possible.
Q: Can we show at the hotel?
A: Maybe... it depends on a lot of things. Showing at the hotel instead of the FBO can be tricky to handle. Call us a half hour or so before your show. We may be able to approve it. HOWEVER, if we change your show from the FBO to the hotel, we can only change yours. Your partner is a different story. We can't have crewmembers breaking each other's rest. Let us know if your partner has approved the change in show location as well if we do approve it.
Q: Do you show any changes for us?
A: Yup
Q: What we are doing makes no sense! What is going on?
A: Somebody knows. Don't hang up the phone until you get an answer that makes sense. If it doesn't make sense, then, well, don't hang up the phone!
Q: Can I order crew food out of columbus?
A: Yes!! Bring leftovers!
Q: I've been on hold with MX Control for over 20 minutes!
A: I know. It sucks. Hang in there, we're hiring!
Hope this helps guys. If you have any other questions, then please please PLEASE post them or Message me. I'd be glad to help!!
Q: Why are we selling off so many flights?
A: As I mentioned in a previous thread, 4 main reasons that I can think of right now:
1) NJA no longer has a 'core fleet' (aircraft owned by Netjets). Bash Marquis all you want because of that... but not too hard. Who kept us afloat after 9/11 when we were all twiddiling our thumbs listening to the rumors of 'NO MORE GENERAL AVIATION!'? Don't forget that.
2) imagine you're in a hotel room in the middle of nowhere in rest. above you a QS tail breaks with PAX on board and has to land nearby. You're perfectly rested, however we can't ASAP you out there to recover the flight due to the whole 'prespective rest' issue. This explains your 5 hour show-go's.
3) we have a large number of crewmembers, and a large number of aircraft. we can only communicate to each other so much. as crew services, we want you to communite to us. Tell us if you see a perfectly fine airplane across the ramp sitting there to recover a flight instead of sending one 500 miles away. We want to know this information. This will cut back on sellofs.
4) show times are static. passanger bookings are fluid. we can't predict when and where a trip will pop up. we do what we can with the 'hot spares' and 'hot standby' created by the planning and forcasting department. There is a large difference between 'hot spare' and 'hot standby' by the way in case anyone is curious...
Q: Help! I'm rotting in an FBO/Terminal. I'm not attached to a tail and I don't have a partner!
A: Everyone must be on duty at some point on their duty days. When we put you on the schedule, the schedule planner will create your show time and the computer will default to a 14 hour duty day. You'll be thrown down in a pile into the "don't have anything to do" list, and scheduling doesn't really pay attention to the guys sitting around with nothing to do. Give crew services a call in this situation, We'll try to send you home or to the hotel as soon as possible
Q: My first day out brief sucks! Can I change it?
A: Maybe. Again if you're not attached to a tail, we may be able to change your showtime. Call us the day before and we may be able to 'rebrief' you for something better.
Q:Some pilots have it easy all the time. Why do my tours always suck? Scheduling must have it out for me...
A: Nothing could be further from the truth. Schedulers are problem solvers. They see a hole and they patch it. They really do care about all of you guys, but sometimes they may seem unfair because they have to do everything in their power to make the customer as happy as possible when things go wrong.
Q: I've worked over 12 hours every day this tour! Why!!?
A: Simple. Because when we shut you down early, we lose a crew that can help keep us from selling off a flight should an airplane break elsewhere.
Q: I have a 4 hour show-go? What happened to the normal 1 or 1.5 hour?
A: Please read reason #2 for why we sell off so many flights.
Q: Where's my crew food?!!!
A: Should be there... If it isn't, we'll do everything we can to get it on the next leg. Actually, and this is new, when you guys order food, we in crew services will add 2 or 3 steps to your order process to help ensure that it gets there should a ferry get deleated overnight (along with your crew food). It's getting better. If you still don't get fed, let us know immediately. We'll try to get something to you as soon as we can.
Q: I'm tired. Can I stop flying now?
A: KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!!!!!! I cannot stress this point enough. Nobody is going to think any less of you if you call in fatigued. Sure it may screw up some owner trips or throw a wrench into scheduling's plan for you guys but that's not the point. If you start making mistakes because you're tired in flight then let us know about it as soon as possible! You guys bust your asses off every day! We want you guys to go home safe and sound at the end of your tour.
Q: Is crew comm down?
A: Yes
Q: Where's my release?
A: It might be there, it might not. Ask crew services 'Do you see a dot above our upcoming trip?'. If they say "Yes", then chances are, your release isn't there. a dot = probably no release as of yet. This will help dispatch out by cutting down the call volume to them so they can get your release to you as soon as possible.
Q: Can we show at the hotel?
A: Maybe... it depends on a lot of things. Showing at the hotel instead of the FBO can be tricky to handle. Call us a half hour or so before your show. We may be able to approve it. HOWEVER, if we change your show from the FBO to the hotel, we can only change yours. Your partner is a different story. We can't have crewmembers breaking each other's rest. Let us know if your partner has approved the change in show location as well if we do approve it.
Q: Do you show any changes for us?
A: Yup
Q: What we are doing makes no sense! What is going on?
A: Somebody knows. Don't hang up the phone until you get an answer that makes sense. If it doesn't make sense, then, well, don't hang up the phone!
Q: Can I order crew food out of columbus?
A: Yes!! Bring leftovers!
Q: I've been on hold with MX Control for over 20 minutes!
A: I know. It sucks. Hang in there, we're hiring!
Hope this helps guys. If you have any other questions, then please please PLEASE post them or Message me. I'd be glad to help!!
