Travel Management-Elkhart IN. ????

[pilot1704]

Guys get a life!

Soon they will be owned by Sentient!

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

Is there any truth to this or do you just figure it is only a matter of time.....since they are buying everybody?

 

[limodriver1]

I heard same thing about TMC

I have heard rumors about Sentient buying them too!

 

[learflyer]

Is that a bad thing, or good thing?

 

[emspilot 01]

Travel Management Company

The latest on Travel Management Company.They have downgraded pilot hotels to Hampton Inn's,Comfort Inn's etc.By summer all their captains will be quitting for better jobs.

 

[*#$% Headwinds]

Someone is taking profit at the expense of the pilots (also known as SCREWING the pilots).

Headwinds,

I am sorry. You are right. Any company that strives to make profit, should not keep any of the profit that they RISKED millions of dollars for. Just give it to the employees who have zero invested in the business and nothing to lose. A pilot's license and college entitle you to endless wealth. The pilots that hired on probably did so without knowing what to expect as far as pay. It was probably a secret. They probably did no research and have no judgement. They are the victims. I would have thought a college education would prevent being taking advantage of by these bad people (Employers) The employer probably promised them six figures and a Net Jets pay scale. He probably asked the pilot, why are you thinking of working here? Why aren't you taking a job at one of the 5 other companies that Headwinds noted? They must not know you are available, otherwise your phone would be ringing off the hook. You are such a rare and valuable person. Wow... a pilot's license and a college degree. You are entitled. The bad employer who is going to invest an additional $20k-$40k per year in training these gifts to god should be grateful.
Some people are born to complain and they will no matter what. Others concentrate on doing the best job they can to make their employer profitable. A happy, profitable employer with good employees is more likely to take care of his crew. Employers with a bunch of winers, are happy to see the winers leave. What a relief.
Most of the jobs that I have accepted had no guarantee. A starting salary, some research and a little judgement has been my formula. I make well over 100k and put my employer first. I make sure they are provided safe transporation and excellent service. Strive to become an asset to your employer and not a wining liability. You get recognized for what you are.

Eventhough we have differing view points, I sincerely hope things work out for you and your friends. As I stated earlier, the supply and demand ratio is experiencing a big swing and pilots will see their value increase significantly. I appreciate the aviation owners being the entrepeneurs that they are. I hope they make lots of profit and buy bigger and better aircraft for all of us to fly. I do not condone their actions, I embrace them. Their risks and sacrifices make good paying jobs for good people a reality.

I certainly am not smart or motivated enough to create the wealth that supports these operations.

Take Care and Good Luck,
Corp Pilot

I appreciate your kind words. I apologize for the late response.

1) These pilots probably did do their research, saw what the industry (e.g. the 5 aforementioned companies) is paying, and assumed that in the interest of pilot retention, TMC would have comparable pay, not just cost of living increases. That would be why there appears to be such dissatisfaction with the pay and benefits. Because the company didn't live up to expectations.

2) In my experience, there only 2 types of pilots who DON'T whine:

a. Newbies in their first 3 months on their first jet job,

b. those who are the best paid in the industry.

And of course company men willing to eat sh!t if the boss asks, but they are a very small minority.

Curiously, the best paid pilots tend to be working for the best companies, who also show the highest profits. Coincidence? I think not. We've seen it time and again; show your pilots you respect them with industry leading pay and benefits, higher profits follow.

3) Despite the whining, nearly all pilots still show up every day willing to give 110% for the customer. Pilots tend to be highly motivated and hard working people. The whining isn't because they are determined to be unhappy, but because they know they are worth more than what the company wants to pay them.

I agree that pilot pay will have to increase across the industry. It's just a shame that in this case, what might have been a good company has to figure things out the hard way.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

The latest on Travel Management Company.They have downgraded pilot hotels to Hampton Inn's,Comfort Inn's etc.By summer all their captains will be quitting for better jobs.

I shared a taxi with a couple TMC guys a week or so ago and they were headed to the Staybridge Suites. If I am not mistaken, I believe that is part of the Holiday Inn chain, but in any case the Staybridge isn't a bad place to spend the night. These guys seemed happy enough and didn't seem to have a lot to gripe about. They did say that they hear the rumors about Sentinent buying them as well, but at this point it is only a rumor.

 

[emspilot 01]

Travel Management Company

I shared a taxi with a couple TMC guys a week or so ago and they were headed to the Staybridge Suites. If I am not mistaken, I believe that is part of the Holiday Inn chain, but in any case the Staybridge isn't a bad place to spend the night. These guys seemed happy enough and didn't seem to have a lot to gripe about. They did say that they hear the rumors about Sentinent buying them as well, but at this point it is only a rumor.

Staybridge Suites are not the norm for most of their hotel stays.They are trying to save money on overnights at the cost of their pilots by putting them in second rate hotels.Sentient Flight Group will only buy major flight operations in which they will have something to gain.All the other companys purchased have new charter customers or managed aircraft.What does Travel Management Company have to offer,but a few new Beechjets.
Fly safe and have fun!!!

 

[*#$% Headwinds]

My buddy seems to think they will be sold to Berkshire Hathaway, like the owners last company. It seems to me that Sentient is a more likely fit. Any way you look at it, the owners modus operandi is to develop a company, build some value and then sell for profit. But then again, if you ask my company owner, he'll tell you the same thing; the company is always for sale if the price is right.

 

[pilot1704]

that is what they have Beechjets

sentient needs core airplanes for their card programs!

 

[Hawkster54]

For what it's worth the Hotel thing is back to where it originally was when the crews used to make their own reservations. Hilton properties, Marriotts, and some not so nice hotels when everything is booked up. All in all we stay in nice hotels.

 

[emspilot 01]

Travel Management Company

For what it's worth the Hotel thing is back to where it originally was when the crews used to make their own reservations. Hilton properties, Marriotts, and some not so nice hotels when everything is booked up. All in all we stay in nice hotels.

How about everything else going on with the company.
1.Days off
2.QOL
3.Pay
4.Benefits
5.Advancement
I already know the answer. It is the same old song and dance.
Alot of empty promises.
Fly safe guys!

 

[fr8r]

The word on the pay schedule is 3% per year, with 5% in your 4th and I think 7th year. In other words, you will never make any more than you make the year you are hired after inflation...pathetic if you ask me. doing the math:

Captain FO
yr 1 $60,000 $40,000
yr 2 $61,800 $41,200
yr 3 $63,654 $42,436
yr 4 $66,837 $44,558
yr 5 $68,842 $45,895
yr 6 $70,907 $47,272
yr 7 $74,452 $49,636
yr 8 $76,686 $51,125
yr 9 $78,987 $52,659
yr 10 $81,357 $54,239
yr 11 $83,798 $54,239
yr 12 $86,312 $54,239
yr 13 $88,901 $54,239
yr 14 $91,568 $54,239
yr 15 $94,315 $54,239

Apparently most of management are ex FLOPs people, so this must sound pretty good to them. You will make more money long term at; Avantair, FlexJet, CitationShares, XOJet, and NetJets FO's make more than TMC Captains (must be embarrassing). All of these places are currently hiring.

When I asked about upgrades, it seems no one has yet. Apparently they are hiring a lot of street captains from crummy 135 jobs that make TMC look good.

Weds is the travel day. A crew doesn't get to go home until the next crew shows up, so you leave home real early on Weds and get home real late the next Weds.

Oh, I was informed that FO raises stop at year 10 so I adjusted the chart to reflect that.

That pay sucks ball$! I They also never reply to your e-mail when you send a resume. Not even a "thanks, we have you resume for review." I wrote them off after sending my resume 3 times.

 

[emspilot 01]

Travel Management Company

The first Travel Management Company pilot has left for Netjets and more will be leaving for better jobs in the near future.I heard that in a month or so there will be more pilots quitting due to their training contracts expiring.They are having a really hard time finding qualified pilots to fill the positions already vacated in the company.There has already been a certain amout of abuse on the new Beechjets from poorly qualified current pilots and it will only get worse with all the turnover.I would have to blame management for all the problems,but like most companys they do want to take responsibility for their actions.
Fly safe guys!

 

[learflyer]

If they would just increase the pay by about 10,000, they would get more qualified applicants. Atleast have a decent yearly pay increase for starters....