USA Jet isn't usual so quiet

[pilotyip]

Yes USA Jet will hire pilots that may not be marketable in the larger job market, and retention is something to consider when hiring a pilot. We have no training contract. This could include a pilot with a DUI 5 years ago, to a pilot who was released by Delta Airlines because he failed IOE, to some one who does not have college degree, to a pilot who is in his late 40's, to a variety of reasons. We like military helo drivers, because they will have to stay awhile to get enough fixed wing time. The life events that might disqualify a pilot from getting hired at FedEx, UPS, etc should disqualify a pilot from working in a lower level of the industry. But we do not look for basket cases to fill seats. And surprisingly guys still get jobs at the next level, Net jets, Spirit, Jet Blue, Airtran etc.

 

[TheGuat]

Yes USA Jet will hire pilots that may not be marketable in the larger job market, and retention is something to consider when hiring a pilot. We have no training contract. This could include a pilot with a DUI 5 years ago, to a pilot who was released by Delta Airlines because he failed IOE, to some one who does not have college degree, to a pilot who is in his late 40's, to a variety of reasons. We like military helo drivers, because they will have to stay awhile to get enough fixed wing time. The life events that might disqualify a pilot from getting hired at FedEx, UPS, etc should disqualify a pilot from working in a lower level of the industry. But we do not look for basket cases to fill seats. And surprisingly guys still get jobs at the next level, Net jets, Spirit, Jet Blue, Airtran etc.

So Randy, is that the reason you have been "retained" by usajet all these years?

 

[Tail Rotorhead]

Another reason USA Jet might like helo guys is because some people who make hiring decisions have children who have only helo time and they can then get them hired and promoted out of seniority. They will be making a better living than the guy who earned every hour of his fixed wing as a CFI and doing other grunt flying jobs. I wonder if helo time would be so desirable in a new hire if said persons progeny didn't have helo time.

Again, there may have been a few who had some other "questionable" charges besides fuel, but the #1 name on everyone's lips, the main "culprit" is sitting pretty. But, he has helo time and no college degree and we all know that counts for something. The majority weren't doing anything malicious. I wouldn't be surprised to see a class-action wrongful termination suit coming down the pike, which is definitely going to cost the company more than paychecks. In reality they aren't saving anyone's jobs, they are going to be costing money defending themselves and paying guys to work days off because they will now be short staffed. If it really was some evil guys embezzeling funds that would be one thing, but it's not and this isn't going to stave off other layoffs or paycuts.

 

[gringo]

So can someone still get a job with no college and a $100,000.00/yr salary in his twenties in this profession? YIP??

No no no, you got it wrong. He said by your thirties, not twenties.

Well, I guess the bright side is that everyone who got fired are now in perfect position to ride that "June 2007 hiring boom" wave! Yeee-hawww!

 

[pilotyip]

are you telling tailrotor you are not proud of your rotor wing time? or perhaps you have no rotor wing time and your profile could be incorrect? We do not know who are, you just hide and post, hide and post, hide and post. Makes you feel very secure I am sure.

 

[TheGuat]

are you telling tailrotor you are not proud of your rotor wing time? or perhaps you have no rotor wing time and your profile could be incorrect? We do not know who are, you just hide and post, hide and post, hide and post. Makes you feel very secure I am sure.

Randy, you gonna fire him too when you find out who he is?

 

[pilotyip]

Guat, Again I am only a score keeper. So I cannot fire him, but I will buy him a beer at the "Wedge". Then we can settle this like adults, instead of one adult and one who has helo time envy. BTW helo guys make up about 25% of our new hire pilot force, some classes have been 100%, they are great employees and easily trained, but I knew that before I hired my son because I had been pursuing military helo pilots since 1998 when we could not find any high time fixed wing pilots for DA-20's. If I could have found a dozen more like them, I would have hired them We needed guys who could make Capt in about 6 months. Our insurance company thinks helo time counts for everything, so we started hiring them. It works.

 

[PCL_128]

Maybe it's time that you guys took another union vote. Sure would be nice for these guys to have some legal respresentation to get their jobs back. With morally-bankrupt management cronies acting like hatchet men, maybe it's time to do something about it.

 

[Tail Rotorhead]

To quote you Randy, "you give me too much credit". I have helo time envy like you have airline job envy. I have helo time, I don't think it earns me any special passes though, I am the kind of guy that believes in the seniority list and fair treatment, maybe a rarity in this industry. But, I have a college degree too, so maybe that should take a few points off my score in your opinion. I don't work at USA Jet anymore, I don't even live in MI (sorry I won't see you at the "Wedge"), but it bothers me to see friends and professionals getting treated so shabbily. Plus, I know how it must irk you that you can't figure it out, obviously since you keep calling me a coward. I'm one wascally wabbit. That's all doc.

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

Maybe it's time that you guys took another union vote. Sure would be nice for these guys to have some legal respresentation to get their jobs back. With morally-bankrupt management cronies acting like hatchet men, maybe it's time to do something about it.

I am not a big fan of unions, but they do seem to have there place in the aviation industry. Otherwise you stand a good chance of taking it right up the can like these 8 guys. I mean, if Domino's pizza delivery drivers can do it (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14955278/), so can the USA Jet pilot group.

 

[Everett Howe]

OK, so let me get this straight from recent posting from yip and others on USA Jet:

- Layoffs and paycuts on a whim
- no crewmeals
- no airlining home on days off
- no loading pay
- average flying 300 hrs a year (!)
- mx being outsourced to the cheapest bidder
- senior pilots getting axed over some bogus claims
- senior management spending hours on end on flightinfo promoting not getting a college education and hoping for some hiring boom in the future

Why should I consider applying at JUS again? I'd rather fly at Ameristar or Cherry or Kalitta, at least they are upfront that they just use you as their bitch. But at least you get more flying and can move on quicker.

Man, that little credibility you had is just out the window.

 

[pilotyip]

The facts

Everett what are we going to do about you, again somewhat misinformed
Layoffs and pay cuts on a whim –
Yea kinda, but not a whimsical as you would infer. When there is no business and you will go out of business without cutting costs these things happen at all companies. If you don't do this, the ultimate pay cut comes. The company goes out of business i.e. ExpressNet, Zantop, and Reliant. Everyone in the on-demand cargo business is suffering.

 

[pilotyip]

Just the facts part 2

No crew meals: Not true, crews still get meals anytime that both crewmembers will not be released to go get a meal on their own. Gone is 2 crewmembers going to the Outback on the company credit card
- no airlining home on days off: Not true, if a crewmember 5 or more days in a row off, they will be brought home to YIP. Gone is coming home for the two days of vacation in the middle of a line. Note: This was the original intention of the days off policy, but in a attempt to accommodate everyone the schedule started having too many blocks of days off in the bid period.
- No loading pay- Not true, there will still be loading pay, but many times loading was paid to the ground handler and the flight crew at the same time, there was abuse in the loading pay with a large % going to just a few pilots. They were working the system.
- Average flying 300 hrs a year (!) See the post above, we staffed to fly as we did last year, there is not much business. Based upon flying in the DA-20 for the last two months, the DA-20 pilots are on track for a 500-hour year.
- Mx being outsourced to the cheapest bidder - Not exactly true, with only a few DA-20 "C" checks per year, the DA-20 "C" check are being done by a contractor. Line maintenance is still in house and very good.
- Senior pilots getting axed over some bogus claims – No Comment

 

[pilotyip]

The Facts part 3

Senior management spending hours on end on flightinfo promoting not getting a college education and hoping for some hiring boom in the future - Are you referring to me as senior management? If so please put me in for my pay raise. No one reports to me, I am as stated before a score keeper and a clerk. I rarely meet with senior management, unless I am assigned a project or other tasks. I teach ground schools, recruit, give check rides, and work everyday to make USA Jet a better place to work. It must be working because when I came to USA Jet 1997, the turnover was 50% per year. For the last few years it has been in the 10% range. Senior pilots stay at USA Jet

why should I consider applying at JUS again? I'd rather fly at Ameristar or Cherry or Kalitta, at least they are up front that they just use you as their bitch. But at least you get more flying and can move on quicker. If you feel this would not be a good place to work they you owe it yourself and USA Jet to make sure that that you never apply or accept a job at USA Jet. Best of luck in your future pursuits.

Man, that little credibility you had is just out the window. It is not about credibility; it is about the facts

 

[PCL_128]

Yes or No question, Randy: were you the manager that fired these pilots? If so, then you are not "just a clerk."

 

[pilotyip]

Mark me up as just a clerk, I was not there.

 

[Porky]

I'm happy those 8 crooks are gone. They got what was coming to them. Poor, poor over payed pilots. See ya!!

 

[Tail Rotorhead]

YIP, exactly what is the score?

 

[Lear Wanna Be]

USA Jet 0.....USA Jet pilot group -8

 

[Porky]

The score is minus 8 pilots!!!