What is going on at Avantair?

[SCT]

FB3- I agree w/ your post about Glasspilot but you're scaring me on the toe thing.......

Cheers-

 

[Flybet3]

FB3- I agree w/ your post about Glasspilot but you're scaring me on the toe thing.......

Cheers-

HAHAHAHA! Yeah that came out all gay and what not. My bad

 

[fivefootnuthin]

hmm..just read glas's post, still trying to figure out whats so great about it. Peak oil..I suppose this should be the reason why Avantairs pay scale should be always lower than CS or NJ's? I'm getting pretty tired of the "were only in our 3rd year" rationale, especially given the cash i've seen spent on other things, no need to go into details about that. And i guess the 3rd year excuse should also explain why there are too few schedulers, dispatchers, IT people, no Blackberrys for FO's (which is criminal given how email-dependant this company is) etc etc, or why the cowboy mentality thats so entrenched when push comes to shove that it will take a crowbar to pry it out?? Look, I like this place a lot, I do what I can to make things work, and i give credit when credit is due. We have excellent pilots in the pipeline, good guys with good time and skills, and now, finally, the new planes are coming which are desperately needed. But i dont buy for a second the notion that because we're not NJ big that we cant run effeciently or be the best, nor should it mean that we cant be compensated for overcoming seemingly endless scheduling foul ups--pointing out that its not all their fault, given too little training and too many people to move about with too few airplanes to do it with--my point is that we are NOT a start-up any more. We have 25 planes flying, 3 more coming on any time now, and orders for 30 plus more. But until those who run departments and those who supervise those running them wrap their head around the concept that its high time they conducted things in the same manner as the big boys do, we'll never compete with the NJ's and the CS's in this biz, pay-wise or any other way. We sell well because the product in and of itself is good and the price is right, but when the days are too long and the turns are too tight and owners end up late and are frustrated because they cant get answers on the phone, its the crews who keep it together most of the time, doing whatever they can to give the owners the service they bought into. To me that means pay, it means working conditions and rules that are followed EVEN when things get tight, it means safety, it means a lot of things.

Dont get me wrong ...2 yrs ago we WERE a start-up, and we've made great progress, no question. And the pay certainly isnt horrible, at least not for the PICs. But theres clearly a lot of room for improvment, including giving the pilots more of a voice given that the PAC is usually brushed aside when heavy issues come up to bat. The D.O. is a pilot-oriented guy, and I'm certainly glad for that ...but the PAC certainly needs some teeth if its to represent the concerns of the pilot group. These are things that, 3rd year or not, can be addressed ...and should be.
Just my 2 cents

 

[glasspilot]

Well I agree with fivefoot, his post was much better than my peak oil post. I was doing a little "drink and post" the other night. I only brought up peak oil cause I do think it will be to avantairs advantage if and when we start to really feel the screws of it.

FFN is also right that we are not a start up any more. We're are becoming established. My only point is it's still unfair for NJ or UAL or any well established airline to expect us to match or beat their contract when it took years and years for them to get it. (I suspect there is a little bragging involved too.)

Anyway, stay safe, lay off the booze, and take care.

 

[gunfyter]

Also,Its a Pay by Weight world out there. So you have to compare to similar weight airplanes.

 

[fivefootnuthin]

speaking of weights ...any new word about the EMB's? Or is that Tango Uniform now?? If so, I'm bummed ....was lookin forward to those!

 

[Flybet3]

Come On Mbaa!!!!

 

[myrealnameis]

...any new word about the EMB's? Or is that Tango Uniform now?? If so, I'm bummed ....was lookin forward to those!

I wouldn't get my hopes up on that front. I am getting the sense that has all but evaporated, but then again.......

 

[P180puke]

hmm..just read glas's post, still trying to figure out whats so great about it. Peak oil..I suppose this should be the reason why Avantairs pay scale should be always lower than CS or NJ's? I'm getting pretty tired of the "were only in our 3rd year" rationale, especially given the cash i've seen spent on other things, no need to go into details about that. And i guess the 3rd year excuse should also explain why there are too few schedulers, dispatchers, IT people, no Blackberrys for FO's (which is criminal given how email-dependant this company is) etc etc, or why the cowboy mentality thats so entrenched when push comes to shove that it will take a crowbar to pry it out?? Look, I like this place a lot, I do what I can to make things work, and i give credit when credit is due. We have excellent pilots in the pipeline, good guys with good time and skills, and now, finally, the new planes are coming which are desperately needed. But i dont buy for a second the notion that because we're not NJ big that we cant run effeciently or be the best, nor should it mean that we cant be compensated for overcoming seemingly endless scheduling foul ups--pointing out that its not all their fault, given too little training and too many people to move about with too few airplanes to do it with--my point is that we are NOT a start-up any more. We have 25 planes flying, 3 more coming on any time now, and orders for 30 plus more. But until those who run departments and those who supervise those running them wrap their head around the concept that its high time they conducted things in the same manner as the big boys do, we'll never compete with the NJ's and the CS's in this biz, pay-wise or any other way. We sell well because the product in and of itself is good and the price is right, but when the days are too long and the turns are too tight and owners end up late and are frustrated because they cant get answers on the phone, its the crews who keep it together most of the time, doing whatever they can to give the owners the service they bought into. To me that means pay, it means working conditions and rules that are followed EVEN when things get tight, it means safety, it means a lot of things.

Dont get me wrong ...2 yrs ago we WERE a start-up, and we've made great progress, no question. And the pay certainly isnt horrible, at least not for the PICs. But theres clearly a lot of room for improvment, including giving the pilots more of a voice given that the PAC is usually brushed aside when heavy issues come up to bat. The D.O. is a pilot-oriented guy, and I'm certainly glad for that ...but the PAC certainly needs some teeth if its to represent the concerns of the pilot group. These are things that, 3rd year or not, can be addressed ...and should be.
Just my 2 cents

Possibly the most intelligent post I've read in a while. How many times have I said it......improvements have to start from the top. If there's $hit at the top, there's $hit at the bottom. The PAC was nothing but a charade, still is. When's the last time they produced anything to counter concerns?

Thank the product; it's the only reason we still have a j-o-b.

 

[johnsonrod]

Have you guys started training on the Avanti IIs? When are those expected to be on line and flying around the system? I hear that Pro Line 21 is a nice setup....

By the way, what else has been improved in terms of performance and comfort in the Avanti IIs vs. the original?