FD, I'm a stay home mother with young children. I firmly believe that considering how much frac pilots are gone their families need to have one parent home full time with the children. Furthermore, pilots are professionals and should be able to give their families the QOL that other professionals take for granted. That includes the option of having one parent stay home full time with the children.
Dilligaff, the number is now up to 5, not bad for a non-pilot associated with another frac company...My observation is based on general facts-- unless the Avantair pilots have a written contract that gives them industry standard compensation and working conditions there is a clear case for saying that improvements are needed. Can you please explain to me why your group deserves less than NJ or CS pilots?
Broken promises and empty assurances are a bad thing, an opinion that was explained thoroughly on a condition I cannot change was simply constructive dialog that one wouldn't expect to change in a short time....
Dill, it is becoming suspicious that you refuse to acknowledge that I have repeatedly said that I will support and congratulate frac pilots who improve their pay and working conditions by whatever means available to them. If your in-house advisory committee brings in a good contract I will personally post a Congratulations ecard on the board. When one looks at the status of aviation careers these past years, it is not surprising I am concerned that frac pilots will be left behind by management as the industry grows. That general unease applies to all frac pilots, not just Avantair. I've tried to discuss the condition of the industry --in general--with Avantair pilots because I was curious about your company and saw some posts on the board that reminded me of the NJ pilots' during their contract battle. Some of you appreciate the interest and support. If you don't, feel free to put me on your ignore list.
My apologies to you and CF if you felt I didn't answer your question. I saw the number 28K somewhere and it is correct. That is what my husband made as an FO just 3 years ago. Things were very bad, as I did explain, until the new contract was won last year. NetJets was already huge and had expanded world-wide when the FO wages qualified our son for the reduced price lunch at his public school. We had friends feeding their children with food stamps! Please don't act like it was only in the early days that NJ pilots were underpaid...
"....cheerleader who has no true connection to the union itself". I have several thoughts about your personal opinion.
First thanks for noticing my efforts to cheer pilots on in their fight for professional compensation, but I must ask--what, or who, do you think the union is? 1108 pilots will tell you that they finally realized that THEY are the union. The leadership recognizes that families play a vital role in supporting the pilots in their efforts to gain a contract and improve things for the group. That makes us all connected to the union. What is your definition of "connection" and how do you know that I don't meet it?
My friends there would like to get industry standard wages. But I will also add that I had been wondering why you weren't unhappy making less than the going rate; with help I now "get it", too. Magic was right to remind me that we first had to convince some of the NJ pilots that they did deserve better. I don't know how I forgot that. The brain tends to wipe out unpleasant memories,they say. Apparently so, but Magic is absolutely right, we first had to convince some of the NJ pilots before we could move forward as a group. Another similarity--during the NJ contract battle other employees (non-pilots) likewise, tried telling the board how great everything was at NJA...
Flybet, you get half credit...
