Falcon Express - all you need to know about it (threads merged)
Thanks you to cosat for the PM, much appeciated. Will give them a call in a week or so.
Just concerned about the level of recruiting, from another thread I have seen they are taking about 1 guy a month, while others say nothing much is happening at all. 6K US is a fairly big gamble without a firm offer. Just wondering how many type rated guys are knocking on their door?
Just curious, can you get a PIC type rating on a 1900 without holding an ATP/ATPL.
Just concerned about the level of recruiting, from another thread I have seen they are taking about 1 guy a month, while others say nothing much is happening at all. 6K US is a fairly big gamble without a firm offer. Just wondering how many type rated guys are knocking on their door?
Just curious, can you get a PIC type rating on a 1900 without holding an ATP/ATPL.
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Aren't FECA still flying into Iraq? I can't believe there are still guys willing to put their butt on the line for this company, sure the pay is ok, but you can't spend it "upstairs"! Is a few hours in a turbine really worth the risk?
I have heard the stories from a couple of current and ex-FECA pilots, and to me it sounds plain scary at the moment. The only guys that seem to be sticking around are the guys that don't have to do the Iraq trips. Things aren't much better at the rest of your stops in Saudi either from what I've been told.
Ozgrade3, yes you can get a command rating without actually holding the ATPL (in Aus anyway). Why not get your ATPL? Is it just the hours you are waiting on, or the subjects?
I have heard the stories from a couple of current and ex-FECA pilots, and to me it sounds plain scary at the moment. The only guys that seem to be sticking around are the guys that don't have to do the Iraq trips. Things aren't much better at the rest of your stops in Saudi either from what I've been told.
Ozgrade3, yes you can get a command rating without actually holding the ATPL (in Aus anyway). Why not get your ATPL? Is it just the hours you are waiting on, or the subjects?
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Get your full ATPL done before you rock up here to Dubai, or later on when you upgrade to Captain at you will have to do the local ATPL exam.
Yes FECA is still flying into Iraq, more trips are being done in the AN12, IL76 as the loads are so big .
Cheers FM
Yes FECA is still flying into Iraq, more trips are being done in the AN12, IL76 as the loads are so big .
Cheers FM
Uh-oh...
Victor Lebedev, Air Bas' general manager, was identified two years ago by U.S. officials as a Bout operative. He confirmed in an interview that his firm's planes had flown into Balad four times in October, carrying supplies for KBR, the Halliburton subsidiary.
Halliburton spokeswoman Wendy Hall said KBR had hired Falcon Express Cargo, a Dubai-based freight company. Falcon, in turn, subcontracted with Air Bas to haul the KBR cargo, Hall said. She said KBR is no longer using Falcon.
"KBR had no knowledge of a relationship between Falcon and Air Bas, and if we had known, we would have terminated the contract," she said.
Halliburton spokeswoman Wendy Hall said KBR had hired Falcon Express Cargo, a Dubai-based freight company. Falcon, in turn, subcontracted with Air Bas to haul the KBR cargo, Hall said. She said KBR is no longer using Falcon.
"KBR had no knowledge of a relationship between Falcon and Air Bas, and if we had known, we would have terminated the contract," she said.
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Typical Falcon....as long as the Cargo is on time and we get our money.
Till now nobody in Falcon was informed about this
just shows how much they care about their......cr i mean $$$
Till now nobody in Falcon was informed about this
just shows how much they care about their......cr i mean $$$
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Good stuff...
I wasn't expecting anything like a nice and clear picture of what the deals for cargo to Irak were.
Sometimes I'd like to know who exactly I am flying for . Or maybe not...
I wasn't expecting anything like a nice and clear picture of what the deals for cargo to Irak were.
Sometimes I'd like to know who exactly I am flying for . Or maybe not...
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I have just been informed that all the new hires have to watch
Air America during the basic indoc to get a good view of the operation
Freightdog81
Boldy dropping of cargo where nobody dropped cargo before
Air America during the basic indoc to get a good view of the operation
Freightdog81
Boldy dropping of cargo where nobody dropped cargo before
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Well well.....fedex expects FECA management to have standards......what a joke!!
FedEx spokeswoman Sandra Munoz said the company expected Falcon to "stick to the same standards we do," investigating subcontractors' safety records and operating authority. "We believe our procedures are still very solid procedures."
FedEx spokeswoman Sandra Munoz said the company expected Falcon to "stick to the same standards we do," investigating subcontractors' safety records and operating authority. "We believe our procedures are still very solid procedures."
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In a matter of fact, FECA's standards are much much higher than Fed-Ex and their management staff and seniors are much more professional.
Now as far as FECA's Iraq flights.....those flight are continuously monitored and assessed by line managers and senior staff to maintian acceptable levels of risk. Flying is risky business anyways even if you are flying into state of the art airports and the most peaceful territories. Flying into Iraq is higer risk but also increased profit. One thing compensates for the other and thats what corporate business is all about. Going into business is always with one goal and that is to stay into business. Staying into business requires money which will always expalins risk taking.
I've never blamed other pilots for not comprehending the idea of risk and business coz pilots' worlds always revolved around the rush of flying and compensation for capturing this rush. Who would want a better a job?
Now as far as FECA's Iraq flights.....those flight are continuously monitored and assessed by line managers and senior staff to maintian acceptable levels of risk. Flying is risky business anyways even if you are flying into state of the art airports and the most peaceful territories. Flying into Iraq is higer risk but also increased profit. One thing compensates for the other and thats what corporate business is all about. Going into business is always with one goal and that is to stay into business. Staying into business requires money which will always expalins risk taking.
I've never blamed other pilots for not comprehending the idea of risk and business coz pilots' worlds always revolved around the rush of flying and compensation for capturing this rush. Who would want a better a job?
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ERAU,
I know when I was at FECA I often found myself saying "Gee, FedEx are a bunch of amateurs. Why couldn't they be as professional as OUR operation?"
I mean the facts speak for themselves. FedEx is an enormous organisation with hundreds of MD-11s, MD-10s, A300/310s, tens of thousands of staff and a global presence. Falcon has an F-27, 5 1900s and an alleged relationship with a questionable Antonov operator.
"I've never blamed other pilots for not comprehending the idea of risk and business coz pilots' worlds always revolved around the rush of flying and compensation for capturing this rush. Who would want a better a job?"
ERAU you are a patronising git. With an attitude like that you'll never get a better job.
I know when I was at FECA I often found myself saying "Gee, FedEx are a bunch of amateurs. Why couldn't they be as professional as OUR operation?"
I mean the facts speak for themselves. FedEx is an enormous organisation with hundreds of MD-11s, MD-10s, A300/310s, tens of thousands of staff and a global presence. Falcon has an F-27, 5 1900s and an alleged relationship with a questionable Antonov operator.
"I've never blamed other pilots for not comprehending the idea of risk and business coz pilots' worlds always revolved around the rush of flying and compensation for capturing this rush. Who would want a better a job?"
ERAU you are a patronising git. With an attitude like that you'll never get a better job.
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2dadies,
When is size and scope has anything to do with the way you manage your company? How is 100s of wide body jets influnce the way you go about doing things? Your point there is void and makes no sense. If you are trying to imply that corporate size may influence management performance then maybe Management 101 is something you should consider.
Falcon's Management at all levels is far more proefessional than Fed-Ex and they are highly trained. I also heard recently that they have a new highly qaulaified guy on board taking care of safety and security. If they were not as professional they would've not caught Fed-Ex's discrepancies on daily basis. Fed-Ex discrepancies may include:
1- wrong weight on packages (which affects CG)
2- Undeclared DG
3- Unproper packing of DG
4- Undeclared volumetric weights
and the list goes on
Tunnelvision,
Fed-Ex and Falcon are in 2 different businesses which seems similar but they are different in nature. Fed-Ex is a freight integrator thats been around since the 70s, which is double the time since Falcon was found. Fed-Ex utilizes the hub and spoke system in its operations bringing the loads into their Dubai hub and transferring it to Falcon for distribution in all the Persian Gulf states and Iraq. Falcon operates on one spoke of Fed-Ex's system using bulk loading and more efficient aircrfat for short flights. The transporting of Fed-Ex loads by Falcon is a major operation that determines cost structure for Fed-Ex in the middle east. So yes.....2 different playfields and Falcon masters the one its in. Also remember that Falcon is not small either coz its a part of a big group that consists of 8 diffeent companies under the same umbrella Falcon Express Inc. (FEI)
When is size and scope has anything to do with the way you manage your company? How is 100s of wide body jets influnce the way you go about doing things? Your point there is void and makes no sense. If you are trying to imply that corporate size may influence management performance then maybe Management 101 is something you should consider.
Falcon's Management at all levels is far more proefessional than Fed-Ex and they are highly trained. I also heard recently that they have a new highly qaulaified guy on board taking care of safety and security. If they were not as professional they would've not caught Fed-Ex's discrepancies on daily basis. Fed-Ex discrepancies may include:
1- wrong weight on packages (which affects CG)
2- Undeclared DG
3- Unproper packing of DG
4- Undeclared volumetric weights
and the list goes on
Tunnelvision,
Fed-Ex and Falcon are in 2 different businesses which seems similar but they are different in nature. Fed-Ex is a freight integrator thats been around since the 70s, which is double the time since Falcon was found. Fed-Ex utilizes the hub and spoke system in its operations bringing the loads into their Dubai hub and transferring it to Falcon for distribution in all the Persian Gulf states and Iraq. Falcon operates on one spoke of Fed-Ex's system using bulk loading and more efficient aircrfat for short flights. The transporting of Fed-Ex loads by Falcon is a major operation that determines cost structure for Fed-Ex in the middle east. So yes.....2 different playfields and Falcon masters the one its in. Also remember that Falcon is not small either coz its a part of a big group that consists of 8 diffeent companies under the same umbrella Falcon Express Inc. (FEI)
Last edited by ERAU15; 30th Dec 2004 at 08:08.
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ERAU,
Once again, I refer you to my previous "patronising git" comment.
I'm a little uncertain how enhance the logic of my argument - I'll make it as simple as I can:
1)Corporate size DOES influence management performance.
2) Having hundreds of wide-body jets DOES influence the way things are done.
3) I can assure you that although FedEx DOES experience some discrepanies with their cargo (think about the sheer scale of what they do), Falcon would "catch" a lot less of them than you might think. And funnily enough, it is left up to THE PILOTS to do so.
4) Even when these "discrepancies" are caught, it always made me laugh how much pressure FECA management placed on PILOTS to take it anyway.
ERAU, Falcon Express is operated at a minimally efficient level in order to achieve the task it has been assigned. This is not a bad thing per se, but you'll forgive me for dissecting your blindly loyal and frankly baseless attempt to make FECA look like a jewel in the global air-cargo industry crown.
FECA has an F-27 and 5 1900s. If you cannot see the inanity of your own argument ("When is (sic) size and scope has (sic) anything to do with the way you manage your company?"), then I suspect Management 101 might be more appropriate for you.
Once again, I refer you to my previous "patronising git" comment.
I'm a little uncertain how enhance the logic of my argument - I'll make it as simple as I can:
1)Corporate size DOES influence management performance.
2) Having hundreds of wide-body jets DOES influence the way things are done.
3) I can assure you that although FedEx DOES experience some discrepanies with their cargo (think about the sheer scale of what they do), Falcon would "catch" a lot less of them than you might think. And funnily enough, it is left up to THE PILOTS to do so.
4) Even when these "discrepancies" are caught, it always made me laugh how much pressure FECA management placed on PILOTS to take it anyway.
ERAU, Falcon Express is operated at a minimally efficient level in order to achieve the task it has been assigned. This is not a bad thing per se, but you'll forgive me for dissecting your blindly loyal and frankly baseless attempt to make FECA look like a jewel in the global air-cargo industry crown.
FECA has an F-27 and 5 1900s. If you cannot see the inanity of your own argument ("When is (sic) size and scope has (sic) anything to do with the way you manage your company?"), then I suspect Management 101 might be more appropriate for you.
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Could not have said it better myself 2 Daddies
One thing I would like to add as that the only asset FECA has had is the pilot work force it has employed. During my tour of duty, I saw a bunch of guys who were professional, honest and willing to go the extra mile. If it wasn't for the past and present guys operating the flights under sometime very difficult conditions FECA's crises management model (which is how they operate 110% of the time) would be at a loss.
Now ERAU just remember there have been a number of guys flow through FECA over the years and most are grateful for the hour building and the good times had outside of WORK in Dubai (me being one of them). But may I add one thing, all of us that have been there know exactly what goes on...... so please stop your dribble....... or stories might start to flow.
Now I'm off back to Russia !! anyone coming with me..
P.S ERAU I think you will find the umbrella company you talk of is actually "Falcon Aviation Group" which is a combination of Falcon Express, Falcon Express Cargo Airlines (FECA) and Falcon Aviation Services. Main Office in Dubai "The Crown Plaza" but lets not forget the British Virgin Islands.......
One thing I would like to add as that the only asset FECA has had is the pilot work force it has employed. During my tour of duty, I saw a bunch of guys who were professional, honest and willing to go the extra mile. If it wasn't for the past and present guys operating the flights under sometime very difficult conditions FECA's crises management model (which is how they operate 110% of the time) would be at a loss.
Now ERAU just remember there have been a number of guys flow through FECA over the years and most are grateful for the hour building and the good times had outside of WORK in Dubai (me being one of them). But may I add one thing, all of us that have been there know exactly what goes on...... so please stop your dribble....... or stories might start to flow.
Now I'm off back to Russia !! anyone coming with me..
P.S ERAU I think you will find the umbrella company you talk of is actually "Falcon Aviation Group" which is a combination of Falcon Express, Falcon Express Cargo Airlines (FECA) and Falcon Aviation Services. Main Office in Dubai "The Crown Plaza" but lets not forget the British Virgin Islands.......
Last edited by tunnelvision; 30th Dec 2004 at 14:17.