Neos - Italian 737-800 charter carrier - what's the deal?

[Lavdumperer]

Read a great story about a relatively new Italian charter carrier called NEOS in Italy. The story was informative (2 wingletted 738s with another in 2003 and related to Hapag Lloyd) but I'd like to know more from Italian pilots (e.g., Obi Wan Kirk and others). A couple of questions:

1. How many pilots now and then needed for 2003?
2. Where have the NEOS pilots come from (other airlines or military)?
3. How do current NEOS pilots like their jobs - are they happy?
4. Positives and Negatives...


I have an Italian friend with 3,500 hours (including 1,200 turbine PIC) who might be interested in applying if/when positions open up...


Cheers

[Obi Wan Kirk]

Hi there,

I know a couple of guys that joined Neos.

One had 3000 hrs and flew for Minerva on Do328 TP and before that flew all sorts of GA turboprops. He is an FO and very competent apart from speaking little English.

The other guy has 3500 hrs with 700hrs PIC in the DO 328 Jet with Gandalf Airlines, he was suprisingly hired directly as a Captain.

They both told me that Captain Buzzi, Flight Ops Manager is former Lauda Air and Volare. Most of the other Captains come from Lauda, Volare and AEI.

Overall it sounds quite a good outfit run by experienced people with the backing of Hapag-LLoyd and the Agnelli family (owners of AlpiTour and Fiat).

I personally am enjoying flying in the UK and have no desire to return to Italy a I find UK avitaion can give me a lot more.

[Lavdumperer]

Obi Wan Kirk,

Great to hear from you. Thank you for the Neos information - looks like an interesting operation.

So, you are flying in the UK - great to hear that. Which carrier do you fly for and what aircraft type? How often do you get back to Italy?


Cheers

[Obi Wan Kirk]

Lavdumperer,
Send me an email and I'll tell youwho I work for...

[Lavdumperer]

Obi Wan,

I tried to send a "private message" to you - not sure if you got it.... If you'd like, you can email me. I am a bit confused, where exactly do we get other people's email addresses? Is there a button that we press for that?

Looking forward to hearing what you are up to and what you fly....


Cheers

[GEENY]

I hear Buzzi is a kind of a "wild man" and the companies he flew for were glad to see him go.Longini comes from the Volare leaders mould:one of his gaffs at VLE(as the deputy OD) was to introduce Italian as the only lingo in the comp and link the promotion prospects to the level of command of the lingo.I still tresure the document which was never cancelled nor by OD nor by GM Soddu.I guess it is still "in force".
Obi Wan knows very well why he is not losing time and nerves in Italy,airlines run by the likes of Buzzi and Longini.
I hope he contradicts me(and tell me please who to work for in Italy).
I know of an ex-AEI Capt. who joined Neos and then promptly returned to AEI.

[Obi Wan Kirk]

Interesting news about neos. I spoke to a friend of mine who flies for them the other day and he told me Buzzi likes shouting and insulting copilots (not the place for good CRM).

One company in Italy I highly reccomend is ALBA Servizi. They are Silvio Berlusconi's corp[orate jet department with G V, G IV, Hs125. The pay is very good and so is the atmosphere. Friends that are there prefer to stay than join airlines. The rostering is very good and you always get 10 days off.

[erjdriver]

Obi Wan,

you don't happen to have an address for Alba Servizi, do you?
I'm planning to come back to Italy and I'm looking for a serious carrier. Any advice on which companies I should contact?

PEACE