That sinking feeling
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Join Date: Jan 2001
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That sinking feeling
Such a delicate situation. I'm trying to write this as to not give too many clues away, except for those in the know. And to also express my dissapointment.
I work for a small company which at presents employees about 5 pilots, but we often have up to 2 or 3 other pilots waiting around for a slot to become vacant. While waiting these wannabes are doing administrative tasks, and what ever else the boss asks of them.
Previously the company has employeed bare commercial pilots. Although it now appears, that the boss has contracted out the flying side of the business to another organisation. We have heard through one of the new contracted pilots to expect letters of termination from our boss shortly, giving us only 2 weeks notice. So what once was a first job prospect for many, is now a job requiring a high level of experience, 1000+ hours, and believe you me, it isn't a challenging job, although twins are involved, as well as singles! In the past this job has given many a young pilot the opportunity to break on to twins.. .Now it is a catch 22. You need twin time to get the twin work....
I don't know exactly my fate at the moment, but feel insecure, and a little upset to say the least. After travelling the length of he country I believed I had landed a good job....... but now it looks like time to pack the car and do another lap of Australia <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> I just hope the car can last out again.
. .JOB SECURITY DOESN'T EXSIST ANYMORE....... so much for loyalty.
Geees that feels better to get it all off my chest. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Happy landings to you all... mine are fast coming to an end, for now!!
I work for a small company which at presents employees about 5 pilots, but we often have up to 2 or 3 other pilots waiting around for a slot to become vacant. While waiting these wannabes are doing administrative tasks, and what ever else the boss asks of them.
Previously the company has employeed bare commercial pilots. Although it now appears, that the boss has contracted out the flying side of the business to another organisation. We have heard through one of the new contracted pilots to expect letters of termination from our boss shortly, giving us only 2 weeks notice. So what once was a first job prospect for many, is now a job requiring a high level of experience, 1000+ hours, and believe you me, it isn't a challenging job, although twins are involved, as well as singles! In the past this job has given many a young pilot the opportunity to break on to twins.. .Now it is a catch 22. You need twin time to get the twin work....
I don't know exactly my fate at the moment, but feel insecure, and a little upset to say the least. After travelling the length of he country I believed I had landed a good job....... but now it looks like time to pack the car and do another lap of Australia <img src="mad.gif" border="0"> I just hope the car can last out again.
. .JOB SECURITY DOESN'T EXSIST ANYMORE....... so much for loyalty.
Geees that feels better to get it all off my chest. <img src="rolleyes.gif" border="0">
Happy landings to you all... mine are fast coming to an end, for now!!
Join Date: Oct 2001
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Hi Gravox,
I read this thread in the odonnellaviation.com forums written by anonymous. Youve obviously got the balls to tell the pprune world about it - hang in there man, make some calls and see where your legals stand - be prepared for the worst but keep your chin up! I hope you keep your job as like you said, there are very few of these around where they let you advance to twins. Good luck buddy!
I read this thread in the odonnellaviation.com forums written by anonymous. Youve obviously got the balls to tell the pprune world about it - hang in there man, make some calls and see where your legals stand - be prepared for the worst but keep your chin up! I hope you keep your job as like you said, there are very few of these around where they let you advance to twins. Good luck buddy!
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Sorry to hear of your predicament Gravox. I hope for your sake that everything turns out well. Like I say to anyone that asks we have the best job in the worst industry. ( for job security ). .Good luck mate I feel for you. . .Lets hope it works out coz I dont think that my car would make it even half way round again!!!!! 
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Gravox its been like that since I was in Oz GA 128 years ago. Nothins changed or will change. You need twin time to fly twins, you need kerosene time to fly turbine, you need a CIR to fly VFR charter. Same GA sh!t diferent GA year.
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Yep, t'was ever thus. I wore out 2 cars, 3 girlfriends (come to think of it they'd reached their abuse-by dates), hair fell out and can't get it up anymore. 10 yrs after CPL finally got the job I wanted. hang in there shags. The ppruners give better advise than most....
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Now, tell me something, Gravox, when you have enough hours to get a job on a bigger, faster, higher paid aircraft,what would the word loyalty mean to you then? Try and think of it from the other side of the fence. There is no such thing as loyalty from pilots. You train them up, most likely at the company's expense, and off they go. As one who has been there I know how rotten the system is. And it is the system. Don't just blame the employers. Most of them are battling to just pay the wages, maintenance,fuel etc and every time a pilot sees greener grass on the other side of the fence the costs go up and the employer is back to zero. Fix the system and perhaps both the pilots and employers who are exploiting the present system(And there are plenty on both sides) will have to come into line.
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Gravox
Not good to hear mate. I dont think I've got your number so drop myself or snapperhead an email for a chat. Don't worry when you can't get any lower the only place to go is up.
VneII
Not good to hear mate. I dont think I've got your number so drop myself or snapperhead an email for a chat. Don't worry when you can't get any lower the only place to go is up.
VneII
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Gravox, job security is a thing of the past in any industry these days but particularly with regard to aviation.
Good luck & if I may pass on some advice from Mrs. .Doubtfire "hope for the best, expect the worst & take whatever comes"! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
Good luck & if I may pass on some advice from Mrs. .Doubtfire "hope for the best, expect the worst & take whatever comes"! <img src="tongue.gif" border="0"> <img src="tongue.gif" border="0">
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hang in there mate something will come your way,. .you've landed one good job now you can land another and another till you get what you want.the industry is unfortunately moulded around the wrong mould , but no one can seem to break the bloody thing. therefor we all work with what we have ........ .good luck hope you find something soon.
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Skychaser,
Of all the postings, you are the only different one. The poor owner! Well I am sorry to say but I have been there too, and there is no need to exploit the pilot to the n'th degree and expect him to sacrafice his life for you, or anyone. Yes, they will come and go, as they please, and those that recruit them. That is why you pay, and I have paid miserable wages in GA. Wake up fella, who wants to work for a jerkoff GA outfit that nine times out of ten treats you like sh iet.
And I know what it is like to have pilots repay you kind, but then again, a smart manager knows this, and plans accordingly. They are going to leave you, no two ways about it. So maximise what you have from them, accept that you are going to lose them, and plan accordingly. They don't owe you living, but they owe you their loyality whilst in your employ, as you owe them whilst you employ them. It's a two way street brud!!
You weigh them up, you take what you can, and accept the looses when they go, as there are more to come later, don't forget that.
Think ahead, plan ahead, GA operators, plan on one year max. for most guys when the airlines need, and 18 months - 24 months, when they don't.
Simple economics really. Plan on losing them. Don't get sour, because they don't want to wash planes anymore, answer phones at ungoddly hours, hang around the office for ****** all. Shiet, we have all done that before, and so have you. So why expect them to continue to do that. By all means make the new chums do it, but expect a better break from your seniors, they earn it.
I am not advocating that the seniors of a company need to drop the bundle, but you have balance what you have with what you don't. I have had guys who can run an ops. office, then fly, and then deal with the after work problems all in one foul swoop, however, others have been as useless as a prick on on a Catholic Priest.
Each must be treated on his own merit. So for God's sake tuck your head in, and if the guy you got the moment is causing augnst, then get rid of him, properly!!!!
Good Luck Gravox, I have been down both paths, and I think your's is the most difficult.
[ 11 February 2002: Message edited by: Bob Hawke ]</p>
Of all the postings, you are the only different one. The poor owner! Well I am sorry to say but I have been there too, and there is no need to exploit the pilot to the n'th degree and expect him to sacrafice his life for you, or anyone. Yes, they will come and go, as they please, and those that recruit them. That is why you pay, and I have paid miserable wages in GA. Wake up fella, who wants to work for a jerkoff GA outfit that nine times out of ten treats you like sh iet.
And I know what it is like to have pilots repay you kind, but then again, a smart manager knows this, and plans accordingly. They are going to leave you, no two ways about it. So maximise what you have from them, accept that you are going to lose them, and plan accordingly. They don't owe you living, but they owe you their loyality whilst in your employ, as you owe them whilst you employ them. It's a two way street brud!!
You weigh them up, you take what you can, and accept the looses when they go, as there are more to come later, don't forget that.
Think ahead, plan ahead, GA operators, plan on one year max. for most guys when the airlines need, and 18 months - 24 months, when they don't.
Simple economics really. Plan on losing them. Don't get sour, because they don't want to wash planes anymore, answer phones at ungoddly hours, hang around the office for ****** all. Shiet, we have all done that before, and so have you. So why expect them to continue to do that. By all means make the new chums do it, but expect a better break from your seniors, they earn it.
I am not advocating that the seniors of a company need to drop the bundle, but you have balance what you have with what you don't. I have had guys who can run an ops. office, then fly, and then deal with the after work problems all in one foul swoop, however, others have been as useless as a prick on on a Catholic Priest.
Each must be treated on his own merit. So for God's sake tuck your head in, and if the guy you got the moment is causing augnst, then get rid of him, properly!!!!
Good Luck Gravox, I have been down both paths, and I think your's is the most difficult.
[ 11 February 2002: Message edited by: Bob Hawke ]</p>
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Bob Hawke, well said, if you are indeed following the path of your has been namesake. If I am to accept the status quo as you suggested then so should Gravox instead of bleating like a lost lamb. All I was saying is that there are two sides to every story and being an owner/operator isn't easy especially when you go out of your way to look after staff and help them and they just p%%s off as soon as they have the next qualification.
