Focus Air
Join Date: May 2000
Location: New York
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I have a friend over there and he said guys are quitting as fast as they can train them. There are serious pay issues. An example, you fly 78 hours, they move the overtime to the next month. So if you fly 30 hours the next month, no overtime.
Their website is: http://focusaircargo.com/
Their website is: http://focusaircargo.com/
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: USA
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Total BS. Focus is a startup carrier operating less than 90 days and of course in its short life there will be issues especially in regards to sked but I can assure you that anyone who is flying there is flying heavy and not being "short scheduled" as pointed in the previous post, Focus has a two month 120hr guarantee. As far as guys and girls leaving as fast as they can train, Focus lost some Atlas/Polar furloughee's/firees during the strike fiasco and it was questionable whether they should have been hired until that debacle was over. Focus showed those guys and girls something that their former carrier didnt as they were shown the door, a committment to them and their families, and Focus did not ask them to resign their seniority numbers which bit them, some went back (NOT ALL) when the catfight was over. Focus will evolve from a paper concept to an operational mindset as things become either practical or impractical from their business plan as they build an operational learning curve, thus things will change and hopefully become better. For those applying remember Focus is a startup carrier not FEDEX nor are any of the other NON SKED's but its an airline without ego like some of the others and they are trying to put together a good product with good people which will take experience and time. I am not here trying to sell Focus but merely give the true insight into working for a startup and disparge the untruths which I am sure that anyone who has been there know's how it can be, (lots of hard work and little reward) but the future is bright, lots of growth and they have a fat checkbook.
THE TRUTH
THE TRUTH
Last edited by blackbaron; 16th Oct 2005 at 15:39.
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Somewhere between these last two post lies the "real" truth.
Startup or Non-Sked, it's all the same world.
The dizzying manner in which money is being spent at Focus (from what I hear) gives me pause. Bounces in a 74 that is just sitting on the ramp in KMIA sounds pretty expensive to me. I heard that everyone there gets a laptop computer and they just went and issued larger ones because the first ones were too small. Something to do with the EFB requirements or was it just convenience?
Maybe Focus does have the rumoured $2.5+ B CASH available. That's a lot of green to run some ex-Atlas -200/-300's, (yes I know, those pax -400's are just around the corner!) Sounds implausable to me, but I might be wrong. We'll see. Time will tell.
I wish the best of luck to us all!
Startup or Non-Sked, it's all the same world.
The dizzying manner in which money is being spent at Focus (from what I hear) gives me pause. Bounces in a 74 that is just sitting on the ramp in KMIA sounds pretty expensive to me. I heard that everyone there gets a laptop computer and they just went and issued larger ones because the first ones were too small. Something to do with the EFB requirements or was it just convenience?
Maybe Focus does have the rumoured $2.5+ B CASH available. That's a lot of green to run some ex-Atlas -200/-300's, (yes I know, those pax -400's are just around the corner!) Sounds implausable to me, but I might be wrong. We'll see. Time will tell.
I wish the best of luck to us all!
Join Date: May 2000
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Hey baron,
Heard another Captain quit yesterday and there is a plan for a mass walk out in the works. Thirty five or so resigning over the pay issue.
Get this. They are ONLY PAID FLYING TIME. All that engine startup and taxing time is donated to the company. Why? They say they are only paid flying time by the customer, so that's all they'll pay. New concept. Most the ACMI contracts out there are block times. When you sign up, read the fine print.
Heard another Captain quit yesterday and there is a plan for a mass walk out in the works. Thirty five or so resigning over the pay issue.
Get this. They are ONLY PAID FLYING TIME. All that engine startup and taxing time is donated to the company. Why? They say they are only paid flying time by the customer, so that's all they'll pay. New concept. Most the ACMI contracts out there are block times. When you sign up, read the fine print.
Last edited by WhaleDriver; 18th Oct 2005 at 19:31.
Join Date: Sep 1998
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Good Lord!
Do not let the Icelandic’s learn about this thing in only paying for the flight time, and the remaining “ is a donation to the company “ .
They have two or more aircraft based at Luxembourg, and I was told that they only contract A-M-E-R-I-C-A-N citizens.
Ultimately, they have already “moved” several of their pilots to Luxembourg.
And they call this thing European Community… working rights for European Citizens, etc, etc, etc.
Mercurius
Do not let the Icelandic’s learn about this thing in only paying for the flight time, and the remaining “ is a donation to the company “ .
They have two or more aircraft based at Luxembourg, and I was told that they only contract A-M-E-R-I-C-A-N citizens.
Ultimately, they have already “moved” several of their pilots to Luxembourg.
And they call this thing European Community… working rights for European Citizens, etc, etc, etc.
Mercurius
Join Date: Nov 2003
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A colleague of mine has just received an offer from them through one of the agencies. $7500US per month for a Captain and $5500US for an FO. Unlike AAI you are responsible for providing your own accomodation as well. Also, I would expect you will be liable for Italian tax too (I know you can probably get round it but that's not really the point). Can't see many serious takers at those rates.
Join Date: May 2001
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Focus will bring two more 747-200 aircraft into service prior to the end of the year. Word has it that the aircraft are already spoken for although the customers haven't been named yet.As far as all of the negative posts on this web about Focus, I remember when Atlas was in exactly the same position with the same complaints. Folks, you have to remember, they have only been operating for three months...and their current customers are pleased with their operation. Yes they do have growing pains but I think they will be a viable airline in the near future.
Top Dog
Join Date: May 2000
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Cargolux have a deal with them, using N535FC. Appears to be running fine. Europe-HKG and back.
N354FC is flying for China (Eastern?), also seemingly from LUX.
N354FC is flying for China (Eastern?), also seemingly from LUX.
Join Date: May 2001
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Just talked to a friend of mine in Luxembourg and both aircraft are indeed running out of LUX. One for CargoLux and the other for China Eastern. It seems Focus is doing much better than expected with their CLX contract and that CargoLux is very happy with them. The China Eastern is having a little problem with weather diverts at some of the destinations but the Chinese are presumably happy with their performance and may also add a second aircraft in the near future. A third aircraft is going to another, as yet unannounced European carrier, possibly next month. Supposedly operating out of Chicago to a European destination and possibly also to Asia. The fourth or fifth aircraft will be delivered prior to the end of the year....and it too is already spoken for by an unnamed carrier.....Three more aircraft in 2006.
411A.....wanna' bet a beer?
Top Dog
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From what I hear they'd better sort out the L/M issue pdq. LUX-GYD-HKG-ALA-GYD-LUX is around 30-35 hours... turn around and do it all again?
Hmm, not good. Mistakes get made that way. Tragic ones.
Hmm, not good. Mistakes get made that way. Tragic ones.