surreal1221
Well-Known Member
Wow - A300Capt - Amazing post.
Travis, sorry to hear about your troubles my friend.
Travis, sorry to hear about your troubles my friend.
Career...meet brick wall
- Thread starter TFaudree_ERAU
- Start date
skydog
New Member
You may not be getting a lot of flying time, but you are getting some. At least enough to stay current, if nothing else. The flying club may provide some additional flight time. In the meantime, you are getting valuable experience in the area of air carrier certification and aircraft acquisition. How many people get the chance to get that experience?
It's my firm belief that what gets a resume pulled from the pile is not the certificates or flight time, but the variety of one's experiences. Everybody looking for a pilot job has a CPL and 1000 hours flying time. How many can actually say there were the chief pilot and certification manager for an air carrier?
Eventually this process will be concluded, one way or the other. And either through this employer or the next one, you will get flight time. In the meantime, you are getting paid a decent wage to do what sounds like some interesting work. It could be that you are in on the ground floor of something that may end up really big. I'd say that is worth sticking around for, at least for a while.
It's my firm belief that what gets a resume pulled from the pile is not the certificates or flight time, but the variety of one's experiences. Everybody looking for a pilot job has a CPL and 1000 hours flying time. How many can actually say there were the chief pilot and certification manager for an air carrier?
Eventually this process will be concluded, one way or the other. And either through this employer or the next one, you will get flight time. In the meantime, you are getting paid a decent wage to do what sounds like some interesting work. It could be that you are in on the ground floor of something that may end up really big. I'd say that is worth sticking around for, at least for a while.
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
Sorry, but thats not correct. Since I'm the single pilot operator at this time, I'll be getting all the stick time.
SKYDOG:
Thanks for those words of encouragement. I think the points that you brought up are the only things keeping me sane right now. I can honestly say that although some of my friends are flying 135 right now, they didn't have nearly as large of a role in getting the company up and running. If my next employer doesn't appreciate that, I don't want to work for them. I do want this to work out, but then again, I can't wait forever.
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
Because I'm the ONLY pilot for the company; there IS no one else to get the stick time. We have VFR only ops-specs. So...if the weather is VMC on the day of the scheduled trip, I fly it. If it is IMC, we cancel. Yes, I know it's extremely restrictive, but it is the way the owner chose to do it.
A300Capt
Freight Dawg
Yes, that restriction would put your boss out of the 135 charter business inside of a month or two.
You simply can not run a successful charter business without an all-weather capable aircraft and a pilot experienced enough to handle both the aircraft and the weather. People would only give you one shot and they're looking for results not excuses before they go down the road to the next operator.
You can't be a fair weather on-demand service unless, of course, your business is a sightseeing operator. It's simply a contradiction in terms. Murphy's Law alone would guarantee that business opportunities would present themselves only when the weather is iffy at best.
My suggestion....get on the next bus out of town and don't look back. Your boss appears to be a little on the shady side. Aviation, especially GA, is full of them. I'm pretty sure he doesn't have your best interest, your safety, the safety of your pax or the success of the business at heart. Personally, I'm a little surprised the Feds are buying off it. Just remember, just because it's legal doesn't mean it's safe.
I can see the old and tried conversations between you and your boss right now. "Boss, got some folks who want me to fly them to XYZ..but the weather is very marginal and I'm not sure I can complete it legally". (Boss) "Ahhh, the weather's fine, you would want us to lose these customers now, would ya? You'll be okay. You're not wimping out on me now, are ya? Now, git out there and make me some money". Blah, blah, blah......This conversation replays itself over and over until you're pushed into a very bad situation where you felt pressured to make the trip happen regardless of the wx even though you knew it was wrong. Next thing you know, the Feds come knocking and asking questions and all the while your boss is sitting in the next room shrugging his shoulders saying, "Well, he was the PIC..he could've said "No".
Do yourself a favor, go back to being a CFI and work toward the magic 1200hrs (THEY'RE REALLY ARE NO SHORTCUTS!). You'll make contacts and doors will begin to open at reputable 135 outfits. Don't get yourself in trouble with shady outfits in the beginning of your career that leave blemishes on an otherwise clean record. Also, don't rule out the airlines at your age either. It's a great time and experience builder and you can always go back to flying 135 if you find it's not your cup of tea. Better yet, after a while you could open and manage your own 135 outfit and keep your airline job.
I know the temptation is strong to move on to the next big thing and the thought of flying charters in a twin is alluring to a new pilot but you also need to be smart about it.
Again, FWIW dept....
triplec76
Well-Known Member
I didn't see that in your original post, but found it after you reiterated it. I'd say if you are young and don't have a family to sustain, do it, but don't keep all of those eggs in his little basket. Have some other irons in the fire so that you can have minimal down time if the whole deal caves in. Personally, I would be uncomfortable with the operation if the demand wasn't already there to see some obvious growth. Your original post doesn't seem to paint a very good picture about his business in the long term.
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
Our insurance people say yes...with 25 in type. Our open pilot policy would mandate something like 2500TT and 500 multi though, which is a little absurd for a 400 Cessna in my opinion.
Thats the thing though. He would be the last person to tempt me into doing something beyond the regs. HE is the one that is asking "how's the weather looking" when people call for a quote. To tell you the truth, he's more apprehensive than I am about going if it is anything less than clear and a million. On another note, he thinks we should sugar coat our VFR restriction by telling the customer "we won't fly in any clouds because we want you to feel safe by being able to see the ground at all times." I think thats a terrible business tactic; covering up the underlying facts. I'd rather just say "we're not yet authorized to fly in foul weather conditions."
casey
Well-Known Member
and what is the easiest way to relax that restriction?
1) you log an additional 525 hrs (at how many hrs/month?)
2) hire a pilot who meets the 135 IFR mins
you may think hes a great guy but this is business and if it comes down to profitabiliy which option do you think hes going to take?
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
...and honestly, I'm all for that. I wouldn't lose my position in the management side of the company, and I certainly wouldn't see any less flight time. I really do have a little pride in this company, as it is something that I had a part in from the beginning. I know I should leave, but I'm a little torn between doing that and giving it a chance to improve. I'd still be able to do the VFR flights, but when it is IFR, I'd log the SIC unless we needed the extra seat for a PAX. Problem is, no pilot with the required experience is going to even entertain the idea of working for us without seeing some respectable airplane already sitting on the ramp waiting to fly. With his apprehension of even spending 150,000 on an airplane, the stars will never align.
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
From the sounds of it, never. Like I mentioned previously, he has plenty of other income from his consulting contract, and his wife is a software engineer for Oracle. I've tried, but I still can't piece it all together; I think she's the one that calls the money shots. And somehow today, he got a verbal agreement from an acquaintance to give him 10% of 1.7 million for the amphibian C208 he is trying to sell.
wheelsup
Well-Known Member
So is he just doing this to say he owns a charter company or what? Generally people that have obtained money thru their own hard work like to keep it, not blow it. Maybe this is his "toy"? Hey, whatever, it works for you
.
CoffeeIcePapers
Well-Hung Member
If you are living in the sticks, what kind of market are you catering to? I would imagine with paying you at least 25k+ yearly, plus insurance, hangar/building space, and a sizeable lease fee on an aircraft, it doesn't sound very good. Does you boss know anything about aviation at all? Did he even have a hint of a business plan before diving into this thing?
Even to the average guy on the streets, it would make sense to get a real pre-buy done before committing to a lease on an airplane. Secondly, if he had plans to use it in charter ops, wouldn't he want it to be in good cosmetic condition? I would understand if you were hauling checks or car parts, but if you are hauling people, they want something nice.
If you are happy with the pay, and you are still getting your paychecks, hang around a while. It seems like you don't want to go into the airlines because the industry is so volatile, but take a look at the situation you are in now...
Even to the average guy on the streets, it would make sense to get a real pre-buy done before committing to a lease on an airplane. Secondly, if he had plans to use it in charter ops, wouldn't he want it to be in good cosmetic condition? I would understand if you were hauling checks or car parts, but if you are hauling people, they want something nice.
If you are happy with the pay, and you are still getting your paychecks, hang around a while. It seems like you don't want to go into the airlines because the industry is so volatile, but take a look at the situation you are in now...
TFaudree_ERAU
Mashin' dem buttons
A little background on the owner.
He's a former VP of Pemco World Air Services, worked with IAI, Airbus, and numerous other medium and heavy jet maintenance operations. He has been based at HXD for the past 11 years, but is still active in helping to run major MRO operations throughout the US. If he needs to talk to the VP of Maintenance of ANY one of the regionals or majors, he knows the name and number to call, and it won't be the first time he has talked to them. In summary, his specialty is heavy jet maintenance. This air charter operation is, as someone already put it, "his little toy". He is very cautious with how he spends his money, and again as someone already said, thats his prerogative. He made a crucial mistake in the most important part of the operation in the beginning though; the aircraft. I don't think he made any attempt to do a pre-delivery inspection, and it turned out to bite him in the rear. I can understand a mistake like that by someone with his background. Someone in the heavy jet business may not be aware that small piston singles and twins are rarely maintained to the same standards across the board. He has learned this now though, but at the expense of one year of operations with no revenue. Thankfully though, he has A LOT of capital saved up to take a hit like he has. Aside from the charter operation, he is an active part of bringing a 145 repair station to both Hilton Head and Asheville, NC. Both locations will be served by "big guns" in the jet aircraft maintenance industry.
In closing, I want to thank ALL of you for your insight in this situation. Yesterday, I had an impromptu opportunity to sit down and talk with him about my situation and the future of the company. I have decided that although he is somewhat inexperienced in this sector of aviation, he does have my best interest in mind. On top of that, he has plans for me outside of the charter operation. I am prepared to take the hit in my logbook in return for giving him a chance to build something very successful. As I mentioned before, he is VERY determined to make this happen, and to make it big. He is just very selective and cautious about how he goes about doing it. While you and I and most everyone else in aviation might think it is best to dive right in with the biggest and baddest equipment, I respect and trust his decision to act differently.
CoffeeIcePapers
Well-Hung Member
My last piece of advice. Talk is cheap and with the crap hits the fan, he will be looking out for himself. It sounds like you already had your mind made up before you posted this. Like I said before, as long as you are getting paid and are happy, go for it. When the paychecks stop coming in on time, look for other employment fast. Aviation businesses don't last very long to begin with, and starting off in the hole by operating an entire year with little to no revenue, it doesn't sound very good from my end of the Interweb. Good luck though.
stuckingfk
Well-Known Member
You're being taken.
Listen to everyone else. Get out.
Listen to everyone else. Get out.
Texasspilot
New Member
FYI, theres plenty of places that will hire you to do some aerial survey work or survey for the next six months and you'd be getting approx 100hours a month. In six months or so he should have the money and a twin lined up and you can come back and take care of things. Or with 1200hours youd have some options, as it is right now you don't have many options and getting "stuck" with just six hundred hours and building time at the rate your going is getting you nowhere fast.
triplec76
Well-Known Member
That is EXACTLY what I was thinking. I'm not trying to piss you off, but I was actually wondering why you posted this thread in the first place because you have been heavily defending the owner and operation from the get go.
EDIT: BTW, I see you call your owner a bastard lawyer in another thread you posted. Dude. If you think that, like the other guys have said, he won't roll over on you like a little biatch if he really is a bastard lawyer, you're nuts.