North American Airlines is no more...

dasleben

That's just, like, your opinion, man
Announced today (taken from another forum). This was the final bit of what was left of NAA.

Sad end, being bought up by Omni. NAA pilots will receive preferential interviews...

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We are pleased to be able to announce today that North American Airlines has reached an agreement to sell its assets supporting NAA’s Dulles operations to Omni Air International. The transaction meets our goals of realizing the most value from North American’s assets, providing continued employment to as many North American employees as possible, and giving the end customer the smoothest possible transition between operators. We expect the transaction to close this summer.


As you know, the North American and Global teams have been working for months to create a sale that unlocked North American Airlines’ highest and best value. That value was reduced by the military’s dramatic reductions in flying over the past year and Cerberus’ cutting NAA’s funding last month. In response to those changes, NAA transitioned to a single product line – its cash-flow positive Dulles flying. We worked closely with NAA’s customer to keep this flying funded while we pursued a sale of some kind.

Several possible buyers emerged during the past several weeks. Omni won because its offer provided the best ability to close a deal, the best value in the deal, because it preserved jobs, and because it met our customer’s requirements. The deal we’ve signed with Omni provides us much needed liquidity, giving us the ability to meet many of our obligations to our people and our other stakeholders. We began discussions with ALPA over the weekend to ensure we meet our obligations to our pilots.



As part of this transaction we’ve negotiated with Cerberus to keep 3% of the net proceeds from the sale of all NAA and Global assets, if the bankruptcy court approves. We will use these funds for healthcare expenses that were unpaid due to the abrupt closure of the healthcare plans on March 31, 2014. We are working now on how that plan will work.



We’ve also negotiated with Cerberus to keep 2% of the net proceeds to be used as an employee incentive plan. Like the 3% dollars above, the bankruptcy court has to approve this plan. If it does, we will allocate these dollars to non-executive employees who are currently active and part of the transition period.



Omni has agreed to a “first look” process to hire as many NAA people as practicable. Omni’s “first look” process will move NAA applicants to the front of the Omni hiring queue for the next 24 months.



To facilitate a smooth transition in operations, Omni intends to hire as many of the following AECOM security cleared NAA personnel as practicable:

· flight attendants;

· aircraft technicians;

· ground support reps; and

· IAD based administrative staff.



Omni also needs to fill 26 pilot openings within the next 90 days, and will provide “first look” preferential interviews to all NAA pilots for the next 24 months. Our PTC based employees are also eligible for first look preferential interviews during the next 24 months.



The Omni career page is Omni Air International - Employment Admin.



Omni has set up a process for North American’s people to access the first look process directly. If you want to apply for a position with the Omni team, go to the web site above and find the position you are interested in. Send an email containing the following information to naa@oai.aero<mailto:naa@oai.aero>:

· Your full name

· Your telephone number and email address

· Your resume

· The title of the position you want to be considered for

Omni’s process routes your email directly into their HR system for review and follow up. Omni’s commitment to hire employees is subject to the normal hiring process including drug screens and background checks.



A sale of a portion of North American’s assts is not a sale of the airline. Like so many of the choices we’ve faced recently, this transaction had to strike a balance – we needed to be able to close a deal in the time we had available, given our very limited cash resources, at the best price we could get; we needed to keep as many jobs as we possibly could; and we needed to keep our customer’s and lender’s support if any transaction was going to work.



We’ve done those things, and we’ve been able to do them because of the exceptional professionalism, hard work and customer focus of North American Airlines’ people. If you had not created the remarkable performance history for this customer that you have, this deal would never have happened.



The agreement with Cerberus and the Letter of Intent with Omni will be filed in the courts today, and we are requesting a hearing as quickly as possible. The Cerberus agreement will also include some of the terms of the sale of certain assets to Omni.



We have weeks of work in front of us to make this transaction successful. In coming days we will know more about next steps, transition and timing, and will make sure you all know how the process will work.



A successful transition is key to maintaining a future for as many of our people as possible. You have made this outcome possible, and it is critical that you continue performing during the transition. Please keep NAA’s outstanding service record intact. That ensures a future for all those we can.





Jim Casbarro,

SVP and COO

North American Airlines, Inc.





John Graber

CEO

Global Aviation Holdings Inc.
 
Good Lord. I used to be friendly with their dispatch manager almost a decade ago. He told me that airline started up with 5 guys and 6 million dollars doing power by the hour with 757's until they bought a couple of their own (or leased for all I know).

Hope everyone lands on their feet.
 
Sorry to hear... I'm sure this wasn't much of a surprise to the guys that were left, hopefully this gave them time to pack a 'chute.

I would really like to get into this side of the industry and unfortunately with yet another ACMI operator down, its not looking good... :(
 
Sorry to hear... I'm sure this wasn't much of a surprise to the guys that were left, hopefully this gave them time to pack a 'chute.

I would really like to get into this side of the industry and unfortunately with yet another ACMI operator down, its not looking good... :(
Well, there are only a couple left, really. Omni (avoid unless you really need to put food on the table), Atlas (overall good to work for)...and maybe Miami Air?

One clear choice in that list, but I would set your sights beyond ACMI personally.
 
Damn it.

Miami Air is hiring, or so their internal statement to Florida Institute of Technology students states.

2,500TT, 737 type preferred. About all I feel comfortable sharing, not that I have applied or intend to, but it could be a spot for a little bit for someone in need.
 
Sorry to hear about North American. They brought me home from the sandbox back in 05 and treated me like royalty. Hope everyone there finds a good company to work for.
 
Well, there are only a couple left, really. Omni (avoid unless you really need to put food on the table), Atlas (overall good to work for)...and maybe Miami Air?

One clear choice in that list, but I would set your sights beyond ACMI personally.

Yeah, I know the "grass is always adage." But being a mid/low level seniority FO at my regional is pretty grim also, esp being locked into the subpar wages. Without any TPIC I'm pretty far back in the line. Not desperate or anything, but looking to move on somewhere with career potential before the next downturn here in 3-4 years...

Yeah Atlas is my top choice, I have a friend there, talked to them at a job fair, no dice so far. I'd do Miami Air because I actually want to move back to Miami so it'd be a huge QOL jump, plus the pay there is still head and shoulders above my current spot.

It's just depressing to send your resume into the black hole and hear nothing back you know?
 
Yeah, I know the "grass is always adage." But being a mid/low level seniority FO at my regional is pretty grim also, esp being locked into the subpar wages. Without any TPIC I'm pretty far back in the line. Not desperate or anything, but looking to move on somewhere with career potential before the next downturn here in 3-4 years...

Yeah Atlas is my top choice, I have a friend there, talked to them at a job fair, no dice so far. I'd do Miami Air because I actually want to move back to Miami so it'd be a huge QOL jump, plus the pay there is still head and shoulders above my current spot.

It's just depressing to send your resume into the black hole and hear nothing back you know?
I will say that Omni is better than a regional. But, it's not a long-term place to work, as you probably well know already. :)
 
I will say that Omni is better than a regional. But, it's not a long-term place to work, as you probably well know already. :)

I'd say that's true, and Omni was good to me. But don't forget the 90 day lines (Omni calls them TDYs...but they're really just lines). Or the potential 36 day lines if you're junior assigned the last and first 18 days straight month to month. Omni works well as a stepping stone if you're young, single and don't mind being away from home for weeks on end.

Keep in mind, it's Omni ACMI, so you'll spend way more time flying in coach on every airline imaginable in the middle seat for 30 hours before you see a hotel room to then operate one leg. And then you'll repeat the process a few days later. If you're not doing that, you'll be sitting in a hotel far from home for days, maybe weeks, doing nothing.

There's no trip or duty rig, so it'll all be for free. Some of the places you stay at will be exotic and exciting...others will be exciting for all the wrong reasons. If you're lucky, you'll fly 300 hours a year. It certainly isn't a fast way to build time, but I will say the quality of time is good.
 
I'd say that's true, and Omni was good to me. But don't forget the 90 day lines (Omni calls them TDYs...but they're really just lines). Or the potential 36 day lines if you're junior assigned the last and first 18 days straight month to month. Omni works well as a stepping stone if you're young, single and don't mind being away from home for weeks on end.

Keep in mind, it's Omni ACMI, so you'll spend way more time flying in coach on every airline imaginable in the middle seat for 30 hours before you see a hotel room to then operate one leg. And then you'll repeat the process a few days later. If you're not doing that, you'll be sitting in a hotel far from home for days, maybe weeks, doing nothing.

There's no trip or duty rig, so it'll all be for free. Some of the places you stay at will be exotic and exciting...others will be exciting for all the wrong reasons. If you're lucky, you'll fly 300 hours a year. It certainly isn't a fast way to build time, but I will say the quality of time is good.

I have read a lot about what Omni is and isn't, and I would have not problem taking a job with them tomorrow. I emailed HR my resume, but I will be surprised if I hear back from them, low PIC. @dasleben do you know if the 1,000 PIC is a hard number?
 
I have read a lot about what Omni is and isn't, and I would have not problem taking a job with them tomorrow. I emailed HR my resume, but I will be surprised if I hear back from them, low PIC. @dasleben do you know if the 1,000 PIC is a hard number?

It's all good...I went in with my eyes wide open, and in some ways it was one of the best jobs I ever had. A lot of people didn't....flying with them was not pleasant at all.

As far as the PIC time goes....they've always been pretty firm about the 2000TT and 1000 PIC requirement. They have waived minimum time requirements in the past (most frequently the 6000TT for Captain upgrade). It certainly couldn't hurt to apply. Good luck!
 
@chrisdahut1 I've seen you post about Omni before, but I take it from the past tense of your comments you've moved on to greener pastures?

Do you know if they're running classes right now? I'm also aware that they're known for unexpected furloughs...
 
Yeah, I worked there for 7 years and moved on in February.

No classes that I know of right now, the last new hire class was about a year ago (they were all furloughed right after finishing OE). But they're gearing up for interviews, so I'd probably expect them to start in a month or so.
 
+1 to everything @chrisdahut1 said.

Lots of time sitting around on the road for your 60 hour min guarantee. Don't be fooled by the pay rates on APC; plan on 60 hours each month (I think I broke guarantee twice in 2.5 years there), and nothing more. Work rules are mostly nonexistent, and realize the company simply does not give a damn about you. In fact, a captain's wife had a stroke last year, and Omni made him pay for his own plane ticket home. You are simply a tool to move the aircraft, nothing more. I'm told 30 hour duty days riding around in coach are still the norm, due to the weak gateway/deadhead language in the CBA. They'll be taking over the North American IAD flights to far-off lands, but there will be no hazard pay for the pilots; the company pockets that.

The Madrid 90-day TDY is no joke... I simply hope it hasn't caused divorces. A good friend of mine might have to postpone his own wedding because of it, and he's been there 3 years.

If you can deal with it for a year or two, it'll definitely help your resume. Omni worked out well for me; it helped me get the time I needed to move on to a better company, but it wasn't without its sacrifices.
 
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