Executive Airshare
01-03-2014, 03:11 PM
#1161
Line Holder
Joined APC: Mar 2013
Posts: 65
Originally Posted by runsky42
I don't want it to look like I am bashing the company. I enjoy everybody I fly with here. There is a great pilot group thru out the company and the managemnet does a great job of hiring.
While Astro (and its infamous optimizer) is not helpful to the pilots AT ALL, one thing to consider when comparing it to other fallen operators is that Dayjet and Avantair both had a single fleet type (i.e. universally interchangeable across all customers) where AirShare (5 fractional fleets) does not. *shrug*
01-03-2014, 05:12 PM
#1162
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Position: KingAir
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by bgmann
You'll still complain at AA or DAL.
Junior. Reserve. Commute on planes who now have to be full to keep profit margins high and fight at least one more pilot who is senior to you for just one Jumpseat. Fly with a 64yo captain who has been flying for longer than you've been alive and gives you the option to shut up and hold on, or get off his ship and call scheduling. Crashpad it for 2-3 years and live with 12-21 people and ride buses and subways. Bad pay first or second year. Hotel vans are often not on time. Hotel brands might leave a lot to be desired. No rental car on layovers. PBS schedule bidding. Airlines not obeying contract rules and your union tells you to just grieve it. Hourly per diem of $1.65/hr really isn't enough to cover costs of a dinner meal plus a beer or two. Airline looks at you as a number and your way too expensive. Always fighting management. Unions are a waste and on who's team? Union games. Union fees. You might fly an MD-80. A bit harder training environment vs. FSI/CAE. Old Planes with 25,000 flight hours. Huge line up for departure at places like LGA and JFK. Four day trips. In the recent past you used to have to worry about when you'd be furloughed. Park at employee lot, wait, and ride employee bus. Airport security.
" I'm just sayin'!! "
Should I find more comments to add? I don't plan on going back to airlines.
Junior. Reserve. Commute on planes who now have to be full to keep profit margins high and fight at least one more pilot who is senior to you for just one Jumpseat. Fly with a 64yo captain who has been flying for longer than you've been alive and gives you the option to shut up and hold on, or get off his ship and call scheduling. Crashpad it for 2-3 years and live with 12-21 people and ride buses and subways. Bad pay first or second year. Hotel vans are often not on time. Hotel brands might leave a lot to be desired. No rental car on layovers. PBS schedule bidding. Airlines not obeying contract rules and your union tells you to just grieve it. Hourly per diem of $1.65/hr really isn't enough to cover costs of a dinner meal plus a beer or two. Airline looks at you as a number and your way too expensive. Always fighting management. Unions are a waste and on who's team? Union games. Union fees. You might fly an MD-80. A bit harder training environment vs. FSI/CAE. Old Planes with 25,000 flight hours. Huge line up for departure at places like LGA and JFK. Four day trips. In the recent past you used to have to worry about when you'd be furloughed. Park at employee lot, wait, and ride employee bus. Airport security.
" I'm just sayin'!! "
Should I find more comments to add? I don't plan on going back to airlines.
My experience since leaving EAS has been nothing like this. I even got my home base right out of training. Very few complainers, everybody is very happy. I commuted on AA a couple of times recently and was amazed about how their attitude had changed. They were excited about the merger, hiring, and growth. The airline industry has a spark right now with all the retirements coming around the corner that surprised me.
You can't really compare EAS to an airline. Did you work for a regional perhaps??
ps- I would fly the Maddog any day.
01-03-2014, 05:15 PM
#1163
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Position: KingAir
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by RI830
Not even close.
It is a solver software that can for see crew/aircraft conflicts and give solutions for it. As compared to what is simple humans/schedulers can do...Astro can do way more.
It is in its infancy stage of being live. The bugs will be worked out in time.
It is a solver software that can for see crew/aircraft conflicts and give solutions for it. As compared to what is simple humans/schedulers can do...Astro can do way more.
It is in its infancy stage of being live. The bugs will be worked out in time.
01-03-2014, 05:20 PM
#1164
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Position: KingAir
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by runsky42
I don't want it to look like I am bashing the company. I enjoy everybody I fly with here. There is a great pilot group thru out the company and the managemnet does a great job of hiring.
Good luck guys and gals!
01-03-2014, 06:52 PM
#1165
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Posts: 27
Originally Posted by B727DRVR
Hey RI,
I pray that this is not the same Astro program that Avantair bought from defunct Dayjet... This was not just their pilots perspective, but that of Crew Scheduling, Dispatch, and even Maintenance. as well. And the Astro programmers were intransigent when addressing the needs and concerns of their customer, Avantair.
The Formerly excellent customer service and the wonderful QOL that VNR pilots enjoyed disappeared the day Ass-tro (Skynet) became self aware. Seriously, ask any VNR employee.. Not just the pilots.
Astro was a big part of Avantair's demise and I pray that the VNR Astro died with the company and that EAShas no part of that program.
I pray that this is not the same Astro program that Avantair bought from defunct Dayjet... This was not just their pilots perspective, but that of Crew Scheduling, Dispatch, and even Maintenance. as well. And the Astro programmers were intransigent when addressing the needs and concerns of their customer, Avantair.
The Formerly excellent customer service and the wonderful QOL that VNR pilots enjoyed disappeared the day Ass-tro (Skynet) became self aware. Seriously, ask any VNR employee.. Not just the pilots.
Astro was a big part of Avantair's demise and I pray that the VNR Astro died with the company and that EAShas no part of that program.
A lot of people realized, today, that Astro is going to keep us away from home more. I thought morale was bad before. But this is by far the worst I've seen it.
01-03-2014, 06:53 PM
#1166
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Posts: 178
Originally Posted by LeGreaseMan
This is the truth. Greatest group of pilots I have or will ever fly with. I hope the company can come up with ways to make EAS more of career place.
Good luck guys and gals!
Good luck guys and gals!
It's a sad story, but every place we went.. FBO's, Flight Safety, Hotels, whatever... Every single one said as a whole they absolutely loved us. We had it all.. Experience, attitude, support, virtually everything. At one point we were the complete envy of every fractional in existence. We were truly the shining stars of the industry, but management saw to it we didn't last. Honestly one if the saddest stories in aviation history.
01-04-2014, 11:20 AM
#1167
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Position: KingAir
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by Kritchlow
Only because you never flew with the CitationAir guys.
It's a sad story, but every place we went.. FBO's, Flight Safety, Hotels, whatever... Every single one said as a whole they absolutely loved us. We had it all.. Experience, attitude, support, virtually everything. At one point we were the complete envy of every fractional in existence. We were truly the shining stars of the industry, but management saw to it we didn't last. Honestly one if the saddest stories in aviation history.
It's a sad story, but every place we went.. FBO's, Flight Safety, Hotels, whatever... Every single one said as a whole they absolutely loved us. We had it all.. Experience, attitude, support, virtually everything. At one point we were the complete envy of every fractional in existence. We were truly the shining stars of the industry, but management saw to it we didn't last. Honestly one if the saddest stories in aviation history.
The thing that scares me for my EAS buddies is that they have seen unbelievable growth, and profits. Just google EAS news stories. They love to talk about how well they are doing. Why then can they not make the changes necessary to make it a better working environment for the pilots. Specifically the line pilot. I hate to see what would happen during a downturn in the economy.
Everyone working in an office at EAS has been around for a long time and seems to enjoy the company and their job. I hope they can finally realize that they are doing a disservice to their customer by working the pilots so hard. 1.5 years longevity is sad. People turning down an upgrade to quit without a job in sight is just embarrassing.
Hopefully the hard work and great customer service that pilots like myself put in to help play a small part in building the worlds largest "regional" fractional will one day pay off for pilots that work for EAS in the future. Maybe it will take a Union. Who knows.
01-04-2014, 12:46 PM
#1168
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: Left seat on a kite
Posts: 1,884
Originally Posted by LeGreaseMan
RI man, do they still pay you to be the company cheerleader?
You have the same pride/hope, as I, for EAS to be the best they can be.
I am not ignorant to the issues at hand. I know that morale goes down and whining goes up as flight demand and duty days increase.
Don't forget where you came from as you move on at Spirit.
I wish you all the best flying that Scarebus!
Anytime you make it down to FLL, let's chase that little white ball around.
01-04-2014, 12:57 PM
#1169
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: Standing in front of the tank with a shopping bag
Posts: 918
Uh, oh....
Uh oh, LeGreaseMan,
You said the "U" word. Heeere we go...
I promised RI that I wouldn't turn this into a Pro-""U" versus Against "U" thread, so I'm not saying the word.
I just want to see Dayjet's, then Avantair's failed Astro program die its deserved death. EAS pilots getting dreaded PBS would seem like a winning lottery ticket compared to the morass of getting "Astro'd", or "A$$-throwed" as the VNR pilots called it. Even the Avantair Owners and card members were said to hate Astro, because the Optomizer, nicknamed the "*********omizer, ended up causing unforeseen delays hurting customer confidence. For example, Astro allowed only a 9 minute block between TEB and LGA and a 45 minute block between LAS and LAX!?! This resulted in unrealistic schedules and angry passengers... And David Fitzgerald and the other Astro's programmers were unwilling to fix it, so guess who gets blamed by the pax for the late delay? 6 minute taxi times in EWR and LGA?!?! EAS buying and implementing Astro would be like another steamship company hiring White Star Lines' former Director of Safety (if there was one) to implement safe practices at their company, after his lax safety attitudes oversaw TWO Titanic disasters.
And Grease, sometimes a "U" is not necessary..... Just the threat of it, with a well-managed card drive (Don't keep it a secret and be sure to send everyone in Management and their minions a card including all the way up to Plumb and Taylor themselves), can be very effective in opening up Management's mind to your plight. Get a serious drive going and I promise you that there will be free pizza and hot wing parties, sponsored by Management (and maybe even the Koch brothers, LOL), so they can tell you what a dreadful mistake you pilots are about to make. When they get the card in the mail, they will put Ford and Harrison anti-labor Law firm on retainer for $500,000, though, just in case the cards go to a vote and you will be costing EAS half a million just by that card drive. After that, they'll offer you some kind of student-government, non-binding type of advisory "Pilot Action" committee or something that they will meet with you and choose to listen to your concerns, or not listen. But at least you gave them a fair shake and a chance to make things right. They seem like good, smart people, so maybe they'll listen to you. But they will be mad at you about costing them the $500,000 Ford and Harrison retainer fee, so be careful. One of my former CEO's said publicly that he'd rather pay Ford and Harrison 5 million to keep from having to pay us pilots 5 extra cents. I know EAS management is better and smarter than that, but their dalliances with David Fitzgerald, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-fitzgerald/3b/447/829 , and the other Astro programmers should have every EAS employee and customer worried.
Good luck to all and have a Happy and Safe New Year.
You said the "U" word. Heeere we go...
I promised RI that I wouldn't turn this into a Pro-""U" versus Against "U" thread, so I'm not saying the word.
I just want to see Dayjet's, then Avantair's failed Astro program die its deserved death. EAS pilots getting dreaded PBS would seem like a winning lottery ticket compared to the morass of getting "Astro'd", or "A$$-throwed" as the VNR pilots called it. Even the Avantair Owners and card members were said to hate Astro, because the Optomizer, nicknamed the "*********omizer, ended up causing unforeseen delays hurting customer confidence. For example, Astro allowed only a 9 minute block between TEB and LGA and a 45 minute block between LAS and LAX!?! This resulted in unrealistic schedules and angry passengers... And David Fitzgerald and the other Astro's programmers were unwilling to fix it, so guess who gets blamed by the pax for the late delay? 6 minute taxi times in EWR and LGA?!?! EAS buying and implementing Astro would be like another steamship company hiring White Star Lines' former Director of Safety (if there was one) to implement safe practices at their company, after his lax safety attitudes oversaw TWO Titanic disasters.
And Grease, sometimes a "U" is not necessary..... Just the threat of it, with a well-managed card drive (Don't keep it a secret and be sure to send everyone in Management and their minions a card including all the way up to Plumb and Taylor themselves), can be very effective in opening up Management's mind to your plight. Get a serious drive going and I promise you that there will be free pizza and hot wing parties, sponsored by Management (and maybe even the Koch brothers, LOL), so they can tell you what a dreadful mistake you pilots are about to make. When they get the card in the mail, they will put Ford and Harrison anti-labor Law firm on retainer for $500,000, though, just in case the cards go to a vote and you will be costing EAS half a million just by that card drive. After that, they'll offer you some kind of student-government, non-binding type of advisory "Pilot Action" committee or something that they will meet with you and choose to listen to your concerns, or not listen. But at least you gave them a fair shake and a chance to make things right. They seem like good, smart people, so maybe they'll listen to you. But they will be mad at you about costing them the $500,000 Ford and Harrison retainer fee, so be careful. One of my former CEO's said publicly that he'd rather pay Ford and Harrison 5 million to keep from having to pay us pilots 5 extra cents. I know EAS management is better and smarter than that, but their dalliances with David Fitzgerald, http://www.linkedin.com/pub/david-fitzgerald/3b/447/829 , and the other Astro programmers should have every EAS employee and customer worried.
Good luck to all and have a Happy and Safe New Year.
01-04-2014, 04:24 PM
#1170
Line Holder
Joined APC: Apr 2011
Position: KingAir
Posts: 39
Originally Posted by bgmann
It's entirely possible that this is what happens when a pilot chases around trying to find a job that pays six-digits, works just 14 days a month, gets 4 weeks vacation per year, and is home every night.
Get stuck on the other side of the fence when the grass is the same shade of green as the side you left ...
Congrats, you got hired at EAS and I guess you have been there a couple of months judging by your posts. As I have said previously on the forum, EAS does a great job of hiring and the best pilots work there. I guess you are one of them. People who have been at EAS a lot longer than you are using this forum as a sounding board because they are concerned with its direction. These silly comments distract from the real issue at hand. A BETTER SCHEDULE!!
EAS is cool and a great job. Congrats on getting hired, but I bet you would still poop yourself a little if AA/United/Delta/Netjets/Flexjet called for an interview. You won't admit it, but you would. Just a little poop of excitment.
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