That is correct. No FMS for now. We are supposed to get them back at some point in the future.

 

I was there for the first FMS debacle in Januaury 2013. When the entire Saab fleet went /A overnight and dispatch and ATC didn't know *** was going on. I've never said "unable" over the radio more in my life. 3 months later, the first new FMS appeared on the line, but it then became something like finding money on the sidewalk if you actually got a plane that had it installed. And even better if you actually had your flight plan filed with a route for the correct equipment code. In the 5 years I spent at 3M, there were many things that were supposed to happen "at some point in the future," but few if any actually did.

For those considering a job at Silver, unless you are dead set on being based in MCO or FLL, I would advise you to look elsewhere. The one shining spot of that company were the great people I got to work with and the many friends I made, but the overall experience left a very bad taste in my mouth. Between the numerous gross violations of the contract by mgmt, the shoestring-budget operation that forced us to make do with far less than we really needed, and the unending abuses by the scheduling department, I couldn't wait to leave last May. I'm now living a better QOL as a junior reserve at XJT than I was as a senior lineholder at 3M. You can do better, folks.

 

Thanks for the replies. I am looking for any company based close to TPA, PIE or MCO. Not sure if non FMS is for me. I don't have a lot of exoectstions but that just seems really crappy.

 

FMS is part of your job search criteria? ***??

 

How many us based airlines don't use one.. Vor and ndb are for hauling goats around..

 

Do your flights to the Bahamas go out full? Can you take jumpseaters in the back international?

 

No, but an airline that provides basic equipment to complete your job, yes. If they are skimping on something as basic as FMS what else is being skimped on.

 

FMS is basic equipment to do a job? Can't navigate with a VOR yourself? God forbid you have to tune a radio?

 

Eh the island flights are heavier than domestic flights so you'd want to check a couple days in advance. Pretty sure we can take you but since we've changed over to branded flying I'm not sure the actual procedure.

 

By that logic, they are skimping on engines too. And by the way, just what kind of FMS can one expect to find in an old Saab 340 anyway?