Let's Rodeo! Baker Aviation 2024
01-14-2024, 06:39 PM
#1
XOJET Citation X
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: DO, Baker Aviation, Citation X
Posts: 316
Let's Rodeo! Baker Aviation 2024
Posting some thoughts our Baker Aviation CEO Tim Livingston shared with the pilots recently on his thoughts going forward int 2024.
“One of the principles that I always operate under (whether right or wrong) is to never be too big. That's why when you ask what my long term goals are I always say “get good at running the 6 planes that I own and make this a good business for all of us” because that is the goal. There are several outcomes of that goal that are possible but they will all look similar to what we are doing now. It seems that there is a cycle in business where its hard, then everyone gets better, then it's good, then “they” mess it up by growing too large, or giving away the farm by overcommitting, or selling out to a disconnected corporate entity that has no chance of executing on the level that a smaller business does.
For now Baker will focus on things Citation X related as the big X operators have dimmed out over the past 2 years due to them being acquired by larger operations and losing touch with what worked for the X business model. We now own 8 Xs, spare parts, spare engines, and have a training contract which supports 50+ pilots at a fixed cost, and numerous other synergies. So for the pilot side of the house it will be what it is but hopefully smoother as time goes on. For the rest of the business we may manage more Xs, work on some Xs, buy and lease out some X’s, lease out some engines, sell spare parts etc. If we manage more X’s then we will expand our team by adding charter brokers/client managers to meet the varying needs of those aircraft owners or anyone else needing a charter flight.
Let’s keep looking forward in 2024 as we slowly refine processes and move ahead cautiously as the market continues to be more difficult. We are in a strong position for the current market because we own the aircraft (all but 1) and we fly our asses off so we can be very competitive if we need to in order to stay busy. We expect January and February to be a bit slower but as we saw with November and the first part of December things are a bit unpredictable, so let's capitalize on every opportunity, say “yes” often, and remain available for all scenarios. The goal is to look back in 12 months and hardly recognize where we are now!
Here are the December numbers:
Fleet Size - 7 Citation Xs on Certificate.
Pilots - 35
Hours Flown - 926 with all 7 aircraft flying all month.
Top performing aircraft: 156 flight hours. Bottom performing aircraft 115 flight hours. Flights Completed - 373
Bookings Completed -143
Live Legs Completed - 206
Live Legs Canceled due to AOG - 2
Completion Rate - 98%
No AOG cancellations or mechanicals over Christmas or New Years weekends. Great job everyone.. MX, Pilots, OPS.. everyone made this happen, sometimes it felt like it wasn’t going to happen, but you never gave up and resolved every issue!
__________________________________________________ ___________
Salary, flight pay, 401K Contributions examples
Top Flying Pilots for 2023 and what it earned for the pilots (8/6 schedule)
1. 880 hrs $114400 +$100K + $26400= $240800
2. 740 hrs $96200 + $100K + $22200 = $218400 * did not fly full year
3. 680 hrs $88400+$100K + $20400 = $208800 * did not fly full year
$130 per flight hr + $100K base salary + $30 an hr set aside for 401K (no pilot matching required, money deposited 1Q each year in T Rowe Price Account for management by each pilot)
$1500 PIC extra fly day early or staying out past Wed.
Majority of pilots do this at least once every other month.
Many do it nearly every rotation (not always used)
Add these dollars to the annual salary + $500 reimbursement for not using Baker health insurance monthly, $6k additional pay
Preference for current or previously X typed pilots for PIC posiitons.
Will consider retired 121 pilots who want to work full time (min 600 hrs a year and don't whine about how different things are...we all know that already). Expectations would be you would go to PIC position within 3-4 months at company.
We do have a part time option but no direct hire into those positions but aftre being at the company for 6 months, could apply for those positions.
SIC apps are mostly military Skill Bridge pilots. All persons interested can write to [email protected].
Limited PIC and SIC positions open at this time FYI.
“One of the principles that I always operate under (whether right or wrong) is to never be too big. That's why when you ask what my long term goals are I always say “get good at running the 6 planes that I own and make this a good business for all of us” because that is the goal. There are several outcomes of that goal that are possible but they will all look similar to what we are doing now. It seems that there is a cycle in business where its hard, then everyone gets better, then it's good, then “they” mess it up by growing too large, or giving away the farm by overcommitting, or selling out to a disconnected corporate entity that has no chance of executing on the level that a smaller business does.
For now Baker will focus on things Citation X related as the big X operators have dimmed out over the past 2 years due to them being acquired by larger operations and losing touch with what worked for the X business model. We now own 8 Xs, spare parts, spare engines, and have a training contract which supports 50+ pilots at a fixed cost, and numerous other synergies. So for the pilot side of the house it will be what it is but hopefully smoother as time goes on. For the rest of the business we may manage more Xs, work on some Xs, buy and lease out some X’s, lease out some engines, sell spare parts etc. If we manage more X’s then we will expand our team by adding charter brokers/client managers to meet the varying needs of those aircraft owners or anyone else needing a charter flight.
Let’s keep looking forward in 2024 as we slowly refine processes and move ahead cautiously as the market continues to be more difficult. We are in a strong position for the current market because we own the aircraft (all but 1) and we fly our asses off so we can be very competitive if we need to in order to stay busy. We expect January and February to be a bit slower but as we saw with November and the first part of December things are a bit unpredictable, so let's capitalize on every opportunity, say “yes” often, and remain available for all scenarios. The goal is to look back in 12 months and hardly recognize where we are now!
Here are the December numbers:
Fleet Size - 7 Citation Xs on Certificate.
Pilots - 35
Hours Flown - 926 with all 7 aircraft flying all month.
Top performing aircraft: 156 flight hours. Bottom performing aircraft 115 flight hours. Flights Completed - 373
Bookings Completed -143
Live Legs Completed - 206
Live Legs Canceled due to AOG - 2
Completion Rate - 98%
No AOG cancellations or mechanicals over Christmas or New Years weekends. Great job everyone.. MX, Pilots, OPS.. everyone made this happen, sometimes it felt like it wasn’t going to happen, but you never gave up and resolved every issue!
__________________________________________________ ___________
Salary, flight pay, 401K Contributions examples
Top Flying Pilots for 2023 and what it earned for the pilots (8/6 schedule)
1. 880 hrs $114400 +$100K + $26400= $240800
2. 740 hrs $96200 + $100K + $22200 = $218400 * did not fly full year
3. 680 hrs $88400+$100K + $20400 = $208800 * did not fly full year
$130 per flight hr + $100K base salary + $30 an hr set aside for 401K (no pilot matching required, money deposited 1Q each year in T Rowe Price Account for management by each pilot)
$1500 PIC extra fly day early or staying out past Wed.
Majority of pilots do this at least once every other month.
Many do it nearly every rotation (not always used)
Add these dollars to the annual salary + $500 reimbursement for not using Baker health insurance monthly, $6k additional pay
Preference for current or previously X typed pilots for PIC posiitons.
Will consider retired 121 pilots who want to work full time (min 600 hrs a year and don't whine about how different things are...we all know that already). Expectations would be you would go to PIC position within 3-4 months at company.
We do have a part time option but no direct hire into those positions but aftre being at the company for 6 months, could apply for those positions.
SIC apps are mostly military Skill Bridge pilots. All persons interested can write to [email protected].
Limited PIC and SIC positions open at this time FYI.
01-15-2024, 09:01 AM
#5
Not home.
Joined APC: May 2018
Position: Captain
Posts: 190
Originally Posted by AA717driver
What is the SIC base and flight pay?
Great info as always, chase!
TC
Great info as always, chase!
TC
https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/part-135/143319-baker-aviation-pic-sic-opportunity.html
Search is your friend.
01-15-2024, 09:07 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2014
Posts: 286
Originally Posted by Dubh
(Thanks for the links!)
01-15-2024, 05:17 PM
#7
XOJET Citation X
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Mar 2005
Position: DO, Baker Aviation, Citation X
Posts: 316
Citation X First Officers on the pay scale enjoy the increased earnings potential, increased 401(K) contribution and the ability to switch to 12 on 8 off schedule to max out company 401K
contributions.Schedule
8 On 6 Off
Total Compensation value including all pay and benefits (excluding per diem)
at 65 hrs a month
$154,600 without override or overtime
Only the 401k is subject to flight hours
Base Salary
$60,000.00
Guaranteed regardless of hours flown
Per Flight Hour
Salary
$60 per hour
$46,800.00 annually @ 65 flight hours a month
401(K) Company
Match
$30 per flight hour
12 Month Vesting
$23,400.00 annually @ 65 flight hours a month
Per Diem
$85 Domestic
$125 International
Health, Dental, Vision
Fully paid by company
PTO/Vacation
21 days per year
Can bank up to 30, Scheduling rules apply
Sick Days
5 per year
Company buy-back Jan 31
following year at $1000 per day
Override pay (travel on off day)
$1000
Referral Bonus
Up to $30,000.00
Refer a Captain or Captain
Qualified FO
Option to move between schedules
Yes
No Training Agreement
contributions.Schedule
8 On 6 Off
Total Compensation value including all pay and benefits (excluding per diem)
at 65 hrs a month
$154,600 without override or overtime
Only the 401k is subject to flight hours
Base Salary
$60,000.00
Guaranteed regardless of hours flown
Per Flight Hour
Salary
$60 per hour
$46,800.00 annually @ 65 flight hours a month
401(K) Company
Match
$30 per flight hour
12 Month Vesting
$23,400.00 annually @ 65 flight hours a month
Per Diem
$85 Domestic
$125 International
Health, Dental, Vision
Fully paid by company
PTO/Vacation
21 days per year
Can bank up to 30, Scheduling rules apply
Sick Days
5 per year
Company buy-back Jan 31
following year at $1000 per day
Override pay (travel on off day)
$1000
Referral Bonus
Up to $30,000.00
Refer a Captain or Captain
Qualified FO
Option to move between schedules
Yes
No Training Agreement
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