Airnet Recalls...
 

Good buddy of mine just got called by Airnet for a retraining class on Nov. 1. He's been furloughed since last Oct. and said that they are calling them back on a six-month contract. Also, he has the hours to be a PIC now, which might have made a difference... Anyone else get the recall?

Wow, surprisingly good news!

I haven't bid anything yet on a recall sheet, but they're out there.

-mini

Interesting....

The NEW Economy
 

Six-month contract?
Did they operate that way before?

There's has been articles in business publications about the labor force being forced into temporary positions.

A friend of mine *ahem* told me that it may be *ahem* due to holiday needs.

Wink wink...nudge nudge. ;)

-mini

I think they mean there is a training contract. Not that the pilot would be a contract employee. The pilot will be a full employee if that is what you were wondering.

Nope. Not a training contract.

-mini

So you are a contract employee? Does airnet pay the taxes? Do you get benefits?

I'm just a lowly contract pilot (not for Airnet).

As a contract pilot, I pay my own taxes and get no benefits unless I buy them. What Airnet will do, I don't know.

...and if I did know, I probably wouldn't be allowed to say anything. ;)

-mini

That's a shame. I've had my eye on Airnet for a couple a years now. Just as I was getting ready to apply was when the company went down hill. Mind you if I DID apply when I wanted to, I would have been furloughed before my class started (terminated really).

Hopefully the Holiday season will jump start them and Airnet will start back up.

Is Airnet using recalled pilots for the C182's out here in the West? If so, good luck to you guys/gals.

Are you sure it's a 182 and not a Caravan?

Does it say "AIRNET" real big on the side of it?

-mini

There are some new routes out West, Airnet will be flying some in Barons and Flight Express will be flying some in 210's. Those were probably Flight Express airplanes you saw.

Yeah! Don't dis the 210. Even though I'd rather be flying a Baron, the 210 is still an awesome airplane.

It's just missing an engine...

-mini

Does it look like they are going to be hiring after the summer, and hiring guys/gals under 1000 hrs? I'm trying to at least have the Airframe done of my A&P before the hiring starts. I'd like to work for them after my CFI gig.

With the amount of qualified guys out there looking for work (and I mean IFR 135 PIC qualified), I doubt that Airnet will be looking for <1200 any time in the near future.

I guess stranger things have happened though.

-mini

Airnet App
 

I've had my information in at Airnet for a long time. Over 2100 hours, ATP, 135 qualified in a Baron and a Navajo. Not even an email saying "Thanks, but no thanks", so I'm thinking that around 1000 hours isn't going to get you a job there for awhile unless you know someone on the inside.

The aircraft are not out here yet. We're flyig the runs until airnet gets into place. I was told they outbid us with 182's. Even if they are 210's, whoever is flying them, be safe out there. Bishop and the Owens Valley are not fun places to be at night and in ice.

Do they hire into the caravan and navajo no matter your experience? Or is a SIC in the lear possible?

from what I understand, WHEN they were hiring, everyone started in the twins or caravan. Although the upgrade was fast at one point...

No one's getting into the lears right now...even the guys that are there.

If you're hired, you'll be in the props for a while. Which prop is dependent on what run you are awarded once you pass your baron checkride.

-mini

That sucks.

Well, it is what it is. Even when hiring was going crazy you were never hired directly into the lear.

-mini

I just got called by BW from AirNet on Halloween asking me for an update on my situation and to tell me about how AirNet is doing. I guess they have started to go to the hiring pool because I have been in their hiring pool since Jan of 08.

I guess hopefully this is a sign that economy is improving or... that they need pilots for peak and the furloughed guys do not wanna come back for a peak contract only.

Either way, I'm gonna call today to talk to him.

So what you find out??

You probably wouldn't fit in there. Try a regional.

Bill is still there? I thought he got let go. (or I guess maybe he's been called back). Anyway, make sure you make him feel really important and acknowledge that he pretty much knows it all if you want to get anywhere with him...

LOL I interviewed in 07. I've never run so fast from anyplace post interview...

I interviewed in 07 also. Ended up with the offer and spent a great year plus there. I did not have BW anywhere near my interview. Perhaps that was part of why I went (happily) to the net.

Great place. Not for everyone.

-mini

I beg to differ. I've been there, done that, and wouldn't mind doing it again.

He didn't get let go. He had a pilot seniority number while he was in recruitment. After the furloughs, the obviously didn't need recruiters anymore, so he started flying the line. That ****ed some pilots off, but that's the point of seniority in the first place.

Bill's a good guy. All of the recruiters are. Advice that I can give is to show enthusiasm for the company.

I'm rather surprised that some furloughs are refusing to go back, however. They wouldn't be calling people unless they had new business opportunities, which they do. This "seasonal" new airnet contract is seasonal in a sense, but it seems more of an opportunity for airnet to show a certain customer what they are capable of. I'd bet it will lead to a lot of permanent flying. Granted, I'm purely specuating from a computer chair, but the fact remains; airnet is good at what they do. Their ontime performance will never go unnoticed.

Great place +1

If you'd been there, you'd have known they don't hire into the lear. Seems odd.

-mini

The point of seniority is to protect pilots flying the line. Not pilots working in recruiting or records or compliance or sundae making.

That said, Bill is a good guy. While I was disappointed to get "bumped" by him, had I the seniority to do it...I would have done the same thing. He's definitely one of the good guys there. The system worked to his advantage and I think anyone in the same situation would have done the same thing. You can't fault him for that. ****y at the system? Sure. ****y at the person? No way.

I don't know how he conducts interviews or whatnot, because I didn't get to meet him until I had already been hired so I can't speak for that side of things but I can vouch for him as a good genuine person. Lots of the Airnet guys and gals are.

-mini

He is very passionate about the company. Talked it up like it was the bees knees and having spent some time there, I would say he was accurate (at the time) about the company and where it was going. I couldn't imagine he would have known about the furloughs at the time I interviewed. I can't see why he would quit if there was no recruiting going on and the company isn't going to pay for him to twiddle his thumbs. So... hit the line!

They are covering BIH and VCV in a Baron, They take the long way around staying on a flight plan.

Looks like Flight Express is covering the SBP-BFL run

Thank goodness for small favors. It is no secret that AirNet is not for everybody. I'm glad that Craig and BW did and continue to do a good job making sure that the people that do come to AirNet really want to be there. Obviously it wasn't a good fit for you, but to say AirNet is not a good operation is just being ignorant. Good luck with whatever it is your doing now.

As far as the AirNet recalls, that is great news. Having been on furloughed and recalled by my current carrier, I know the feeling when you get that recall letter in the mail. Hopefully with the new business that they are going after, it will provide a little expansion even if it is only in the mighty caravan. (I loved that plane. N107AN still is the sweetest one!)

I know they've been hiring alot of call center people.