FlyGuy91

I sent you a private message...

skier17

I would like some info as well. I'm in pretty much the same boat as Shady. TMC has to be better than where I am at right now.

ShadyMilkman

bumpity bump


Any TMC'ers know of current hiring trends/plans?

Coopspeed

Not TMC, but just interviewed there. Sounds like more aircraft are in the works. Currently negotiating for more a/c from what I could get them to admit to.

ShadyMilkman

Coop,

Thanks for the heads-up.

PM sent.

Cruise Check

Have info about TMC, what they are doing to pilots, etc. You still want to know the story?

Cruise Check

TMC is non-union part 135 operation. Pay is posted for FOs and Capts and is what it is. They fly their pilots within the legal boundaries under part 135, and from an efficiency point of view, they are VERY efficient with pilot scheduling. You'll work hard on your trips.

There is the occasional part 91 play to reposition an empty jet outside of your 16 hours, and "playing the safety card" is generally frowned upon by management. Do it too many times and you may not have a job.

Pilots sign a 52-week training contract from initial training or any new type training incurred. The company does enforce the contract: if you leave within that period expect to be sued for the full-cost of the training (no proration).

Great job for young & inexperienced pilot who needs to cob on some turbine ME TT time. Upgrades are not guaranteed by date of hire, seniority, or any other conventional union work rule: management runs the show.

Go for an interview and ask lots of questions. Don't expect to be hired if you’re a reservist.

I expect this'll be a great path to get enough time to qualify for the ATP minimums come this Summer, then jet off to the regional job. Don't expect work rules or pay to increase as a result: they'll have flight academy grads banging down the doors for the opportunity to be exploited.

f10a

I have run these training contracts by a few lawyers over the years and all have said these are illegal if the training is required for the job you are being employed for. Makes one wonder though!

Cruise Check

I know, right? And everyone you talk to says the same thing. But here's what happened: good friend of my retired from USAF and took a job with them. He left at the 46-week point as he was fatigued and burned-out and wanted out. Thought that those contracts were illegal and that they wouldn't care about him.

He received a letter from the company's lawyer. Told him they were filing in IN state court for $9,000 to reclaim his training costs per his contract. He had 10 days to respond. He hired a local lawyer to represent him who went through the contract with a fine-tooth comb and found a few irregularities but judged that it was pretty tight. He had the option of going to court to defend himself, with legal fees, travel expenses (he would have to appear himself) and the whole nine-yards. Instead he had his lawyer work a settlement for an unfairly prorated amount that cost him, all in all, $3900.

So, the court may call the contract illegal, but how much will it cost you to be represented by a laywer, travel to IN, hotel room bills, and court fees?

Also, my friend only went through refresher Beechjet training. For initial training the cost would be $16,000, which is what most pilots' contracts are written for...

Cruise Check

The bottom-line is that THIS company chooses to take their former employees to court instead of assuming that their contracts are illegal. So, you may roll the dice and win the lawsuit, and you may even counter-sue to cover ALL your expenses in the initial lawsuit, but it may be a long road. This is all exacerbated by fighting a lawsuit in Indiana where you may live in Nevada, or wherever. TMC may be illegal, but they still have the upper-hand.