Gama Aviation/Wheels up pay scales
11-05-2019, 10:17 AM
#271
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Posts: 162
Day 8 travel. This has to be the biggest complaint among the pilot group. Our logistics dept. fails to grasp the concept that guys who have been on the road away from their families for 8 days are anxious to get home. It seems to be the accepted norm to book people on the worst flight home, often sitting at the airport for hours while watching earlier flights take off. Its the unforgivable sin to question their infinite wisdom.
Last edited by LLWS09R; 11-05-2019 at 10:30 AM.
11-05-2019, 10:41 AM
#272
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Posts: 684
Maybe they just click on the 1st flight that pops up on their screen. Its certainly not in the interest of cost saving. I have personally seen guys booked on flights that connect when there is a direct flight that's cheaper. It literally defies the laws of common sense. Great way to make your pilots mad. Who doesn't look at possible flights home on kayak the night of day 7?
Anyone who has the audacity to call and complain is usually referred to their supervisor for a talking to. Not cool. If there's one thing I could change about this place day 8 travel would be it.
Rant over.
Anyone who has the audacity to call and complain is usually referred to their supervisor for a talking to. Not cool. If there's one thing I could change about this place day 8 travel would be it.
Rant over.
11-05-2019, 10:46 AM
#273
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Posts: 684
Agreed. I should have added that to the list of pros. With the exception of one or two delta bravos it's a great group of guys and gals.
11-05-2019, 12:30 PM
#274
On Reserve
Joined APC: May 2012
Position: Eclipse500
Posts: 10
Pros.
In addition to the obvious attraction of home basing and positive space travel to and from work...
Excellent health care 100% covered by the company for employee and their families.
New / newer equipment, very well maintained.
Nice hotels for the most part. Typically Hilton / Marriott and you keep the miles / points.
Safe. No pressure from management to push the limits.
Salary is good for King Air pilot.
Cons.
Long days. max duty with min rest is not uncommon here.
Crew meals. While other operators provide their crews with meals on the road and offer proper meals at the end of the day on the company card, at Gama you have to request them and be granted approval.
Day 8 travel. This has to be the biggest complaint among the pilot group. Our logistics dept. fails to grasp the concept that guys who have been on the road away from their families for 8 days are anxious to get home. It seems to be the accepted norm to book people on the worst flight home, often sitting at the airport for hours while watching earlier flights take off. Its the unforgivable sin to question their infinite wisdom.
Uncertain future. We are contracted to Wheels Up. Who knows how long that will last. Anyone's guess is pure speculation.
All in all its not a bad place to earn a paycheck. It could be a lot better but it could be a lot worse too.
In addition to the obvious attraction of home basing and positive space travel to and from work...
Excellent health care 100% covered by the company for employee and their families.
New / newer equipment, very well maintained.
Nice hotels for the most part. Typically Hilton / Marriott and you keep the miles / points.
Safe. No pressure from management to push the limits.
Salary is good for King Air pilot.
Cons.
Long days. max duty with min rest is not uncommon here.
Crew meals. While other operators provide their crews with meals on the road and offer proper meals at the end of the day on the company card, at Gama you have to request them and be granted approval.
Day 8 travel. This has to be the biggest complaint among the pilot group. Our logistics dept. fails to grasp the concept that guys who have been on the road away from their families for 8 days are anxious to get home. It seems to be the accepted norm to book people on the worst flight home, often sitting at the airport for hours while watching earlier flights take off. Its the unforgivable sin to question their infinite wisdom.
Uncertain future. We are contracted to Wheels Up. Who knows how long that will last. Anyone's guess is pure speculation.
All in all its not a bad place to earn a paycheck. It could be a lot better but it could be a lot worse too.
I may be pulling the trigger here shortly.As I said,the couple of pilots I saw were in there 50s+ and they were very talkative and looked happy.Thats all I needed to see to peak my interest
11-06-2019, 07:09 PM
#275
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 171
Day 8 travel
I have to agree with the rest of you that day 8 travel continues to be a big downside here. When they came out with the new pay rates and rules last year, this was something they swore they were going to improve...unfortunately they have not and it seems to be getting worse in the past couple of months. Just yesterday was my day 7 and I ended in a timely manner without an airplane assigned to me. Day 8 was “hotel standby” which is code for “standby for travel”. Instead of sending us home last night and improving the quality of life for the two of us, the company wastes 500 in hotels plus more per diem for us. What a waste of time for us.
I’m not west coast, but I’ve heard it’s worse for those guys when they end on the east coast.
I’m not west coast, but I’ve heard it’s worse for those guys when they end on the east coast.
11-07-2019, 04:20 AM
#276
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Posts: 162
I have to agree with the rest of you that day 8 travel continues to be a big downside here. When they came out with the new pay rates and rules last year, this was something they swore they were going to improve...unfortunately they have not and it seems to be getting worse in the past couple of months. Just yesterday was my day 7 and I ended in a timely manner without an airplane assigned to me. Day 8 was “hotel standby” which is code for “standby for travel”. Instead of sending us home last night and improving the quality of life for the two of us, the company wastes 500 in hotels plus more per diem for us. What a waste of time for us.
I’m not west coast, but I’ve heard it’s worse for those guys when they end on the east coast.
I’m not west coast, but I’ve heard it’s worse for those guys when they end on the east coast.
P.S. Even if your in a scenario like I have said do not call or as DAS AUTO has stated you will get in more trouble than it’s worth. Learned that two years ago.
11-07-2019, 06:00 AM
#277
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Posts: 684
Most companies realize how important it is to attract and retain valuable employees. The health insurance and salary for a King Air driver still seems to be attracting applicants but retention is a problem that needs to be addressed. It’s not cheap to train a new hire and they’re not generating any revenue while they’re sitting in a classroom or a simulator at Flight Safety. You could argue that it would be cheaper to improve life for those already here than to keep the revolving door spinning.
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