How can I keep my pilots from quitting?

[Over the Horn]

Employee's sometimes need incentive's where I currently work the boss pay's above average + subsidised rent (also buy's rounds at the bar) but the main incentive for me was the yearly bonus for the last 2 years the boss has paid for my airline tickets (with aeroplan points) at vacation time 2 months in the sun will do wonders to moral not only that its a oppertunity to see the world, something not many people get the chance to do when their young and broke in this industry. I've had other oppertunity's to leave and fly twins but the money and lifestyle wasn't there.

[Shady McSly]

hey Magdrop...

settle down.

[Slick Fork]

I liked the idea of trips to civilization every now and then!! Another thought, not sure what sort of supporting staff you're using at your operation, but if you were to hire a married guy see if you can set his/her spouse up with a position in the company as well. It's a little riskier in that if they decide to take off you're losing 2 employees, but I know any job my wife has come along with me on (didn't matter where) she was miserable if she couldn't find any work to keep her busy day in and day out and you know the old saying "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!" So a married couple with both halves working might just stay a little longer.

[north]

I moved to a northern town to work for a small carrier in a town smaller then yours and ended up find someone, you as an employer shouldn't worry about the girl issue. But have you considered low time guys with out there multi rating your piston planes cann't all be twin engine....

[CAL]

sounds like a nice place to work! seriously but!

schedule+money.......the industry is coming back and the smaller operators are finally going to have to step up to the plate or else you will have guys with fresh licenses running your piston twins...

[trey kule]

So, after listening to all this unbiased, impartial, and good advice, I see how it should be.

a. hire low time inexperienced and unqualified pilots for the type of machinery you operate.

b. pay them $200,000 per year.

c. buy something that burns kerosene and use it as a training/experience plane

d.pay for vacations, and be sure to give them at least four months off

e. hire a professional listener to hear all the whining, crying, and complaining.

f. and most all be understanding that all the good adivce is simply to benefit you and your company.

And dont worry about your customers, extra maintainance costs, or profitablitiy. Your job is to make your pilots happy and help them get a job down south....oops, did I let the cat out of the bag.
]
It will work. Why for only an additional $50,000 a year from the above, profit sharing, and a little more time off I would come and work for you

[bumffs]

[Over the Horn]

hey Magdrop...

settle down.

[Shady McSly]

[wheeliedriver]

I just finished my 2nd season in the bush, the 1st was at a fishing lodge doing non flying work, and the 2nd was a summer of non flying work with 2 months of flying at the end. Now I know this is not bad compared to a lot of companies out there. But do you think I would do any of the non flying work if I didn't have to? I would GLADLY have signed a training bond to start as a Navajo f/0 for say... 500hrs and move to Captain for another 1000hrs or so - because you can't really move much beyond a navajo without 1000PIC anyways.

Another option is to buy a SMALLER plane, hire low time guys get them some experience and then upgrade them. Again the 250hr wonder will be grateful for the start, and will stick around until he's got enough time to go somewhere else - which will hopefully be long enough for you to get your money's worth out of him.

When it comes to compensation pay isn't the biggest issue here. You obviously pay well, but for a chance to start at 250hrs most pilots I know would be more than happy to waive that. I'm not saying that you should be taking advantage of young pilots, but I think we understand the tradeoff between pay and experience. Just pay them enough to eat, sleep and pay their loans. And give them a raise once in a while - like every 500 hrs or so??

Your pilots are still going to leave because there's not many people who are going to be willing to fly navajo's their whole lives. Greener pastures and all that.. That's the reality.

Or you could open a base in a decent city, buy a turbine, and upgrade your guys and move them to the city. Just my thoughts

[Me2005]

Rotation 2 weeks ON. 2 eeks OFF
You will keap your pilots...

[neophyte]

I have heard the same question from different CPs in the past few months.

In my opinion, it is simple.

No amount of money, vacation, pension, good/bad treatment will keep a pilot with "just any company". Everyone has their "company" that they want to work for. For some it may be a big airline, for others it may be flying a beaver on the west coast.

Regardless, of the above factors, when that job is offered, say goodbye to you pilot, because he/she will do what makes them most happy.

Hiring low time guys won't solve the problem, getting a turbine or a jet won't solve the problem.

In today's times, it is a pilot's market, and we can do what we please when we please. However, with that said, I feel for the companies that are losing pilots in large numbers because they have a business to run. All I can say is, remember the past 5 years when you had virtually no turnover, what goes around, comes around, it is just the nature of the business.

Good luck to all, pilots, owners alike!

[. .]

I would agree with most of what you say. However, you very often see guys making sideways moves onto the same or similar equipment. In these cases it's almost always because of how you're treated/pay/days off etc.

[Eh Pilit]

Ok, let me get this straight: You are a chief pilot in a northern ops.
You work Christmas for your "pilits", you help on the ramp at -40c, you dont scream, you dont shout, nor do you ask them to fly when it is unsafe, you dont pressure them boys, you work extra so that they can rest, you load airplanes, you're nice, you're not a jerk, you keep the airplanes in great shape, you dont ask them to fly extra for no pay and dont hassle with the penalty box when they dont feel safe to fly....mmm....let's see...
Ok, I got it!! See, buddy, just like the Santa Claus, the yellow brick road with Lucy in the sky with diamonds and Pamela Anderson's virginity, you don't exist. It's all fantasy!!! Just like them, you're too good to be true, so, forget it buddy, you do not exist !

[Canus Chinookus]

so think he's a troll too do you?

[CAL]

I really dont think the average pilot wants more than his/her fair share. Make it fair, make it enough to live, and have a decent life with a 'normal' schedule relative to the rest of the working world and you will keep your pilots longer. Its not good enough to say well the industry standard is .04 cents a mile and I pay .05!? see how much better we are to work for?..this just isnt cutting it anymore....just make it fair relative to other workers that have a skilled trade. The old notion that 'well your a pilot you love it right?' doesnt pay the bills!

[trey kule]

.04 a mile! .05 a mile!!!!! Where are these dream jobs?

[Dockjock]

The pilot is finally on the demand side of the equation for once.

[looproll]

well hope things work out for you

[rigpiggy]

more likely MM i mean bzkr

[Driving Rain]

Having beautiful daughters of marrying age helps. Worked for one operater I know anway.

[Dust Devil]

When my guys get the urge to quit I just beat them down with a rubber hose till they change their mind. Worked thus far

[flyindude]

I run a small 703 single pilot PA31 operation out of a small northern town of 4000 people. Before this, I have worked at some of the worst outfits in Canada and vowed never to treat my employees like I was treated. My aircraft are very well maintained, new avionics, interiors, paint and so on. The airplanes or maintenance are not the issue. The staff are never asked to be on call as I am willing to go out at 3AM should the need arise. There are no training bonds to speak of and all rides are paid for by me. I help them on the ramp, loading and I never yell or lose my temper, not even once. The cheques always clear and are on time. Nobody is pressured to do anything unsafe and our safety record is perfect. If a pilot misses, well, there's always tomorrow. I put in 12 hour days but only expect 40 hours a week from each employee. I listen to suggestions and we all work together as a team and the company is doing great. Pay is $2500/month plus .10 a mile. Any time off requested is normally approved and I always nominate myseff to work Christmas holidays or early morning / late night flights to help the staff out.

The main problem I'm running into is with the industry moving so quick, I can't retain my pilots and my customers are beginning to comment about the turnover. I'm also concerned about the safety issue as local experience counts for a lot in my opinion, not to mention customer care and knowledge. Everyone is leaving for turbine equipment which I would do myself and I don't blame them for this at all as piston planes are thought of as far below turbines by most pilots (except maybe for the Reno Racers). Any pilots that have left have commented how much they enjoyed working here and that there would have been nothing I could have done differently to make them stay. In fact, often times the turbine job was a cut in salary in a more expensive base to live and a demotion to F/O. I have thought and thought about this and need some advice. The problem is that when I was in the same position years back, nothing would have made me stay. In fact, I left a $70,000 a year King Air / PA31 job to move to Toronto on $25k a year for a 1900. So I'm no different.

The only real negative in the job is a big lack of attractive single fit females in this town, (unless you are looking to log a little "heavy" time:). It doesn't make anyone quit but it is an issue.

Can anyone suggest some inprovements I could make to induce staff to lay off the turbine applications and spend some time here? Pay is not the answer as all the people leaving said a higher salary would have made no difference. Buying a turbine isn't feasible at this time and hiring low time guys doesn't work with single pilot ops or the insurance company. I tried higher time contract guys which was a disaster. I have worked at companies where some employees were completely unmotivated to progress but they also lacked day to day ambition and were overall very dull people so hiring these "lifers" isn't going to work either.

If it was your company, with all the factors above involved, what would you try differently to keep people from leaving a PA31 for a twin turbine? Or am I doomed to join the ever growing number of companies requiring up-front cash for a bond? I think bonds demotivate employees and no one wants a pilot at their company who only stays because he can't afford to leave and becomes bitter when they had to pass up the King Air offer to avoid the bond debt. I am all out of ideas and for all those who say owners are as*holes and don't care about their employees, well you're wrong. I care but all I see for options are a bond which I want to avoid if anything else can be tried first.

Mike, you shoulda stayed at Georgian. You'd be writting a sweet sked by now!

[Anonymous1]

2 years was enough. Best part was the coworkers and training. What sucked was pay and ROC turns with 6 hours of nothing in between. Oh, and did I mention the pay sucked?

[bumffs]