cargojet

[cargo.king140]

Hope all of you joined the great conference call that AJ hosted yesterday. The action plan has already been put into motion, AJ has given us a committment of hiring 6 more crews asap!! Guys, I agree we have had some issues with our schedules, but at least we have a CEO who hears us and makes things happen within days...what other company cares so much about its people. AJ is a kind and cool guy, he understands what we go through, it was really generous of him to offer us two tickets anywhere in NA or the Caribbean to take and holiday where we can spend some quality time with our better halves.

Its been a tough couple of months, but I have always believed in AJ and the management team, the company has listened to our concerns and really has gone beyond in making every effort to help us! Lets all continue to work hard and appreciate how lucky we are to be part of this winning team!

[alfie]

I have seen my CEO twice in the last year, however he always has his entourage with him and it would be taken as insubordination if any one in our group complained in his presence!. Cargojet appears to have a remarkable Boss at the helm, nice to read about employees with such positive comments about their Management in this forum. Some of us are a little envious of the open door that your company provides to adress your concerns...if only it was the standard in this industry!!

[Big Bus Driver]

Hahahaha,

The phrase "same old song and dance" comes to mind.

I remember all the broken promises. I think by now I was to be a 747-400 F/O at ol' Cargojet. No word of a lie. That was what the big boss verbalized to us the first day I had the honor to be in his presence. The honor diminished each and every time I was to be graced with his presence (sometimes he even wore his pyjamas).

If I had a nickel for every Christmas bonus or profit sharing check I was to receive I would.........well I would have more than I received anyways.

I always loved when I had to "pull my socks up". Or the "poor" times. And then the great financial results right after the "poor" times.

Now before all you hater haters start to hate you must first let me say my peace. I have never asked for anything in this biz. However, I have been told on occasion that I will be imminently be receiving something that did not show up. Imagine telling your significant other that you will by her a diamond ring and then when the day comes instead of fulfilling your words you ask her to go and get you beer. Now the first few times this happened I accepted it but when it began to happen over and over again.........remember the boy who cried wolf?

The longer you spend in this biz and the more complicated your life becomes (wife + kids + this biz = complicated life) the more an "honest" schedule and stable financial platform means. And as far as I know in its history CJT has never met its required crew numbers. Usually, history repeats itself.

Just remember big promises and big planes might not always be important to you.

"Tell us what you really think?"

Well, since you ask.

Beware of open door policies. Be very aware.

Don't base your (and your families) life and future on "promises". Have you ever made a promise you broke? We all have you liar!

On to a positive note. Someone recently asked me about cargojet. They are very early in their career. I said GO. Why not. It has great career advancement opportunities. Right from single engine turboprops to (hopefully) wide body jets. It took me 8 jobs to achieve all that. The pay isn't the worst on the globe and the job security medium term seems okay (but who can ever forecast that.......C3?).

To summarize. Is cargojet the asshole of the world? No. Is it a "destination airline" (as a very senior manager at CJT once put it)? No. Will all of us have those great, exotic, perfect jobs? No. Thank god for that, because there aren't enough of those jobs to go around anyways. My shrink tells me that everyone is different. And she says this is a good thing because if we all wanted the same things in life.........well just imagine that. Basically my belief, which is derived from some years of experience in this ridiculous game, is that those of you on here who are super positive need to wake up and smell the coffee before you get burnt. And those of you who are super negative need to chill the &%$# out or message me for my shrinks contact information. Another of my favorite phrases........."it is what it is". This silly little phrase is probably the wisest thing I have ever heard and I use it to guide me through most of my life now. It really is what it is. And a Union may or may not change that. Easy, that is a whole other topic that I never intend to figure out. I just pay my dues and do what I gotta do with a foot firmly planted on each side of the fence. So sue me, remember we are all different.

The last thought. The grass isn't always greener on the other side. But sometimes it is. If you hate it enough, stop bitching and do something about it. Beware of that open door policy. People move mountains, not 1 person. Most airlines have e-applications set up now so get off this retarded forum, hold off on the internet porn for an hour or so and start applying elsewhere. If you like the hell others think you are in then stay. Be happy but understand why your peers may not be. Some people like being communist, some don't. In the end who really gives a shit what your neighbor does with his life if it doesn't affect yours. If you intend to stay in the biz for the long haul then you had better learn to take the good with the bad. There are always alternatives.

Try not to fall asleep up there. Thank god for TCAS. I think it should be re-abreviated SCAS, SLEEPING CARGO CREW AVOIDANCE SYSTEM.

Happy con-trails

[airwings]

I must certainly say that the confrence call certainly exceeded my expectaions, and a view number of the guys have shared with me. No question the only real issue out of this has been crew numbers and work schedule. Both seem to have been addressed adequately. I certainly have provided my concerns to the Ceo directly and not only i have received an immediate reply but action too. They havent alsways agreed with me but atleast , i have been given a good reason if they didnt. I am really sorry to say that i dont see this as same old dance. The ceo and vp went into detailed discusiions and crew numbers etc. Apparently 6 crews are committed, jobs already posted, bids out and training contrsct oursourced.
What an express action. Guys lets get something straight, no one in perfect. Whenever issues have surfaced there has been action and improvement immediately. I havent seen , talked to any ceo's or our issues have never been heard in all my previous jobs in this great aviation world. I must say i have seen year after year of improvement. I am thankful to what i have , this is the most money i have made, most promotions i have had, most anyone has heard me, most bonuses i have ever had.
From time to time crew numbers have slipped, but thats the nature of the industry. If you check around every company has gone through major staffing concerns lately. We might not be the best organisation overall as no one in near perfect guys but i have yet to see an aviation company that comes close to what we have achieved and where we stand in comparisons to others in every aspect.
Lets get one thing straight. I am the first one to raise my concerns if i see things going in the wrong direction and have communicated to get it fixed. All i can say is that for a few of the fellas who are being negative, and dont feel they
are in the right place ( becos the company didnt get 747, or the ceo comes in pyjamas, and he listens mean shit,
) Please dont @#$! up one of the better companies by your negative , personal and irrelevant comments that make it i am sure to the ceo and others. Last thing we need is that these guys see us as thankless, never happy and satisfied , negative , people and say ...@#$! it we give up. i am sure they have options in life like all of us do. they probably have more options than we do. So please lets not screw up one of the better gigs.

[Big Bus Driver]

Good luck, enjoy the pyjama parties.

"don't put all your eggs in one basket" comes to mind as well.

Maybe you should check out the resumes of some of your superiors. They are pretty long and not so distinguished.

[nite fr8]

Good luck, enjoy the pyjama parties.

Enough with the pyjama fixation...suffering from pyjama envy much? Keep it relevant, it will give your posts more credibility.

"don't put all your eggs in one basket" comes to mind as well.

With the industry being the way it is today, there are many baskets into which any of us can put our eggs. Like you said earlier, everyone is different. Put your eggs where you want them, some of us will keep ours here, end of story.

Maybe you should check out the resumes of some of your superiors. They are pretty long and not so distinguished

The resumes of any of our "superiors" are a product and a representation of the Canadian aviation industry spanning the past several decades. They are not somehow a reflection of Cargojet, so I'm not sure I understand your point.

[Buzz Lightyear]

Hey guys,

When you talk about 6 crews to be hired are we talking 2 CPT, 2 FO and 2 SO or 6 of each?

[Stick-Shaker]

I have been watching this forum for a few weeks now, and here is a thought from an outsider like me. First of all, CargoJet is doing well, and its success can be attributed to all its good pilots and employees alike. But I find it strange that many of you think that bringing a union on board threatens the stability and longevity of your careers. In fact history has proven to the contrary. Examples like Air TransAt, Morningstar, Bearskin, Wasaya and CalmAir are just a few examples. There isn't a pilot union out there that is in the business of putting companies out of business. Contracts give both employees and employers a set of rules to follow so that each knows what is expected and will always stabilize operations of the long term.

Without a contract you are left with a vague set of rules that can be changed by management whenever they deem it operationally necessary and you are left with no legal recourse. Not to mention if you have an incident, or worse. Take the pilot of the Navajo in YWG of a few years ago. Imagine what his legal bills are and what fate he will suffer in the months to come. He made a mistake, but the mistake was made in part because of company pressure. Pressure that pilots of unionized companies don't often fear. Again history has proven that sold legal representation will minimize legal repercussions and penalties. Pilots need unions like doctors need mal-practice insurance.

I have seen both sides. Unionized and not. I will always choose the union. When you fly large transport category aircraft, there is too much on the line to trust the balance of your career and life on promises of any management team

[airwings]

i have certainly clarified with the management..... its 6 full crew. 6 captains, 6 fo and 6 so.

[speedking]

I have been a silent reader and obsever for a while. But feel i must throw in my two cents after all.
From what i hear out there in the industry, from transport, from what i observe, read and see from what you guys started as and where you guys are, hats off to your team and its leadership. All is wish is that the company i work for was even 10% of what you guys have accomplished. The communication that exists and your track record speaks volume. I have many many years in the aviation world and seen many companies and people come and go, all i can say is you people dont ever change anything. You have no clue how lucky you folks are. I only wish we had your culture and leadership. From where i sit i make a decent buck but the culture and communication is non existant.
I have never met , spoken or been asked ever by our president or vice president. Confrence calls wow just forget it, dont even get replies to my emails and i dont send them anymore. Only time we hear is when there is a problem. Any way people all i can say is dont ever trade in what you have , dont try to fix whats not broken. You only realise what good stuff you have when you loose it. I am not jealous but certainly envious. I only wish i was a bit younger and join you guys for the ride .

[R1830]

send in a resume, they are hiring 24 guys....(there were some second officer vacancies already)...

[Buzz Lightyear]

I did send mine for a SO position in YMX.....hope to get a call at least.

Can anyone tell me more about the SO position and what tasks it exactly involves?

Thanks a million

[Bullet]

Floyd J. Stelly posted this a looong time ago.

http://www.enginehistory.org/the_making_of_a_flight_engineer_(6).htm

Tons of detail and a good story. It'll give you a good idea.

and yes, the SO is a pilot doing the Flight Engineer's function.

[mighty mouse]

When buddies at Kelowna Flightcraft went unionized twelve years ago, they heard all the same gloom and doom talk about what a union would do to their company. Now, twelve years later, working conditions and compensation have improved every year for twelve years! The union sure didn't hurt them!

[SQ]

the link doesn't work or I have cnx probs
anyhow S/o + cargojet is a great combo

[Big Bus Driver]

When buddies at Kelowna Flightcraft went unionized twelve years ago, they heard all the same gloom and doom talk about what a union would do to their company. Now, twelve years later, working conditions and compensation have improved every year for twelve years! The union sure didn't hurt them!

It takes time for new, inexperienced crews to come off of the koolaide. The "1 Team" is fortunate that their seniority list contains a majority of "new" crews so too difficult for those "old" crews to pull for what they need. It's hard to progress as a body when the majority of the body is just happy to have a job on a jet and not doing circuits for a living. There always seems to be a line up of people who will do our job for less money and conditions in this game.

[SQ]

the link worked and I found that too
http://www.boeing-727.com/

[airwings]

Its not that the 1 team has too many new people on their seniority list to opt for a change. Its that the 1 team has too many sensisible and positive people who believe that the organistaion has done a great job to position itself as a market leader in this ever challenging aviation world. These positive elements certainly out number the negative ones. The company has provided us with A VERY STABLE, SECURE AND IMPROVING place to work. As someone commented, dont change or fix whats not broken and we are not about too. For a few of you who are not even part of this company, you are obviously envious and keep trying to be disruptive. For some of you who might be working in the company, you are obviously allergic to working for a successful and a company that genuinely cares for its people. In either case we are fortunate to have a great positive people in this company.

[helmetfired]

It doesn't take much to realize that Airwings is the ass't chief pilot (S.C.)
Do you other gentlemen have the same access to the office that he does?
Can you voice complaints without being seen as...a complainer?
He's the first one that said if you don't like the way things are here now, "get a job as a baggage handler".
How forthcoming can you be with such statements from the top.
It was only about 2 years ago that he was resume in hand at the Sunwing office.
Too bad none of the ex-Royal/Jetsgo establishment wouldn't hire you.
Pilots need some sort of representation. An association will give you that.
If not, anyone connected with a unabated hotline to the top, can self-negotiate their own interests.
With a voting voice, you can seek a common agenda.
Without a common voice, you must shout to be heard.
Just hope you don't find yourself SHOUTING, and realize you're the only voice.
Speaking out of turn can be career suicide at Cargojet

[R1830]

I'm pretty sure that isn't who you think it is, the one who you think of can spell.....

Access goes basically all around, valid points get a valid response.

Some people on here seem to think all these positive perspectives are coming from new guys happy to have a job, you might be suprised, most of the really positive posters are some of the very senior guys, this really is a good place to be!

Besides didn't your mom tell you, if you don't have anything nice to say, keep it shut. Personal opinions based on actual experience are more than welcome, but personal attacks are very revealing as to your character.

Have a pleasant day, and no I am not management either, before you start guessing who I am.

[airwings]

You are so correct R1830. I dont even want to respond to helmetfired's comments as i certainly dont want to stoop to his level.
Cargojet has given me a great stability and security in life . I just saw an email from george sugar that we are hiring 27 B727 crews
more and these moves have created aprox 19 promotions in the company. PRETTY AWSOME !!
Thanks to the leadership for promoting from within before going outside..speaks volumes....and caring for its people.

[nite fr8]

Helmitfired,

What compels you to get personal on a public forum? And guessing identities? A bit weak, don't you think? Judging by your posts, I could hazard a guess as to who you are but what'll that do for me? Have you run out of objectivity, resigning yourself instead to the all too common mud slinging tendancies of those who have nothing real to say?

Whatever your point of view on the subject matter of any given thread, great, share it, debate it, agree or disagree. That's the intent here, intelligent discussion. When you decide to degrade the integrity of this forum with phony intensification, mud slinging and personal commentary, you do nothing to further your cause.

What you do accomplish is a net decline in the perceived professionalism of pilots as a group. Consider that 6 months from now, long after this particular thread has been buried in our collective unconscious, no one will remember your 'handle' but they will be left with the impression that pilots can't openly express varying opinions without resorting to school yard tactics. Awesome, thanks for that.

Seabass

[SQ]

I just saw an email from george sugar that we are hiring 27 B727 crews

wasn't it 18 = 6cpt, 6 fo, 6 so
what's the break down ?

[cargo.king140]

Thank you R1830 and Seabass for setting the record straight. Helmetfired is obviously an ex-employee trying to disturb sh#@!!. I agree with you guys CJ in not only a good place to be but a GREAT company to be a part of!

Some of us who have worked for other aviation companies along with the upbringing we've had, we can certainly identify the good from the bad. People who use public forums for their own personal agenda and cannot say anything good in life are simply known as losers. When I was growing up, my mother always told me that the world doesnt have the time nor patience for these losers! So Helmetfired you can keep trying to attack CJ but at the end of the day common sense and postitve actions always prevail!

Have a great day...and just to set the record straight, I'm not management either!

[Stick-Shaker]

For a few of you who are not even part of this company, you are obviously envious and keep trying to be disruptive.

OK Mr Happy Feet. First off why would I be envious? Not in the least. I already enjoy the best working condtions, salary and benefits this country can offer a pilot. Disruptive. Nope, not me. Just passing on my thoughts, best wishes and advice because I've been in your shoes