Regional vs. Netjets

[n7715x]

So, if you had the choice, would you stay at Chautauqua, make captain in about 1.5 more years, or go to Netjets? For those of you who have come from the regionals to a fractional... what are your likes/dislikes about making the move?

 

[acaTerry]

Depends. Can you deal with having to live in one of their domiciles? It's a good job, for me it beats the heck out of being at an airline, even as a CA. I'll assume you don't have frosted hair, a backpack, IPod in your ears and won't complain about having to conform to uniform issues. I can't believe the pathetic excuses for pilots at regionals nowadays. It's sad to see who is taking up the reins in the job these days.
Anyway, if you don't mind constant changes, and doing all the FA stuff as well as the flying, you'll like it. I make more here in my 2nd year than I did as a 5 yr CA at the regionals, vacation plan is great, medical 100% paid, and so on. If I were you I'd jump ship. Besides, that 1.5 yrs to upgrade can turn into 3 yrs pretty quick. Feel free to PM me if you want.

 

[WrknStff]

If hiring continues and attrition is anything close to what it looks like they will be, you won't be upgrading that much faster at the regional than at netjets. You might be a captain a year earlier but you'd probably still make more money in the meantime as a netjets SIC and the pay when you do get to captain at NJ will be a lot more. Plus the schedule is a heck of a lot better than any regional.

 

[jaybird]

If it helps your decision at all. I was a 170 CA at S5 that left to go to NetJets.

Likes:

Stability
Crew Meals
Ability to plan my schedule months/years in advance
Future (Hopefully my last company to work for)
Union with a backbone
Decent hotels
Variety of flying (not going to same airports all the time)
Vacations three weeks at a time
There are probably many more, I just can't think of them now

Dislike:

Temporary pay cut
You never really know when your done for the day or where you will be (this could really bother some people, I dont mind it, just pointing it out)

 

[RNObased]

So, if you had the choice, would you stay at Chautauqua, make captain in about 1.5 more years, or go to Netjets? For those of you who have come from the regionals to a fractional... what are your likes/dislikes about making the move?

Well that depends. Some of the guys who were capts at the regionals consider NJA too much work and don't like it. I just spent a tour listening to a guy from a regional tell me how he should be at a major by now and how the industry has f'ed him over. I told him that a high paying flying job isn't a birth right.

On the other hand some love it and think it is a great job, just depends on you.

 

[SteelerMan]

I left a regional for a fractional, never for a minute thought it was a bad move. Good hotels, seven days off every time, nice planes, the list goes on. Biggest disadvantage is if you don't like being gone for seven days, I personally loved that schedule.

If you want to go on to a major, you will still be able to do that at a later date. If not, you'll have a job you can make a career at and I think be very happy. I could have never been happy spending a career at a regional. There is NO stability at regionals. Look at Comair and what they are going through, Mesaba, etc. No stability, and even if it looks good now, NetJets is much more stable and IMO a 10x better job (but I didn't work at Chautauqua). The choice is just what works for you, just sharing my experience and opinion.

 

[AirBear8]

Jaybird hit most the good/bad points. If you can live with the domicile system then go for it. Don't count on home basing for a very long time, probably more than 5 years. I'm furloughed from a major airline and have passed recall once already. I have no intention of returning. My top end salary at NJA may not be as much as I might (key word might) make back at a major airline but the job security and quality of life makes up for that. And don't forget to add in not paying anything for our benefits.

A few other good things:
-much more concern about safety than the airlines. No questions asked fatigue call policy.
-10 hour min rest, 11.5 hours from block in to block out. Much better than 121 rules.
-meeting some interesting pax (celebrities and such)
-occasional tips (in my case about $300 over 18 months)
-more per diem than most airlines due to longer trips (avg $250/per 7 day trip )
-401K with 50% match up to IRS max (2006 contribute $15,000, NJA matches $7500, 2007 limit is $15,500). Young pilots can build a very large retirement nestegg.
-Hotel Points and Airline miles, usually enough every year for a free 1 week vacation at a resort location.


A few other bad things:
-Long duty days usually up to 12 hours unless you break.
-fly to 10 hours per day & no 30 in 7 limits.
-RON's that average 12-13 hours, not a lot of time to go out and do things.
-Pax that try to bring way too much luggage.
-lots of sitting around time at FBO's. That's why the duty days are long, if you finish early they'll keep you on standby up to around 12 hours of duty.
-Can't get every weekend off. At most airlines when you're senior enough you can hold weekends off. Here the best you'll do is every other weekend off. On the other hand even very junior pilots can have that.
-free FBO Cookies (yes that's a bad thing for cookie addicts :0 )

AirBear

If it helps your decision at all. I was a 170 CA at S5 that left to go to NetJets.

Likes:

Stability
Crew Meals
Ability to plan my schedule months/years in advance
Future (Hopefully my last company to work for)
Union with a backbone
Decent hotels
Variety of flying (not going to same airports all the time)
Vacations three weeks at a time
There are probably many more, I just can't think of them now

Dislike:

Temporary pay cut
You never really know when your done for the day or where you will be (this could really bother some people, I dont mind it, just pointing it out)

 

[jaybird]

Okay, I did just remember one more negative thing. No more Non-Rev or jumpseating. I didn't Non-rev or jumpseat that much, but it was a really nice thing to have when you want it.

 

[bailout]

Very good points from all. Makes me feel better.. Im leaving the regionals in two weeks! It has been a very hard agonizing decesion...

 

[On Your Six]

Very good points from all. Makes me feel better.. Im leaving the regionals in two weeks! It has been a very hard agonizing decesion...

I think you made the right choice - any idea about aircraft type?

Happy New Year

 

[sweptwingz]

I've been at NJA for almost 10 years. I flown with dozens
(and met dozens more) former commuter / regional pukes.

To the man, (and woman) every single one of them is glad they made the switch.

 

[xpdriver]

You want a career(NJA) or a job(regionals)?

 

[Wankel7]

On the jumpseating thing....

Polar/Atlas maintain an open 135 policy...if your 135 you can hitch a ride...anybody from a fractional try that?

 

[Twotter76]

I havent had a chance to try it yet but I did speak to their jumpseat desk to verify that they would let us ride. They were more than accomodating. Hopefully ill get a chance to try it one of these days...

 

[Wankel7]

No doubt man ... polar goes to some rather nice places

http://www.polaraircargo.com/scheduledservices/schedule.asp

 

[RideandDrive]

I used to work at Polar and we would take guys from Netjets. You have to give a little notice so Polar can call Columbus to verify employment because of the no cockpit door thing.

I was on the -400 and flew with 3 f/o's and 1 captain so there was always plenty of seats and catering for riders.

 

[Wankel7]

Thanks for that insight...I had a friend that did HKG and had a great time on Polar!

That is really nice to know...at least you could do something with your 7 days off besides sit at home

 

[fischman]

Screw the regionals!

I've been there, done that. Commuting twice a week. Sleeping in the crew lounge, or car. $40,000/year at year 3 fo and no hope for upgrade. You got a job in 6 months? Who knows. Feeling lucky to have enough time to eat at Burger King. NO THANKS!!! I will NEVER go back to the airlines. NEVER!!!

NJA is better by far. You know you will have a job in 5 years. decent hotels. No commuting. crew food + per diem. upgrade possibilities. decent pay. clean planes. 7&7 schedule. The most important point of all: you might get to fly with me.

NJA is the way to go

 

[captain dad]

Ditto!!!

With The Way The Airlines Have And Continue To Treat Regionals And Majors For That Matter, I Would Not Hesitate To Jump Ship. I Did. I Was With A Regional And Went Back And Forth For Years (almost A Decade). The Only Wish I Have Is That I Had Left Years Ago. I Did A Lot Of Research And Suggest You Do To. If You Find It Is What You Want Then You Will Never Regret It. I Am Still Just Getting Started At NJA, But Have Yet To See A Down Side. I Plan To Stay Until I Loose My Medical Or Die, Whichever Comes First (obviously).

 

[n7715x]

Thanks for the insights everyone