NetJets

[DHPFLYN]

A couple more NetJets questions. I know you are Teamsters but which local ? Also how long does training usually take? Or does that depend on aircraft?

One other question I have been wondering. Do many weird things happen on your flights? I know they ask alot of what if questions for the interview. Just curious if anything really happens often? Rock stars on drugs passed out? Drunks tying to trash the plane? Things like that.

Thanks

 

[CA1900]

A couple more NetJets questions. I know you are Teamsters but which local ?

Local 1108, a local strictly for fractional aircraft pilots which was initially formed by NetJets pilots. FlightOptions recently voted to join 1108.

We were formerly members of Local 284, but after some spectacularly bad representation, we branched out on our own. (It predated my arrival here, so I can't speak directly to the history of the changeover.)

Also how long does training usually take? Or does that depend on aircraft?

Depends on a lot of things, but the simulator backlog is a big part of it. They're getting much better about that. Basic Indoc, in Columbus, takes about two weeks. Aircraft/simulator training is a couple of weeks, but that varies greatly upon the aircraft. Finally, IOE varies based on how long until you get paired with an IOE captain.

In my case, I sat home a month after Indoc before sim, and another month before I got called to IOE. (All at the 18-day pay that whole time!) In some cases, you'll do sim before indoc, but they try to avoid that if possible.

One other question I have been wondering. Do many weird things happen on your flights? I know they ask alot of what if questions for the interview. Just curious if anything really happens often? Rock stars on drugs passed out? Drunks tying to trash the plane? Things like that.

Not often, no. I've had kids trash the plane, but no drunks doing it yet. You'll see oddball things like someone cleaning our your Jelly Bellys (if I didn't beat 'em to it!), but not much crazy stuff, no. In most cases, it's flying a few people from point A to B, making sure they get their transportation at the end, and straightening up, vacuuming, and restocking the plane at the end of the leg. Pretty straightforward.

Occasionally you'll get a challenge that you weren't expecting, but that's what keeps it interesting. The idea is to accommodate the owner if possible, consistent with safety and legality. If we can make it happen, we'll do everything in our power to do so. That's why they keep renewing.

 

[skiandsurf]

I had a flight with 3 ladies. After the flight, one of the pax (not the owner), asked if she could take some tootsie-rolls. I told her "sure". She took the whole basket. No big deal. Called the company and had them order another one.

 

[blueskies8]

I had a flight with 3 ladies. After the flight, one of the pax (not the owner), asked if she could take some tootsie-rolls. I told her "sure". She took the whole basket. No big deal. Called the company and had them order another one.

Then there are those people that don't ask at all and clean you out of mini's (as in pocket them), m&m's, wine and you name it but in my opinion they don't have to ask, they are the client. It is nice when they do ask or tell you what they took instead of finding out during restocking. I have also had people draw on the cork in the cupholders for some strange reason. I don't fly for NJ's however (yet) but I do the same kind of flying. Does NetJets have a policy that the owners ask or inform the crew of what they took?

 

[x402]

Then there are those people that don't ask at all and clean you out of mini's (as in pocket them), m&m's, wine and you name it but in my opinion they don't have to ask, they are the client. It is nice when they do ask or tell you what they took instead of finding out during restocking. I have also had people draw on the cork in the cupholders for some strange reason. I don't fly for NJ's however (yet) but I do the same kind of flying. Does NetJets have a policy that the owners ask or inform the crew of what they took?

Nope, hopefully we find all the missing stock as we prep for the next leg.

 

[skiandsurf]

Does NetJets have a policy that the owners ask or inform the crew of what they took?

No, it is basically their airplane. They do what they want, as long as it is legal. I havent had anything too crazy....yet. I have heard a few stories, but havent seen anything too out of line. As long as they dont abuse the plane or crews....its fair game. If they do abuse the plane or crew, they will be taken care of.....asked to leave the program. And this has happened to a few.

As far as interview questions regarding the pax....remember "its their plane"....do what they want. (ie....after waiting for 40 minutes for takeoff, the owner tells you they left their cellphone at the FBO...can we go back to get it? ......Yes we can).

 

[NJAowner]

Not often, no. I've had kids trash the plane, but no drunks doing it yet.

Funny, as one who has a few kids and flies with them often, the pilots tell me that the kids are the easy part. Worst thing is a crunched can of Pringles into 1000s of pieces or gum in the cupholders -- while they say a plane of 6 guys back from a golf weekend or worse yet, a college football game, leaves you with a mess much larger than any kids can make. When they get onto the jet drunk, continue to drink and then hit rough weather.

Don't blame it all on the under 12 kids.

Fly safe.

 

[blueskies8]

...while they say a plane of 6 guys back from a golf weekend or worse yet, a college football game, leaves you with a mess much larger than any kids can make.

You're right. Been there, done that.

 

[learflyer]

Had Susan Sarandon take a garbage bag, and clean out ALL of our stock. All you can do is sit back and watch! It's sort of thier stuff, but not really. They only own a fraction of those tootsie rolls!

 

[CA1900]

Funny, as one who has a few kids and flies with them often, the pilots tell me that the kids are the easy part.

Depends on the kid, but in general, they're fine. (Guess it's the same as adults, come to think of it!) I had one recently where the plane was just obliterated where the kid was -- grape juice poured down the sidewall, oreos crunched into the carpet in the center aisle, and one even smeared across the video screen. Took me two and a half hours and a call to a carpet shampooer to get it back to the normal.

But that's definitely an anomaly. As I said, that's just been my experience, but I'm fairly new with the company. I haven't had a broad enough statistical sample, I guess.

Most of our owners treat the plane like it's their own. Which is good, since it is.

 

[DHPFLYN]

What are the items that you usually stock? I understand that they can order catering. Does every plane have some basic things? I see you keep talking about candy and alcohol. Also who brings the items or where do you get them for restocking?

 

[CA1900]

I see you keep talking about candy and alcohol.

Hey, I know what I like.

Also who brings the items or where do you get them for restocking?

Snacks, sodas, alcohol, coffee creamers/sugars, etc. We have standard, non-perishable stock items that we pick up from stock lockers, which are placed at places where we fly a lot. If we run out of something critical inbetween passes through the lockers (say, bottled water), we can have a caterer drop them off at our next stop, no-doubt at great expense.

The "standard stuff" varies by plane, since the capacities for that kind of thing vary greatly. The Excel can hold 4 bottles of wine, for example, while I believe the 400XP can hold one. I'm gettin' thirsty now....... :beer:

 

[x402]

Had Susan Sarandon take a garbage bag, and clean out ALL of our stock. All you can do is sit back and watch! It's sort of thier stuff, but not really. They only own a fraction of those tootsie rolls!

Thankfully, we only put a fraction of the stuff out. I'm sure your clients like being outed here. Nice work. When was your interview at NJA?

 

[Jack Mehoff]

I have to say if you have kids in the back the plane its getting trashd better then any rock band can do. Just write it up and have the cleaners mop up the barf and smashed in candy.

I love the new wave of parenting where the kids run the show.

 

[Ultra Grump]

I love the new wave of parenting where the kids run the show.

Tell me about it. The worst trashing I've seen comes from families with kids. One time had a family of 6 get on (4 kids). First thing, the 3-4 yr-old daughter wants some Goldfish. SMASH! Explodes the bag of Goldfish all over the place. The mom starts to pick up a few, so I think, "cool, she'll keep it straight back there." Nope. When they got off, the Goldfish were not only still scattered all over the cabin, but were stomped and ground into the carpet, along with nuts, Jelly Bellies, Pringles, Oreos, and whatever else they could find. Additionally, the 2 teenage sons who were sitting in the back had proceeded to dismantle every sheet of every newspaper on board, and leave them strewn all over the aircraft. Not to mention the spilled juice and writing on the sidewalls in ball-point pen. I don't know what the hell these people were teaching their kids, but they are going to grow up to be useless adults.

 

[NJAowner]

Hey, UG, my daughter is 6 years old and it was a Sharpie marker not a ball point.

Just kidding. It was not my flight and while not perfect, my kids are no worse than your average adult. Plus we do try and pick up most of it before landing. I would fully support banning Pringles from the plane. I know they are the most convenient chips to have from a storage point of view, but we can live without them and they make the biggest mess.

Fly safe.