The right path to NetJets...

[JSky26]

Is there one?

I'm a college senior graduating in May and looking to make the next step. My ultimate goal is NetJets.

The option to go to the regionals is always there, however I have heard that if the new TA passes, NJ will become more picky when filing through their resumes. Basically, they will be taking less regional guys and more 135/91 guys. Any truth to that?

I also may have an option at a Citation 135 job. At this point, this may seem like the more logical path to pursue. However, the schedule and upgrade time at this company has more uncertainty than any other 121 carrier. Last I heard, the guys at this company work a 14on/7off and are mostly ON the road for 13 out of those 14 days. Seems pretty rough. (7/7 schedules due appeal to me...that seems like a great medium between airline and typical corporate ops). I guess that's called paying my dues though...

The pros of the 121 carrier seem to be I can get on with a company with a quicker upgrade and more flexibility with scheduling. TPIC possibly sooner.

The cons...having 121 exp. all over my resume may not look as good in the future at NJ as it has in the past.

WWYD?

 

[fischman]

If you want to get here fast, you will log more flight time at a regional carrier. Prepare to whore yourself out. Before you go, make sure you have 1000 PIC because all of your flying at a regional will be SIC.

 

[FLYLOW22]

WWID?

Seems like you are going the civilian route. I did too.

I did what I could to improve my resume through
years of sacrifice, opportunity and hard work.

My resume looks like this...

CFI (SE PIC time)
CFIMEI (ME PIC time)
Part 91 Govt. Pilot (PIC ME Turb King Air/Conquest)
Part 135/121 Regional (SIC/PIC ME Turbine Crew BE1900)
Part 121 "Major" (SIC Large Turbine Crew A320/B737)
9/11
Part 121 Regional (SIC ME Turbine Crew DHc-8)
Part 91/91k/135 Fractional (SIC/PIC Turbine CE750/CE560)

Take jobs that your personal life allows. Work the safe ones, pass on the shady ones.

Always try to make (voluntary) UPWARD movements, not lateral or backwards with new positions. Sometimes developments in the industry make the choices for you.

Personally, 9/11 caused me to reconsider the entire 121 sector. I found that 121 flying could not afford me the money or job security I feel I need. I had been furloughed 4 times by the time I was 27. Nothing seems worth going through furlough when I was 40 something and burdened with commitments (family, debt, etc.).

PIC time (real PIC time) is always good. Turbine is good. PIC turbine is better. PIC turbine in a crew environment is better-er.

When you meet the minimum requirements, apply and update periodically to let recruitment know that you are interested.

Good luck.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Is there one?

People here have all sorts of background. The common denominator is that they met the hiring minimums. As the others have said, get the experience as best and safely as you can. Also, network as much as you can: a letter of recommendation is greatly weighted at NetJets.

The option to go to the regionals is always there, however I have heard that if the new TA passes, NJ will become more picky when filing through their resumes. Basically, they will be taking less regional guys and more 135/91 guys. Any truth to that?

I haven't heard that rumor. From talking with one of the interviewers earlier this year, it sounds like the company likes having a broad cross-section of backgrounds from regionals, military, 91/135, majors and retirees.

WWYD?

The 121 route would likely get you your time the quickest. Not knowing what 135 job you are talking about, you should consider how stable and viable the company is. Another consideration would be how quickly you could make it to PIC at any job you take. While PIC time isn't a stated requirement, it certainly doesn't hurt and it would help to bolster your resume.

Good luck to you.

 

[a319stud]

i agree, the faster you get your time the better. most corporate departments average less than 400 hours per year. fly airlines for a few years and then re-evaluate. you can always get your corporate citation time after building 3K tt at a regoinal if thats your goal. hope it helps.

 

[illinipilot]

Maybe try 135 freight. You'll build time fast and get paid more than the regionals. A lot of companies get you home every morning. Working nights kinda sucks though.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Working nights kinda sucks though.

And according to the World Health Organization, working the night shift may be hazardous to your health and possibly cancerous: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,313727,00.html

 

[lookin4better]

get time fast, work where you live, dont commute for a temp job ( regional ) get the time and move on smartly

 

[Abbey]

Hit the regionals if you go civilian. You'll fly 700-999 hours per year in a standardized crew environment with a monthly schedule. Corporate gigs are generally low time, sketchy schedules, and fairly loose on the SOPs. As someone said above the pay is not good, but it is just as good if not better than the pay at NJA was prior to Nov 2005. Lots of NJA types seem to forget that. The only PIC time that counts is turbine, unless you've got a dream Seneca job in mind, so upgrade at the regionals if it works and bang out a year or two doing that before moving on. That would be my advice. Best of luck.

 

[JSky26]

Thanks for the info guys. As I get more information about the 135 operation I will definetly be updating all of you to see what you think. However, for now it looks like the regionals are my best bet.

Thanks, J

 

[100fly]

If I were in your position I would apply for an internship at NetJets for a semester, even if you are graduating. You can also try to become a flight instructor for NetJets out of Columbus. They have multiple training aircraft that are available for non-flying employees to get theire pilots license and hire CFIs for this purpose.

Do that for a while then go to the regionals or anywhere you can get the flight time required to work here.

Good luck.

 

[JSky26]

If I were in your position I would apply for an internship at NetJets for a semester, even if you are graduating. You can also try to become a flight instructor for NetJets out of Columbus. They have multiple training aircraft that are available for non-flying employees to get theire pilots license and hire CFIs for this purpose.

Do that for a while then go to the regionals or anywhere you can get the flight time required to work here.

Good luck.

Do you have any further information about the internship/CFI job? Contact info, etc?

I instruct now and I wouldn't mind doing it for a while longer if I'm meeting the right people.

Thanks

 

[crjdude]

Best path to Netjets. Guaranteed.


Get hired by a major airline. Wait for a downturn in the economy. Get furloughed.


This "path" worked for 100's of us.


crjdude

 

[FLYLOW22]

Best path to Netjets. Guaranteed.


Get hired by a major airline. Wait for a downturn in the economy. Get furloughed.


This "path" worked for 100's of us.


crjdude

At least a 1000.

 

[VVJM265]

Might not be the fastest route, but it will certainly pay the best in the short term - check into the services. Don't leave out the guard units, many of them have programs that will pay for flight school. Good luck.

 

[HSDriver]

Don't chase netjets

Find a job that makes you happy and you don't dread going to work every day. If you are only working to prepare for that "next job" you will never be happy and often disappointed. This is aviation and you will find out soon enough that the good jobs come and go. And most of the time it is luck(or lack of) that puts you where you are. Find a job that suits your experience level and desired lifestyle. The rest will fall into place.

HS

 

[ratherfish]

If you're young and not in a huge rush, go fly somewhere interesting for a while. The Caribbean or Alaska....if you're into that stuff. You'll have higher paying jobs later in life but you may or may not have as much fun. Perhaps you've already done something like this.

Whichever way you go, it looks as though the two options you mentioned would be a quicker way to an interview than what I suggested. If you're going for speed, pic jet/turboprop time is all that matters to get to the interview. Pick the job based on getting the PIC time ASAP.

Apply to all jobs that interest you not just NJA. My experience with all my previous interviewing:
1. In-house recommendations are gold...the good old boy's/girl's club still exists.
2. It doesn't matter if the pic jet comes from 91/135/121. You just need it to fill that little box for HR to smile.

Once you land an interview...review the most recent gouge you can get. Frame your responses to the ("what would you do if...." or "tell me about a time when...") with this in mind: "Safety 1st, customer service a close 2nd" You are the face of the company.

 

[fischman]

Find a job that makes you happy and you don't dread going to work every day. If you are only working to prepare for that "next job" you will never be happy and often disappointed. This is aviation and you will find out soon enough that the good jobs come and go. And most of the time it is luck(or lack of) that puts you where you are. Find a job that suits your experience level and desired lifestyle. The rest will fall into place.

HS

Be careful. If you keep on making sense, you might get kicked off these boards.

 

[trybysky]

just to give you an idea of how a 135 job can get you your time... I have been working for a 135 freigh company for less than three years and already have 1400 pic turbine. Ready to move on. the pay for these years have been better than most regionals, however from here on out, the regionals pay better. So it all depends....if you get out of the 135 world early enough you wont see a loss in pay...if you plan on staying at a regional a while (say if you got hired at 600-900 hours) then yeah, regional pay will be better(obviously depending on the company). What it came down to for me was QOL and that's different for everyone. I didn't get a lot of crew time, but that's a chance I was willing to take.

 

[JSky26]

What do you guys all think about working for Plansense/Alpha Flying (www.planesense.aero) as a jump off point into the industry? I've talked to a few of you on the board about this company over the past couple months but would like to get a broader perspective.

I'm over their minimums to get hired (Part 91 Sub. K SIC mins) so I would have no trouble there. Pay is initially better than the regionals. Very diverse type of flying - everywhere from small grass strips to the major Class B airports. The PC-12 (NextGens on order) is a badass airplane and with the Grob jets coming in '08, that would open up more opportunities.

The downside to this is a PC-12 FO may not sit well with some people since it is a single pilot aircraft. I think the same thing can be said when the Grobs come online as I think they will be certified for single pilot ops. However, the regs dictate the aircraft needs an SIC so I guess it is legitmate time then.

What do you all think of this place as an alternative to the regionals? From talking to some people within the company it seems like a 1-1.5 yr upgrade to PC-12 PIC (merit based....) then maybe another 1-1.5 yr to Grob SIC.