Aircraft assignmens at Netjets

[ALV]

I am hired for the April 25th class and was offered the ultra, beechjet the excel and the 800xp. Took about 2 hours to decide on the 800xp after consulting a few friends. If they don't offer choices ask, it may be the last time you have a choice in anything for a while.

Dan

 

[CRAWDADDY]

I noticed the Falcon was not included in your list.

It's going to be part of a new company called : FNJ

 

[sweptwingz]

When you say hardest working do you mean:

1. Most sectors per day
2. Least amount of rest time - no good layovers
3. Most hours in the air per day
4. Likely to be flying nonstop throughout the tour (no breaks)
5. Types of flights flown (more transcon)

All of the above. I averaged 400-600 hours per YEAR in the Ultra, 4-6 legs per day was normal. I average 200-300 hours per year in the VII, a 3 leg day is normal. Stay out of the X, it is a "Roman Slave Ship" !!!! Coast to coast, and constant 14 hour duty, with minimal rest. It's simply TOO fast for it's own good. STAY OUT OF THE TEN.
Unless you break, expect a 10-12 hour overnight in most aircraft. QOL on the road is minimal. The bigger, faster, jets do more transcon, logically. They work you VERY hard here. Many ex-airline guys are shocked, and simply can't "hang".
IF and ONLY if released by the mediator for self help in June, COUNT on a solid (and VERY nasty) strike here, I would seriously consider that as a NJA wanna be.

 

[Raskal]

no offense, but whats the difference between a Hawker and a Citation??

Is it really "downsizing" to move out of that big Hawker??

...

None taken, and a Citation isn't "downsizing" per say, It's just that as a 6'1" guy bending while crabbing through the cabin sucks after awhile. I was referring to the size of the cabin, not the total aircraft. And, yes, the X cabin is also a bit tight, but about the same as a Hawker height wise. I'm not looking down on one plane vs another, believe me, I just get sick of back aches so especially at a company like NJA where you're in and out of the plane a lot I am concernced with things like that. Besides, I hate the citation doors (Encore and X aside)

But, you know what the real deal breaker is? An APU...I never want to fly another plane without one, especially up here in the cold.

 

[Webslinger]

Just a question out of curiosity, with a Hawker type and decent time, what is the situation regarding getting hired in to specific aircraft? I don't really have any desire to fly a citation or beechjet if I can avoid it.

In my opinion you have a very good chance of being placed in the hawker fleet-(depending on NJA's needs). Five years ago I interviewed with EJA and was asked what fleet I would enjoy if given the choice. Being that I was already typed in the hawker I preffered the HS-125/1000 (although they are being phased out now) and got the fleet I wanted. May have been luck, but regardless of the fleet, if they have an opening and you have previous experience in that "type" why wouldnt NJA put you in that "type" of aircraft- especially from an experience and safety viewpoint?
Hey (X402) If you have "xyz" amount of time in a hawker 700, they are NOT going to put you in a Citation ultra.

 

[x402]

Hey (X402) If you have "xyz" amount of time in a hawker 700, they are NOT going to put you in a Citation ultra.

I'm not going to argue your experience, obviously it worked out for you. However, there is no policy that I know of that will allow you to get into the fleet you desire. Timing is everything, as they say, and I'm glad it worked out for you. I guess the lesson is 'It can't hurt to ask,' but I still wouldn't bet the Company is going to do the right thing by new hires across the board. They sure don't do the right thing by the people that already work here.

PS
I know plenty of guys with time in everything from Hawkers to 777's that have started in the Ultra.

 

[On Your Six]

When you say hardest working do you mean:

1. Most sectors per day
2. Least amount of rest time - no good layovers
3. Most hours in the air per day
4. Likely to be flying nonstop throughout the tour (no breaks)
5. Types of flights flown (more transcon)

All of the above. I averaged 400-600 hours per YEAR in the Ultra, 4-6 legs per day was normal. I average 200-300 hours per year in the VII, a 3 leg day is normal. Stay out of the X, it is a "Roman Slave Ship" !!!! Coast to coast, and constant 14 hour duty, with minimal rest. It's simply TOO fast for it's own good. STAY OUT OF THE TEN.
Unless you break, expect a 10-12 hour overnight in most aircraft. QOL on the road is minimal. The bigger, faster, jets do more transcon, logically. They work you VERY hard here. Many ex-airline guys are shocked, and simply can't "hang".
IF and ONLY if released by the mediator for self help in June, COUNT on a solid (and VERY nasty) strike here, I would seriously consider that as a NJA wanna be.

I have heard from a couple of NJA X drivers the same - they are worked pretty hard. However, I know some guys who fly the Excel and they complain about being overworked too - sounds like most fleets are either understaffed or just plain busy. My feeling, if you are going to be overworked, you might as well either be comfortable or enjoy some nice performance - and the X can give you that (not the comfort factor) I am told by friends who fly it...

I guess the new regs have not helped too much in terms of rest time?

 

[transpac]

Hey (X402) If you have "xyz" amount of time in a hawker 700, they are NOT going to put you in a Citation ultra.

I'm not going to argue your experience, obviously it worked out for you. However, there is no policy that I know of that will allow you to get into the fleet you desire. Timing is everything, as they say, and I'm glad it worked out for you. I guess the lesson is 'It can't hurt to ask,' but I still wouldn't bet the Company is going to do the right thing by new hires across the board. They sure don't do the right thing by the people that already work here.

PS
I know plenty of guys with time in everything from Hawkers to 777's that have started in the Ultra.

When I hired on in '01 I had type ratings and considerable PIC time in the B-727, 757, and 767. I was offered my choice of the Ultra or Excel.

 

[sarita77]

what about the hawker 400xp? Is it a junior airplane? Is it worked hard? Am I going to be stuck doing numerous short legs all day? I have a choice between the ultra and the 400xp and would like any info. about pros and cons. Thanks

 

[Diesel]

lets see ultra vs the 400xp.

small vs smaller
no tcas vs tcas
singlept vs trunk fuel
no apu vs no apu
no xm vs xm

the list goes on and on

 

[Diesel]

sarita you sound like a i am furloughed.

there are alot of ex blueridgers over here.

 

[sarita77]

yep

I know it's bad vs. bad
but whats the lesser of the evils?

 

[Ultra Grump]

yep

I know it's bad vs. bad
but whats the lesser of the evils?

Take the 400 - tcas and has got to have a better FMS. The Ultra FMS sucks a$$.

 

[Diesel]

i'd rather have the ultra fms than the confusing pos that we have in the X.

i'd take the ultra because with the 400 your doing ultra trips with less fuel.

I've found tcas is overated. Ignorance is bliss.

 

[AirBear8]

what about the hawker 400xp? Is it a junior airplane? Is it worked hard? Am I going to be stuck doing numerous short legs all day? I have a choice between the ultra and the 400xp and would like any info. about pros and cons. Thanks

Not many Hawker 400's on the property yet so you probably won't work as much as the Ultra in the short term. Many Hawker 400 trips are being subbed to the Ultra. But with numerous deliveries on the way it'll get busy soon enough.