Another X Pilot hired at NJA

[ozpilot]

OZ - What big can's you have!!

Baja.

Ha Ha Going2Baja! Thank photoshop for those How long till you can apply again? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.

"He's going to enjoy doing .92 M between service centers..."

Does anyone know what NJs dispatch rate is for the 750? Is the X the worst of the fleet?
This is apples to oranges but most 91 departments that I have talked to who operate a X have had very few problems with their ac. Especially, serial #100+. We have had very few problems with our X. But NJs puts more time on their Xs in two months then we do in a yr.
Just my 2 cents.

Dispatch reliability of the X is poor, often as low as 50%. In fairness to the plane, thats what happens when you take a Ferrari and run it like a New York taxicab ...

 

[Captainzero1]

Hopalong, what happened at shares?

 

[hopalong]

Hey Captainzero, I interviewed w/ CS and didn't get the job. Just a heads
up for anyone looking to interview w/ Shares, NEVER admit you have any
applications of employment anywhere else. I was told I didn't get the job because I admitted that I had an application in w/ NJA.??? I think both CS
and NJA are the best fractionals out there for different reasons. I think everything works out for a reason.

 

[realityman]

I've been in the X for 8 of my 9.5 years at NJA. Great plane!! Yeah, it has it's problems, but we run them pretty dang hard! And yes, you will be working harder than any fleet except maybe the XL's.

Still, I enjoy passing EVERYONE out there (until I have to get in line in New York's airspace or SOCAL). Since there isn't parity of pay in types until you've been here 9 or 10 years, the X is as good a choice as any.

The cockpit is a bit small for some of the longer legs we fly, but we have a good group of Flight Managers to work with, and the pilots are also mostly a great group!

Welcome aboard!!

PS- I'm one of the IOE guys in the X, so perhaps we'll meet soon.

 

[hopalong]

Thanks realityman! I feel good about the X, especially after your post.
I've been on the ultra for the past 5 yrs., would you agree the transition
will be somewhat smooth?

Also, I've been searching threads about the company credit card vs. the
amex hilton platinum. What do you all think? I'm leaning towards the company
credit card because it seems like you get airline miles vs. more hotel points
that have bad transfer rates. I don't know which to do.

 

[On Your Six]

Hey Captainzero, I interviewed w/ CS and didn't get the job. Just a heads
up for anyone looking to interview w/ Shares, NEVER admit you have any
applications of employment anywhere else. I was told I didn't get the job because I admitted that I had an application in w/ NJA.??? I think both CS
and NJA are the best fractionals out there for different reasons. I think everything works out for a reason.

Don't worry about it. I really do think things happen for a REASON... NJA and CS are both great outfits. Plus, now you'll be passing up the CS Excels and Bravos as you fly by on your frequent 6-hour trips to the opposite coast...

 

[gunfyter]

Until CS gets the XII

 

[hopalong]

Don't worry about it. I really do think things happen for a REASON... NJA and CS are both great outfits. Plus, now you'll be passing up the CS Excels and Bravos as you fly by on your frequent 6-hour trips to the opposite coast...

I appreciate it. Talk about a sweet airplane; loved to be in the global express one day.

 

[d91papa]

.
I've been on the ultra for the past 5 yrs., would you agree the transition
will be somewhat smooth?

I don't know the X, but .75 vs. .92, swept vs. straight wing, hydraulic vs cable flight controls...the X has a tiller doesn't it?

 

[Archie Bunker]

Also, I've been searching threads about the company credit card vs. the amex hilton platinum. What do you all think? I'm leaning towards the company
credit card because it seems like you get airline miles vs. more hotel points
that have bad transfer rates. I don't know which to do.

Hopalong,

You will be briefed ad nauseum about the company credit card during indoc. I already had a Hilton Honors AMEX card before I started at NJA, so I'm staying with that....also because you can rack up more points on Honors than you can with the company card.

The big advantage to the company card is that you can file your expense report on the crew ops website, and be reimbursed direct deposit very quickly. With the Hilton Honors AMEX, or any other personal credit card, you must file a paper expense report, and mail it to CMH. You can also be reimbursed direct deposit, but it will take a couple of days.

Good luck in CMH.

Arch

 

[AirBear8]

Hopalong,

You will be briefed ad nauseum about the company credit card during indoc. I already had a Hilton Honors AMEX card before I started at NJA, so I'm staying with that....also because you can rack up more points on Honors than you can with the company card.

The big advantage to the company card is that you can file your expense report on the crew ops website, and be reimbursed direct deposit very quickly. With the Hilton Honors AMEX, or any other personal credit card, you must file a paper expense report, and mail it to CMH. You can also be reimbursed direct deposit, but it will take a couple of days.

Good luck in CMH.

Arch

The biggest advantage of the company card is your airline tickets get put on it. With a personal card tickets are direct billed to NJA. Today is day 1 of my tour and I'm chasing a good jet around the system. NJA has already spent close to $1000 on airline tickets just for today. That's 1000 points towards the 35,000 points I need for a roundtrip ticket on just about any airline. Last tour they spent $1500 in one day. If you need free hotel rooms more than free tickets then use the Amex Hilton Honors card. If you want the tickets use the company card. The only other advantage of the company card is the speed at which you get your per diem and cash expenses back and also protection in the event of unauthorized charges or ID theft.

AirBear

 

[Twotter76]

The important thing to remember abuot the company card it that it has a capped limit to how many miles you accure each year. I want to say its 40000 but someone here that uses it can chime in. Using my Hilton Amex for the usual work expenses and my day to day stuff too I average in the neighboorhood of 30000 hilton points a month plus 500 Delta miles every time I stay at a Hilton property so roughly 4000-5000 miles a month. There is no limit to how many points you can accrue. One other thing to consider - in any really nice destination what do you spend more on, hotels for a week or airfare to get there?

As long as they get the report before tuesday your reimbursement check will be in your account on friday if you have direct deposit. As to the identity theft issue any major credit card will provide the same level of protection that the company card does.

 

[hopalong]

Archie, what up, my man? thanks again for all your help buddy.
I'm sure I'll be talking with you soon. Air bear, twotter and arch, I am looking
to get some airline miles.

 

[Ultra Grump]

If you're looking for airline miles, go with the company card.

People always talk about the 40,000 points/year limit and how that's a drawback. I defy anyone to spend $40,000 per year in company-related expenses on their own cards. Impossible. However, it is possible with the company card because they buy your airline tickets on it, as AirBear pointed out.

You still accrue tons of HHonors points just by virtue of staying there, and that includes the bonus miles (on the airline of your choice). It has nothing to do with the Hhonors Amex card. What that card gets you is 15 points/dollar vs. 10 points/dollar using any other card, and as you probably already noticed, the points-to-airlines miles exchange rate is not very favorable.

Ultimately, the best card for you will be a personal decision. If one were to be based in DAL, you might want to get one of the AA Visas, since you'll probably be flying them a lot and will rack up more points on them using your own card. Based in CMH, its a crapshoot. It really all depends on your situation. I live where there are tons of airlines, so there's no guarantee which one I'll be on the most, though SWA seems to be the top choice. I prefer the airline miles, so I use the company card.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Coool Hand Luke]

Jeez, all that time on the road just so you can get points and miles and go back on the road on your days off?

Just kidding....from one Hilton HHonors Diamond VIP to another.