CitationShares Questions

[Sparse]

It is what it is. I was just clarifying. The OT policy has been in place since the beginning, as far as I know. It's not like it just changed...every CS pilot knows the policy when they start here.

I agree, but what they probably didn't know is that they could begin duty at 6AM, not get home until 02:59, and still get no overtime. It's not the 3 AM arrival, it's the sometimes as much as an 18 hour day getting there. CS is a good place to work. It could be a great deal better and a career job if some of the QOL issues were addressed. The pay is good, it's just some of the other items that are below par.

 

[clueless]

every CS pilot knows the policy when they start here.

Well, sorta....new hires didn't find out that they would be training on their days off with no pay or that if they called in sick that the company could make them work an uncompensated day of overtime to make it up until they were sitting in indoc class, and then it was too late.

I understand that the training is basically on tour now, and I don't know how often they made someone make up a sick day, but don't assume everyone knows everything about the job before they sign on the dotted line.

 

[NJA bound]

I agree, but what they probably didn't know is that they could begin duty at 6AM, not get home until 02:59, and still get no overtime. It's not the 3 AM arrival, it's the sometimes as much as an 18 hour day getting there. CS is a good place to work. It could be a great deal better and a career job if some of the QOL issues were addressed. The pay is good, it's just some of the other items that are below par.

Having a union and CBA is nice, in the above situation a NetJets newhire (year 1 FO) would get an extra $885. (3 days pay $642. and $243. overtime $27. an hour beginning at 6pm).

A captain with 3 years seniority would get double those numbers, about $1,800.

 

[Stinkbug]

Well, sorta....new hires didn't find out that they would be training on their days off with no pay or that if they called in sick that the company could make them work an uncompensated day of overtime to make it up until they were sitting in indoc class, and then it was too late.

I understand that the training is basically on tour now, and I don't know how often they made someone make up a sick day, but don't assume everyone knows everything about the job before they sign on the dotted line.

Do you specifically know someone who's had to make up a sick day? Because I don't. I've called in sick and never been asked to make it up. Once again, I believe there's some misinformation being propagated here.

 

[clueless]

Do you specifically know someone who's had to make up a sick day? Because I don't. I've called in sick and never been asked to make it up. Once again, I believe there's some misinformation being propagated here.

Yeah, I know of one or two who had to, back in the day. How often it was enforced, I don't know, but the policy existed. It was explained to the indoc class by what's-her-name ("Don't lose your aircraft key or you'll answer to me...") and it was called "overtime owed." I doubt they force anyone make up sick days now because the whole concept is flawed, but mgmt also declined to formulate a formal sick day policy a couple years ago when the pilot advisory group brought it up as a sore spot.

Anyway, CS is a decent enough job, but it ain't a career. Maybe it could be someday, but not yet.

 

[johnsonrod]

Quick CS question: what percentage of the XL aircraft are actually XLS? I presume all of the older XL will be replaced by the XLS. How many are currently XLS vs. XL? I hear the XLS is a real nice bird to fly.

 

[Cobra]

Do you specifically know someone who's had to make up a sick day? Because I don't. I've called in sick and never been asked to make it up. Once again, I believe there's some misinformation being propagated here.

NP, specifically informed those in my indoc class what the sick leave policy. At least that was the case in my indoc class. The policy described was indeed miss a day on tour, expect to make that day up at a later date.

 

[Iam3rd]

Believe it or not there is a newer version of the XLS coming out I think starting in January. It will be called the XLS+. From what I understand it will have the Soverign avonics setup (4 tubes instead of 3). And a few other minor changes.

 

[SpaceBall 1]

The XLS+ will have Collins Pro-line 21 (like the CJ-3) not the Honeywell system like the Soverign. The Honeywell system has been very problematic. Collins is much better and it will have 4 tubes. As far as the other subjects..........Maybe in the past some had to make up sick days, but I know of none. I would be shocked to hear if it happened now. The only days I know people make up are those who requested time off tour for personal matters and do not want to take vacation.

3am OT.....yeah it kindda blows, but I knew the situation when I started here. In the past we trained off tour......now it is on tour. I think the OT policy will change eventually. Management listens to the pilot group believe it or not. Is this place perfect.......no place is perfect and if you think your job is, you need to remove the rose glassed or pass whatever it is you're taking.

Irregardless.........this place is TONS better than Netjets was at our age. We have no PFT (NJ did at our age) and pay is way above where NJ was at the time. Did NJ's new contract help our pay.....you bet and thank you (eventhough our raise was already in the works before the contract).

Our Standby that the NJ people like to bring up.......You were sitting around waiting at the FBO's long before us. Maybe we should blame you?!?!? The policy had some hicups in the beginning, but has smoothed out tremendously. I use to sit at the FBO's alot more when I was flying in the corporate world.

 

[Diesel]

Irregardless.........this place is TONS better than Netjets was at our age. We have no PFT (NJ did at our age)

Thats because NJ created the industry while CS came into an established industry and business model.

I use to sit at the FBO's alot more when I was flying in the corporate world.

So? Some guys slept in a tent before coming here. Doesn't change the here and now.

Did NJ's new contract help our pay.....you bet and thank you (eventhough our raise was already in the works before the contract).

But it just happen to come out after our contract?

.You were sitting around waiting at the FBO's long before us.

If you blame us for this, might as well blame us again for fixing it by making the company pay us OT to sit around an FBO.

 

[Birddog]

Serious question about CS, anyone care to share how much the health premiums run for a family? If I am fortunate enough to get a thumbs up, I would like to know for budgeting purposes.

 

[Humphreybogart]

Sorry I ment sitting around fbo's for hours and hours on end with no plane or plan.

That's never happened to me. I've only been asked to go to the airport to do standby for 1 hour before my scheduled show time. I walked by a couple of NutJet pilots spending the day there on "hot reserve". I think our people got the idea from you genious' at NutJets.

 

[Diesel]

That's never happened to me. I've only been asked to go to the airport to do standby for 1 hour before my scheduled show time.

Thats because you're mgmt. You might want to ask quite the few line pilots that will talk "off the record".

 

[SpaceBall 1]

Thats because NJ created the industry while CS came into an established industry and business model.

I don't buy the BS of creating an industry. May companies create an industry for the first time. NJ just did it with the employees on thier knees.

So? Some guys slept in a tent before coming here. Doesn't change the here and now.

Some may have slept in a box.....whats your point?? Mine was, sitting at an FBO is part of corporate flying. As is flirting with the counter girls and various activities. Some FBO sit is expected. Like I said.....we had a rough start beginning our new crew duty/rest program, but if you ask our pilots, I think you'll find everyone is pretty happy with the way it has turned out. The FBO sit is pretty much a minimum. If you do, it is only for a few hours. So I pre-flight the jet, get a crew car, bite to eat, come back and flirt with the gals, call the Co., go fly or put the jet back to bed for the night. Tough job, but somebodys gotta do it!

But it just happen to come out after our contract?

Again.....didn't I say that. I know I said thanks. Our payraise was in the works before hand. Don't know how much, but I'm sure the NJ contract helped. Probably similiar to how our payscale helped raise the bar a bit BEFORE your new contract.

If you blame us for this, might as well blame us again for fixing it by making the company pay us OT to sit around an FBO.

OK.....I'll blame you. You get OT for sitting on your arse even at hour 1 of your duty day? Good for you if that is the case. I don't have the contract so I'll take you word for it.

 

[1234abcd]

You really think it was just coincidance that CS offered up their raise the day after the NJ contract? Your drinking JD Koolaid on that one. They just tried to appease their pilots quickly before they went on line and read the NJ contract.

 

[911lil]

I'd like an answer to birddog's question. How are the benefits?

 

[flagshipper]

I am going by memory but I think for the PPO including medical, dental, and vision for single about 100 a month, about 220 for a couple and about 300 for the family a month and they start first of the month after you hire date along with 401k. 50 cent matching up to 6%. life, short and long term disability insurance for free as well I think.

I'd like an answer to birddog's question. How are the benefits?

 

[Crobar]

I am going by memory but I think for the PPO including medical, dental, and vision for single about 100 a month, about 220 for a couple and about 300 for the family a month and they start first of the month after you hire date along with 401k. 50 cent matching up to 6%. life, short and long term disability insurance for free as well I think.

Got a voicemail message today for a position with NJA, and have an interview with CS scheduled but after reading the NJA contract and the post above, the decision is a no brainer.

The trek from ATL to PBI will be nothing compared to paying for those family bennies and the NJA 50 percent match to 15 percent on the 401k vs CS 6 percent closed the deal.

The offer was for the Falcon or the Encore, that's going to be a tougher decision

 

[SpaceBall 1]

You really think it was just coincidance that CS offered up their raise the day after the NJ contract? Your drinking JD Koolaid on that one. They just tried to appease their pilots quickly before they went on line and read the NJ contract.

Dude.......no Kool Aid drinker here. You are right.....the pay came out after the NJ deal, but you're wrong on the fact that all of the pilots were online reading the new contract well before our raise.

If I had a choice between the Falcon and Encore........Falcon no brainer. Big cabin, APU, external lav to name a few and if you leave.....you'll make more in the corp world as a Falcon driver than a Encore/Ultra driver. Yeah....there are more C-500's out there, but that type is cheaper to buy than a Falcon type.

 

[Ultra Grump]

...and the NJA 50 percent match to 15 percent on the 401k vs CS 6 percent closed the deal.

Actually, it's better than that. The company matches 50% of the first 15% per paycheck, but if you contribute more, up to the federal max ($15,000 this year), NJA does a "true-up" at the end of the year to bring it up to 50% of your total contribution for the year.

29.1(a) The Company shall make non-discretionary matching contributions equal to fifty (50) percent of pilots’ contributions to the 401(k).

The offer was for the Falcon or the Encore, that's going to be a tougher decision

That's not a tough choice at all - Falcon F/O is the cushiest job in the company!