DayJet Mins.

[On Your Six]

The target market is not necessarily the leisure market - it's the business traveller who has day-trip requirements (hence the name). I am sure there are plenty of business travellers who could use Dayjet to fly them between places like Jacksonville and Naples or Birmingham and Boca Raton - not easily reached via airlines. I've read that they plan to charge between $1-$3 per mile.

I agree that this sounds like a great job for retired airline pilots initially. Looks like a fun aircraft to fly and the schedule isn't bad. However, living in Florida on $50K for a non-retiree would be difficult.

Anyone know where the initial pilot bases would be other than PBI (I think that is where HQ is located)?

 

[p3hawk]

Think about all the furloughed pilots that might jump at this opportunity. $50k is better than nothing. especially working from 6-3.

 

[gunfyter]

I think the civilian Flight Instructors the AirForce used in single engine Cessna's out in Hondo, TX started in the 60K+ range.50K to fly a two engine jet single piloted....The gods must be crazy.

 

[Cavpilot]

Depends...

Whats the pay?

This is Don Osmunson's (Oz) outfit. Ask any senior Comair guy about how this guy runs things. I would not go there for any amount of money.

 

[RNObased]

So rich people don't want to fly on weekends or holidays? Right. We'll see how long that lasts.

According to the article on them today in the USA today, they are going after middle management types..... Hardly rich people IMHO..... The truely wealthy won't be caught dead on that jet....

 

[sweptwingz]

I sincerely wish Day Jet crews well, but as often as "lightweight" fractional jets go T/U on the road for MX, make darn sure that you have a small overnight bag with you! Rest assured, Day Jets crews won't ALWAYS be getting home each night. Especially on a brand new design that will be probably be "over-cycled" past standard design cycle limits like ALL fractional aircraft are.

 

[Corona]

I sincerely wish Day Jet crews well, but as often as "lightweight" fractional jets go T/U on the road for MX, make darn sure that you have a small overnight bag with you! Rest assured, Day Jets crews won't ALWAYS be getting home each night. Especially on a brand new design that will be probably be "over-cycled" past standard design cycle limits like ALL fractional aircraft are.

An overnight bag is always a good idea in turbine equipment.

However, the Eclipse has been specifically designed from Day One to put up with this type of high-cycle flying. It is a rather sophisticated airplane (autothrottles, etc), but has simple systems; ie no hydraulic, only electric; basic flight control systems, etc.

It's been tailored specifically for its customers' use. Funny; that's the same philosophy that Boeing and Airbus have had for years. Odd that the other corporate manufacturers whose names start with B, C, D, G and R haven't modified their philosophies given the frac model...

C

 

[Ultra Grump]

According to the article on them today in the USA today, they are going after middle management types..... Hardly rich people IMHO..... The truely wealthy won't be caught dead on that jet....

Whatever. According to the article, it'll be $3-4 per mile. With fuel costs, more likely $4 or more. Using the example of MGM-JAN, at $4/mile for 188 air miles is $752. Not many non-rich people want to pay that much to go less than 200 miles. In any case, that was not the point. Regardless of whether they're rich or not, anyone going to DayJet thinking they won't be working weekends and holidays will be in for a rude awakening.

 

[On Your Six]

Whatever. According to the article, it'll be $3-4 per mile. With fuel costs, more likely $4 or more. Using the example of MGM-JAN, at $4/mile for 188 air miles is $752. Not many non-rich people want to pay that much to go less than 200 miles. In any case, that was not the point. Regardless of whether they're rich or not, anyone going to DayJet thinking they won't be working weekends and holidays will be in for a rude awakening.[/quote]

Where do you get that impression? Do you have any details? DayJet doesn't sound like a typical fractional or 135 operation. I think it's a bit early to be making those kind of generalized statements.

Dayjet will need good and qualified pilots in order to ensure safety. And with a salary of only $50K or so initially, QOL will probably be a big retention factor...

 

[Guitar Guy]

An overnight bag is always a good idea in turbine equipment.

An overnight bag is good advice for any equipment, turbine or piston. Things break regardless of the type of powerplant.

However, the Eclipse has been specifically designed from Day One to put up with this type of high-cycle flying. It is a rather sophisticated airplane (autothrottles, etc), but has simple systems; ie no hydraulic, only electric; basic flight control systems, etc.

It's been tailored specifically for its customers' use. Funny; that's the same philosophy that Boeing and Airbus have had for years. Odd that the other corporate manufacturers whose names start with B, C, D, G and R haven't modified their philosophies given the frac model...

Embraer had a history of building regional airline equipment before the introduction of their jets and yet American Eagle had a lot of trouble upon the introduction of the ERJ's. Note, too, that JetBlue is having so-called teething troubles with their E-190's. So while Eclipse might well be trying to design high-cylce usage into their planes, the results of that effort are yet to be seen.

By the way, Cessna has tried to build the Sovereign with an eye towards the fractionals. Similarly, the long-delayed Hawker 4000 (nee Horizon) is also supposed to take into account that many of the operators will be fractionals, according to Raytheon.