Flying CL300 International w/ Flexjet question?

[johnsonrod]

Big news is that JetBlue finally has a retirement package along with getting a raise. Should put a dent in the staffing up north.

The Indy exodus continues.

Have former-Indy Flexjet pilots been leaving for JetBlue? Personally, I don't see much incremental benefit to leaving Flexjet - now if we are talking Southwest or Fedex then I might understand.

I've heard that a number of JetBlue guys recently left for Netjets but not the other way around...

 

[walshsfly]

Have former-Indy Flexjet pilots been leaving for JetBlue? Personally, I don't see much incremental benefit to leaving Flexjet - now if we are talking Southwest or Fedex then I might understand.

I've heard that a number of JetBlue guys recently left for Netjets but not the other way around...

Some have but they weren't cut out for this type of flying.

 

[johnsonrod]

Some have but they weren't cut out for this type of flying.

I agree, but who would want to go back to 121 flying if you are not earning the huge SWA, Fedex/UPS, Delta paychecks? I think flying the E190 for JetBlue would resemble regional flying given how they fly it. Certainly fractional flying isn't for everyone, but 121 flying can get very boring quickly...

 

[Wiggums]

I agree, but who would want to go back to 121 flying if you are not earning the huge SWA, Fedex/UPS, Delta paychecks?

JetBlue is the bottom of all majors, but still has advantages over Flex. Starting pay is almost 10k better. A320 FO pay is about equal to lear captain pay starting year 2. Top rate is about 40k better. Also, more days off, extra 7% for retirement, days turns, finer control over the schedule.

Excluding first year pay, most other majors are even better.

 

[C604Pilot]

Wigs-

Sounds like your headed to JB. Question is are you part of the "Indy Exodus" that Walsh described?

 

[johnsonrod]

I agree, but who would want to go back to 121 flying if you are not earning the huge SWA, Fedex/UPS, Delta paychecks?

JetBlue is the bottom of all majors, but still has advantages over Flex. Starting pay is almost 10k better. A320 FO pay is about equal to lear captain pay starting year 2. Top rate is about 40k better. Also, more days off, extra 7% for retirement, days turns, finer control over the schedule.

Excluding first year pay, most other majors are even better.

I guess the JetBlue pilots who recently left for Netjets (quite a few from what I have heard) weren't cut out for "regional" flying in the E190. I've hear that the A320 pilots work pretty hard and they can fly a ridiculous number of red-eyes per tour. We are talking arriving in PHX at 11AM from BOS or JFK and then leaving at 11PM that same day for a red-eye to JFK and then repeat the next evening with a flight to OAK. The LGB base has terrible schedules too. I know a JetBlue 320 FO who is actively looking to get out. I guess no airline is perfect, but I have not heard many good things about JetBlue schedules. To each his own I guess...

 

[Wiggums]

I guess the JetBlue pilots who recently left for Netjets (quite a few from what I have heard) weren't cut out for "regional" flying in the E190.

Flex is not NetJets. NetJets has better pay, better retirement, yearly COLA raises, and they work less days per year. If I was a junior guy who is planning on making a career of fractional flying I would seriously consider switching.

The LGB base has terrible schedules too.

Doesn't matter what airline, small satellite bases are typical awful for junior guys. Your forever on reserve, and then when you can finally hold a line there isn't much to choose from.

I think the important thing that FlexJet pilots can glean from the JetBlue situation is that their pilots were unhappy with their compensation, they brought that up to management, and management has adjusted their pay twice in the last year. This was all accomplished without a union. Maybe FlexJet pilots could accomplish the same thing to bring their compensation closer to NetJets.

 

[walshsfly]

Flex is not NetJets. NetJets has better pay, better retirement, yearly COLA raises, and they work less days per year. If I was a junior guy who is planning on making a career of fractional flying I would seriously consider switching.



Doesn't matter what airline, small satellite bases are typical awful for junior guys. Your forever on reserve, and then when you can finally hold a line there isn't much to choose from.

I think the important thing that FlexJet pilots can glean from the JetBlue situation is that their pilots were unhappy with their compensation, they brought that up to management, and management has adjusted their pay twice in the last year. This was all accomplished without a union. Maybe FlexJet pilots could accomplish the same thing to bring their compensation closer to NetJets.

Maybe and just maybe, if you don't work for FlexJet then you don't know what the F your talking about. I think and just maybe I think if I wanted to learn how to run a G200 off a runway then Netjets is where I should work?

 

[CL300Pilot]

I think and just maybe I think if I wanted to learn how to run a G200 off a runway then Netjets is where I should work?

Dude, that is really uncalled for. I enjoy watching you banter with the NJA guys, but karma has a way of biting you in the tail. While the 300 is an excellent aircraft, the people flying it and the aircraft are not infalable (sp).

The bottom line is this. On paper, and NJA guys don't take offense, NJA is the better place to go. However, if you are considering either Flex or NJA, talk to the pilots of each and see how they feel about their company. Yes, money is great. But if you don't like what you are doing or who you are working for, then why be there. I run into NJA guys on the road who are unhappy just like there are Flex guys unhappy. You as an individual need to decide what is more important to you and go with.

Life is too short to be miserable. Fly safe.

 

[RNObased]

Maybe and just maybe, if you don't work for FlexJet then you don't know what the F your talking about. I think and just maybe I think if I wanted to learn how to run a G200 off a runway then Netjets is where I should work?

Hopefully the karma police are out there somewhere, reading this.

I realize you are probably a god in the cockpit and have never made a mistake and probably forgot more about flying then most of us know.

However knowing NOTHING about a incident, then SHOOTING your mouth off on a web site that protects your idenity is chicken ******************** in the extreme.

You sir are a ASS, and a embarresment to the good people of Flexjet.