FRAC Overnights

[sweptwingz]

NJA quality of life = fleet type

I can't emphasize enough that NJA RON quality of life is fleet specific.
When I was an Ultra driver, 12-14 hour days, with 4-7 legs, and 10
hour turns- show at "legal", were the NORM.

In the C-650 (VII), a 2-3 leg day is normal. One leg days are common.
A 12-14 hour overnight (or longer) is the norm.

Get some senority, and get the @#$%!! out of the Ultra. There is a very
valid reason why all of the Ultra PIC bids are unfilled, and the company
is having to hire pilots right into the C-560.

The Ultra is a great airplane, but Netjets runs it like a commuter.

 

[FL450]

True, a lot of it depends on the fleet you're in. Another factor is how you choose to budget your time to take advantage of opportunities as they are presented. Sometime being a "door clicker" has its place, especially after a 14 hr day with minimum rest the night before,(most likely several in a row), or a scheduled early am show. Learning how to budget the guaranteed 10 hours is the key most times, above and beyond that is gravy!

 

[CCDiscoB]

I'm really glad I asked this question. I learned a lot about the FRAC business. I do regret associating beer with a layover. I knew it would turn into an Alcoholic’s Anonymous issue. Although I know many you would have a drink if the layover was greater than 12 hours. Anyway, 14-hour days followed by 10 hours off for 7 days in a row, that’s a very demanding work schedule and all for $40K a year. I’ve got to give NetJets management credit, to make money in today’s economy you’ve got to work your people.

 

[sweptwingz]

It can be a lot worse...

CCDiscoB, if you want to really get educated, talk to some of the
scheduled commuter drivers who can do 10-12 legs a day, with
(stand-up) reduced rest, overnights, while flying 80-90 hours a
month. Oh yeah....many of those pilots do it for 21K a year or less.
I was once one of those miserable wretches. I must have been
insane.
I now average about 25 hours a month and will make about
70K this year. Underpaid? Sure. But for now it sure beats
hanging dry-wall.
I WILL agree with you that any company that can trust their pilots
with the keys to 15 million worth of turbine equipment, should trust
them enough to know when to have (or not have) a cold one.
It's like the random urine tests. The FAA confirms that less than
1/2 of 1 percent tested show positive. Read: There is NO DRUG
PROBLEM among professional pilots.

I for one, am very tired of not being trusted. Punish the criminals,
not the law abiding citizens.

 

[8vATE]

Not sure where the one poster comes up with commuters
flying 10-12 legs... 4-7 legs a day unless you're doing some
sort of island shuttle maybe.....the 21,000 a year is not far off
for starters though...

Comair,ASA,Skywest,Eagle and to a lesser degree Mesa,ACA
are decent jobs that will get you in to a Small Jet with decent
schedules and top you out at somewhere in the 60-90 dollar an
hour range... the standup continuous duty stuff is awful though..
Comair seems to do a lot of that...

Anyways... the fractionals seem to be a good option that will
get better as working conditions/productivity issues get
evened out...

If you want to drink get on at SWA... "Party Central" as told
by a buddy over there...

Thanks for the info from you guys at the Fractionals..
Keep it coming...

 

[sparticusflt]

Re: Slight Overreaction

Please tell me Net Jet pilots are not like this guy.



This was hidden in another thread. He continued to go off. This guy strikes me as one of those Sky Nazi geeks that everyone rolls their eyes at.

Alright CC, you are absolutely right about me being a ski nazi geek. That is my so called personality. For those that actually know me and my personality I'd be willing to bet any amount of money that they would all laugh at that one. First of all do you actually think that pilots are the only ones that read this board? No not at all. Second use your brain, four pilots have lost their jobs due to getting caught drinking. USA is one of the few countries that actually make their pilots do any sort of drug and alcohol testing. Hell a buddy of mine at BA can drink wine with his dinner in the aircraft. Would you say that because four pilots get caught drunk at the airport there might be a little tension and a little negative attitude towards pilots because of this? How many of you want to have to blow in a tube before starting the engines? Think it couldn't happen? Well I'd wadger that it could. Already we are getting drug and alcohal tested, whats to stop them from making us use a blow test before every flight? Do you think the technology is not readily available? I don't want to start my day by doing this. I'm all up for having a beer at the end of the day or one its many flavorfull companions, however I'm not about to lose my job over it. At NJA the rule is 12 hours, if there is a 10 hour turn and you have a drink within that time and get caught then you are fired. That is the rule when a pilot comes here. It might not be fair or logical, it is simply the rule.

If you are curious about life on the road and have serious questions about NJA then ask away. If you are gonna post something rediculous on the board about drinking on the road. Then keep those questions to yourself. I don't care to hear someone make pilots look foolish, stupid or irresponsible to the general public and to fellow pilots. Hell you did an affective job making yourself look stupid. You have slammed me which is fine and called me a coward for not signing the end of my posts. I'll go ahead and sign at the end of this one. This way when it comes time for you to blackball me at the majors it will make it very easy for you.

Sparky Harris
NJA 800XP PIC
Chicago, MDW

Come and get me CC.

 

[sweptwingz]

Trust me.

Not sure where the one poster comes up with commuters
flying 10-12 legs... 4-7 legs a day unless you're doing some
sort of island shuttle maybe.....the 21,000 a year is not far off
for starters though...


8vATE, I flew the BE-1900 for USAir Express / FL Gulf in the mid 1980s,
based in the Florida panhandle. Our typical week day run was 4-6 legs.
The week-end shift had a 10 leg day, and a 12 leg day. It was horrible.
(We were a Mesa carrier.)
I'm glad the hear that things seem to be a little "saner" for commuter
pukes these days. When I did it I felt like sky slave.