To me looks like most of the fractionals are interested in pilots that have more experience than a regular CFI/Freight Dog route. They look like they prefer people from the regionals. Are there any cases where a Cfi got hired by Fraactionals?
I'm speaking from a regional pilot's point of view, but in short I think that most fracs are looking for pilots with previous turbine time, mostly ex-121/135/military guys. And I don't think regional guys are necessarily preferred but we probably have already been through similar training cycles in similar types of aircraft.
I happened to bump into one of our pilots who does interviews and he said that NJA usually likes to have a mix of backgrounds in each interview class, from low-timers to retirees. And he did mention that they aren't seeing as many regional pilots as they used to.
For my two cents, I think it would be a big benefit to have some sort of background with an intensive training regimen, either the airlines or at least FlightSafety or SimuFlite. I'd feel pretty sure that NJA wants to see that an applicant has shown that he or she can pass some more rigorous training. Along with that, I think they'd like to see background in some sort of professional flying above the CFI level.
But you know what? The best thing to do is apply and let them decide. And it certainly bolsters your case if you have some internal recommendations.
Don't lump Freight flying in with CFI in terms of experience level, it's a completely different world- I'd put freight experience up against that of any other type of flying. My freight company has sent loads and loads of pilots to NetJets- and they were even dumb enough to take me! We are one of the larger ones though and we operate jets as well as a prop fleet. I really got the feeling in the interview that crew experience is a big deal to them, so CFI only is probably not going to cut it unless you're an amazing interviewee.
I think any preference that you may perceive to the regionals is strictly because there are so many more regional pilots out there than freight pilots. My company is one of the bigger ones, and we have around 250 pilots. That would be tiny for a regional. If you see greater numbers of regional pilots going to NetJets, it doesn't necessarily mean a greater success rate for regional pilots in an interview compared to other types of pilots. Based on my interview group and that of a few friends who have interviewed recently, there will be a good mix of 121, 135 and part 91 represented- but you'll have to look really hard to find applicants without crew experience.
Yeah, the guy I know was an exception rather than the rule to NJA hiring CFI's direct. He was CFIing at CMH for NetJets for a few years and knew the right people. He's a great guy and obviously a good pilot, but he is the only one that I know to have made the big jump without having to slug it out at Airnet or at a regional.
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