Integration Day

[wolfpackpilot]

Are you guys saying that NJA guys are incapable of going through the training you have gone through to perform this flying?

Cheers from New Castle, England... First let me say that all you blabber heads sound like a bunch of RJDC/DEL MEC cry babies!

As I (a 40 yr old/3.5 year NJI G-IV Captain) was having breakfast this morning with my FO (a 61 yr old/5year NJA/I G-IV FO) we discussed this issue in depth.... civil style no less. Both of us prior military, prior Part 121, prior furlough, etc. etc.

Flying a Gulfstream is no different than flying any other jet. Where we fly them is the point here. Im sorry if I hurt your feelings Mr. Ultra Pilot, but Yang Tei China isnt Jacksonville, FL. If you think you can just show up, get through class, read a little handout and blast off for Asia with your Doc Martins on.... WRONGO!

My last tour I took a GIV to China with another cross over FO. We did some serious hard core flying. Mountainous terrain, night IMC with low ceilings, QFE conversions because we landed at a MIG fighter base airport, etc. etc. It took TWO of us to make that a safe night of flying, and I was totally exhausted. And this was my 7th trip to China.

The point here is...

• Yes, you too can learn how to fly a Gulfstream all over the world (patience young Jedi).
• No, NJI pilots are not Gods of the sky.
• Its takes $50,000 and 8 months to become a pilot... It takes time and experience to become a SAFE pilot.
• NJI pilots need to accept reality.. its gonna happen, we getting merged.
• NJA pilots need to accept that 300 Gulfstream pilots (some with big egos) with major experience are joining their ranks and there will be seat and upgrade protections for these pilots. (I for one will upgrade to a GV long before most 10 year NJA guys ever see a G4).
• NJI pilots will need to abide and function under a new set of rules. (Its Mary Q's dream come true)
• NJA pilots will need to accept the fact that several of us have serious experience in unions and will most likely take over the whole joint in less than 5 years anyway.

But seriously, enough with d*ck wagging. We could all be flying rubber dog sh*t out of Hong Kong Mavrick!

The last thing we need is a GIV/Hawker/Ultra plane on CNN news with a helicopter hovering over the crash sight.

Thats my .02 cents on the flying differences between NJA/I.

 

[Pervis]

Will someone answer how much are dues.

Dues are 1.5% of gross wages. That with per diem differences between actual paid and IRS allowance will give you the 2% required for business deductions, so you won't really notice it.

 

[RTRHD]

Dues are 1.5% of gross wages. That with per diem differences between actual paid and IRS allowance will give you the 2% required for business deductions, so you won't really notice it.

Thanks Pervis
So you get a 1099 for per diem and you need to keep track of where you been for the IRS?

 

[fischman]

My last tour I took a GIV to China with another cross over FO. We did some serious hard core flying. Mountainous terrain, night IMC with low ceilings, QFE conversions because we landed at a MIG fighter base airport, etc. etc. It took TWO of us to make that a safe night of flying, and I was totally exhausted. And this was my 7th trip to China.

You are aware the Ultra goes to ASE right? This argument that flying to China, or any other international destination, and therefore requires a more experienced pilot, is laughable. It makes you look arrogant and condescending.

We are all going to be brothers soon. No more us/them stuff. We can do your job just as well as you can do ours. (They are the same job).

 

[Pervis]

Thanks Pervis
So you get a 1099 for per diem and you need to keep track of where you been for the IRS?

Unfortunately we get nothing from company, so you have to add up per diem. Doesn't take long though.

As far as overnights, I use pilottax.com. They provide a blank form where you supply overnight locations and when you leave and return to your base-am/pm only. Again, it doesn't take long for the entire year.

Would be nice if this wonderful concur system provided it, which it should be able to, but that's a T&E issue. As it is, we do more and more of their leg work each year.

 

[Pervis]

Fischman, I don't hink that's his intenet. Overseas flying is a lot different than the lower 48, Canada, Mexico and the islands. He's not implying it takes anyone special, but experience. The only way to get that is to fly with someone who's done that. Not many on the A side has donethat lately. Even the retired legacy guys never flew into a Mig base.

When I was in USAFE, European flying was a big challenge at first, but was still super easy compared to places like Turkey. Poor communications ability, terrible language issues and far more strict airspace rules take their toll. China is no different, and I'll bet that's what he's refering to.

 

[RTRHD]

Thanks Pevis, looks like more and more work. And yes Fisch Aspen is just like China. OK we are all brothers now so lets all play nice. Or I should say Aspen and China same,same.

 

[RNObased]

Thanks Pervis
So you get a 1099 for per diem and you need to keep track of where you been for the IRS?

No, you don't get 1099 for per diem. You can keep track of where you have been for more per diem deductions, I don't. If you have a good avaition CPA that does your taxes I would talk it over with him. If you don't I will give you the number of mine, but he is a west coast guy.

Also dues aren't that big of a deal, I have made 4 times my dues this year in OT. I will take that kind of return on my money any day.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Sigh.......

I'll be back here the first week of November and we'll compare notes.


Side note to Pack: Seven times to China bro? Nine years and the closest I have been is Hong Kong. Once. And guess what, I don't need to go so you just keep on doing those trips for me and I'll keep on hiding the passport from G-3.

 

[TristarsForever]

"Flying a Gulfstream is no different than flying any other jet. Where we fly them is the point here. Im sorry if I hurt your feelings Mr. Ultra Pilot, but Yang Tei China isnt Jacksonville, FL. If you think you can just show up, get through class, read a little handout and blast off for Asia with your Doc Martins on.... WRONGO!"

Permit me to cease averting my eyes and squint before your SkyGod brilliance for a brief moment, and humbly suggest that not all of us at NJA went from our $25 intro flight to the Ultra. Could it be that some of us may have used our passports in the course of aviating before it was required for the Bahamas and Mexico? Certainly not, for then, why would there be an NJI at all? Teach, that we may learn, O Filler Out of the Crew Dec