Mr. Pebbles
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 29, 2006
- Posts
- 107
The world is not a pyramid. It doesn't shake out that there is one holy place that all pilots aspire to be and everywhere else is a step down. Is NJ a good company? Sure. And I don't knock anyone that goes there. However NJ has 400 some planes and 2600 some pilots. That means you have to wait until they have 800 some planes and over 5000 pilots until you can think about upgrade.
When I hired onto Avantair they had 26 planes with 59 firm orders for a plane that I think will do well in a world increasing fuel costs. I was hired as pilot 105 plus or minus 10 or so. I have to wait until they have 50 planes and 200 pilots until I upgrade. Avantair needs to hire 100 pilots until my upgrade. NetJets needed to hire 2,500. So I'm doing the math and rolling the dice. On the one hand I have worse pay and benefits than NJ. On the other hand I have the opportunity to be double digit on a seniority list that I can't see the limit to. Sure Avantair could crap out and I lose. But the benefits outweigh, in my opinion, the risk. I've lived my life thinking that it's unwise to "follow the crowd". What's Mr. Frost say? "I took the path less traveled and that has made all the difference." or something to that effect.
Anyway. I went to a job fair and NJ gave me the app package. I never filled it out. Perhaps I'll look back at that with regret, but for now I'm very happy where I'm at. My bet is (and I've lost a few bets in my life) that this choice will work out for me and my family. Good luck to you and I'm sorry I jumped on ya so hard before.
Well said. An intelligent post. I hope your life works out well for you, sir. I mean that.