Leave Fortune 100 for NJA?

[FurloughedAgain]

If all you guys would stop saying stupid things I wouldn't have to argue.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

G200 doesn't argue...he counsels others on why they are wrong.

"Be happy, I told you everything that was wrong with you"

 

[Fozzy]

Why is it many NJA flyguys feel like they hit the jackpot when 12am strikes on their 7th day and they are still in the center seat of a SWA flight home? Is that extra cash worth it?

You better believe it! It is not penny's we are talking about.

 

[johnsonrod]

Hey, big Fortune 100 companies can be very vulnerable. Who ever thought GM's market capitalization would be $5.6 billion. Really? It is now. Who knows how that and the closure of numerous auto plants could impact their travel needs? Just a couple years ago GM would be considered one of the top corporate jobs out there... Now, the future for that flight department could be a little hazy - perhaps they won't need as much lift for awhile...

My point is that "cherry" corporate jobs can quickly vanish too - you are always one merger or one restructuring away from networking again... Watch out as "activist" investors scrutinize company P&Ls looking for "expensive" assets like Gulfstreams and Global Expresses - these are the first things to go in a takeover.

Personally, if given the choice, I would take Netjets. Sure, Netjets might not be a sure thing (nothing is), but I'd rather spread the risk over many more owners than just one flight department. That's my $0.02.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Hey, big Fortune 100 companies can be very vulnerable. Who ever thought GM's market capitalization would be $5.6 billion. Really? It is now. Who knows how that and the closure of numerous auto plants could impact their travel needs? Just a couple years ago GM would be considered one of the top corporate jobs out there... Now, the future for that flight department could be a little hazy - perhaps they won't need as much lift for awhile...

My point is that "cherry" corporate jobs can quickly vanish too - you are always one merger or one restructuring away from networking again... Watch out as "activist" investors scrutinize company P&Ls looking for "expensive" assets like Gulfstreams and Global Expresses - these are the first things to go in a takeover.

Personally, if given the choice, I would take Netjets. Sure, Netjets might not be a sure thing (nothing is), but I'd rather spread the risk over many more owners than just one flight department. That's my $0.02.

Who would have thought GM would be going broke? many people.

Toyota is putting 5K premiums on a POS Prius and good old Chevy is still pushing H2 Hummers and Suburbans at 10K off and 0% for 8 years. Yup, they are collecting dust.

Also, every time I see a Pontiac Aztec I am reminded as to why they are going out of business. Who could come up with such a thing? WTF?

The pickup truck crutch of the last 20yrs is now gone. This is really not a surprise, is it?

I mean, how many rental cars can a place produce?

I know, way off topic and you were just looking for an example.....but this is not a good one! They can blame oil all they want, but it just made the flatspin a little faster.

Sad to say.

 

[54fighting]

Stop making sense, G

 

[skiandsurf]

I know, way off topic and you were just looking for an example.....but this is not a good one! They can blame oil all they want, but it just made the flatspin a little faster.

Sad to say.

There is a hanger at an airport in the south, that used to be home to a "good size" flight department. At one time they had a few Gs......and a much bigger plane as well. They had two hangars, 20+/- pilots, 12+ FAs, mechanics. It was the envy of flight depatments. Today....they still own the hangars, but they rent out the space to others, and they employee one (maybe 2) in their aviation department. He oversees the hangar.

Just sayin'.

 

[Hugh Johnson]

I've tried to read all the entries here and I may have missed some, BUT, I think fuel prices and the economy slow down are going to affect NJ. Correct me please, but doesn't NJ add a surcharge to flights to cover fuel price increases? Like any 135 or management company, at some point the borderline customers reduce or stop flying in bad economic times. When contracts come due in the next year or so, how many customers don't renew their share? I don't see NJ as being as rosy an opportunity for a new hire. They are going to have to weather this just like the airlines.

 

[skiandsurf]

I've tried to read all the entries here and I may have missed some, BUT, I think fuel prices and the economy slow down are going to affect NJ. Correct me please, but doesn't NJ add a surcharge to flights to cover fuel price increases? Like any 135 or management company, at some point the borderline customers reduce or stop flying in bad economic times. When contracts come due in the next year or so, how many customers don't renew their share? I don't see NJ as being as rosy an opportunity for a new hire. They are going to have to weather this just like the airlines.

You make a valid point. But remember, if they dont fly due to high fuel prices, they still have to pay their monthly fees. And if we lose some of the folks that are borderline rich, we will likely pick up others that dont want to fly that gas guzzling G2.

Its a trade off. Some small flight depts with older planes might sell the planes and buy into a more efficient plane. Maybe someone has a G2 or G3, and they will keep it, but add a QS Ultra, for the smaller flights.

But yeah, nothing is safe in the flying business.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Some small flight depts with older planes might sell the planes and buy into a more efficient plane.

Hey now. These are hard times. Let's not wish ill of our brothers in order to improve our own lot in life.

 

[skiandsurf]

Hey now. These are hard times. Let's not wish ill of our brothers in order to improve our own lot in life.

I am not wishing ill will on anyone. I am just stating the facts. If you read my next line in that previous post, I said that others will keep their G2 and supplement it with a QS ultra.

Just the facts.

...And yes, fact is, NJs will lose some owners.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I am not wishing ill will on anyone. I am just stating the facts. If you read my next line in that previous post, I said that others will keep their G2 and supplement it with a QS ultra.

Just the facts.

...And yes, fact is, NJs will lose some owners.

G2's? G3's?

are you serious?

Does anyone outside of bottom feeder charter run these things anymore??

Pilots love to think of themselves as immune. Look at all the DAL/United guys in the late 90's.....They were set for life.

 

[LegacyDriver]

Thought MGM still had a G-III based in KLAS.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Thought MGM still had a G-III based in KLAS.

Did they not go all Falcons?

 

[LegacyDriver]

HAHAHA!

Now why would they do something lame like that? Falcons *SUCK*!

The only people who like Falcons are those who drink the koolaid.

(Falcons have some good points, but they're not that numerous IMHO. The plane is overrated--you know that from firsthand experience!)

 

[2EASYPilot]

HAHAHA!

Now why would they do something lame like that? Falcons *SUCK*!

The only people who like Falcons are those who drink the koolaid.

(Falcons have some good points, but they're not that numerous IMHO. The plane is overrated--you know that from firsthand experience!)

The "joker" returns....

 

[LegacyDriver]

July 18th to a theater near you.

Can't wait to see that.

 

[matthewjohn]

Add this to the mix: My department has 2 new aircraft (easy to sell). In the 3 years I have been there 95% of our flying comprise of: 1) 2x a week shuttle to a point that is 200mi driving distance, 2) once every other month we use both planes and go to TEB for company meetings, 3) the founder of the company (who is mid 90's, ya, and has been the MAJOR propenent for airplanes for the past # of years) averages 2-3 days a week. And of all that #3 is about 50% of the useage. I can almost see with the natural progression of time the companys "need" for airplanes to be different. Maybe I am reading too much into things.

 

[Busflyer]

Especially after reading your last post I would be thinking NJA(or at least looking for a new part 91 gig) As others have mentioned one of the biggest things is the 7n7 schedule, if you have never worked anything similar to it you will be in for a big change. I personally like the 7n7 but I some of the captains I fly with hate it...I'm not at NJA but same deal we just have no choice other than 7n7 but it is one of the biggest factors involved for some people. I would love to go to 14n14 but that makes 95% of the people cringe!

B

 

[Entropy]

I've been with NJA about 1.5 years. I didn't read the whole thread, but one thing to consider is upgrade time if you get hired now. Upgrade is currently 3+ and rising. The company has stated a goal of 5000 pilots, we're around 2800 now, and the typical PIC/SIC ratio is 60/40%. This means upgrades for new hires may be only from attrition.
Its a great place to be, but in the game of musical chair upgrade the music is stopping.
Something to consider...