NetJets A/C?

[proav]

Can some of you insiders give some pros and cons to the NetJets fleet as far as pilot prefrences? Which have the most comfortable cockpits, which have the best schedules, where are the most common destinations for each type, etc.
I won't be picky if they ask which plane I would like to fly because the worst one they have is 10 times nicer than what I am flying now. I would be perfectly happy in the Ultra because it is closest to what I am already use to but what are some advantages and disadvantages of the other types?

Anyone?

 

[sparticusflt]

800xp has one of the best cockpit seats, its retro, slow, no closet space, hardly any baggage unless backing up a Excel trip.

One of the best chairs asides from the Falcons.

Then again those guys eat warm food at altitude. Who would want a FA on board anyway?

 

[sweptwingz]

Netjets aircraft, my 2 cents...

BBJ 737, the easiest schedules, but you'll never see this airplane
unless you have a senority number below 200.
Some international work. Our best pay scale aircraft.

Falcon 2000, second easiest schedule, and most senior a/c next
to the BBJ. Flight attendant, hot meals, "skate duty"
most of the time. Some long legs. Great cockpit.
Some international work.


Citation VII, very good schedule, 2 to 3 legs per day is the norm.
aircraft breaks often, causing lots of time off. Small
cockpit. This plane goes quite senior for 7 / 7
schedule on PICs. Medium length legs (90 mins)
seem to be average.


Hawker 1000, good schedule, aircraft breaks often, old technology,
rumor has it that this will be our next retiring fleet.


Hawker 800, as mentioned, excellent seats, small luggage space,
this plane is getting busier. Popular with crews and
passengers alike. Tours can be easy or hard.


Citation Excel, Clean cockpit, (although small) good APU, huge
luggage area.This plane can work you quite hard.
Can (and will) do lots of short (podunk) airports.

Citation X, Very cramped cockpit, space shuttle type EFIS,
aircraft breaks often, but crews can be worked
very hard. The number one money maker for
Netjets. Lots of long X/C legs coast to coast.
Huge luggage area. Some Hawaii trips.

Ultra, Small cockpit, no APU. You will roast in the summer,
freeze in the winter. Lots of short legs. 4 - 6 legs
daily. The x and the Ultra are our 2 hardest working
aircraft. This is the least popular aircraft to fly from
a work standpoint. Has excellent EFIS and is a strong
performer at hot and high airports. Lots of short
runways, non controlled fields. Some Carribean trips.


All Netjets aircraft have EFIS, and FMS. Most have Honeywell
Primus (or Sperry) avionics. Most have TCAS as well. All cockpits
are exceptionally well equipped.

 

[Just Peachy]

thanks for the pilots view breakdown on the aircraft type.. I have an interview coming up and IF asked what plane I would like, I now know what to say..........BOEING ..... LOL.

Seriously, Thanks.

 

[proav]

Thanks for the information. It looks like the Ultra got the award for the smallest cockpit and that is good news to me because I am
flying a 501SP write now and usually brag to people about how comfortable the cockpit is! Of course I compare it to the 690 Commander that I fly and anyone that has flown one will tell you that you have as much room in the front of a C-150 as the Commander! I am use to burning up in the summer and freezing in the winter also so it sounds like I would be a perfect candidate for the Ultra. Now all I have to do is get past the interview and somehow convince them to hire me. If they ask me which plane I would like to fly I can honestly tell them it doesn't matter! Anything as big or bigger than the Ultra is icing on the cake for me!!

Once again, thanks for the post! Any more opinions out there?

 

[sweptwingz]

The Ultra is your friend

proav, you have a good attitude. As for placing the Ultra at the bottom
of the "want to fly" list, please understand that ALL of the Netjets a/c
are super airplanes.

I flew the Ultra for 4 years and loved it. The C-560 climbs like a Lear, will operate all day long from short strips, laughs at most 2nd segment climb requirements, and is as reliable as a 1911 .45 ACP.

It is also a genuine blast to fly. I'd have stayed in the Ultra, but the
constant 4-6 leg days, with zero-dark thirty shows, were taking their
toll.

I sincerely wish you well with your employment goals.

 

[proav]

I agree, all of the NetJets fleet are nice planes and nicely equipped. Being at the bottom of the list is definetly a relative term. I hope I get the oppurtunity to fly one or more of them!
You mentioned the Ultra has a lot of "dark thirty show times". Is it anymore so with the Ultra verses the 650?
I would like to hear some typical flight schedules and itenararies.
Don't know if that is the correct spelling.

 

[sweptwingz]

There are so many variables....

All of Netjets aircraft can work hard or easy, there are just too many
variables. There are some Netjets facts you can count on:

1. East coast based pilots work more tours than west coast based pilots.

2. Avoid CMH and MCO if you want to get some sleep. Both have local
Citation MX, and often spit the planes out of routine at midnight. If
you're legal , dispatch has "got ya" for a zero dark-thirty.

3. If you have a "western" tour you will work MUCH LESS. The N.E.
U.S. is where the action is. We call it the vortex, or whirlpool,
cause it sucks you in, and never lets go for an entire tour.


A typical (actual) Ultra day: 0500 show. 0600 ferry from MCO to
TEB, 0930 2 pax to DCA, 1230 ferry
to PDK, 1430 4 pax MMU, 1730 ferry to
HPN to position for next day.


A typical (actual) VII day: 0800 show, 0900 ferry to ORF, 1200 2 pax
to TPA. 1500 ferry to LUK for MX. Give up
aircraft.

Again, there are just too many variables. I've had 5 leg days in the C-650,
and 2 leg days in the Ultra. You never know....but on AVERAGE, I worked
twice (or 3 times!) as hard in the Ultra compared to the VII.

If you need to build jet PIC quickly bid the Ultra or X. If you want a
life and some sleep, try the Falcon, VII, 1000, or 800XP.

 

[proav]

Awesome information! Thanks for the examples. At this point in
my career I am not interested in building time to go somewhere else. I am more interested in working a hard day but not neccessarily a crazy day. If NetJets will hire me I am there for the
long haul!
How hard is it to bid into the VII for a new hire?
I would use STL for a gateway. What is the work like out of there?

 

[sweptwingz]

You might get lucky

STL guys typically airline out to the aircraft on the first day of their
tour.

When interviewed, you will be asked what you want to fly.
Tell them what aircraft you'd like to drive, you might get lucky.
New hires are placed "where the company needs them" with
some regard to experience level. I've seen helicopter background
newbies get the Falcon, and retired B-757 pukes shoved in the Ultra.
The training fates can get weird at times....

Sim availablility, training slots, and aircraft delivery dates, all factor
in as well.

( Be smart, don't tell them you want to fly an aircraft that doesn't work
hard....or you'll probably be shown the door.)

 

[proav]

That's sound advice.
I really wouldn't mind several legs a day. My current position requires some very long days and I do it with a smile of course, but given the choice I would go with the shorter day. I fly a 690 Commander from the central US to the Bahamas and back with multiple stops along the way in one day. That's a tough day! It usually comes out to about 9.5 hours of flight time.
Are there any rumors floating around about the new contract? Pay, gateways, or anything? I don't want to sound picky because I definetly am not. I am just hungry for any NetJets info that I can get my hands on and am curious as to what the future looks like for the company.

Thanks

 

[sweptwingz]

The contract

There are lots of rumours floating around concerning our new contract.

The union and the company have been at the table since Oct. of 2001
and we still aren't ready for our first vote. The union is literally re-writing
the entire contract, line by line. I was told not to expect a vote before
the end of the year, and perhaps longer.

My opinions: Yes, we will see a raise. How much? Given this economy,
and the current pilot glut, who can say. I am fairly sure we will be the
highest paid fractional when all is said and done.

Gateways: I'm not sure.

Pay by weight: I've been told it's possible, some say probable.