NetJets or SkyWest

[rajflyboy]

Yes... its true

FO's need 250 hours in the airplane before they can fly PAX according to company policy.

FO's can be nothing but gear b*tches at Netjets... depending on the Captains you fly with. In fact, some captains won't even let other captains fly with pax.

This policy needs to change. Unfortunately I don't think Netjets will ever change it.

 

[rattler]

I flew for a company that had that policy. I thought it was garbage. So I made my own policy, we alternated every leg, bad weather, pax. whatever! If you are qualified to fly the airplane, then on my ship, you will fly it.

I was never an FO at this company, I was hired as a "street captain".

 

[CRAWDADDY]

Career wise your friend would be better off at Skywest. Airtran requires 500 pic in a 121 enviroment. FedEx requires 1000 hours pic >20,000 lbs. The ultra doesn't measure up.

Also over the first 5 years at Skywest your friend will make over $40,000 more than at NetJets.

For us to get a "KICK A$$" contract it is going to get NASTY, really nasty.

You'll get the PIC time faster at Skywest. At Nutjets, you don't always fly as PIC after upgrade and if the interviewer doesn't know our operation, this takes some 'splainin'. As for AirTran, they seem to be overlooking the part 121 stuff for fractionals, but this isn't written in stone and they may start excluding our guys again like some of the big boys did years ago. As for FedEx, I think the >20k bit was for turbo props. At least that was the case when I interviewed. Nevertheless, heavier-the-better.
Hope that helps.

BTW, Netjets could be the best aviation job in the world. Sad thing is, nobody with the bucks to do it is interested. WB makes just under a billion in one day and 650+ employees are waiting for the pink slips to turn up in the mail!

 

[Smoked Toilet]

if im not mistaken, the latest bids showed em2 capt under 1 year, and an rj capt or two under 2 years

 

[flyfish]

Netjets


1.they call you out to go sit at the fbo's for hours without food
2.schedulers make sure you dont get released on your last day until your day has been wasted away doing nothing
3.gone is your ability to jumpseat
4.you will enter into a hostile environment where they pay the pilots crap and the union is negotiating for money which it wont get
5.the company will waste 2 weeks a year of your time sending you to cmh for company recurrent then 6 days of worthless sim from fsi ...
6. the company wont allow you to fly pax legs
7. they will allow you to load bags, catering and dump coffee

lastly, goto skywest..a much better company from what I hear.

1.) Rarely happens. I welcome days when I sit in a FBO. As far as the food, I have never had trouble getting more than I need. Better yet, grab a crew car and get a hot meal.
2.) Sometimes happens, I usually get flown back to my base by 7pm. or earlier. But I usually do a revenue trip or two on my last day.
3.) Jumpseated for 5 years as a former 121 guy. Hated it, don't care if I ever did again. I use my airline miles and take my family with. Usually can take 2 round trips a year wife and 2 kids included.
4.)crap pay now, yes. But, I believe we improve dramatically in the next contract.
5.)Paid. And not worthless.
6). I offer pax legs to all FO's from the right seat. Only 2 have taken me up on it. Most like to fly left seat on empty leg. Big deal anyway.
7.) Part of the job, so what.

 

[Heavy Set]

1.) Rarely happens. I welcome days when I sit in a FBO. As far as the food, I have never had trouble getting more than I need. Better yet, grab a crew car and get a hot meal.
2.) Sometimes happens, I usually get flown back to my base by 7pm. or earlier. But I usually do a revenue trip or two on my last day.
3.) Jumpseated for 5 years as a former 121 guy. Hated it, don't care if I ever did again. I use my airline miles and take my family with. Usually can take 2 round trips a year wife and 2 kids included.
4.)crap pay now, yes. But, I believe we improve dramatically in the next contract.
5.)Paid. And not worthless.
6). I offer pax legs to all FO's from the right seat. Only 2 have taken me up on it. Most like to fly left seat on empty leg. Big deal anyway.
7.) Part of the job, so what.

While there are a lot of negatives out there about NJA (certainly the pay needs to improve big time soon), it is refreshing to hear some positive voices on this forum because most of the posters focus on just the negatives. No job is perfect... But this one can certainly be improved. I've heard a lot of negatives about Skywest too.

 

[ghostrider64]

Well this is my first post here...But I've been here at Netjets for 6 years now...I wouldn't say don't come here but I would say be sure and get the facts first....

Fact 1 don't believe what the company tells you before you get hired...I made the mistake of believing them and it cost my 6 months in a crash pad and a year with no extended days on FO pay....

Fact 2 There has been a huge shift in the attitude of the pilots here over the past 5 years...It's all been negative...Hell we get excited now over a little billboard that SU put up in CMH...Pretty pathetic but something to cheer about...

Fact 3 Upgrade time to Capt is well over 4 years now...We did have one coup recently to get a bunch of 2 year FO's on capt pay but I don;t see that happening for at least another 2 years...All bids are going senior...In fact many are bidding out of larger airplanes to get better schedules in smaller ones...In other words capt are bidding for the open capt slots...Doesn't leave much of a chance for FO's to get the bids...

Fact 4 no one knows what the future will hold...Things are just as much a crap shoot as they were 5 years ago...To be honest if I weren't so old I would choose a different profession all together...Actually I might even become an RN...Quality of life, good pay and home every night are much more important as I age and I miss my kids...

Fact 5 you have only yourself to look at in the mirror when you decide...But make sure you ask an FO here how his life is before you ask a Capt..

 

[niteflyr]

What He Said

I was going to answer all the numbered points, but flyfish beat me to it so I will just ditto what he said, well put.

And he fly fishes, must be a smart one in my book. Waiting for the spring hatches myself....

 

[TurboJetCpt]

Go to Skywest.

 

[flyfish]

And he fly fishes, must be a smart one in my book. Waiting for the spring hatches myself....

Me too!!

 

[Lord Wakefield]

Go to Skywest.

Agreed. If things get better here with the next contract, you can always try here again later. You and TurboJetCpt.

 

[CheckandSet]

2nd year jet at skywest - you will make around 45,000. The flying is not as cool as corporate flying, but I think a job at sky west is a whole lot better than cleaning nasty aircraft when you ready to go home.

 

[CRAWDADDY]

The flying is not as cool as corporate flying, but I think a job at sky west is a whole lot better than cleaning nasty aircraft when you ready to go home.

Not always as bad as Check&Set makes it sound, but it is a fact of life on the road sometimes. Hopefully, your capt won't make you do it all yourself.

If you decide to come here, good luck! Nevertheless, I agree with the suggestion to go to Skywest and re-apply if things get better with the contract.

You can always get another job with 121 time under your belt. Time at Netjets is another matter.

 

[ghostrider64]

BTW If you are looking for PIC time to go onto bigger and better definately do not come to NJA...Ask some of the 3 and 4 year capts how often they actually fly as capt....

 

[Captain Overs]

I think there are two things you should be concerned with: 1) What is my longterm plan? 2) Do I want to fly 121 or 135/91? I fly 121 and although some friends at the Fractionals make more money than I do, I wouldn't want all the non flying related B.S. that they do. I like showing up and being a pilot. I don't have to flight plan, load bags, be a FA, sit around at FBO's. When you think about it......all those extra jobs they better pay more than a 121 operator.