NetJets upgrade time?

[AviatorTim]

NetJets HR claims it take 18-24 months to upgrade at NetJets. Can any current NetJets pilots comment if that is accurate? Has anyone been longer than that who wants to upgrade but cannot?

Tim

 

[Xdriver]

No thats not accurate. Id say 3 years now BUT it could come down with more planes and several of our over age 60 pilots leaving. Either way its a while if one is hired today.

 

[Lrjet55]

You know Griz, with the industry leading contract were going to get so many people will quit that upgrade time could change.

Just a though.....70K after 5 years, gee how'd we get so lucky.....

 

[Live4flyng]

Isn't it just thrilling to know that NJA has been in negotiations for more than 3 years to receive a $9000.00 pay raise per year after 5 years of service? That's a whole $750/month extra you will get to see on those paychecks and have to give up many of the gateways in existance. I have heard NetJoke was broke, but they must be really broke if the pilots are giving concessions to the company. I bet the first T/A gets voted down and we will be negotiating for another year at least!

 

[Correcting]

NetJets HR claims it take 18-24 months to upgrade at NetJets

They're dreaming.

 

[JetProp]

NetJets HR claims it take 18-24 months to upgrade at NetJets. Can any current NetJets pilots comment if that is accurate? Has anyone been longer than that who wants to upgrade but cannot?

Tim

2+ years and counting, still several hundred numbers below the most jr UG in the last round. Who knows? In this business things could change tomorrow.

 

[English]

I just talked with a buddy of mine a few days ago. He was hired in summer of 2002, and says he is 400 numbers away from upgrade. He figures that will be AT LEAST another year.

 

[Snakeplt]

ALL NEW HIRES 4 TO 5 YEARS MINIMUM !!!! Too many people ahead of you to upgrade...this is a fact and I don't blame Nutjets for this as they cannot control it BUT they sure as hell can control the LIES they are telling the "potential" new hires...DO NOT BELIEVE ANY ESTIMATE UNDER 3 YEARS...but I would be prepared to hold my breath for at least FIVE YEARS for ANY new-hires to upgrade ! JUST SAY NO !

 

[NJA Capt]

Telling newhires that upgrades are 4-5 years might be as much garbage as telling them 1 year.

A lot of guys are stuck without an upgrade because of the reduction of a/c deliveries and hiring. I agree that they shouldn't be telling bogus info to newhires. I guess that's what happens when they take the pilots off the hiring panel.

The guys hired in the last two years haven't seen the explosive grown that can happen. It may well be 5 years to upgrade, or it could change in a year.

At one point, we were taking delivery of 1 airplane every 6 days. There were capt bids going out for 20-50 pilots at a time. While still hiring 50-60 pilots per month to boot. IF we see that kind of growth again with the 400XP, Sovereign and G150, 300 of those guys will get their upgrade pretty fast. We still have orders out there for over 1000 total aircraft. We only have 330 in CMH.

Why is upgrade time that important anyway? If you compare upgrade times to the airlines, 4 years is a breeze. Try 9-15+ years as an FO. The only reason I can see is for people to get their 1000 PIC turbine to jump ship.

 

[Mudworm]

I heard on Imus the other morning on one of his commercials for his buddy RS that every NetJets Aircraft is piloted by 2 Captains. I undersdtand that all pilots are typed but either they should change the langauge or pay both as Captains. That FO pay is pathetic (as is the Captains for that matter).

 

[Live4flyng]

Why is upgrade time that important anyway? If you compare upgrade times to the airlines, 4 years is a breeze. Try 9-15+ years as an FO.

Well.....It's important because FOs at NJA only make $27K/year. Doesn't seem very breezy on that kind of pay, and definately not attractive for experienced or quality pilots. Sorry to detract from your optimism NJA CPT, but 3-5 years for an upgrade is a reasonable expectation at NJA, especially if they plan on paying by class. There are so many senior guys in the "lighter" fleets just waiting to see what the contract says. If forced to upgrade to a "heavier" airplane to get more pay, that will definately push upgrades for new hires back even further.

This message is for any prospective new hire. If the company tells you that you will upgrade in 12-18 months, ask them to put it in writing. If they refuse, you have your answer.

 

[FracCapt]

Why is upgrade time that important anyway? If you compare upgrade times to the airlines, 4 years is a breeze. Try 9-15+ years as an FO.

You forgot to add the fact that after 4-5 years at the Legacy carriers, most FO's are making upwards of 80k, some over 100k. I don't think you would hear nearly as many complaints about upgrade times if that were the case at NJA(or any of the frax for that matter).

 

[MotoX]

The problem with Netjets and upgrades is the senior dudes (myself included) get bored in an aircraft after a while and jump to another plane just to get the type.

They go from smaller to larger and larger to smaller. So the dudes on the bottom just sit and wait for new airplanes to come on line. It aint like the airlines where people on the top move on or out. They stay longer (past 60, hell close to 70) and guys just type collect. However, with the new contract (if the P.O.S. passes) things might change. Folks will be more likely to stay put and not "down grade" to a smaller aircraft because lack of salary. This is just how I see things.

Oh yeah, that 16 year contract at American Eagle was a joke!

 

[JPB]

.

Why is upgrade time that important anyway? If you compare upgrade times to the airlines, 4 years is a breeze. Try 9-15+ years as an FO. The only reason I can see is for people to get their 1000 PIC turbine to jump ship.

Ouch!!!!!!!!!

I am glad to see that you are proud to do what you do NJA Capt. That's the most important of all. But I have to disagree with you on those numbers.

2nd year FO for an airline this year: $90K
Upgrade time: 5 years


I wish you the best and as I said in my resignation letter to NJA, this pilot group is great and will lead the co to the top...only if you don't compare yourself to the worse case scenario.
By the way those 9 to 15 years FO are not jumping the ship to NJ are they?

 

[netjetwife]

I couldn't agree more!!

I heard on Imus the other morning on one of his commercials for his buddy RS that every NetJets Aircraft is piloted by 2 Captains. I undersdtand that all pilots are typed but either they should change the langauge or pay both as Captains. That FO pay is pathetic (as is the Captains for that matter).

As the wife of an Excel FO/FO, you have no idea how that burns me up!! They lied to him at his interview--you'll make Captain in a few months--well 20 months later and no upgrade in sight!! An industry leading contract is just around the corner---another lie!!! Unless they meant leading the BOTTOM! We are fighting back, and so are all the other families. The TA is an OUTRAGE--It will not pass!!

 

[pilotyip]

Summer of 2001

Upgrade came in Initial Ground School, the first week of employment.

 

[netjetwife]

Trapped on the bottom!

When conditions change they should be honest to the person they are interviewing. As a family that was misled, I appreciate the fact that you guys are trying to provide straight answers to the pilots asking about employment at NetJets. We just waved a friend away, and he got on at AirTran for much better pay. I hate being jeered at for my husband's job. How conviently some here forget about seat locks and families. To get out of the former, hurts the latter. How many can afford to pay back the cost of training?! My family has decided to fight against this POS TA/classic example of corporate greed.

 

[Correcting]

Upgrade came in Initial Ground School, the first week of employment.

Ah, yes. And what was it that happened a few months later. Uh. Wait. Don't tell me. I'll think of it sooner or later. All I know is that in the fall of that year, the brakes were applied. And it wasn't just OSAMA. It was the economy in general. NETJETS WILL NEVER GROW AS FAST AS IT DID BACK IN THE LATE 90'S. It's a fact. Most companies will never grow as fast as they did back in the late 90's. It was a one-time boom. Similar to the 20's before the Depression put the brakes on. Then everyone comes back down to reality. Netjets will still grow for sure. Just not at 1 plane a week. Maybe more like 1 or 2 planes a month. Still impressive. But not nearly fast enough to afford an upgrade in 2 years.