NJ Daily Breakdown

[N5139]

Hi guys -

Although I'm sure there is no such thing as a "typical" day at NetJets, I was wondering if someone would be willing to break down a day for me. For example, flight departure/arrival times, wait times, repositioning, and customer service issues. I'd also love to know the amount of time you have to yourself between days...

Thanks!
J.

 

[sweptwingz]

You nailed it, there is no typical work day at Netjets. Make no mistake, some fleets work 2-3 times as hard as others. When the Ultras were new back about 7 years ago, I averaged 600-700 hours per year as a U-boat commander. I've been in the Citation 7 for 4 years now, and have never flown more than 250 hours per year in that aircraft. It breaks a lot, and is being phased out, so I'll probably be flying another type in a year or less.
If you REALLY want to fly your hiney off, bid the X or the Excel. Right now they're our two hardest working fleets.

 

[SAEflyer]

How hard does the 2000 work? Do they bail out other planes a lot, or do they avoid upgrading people to it?

 

[sweptwingz]

This is my opinon on who works the hardest at NJA with 1 being the most busy.

1. Excel
2. X
3. Ultra (moving down the list as it ages)
4. Falcon 2000
5. Hawker 800 (both)
6. C-680 (too new to determine)
7. G-200
8. Hawker 1000*
9. Hawker 400
10. CE-650*
11. BBJ

(* Fleet being phased out)

These are very rough estimates, and often change based on season and holiday schedules.

 

[Slim177]

I'm in the G200 and they work us very hard. Last quarter, I flew over 300 hours! We seem to do alot of NJI trips. The paxs love the cabin at half the price! Also, some do not like the FAs and request the largest plane without a FA. The X worked hard years ago, but that fleet has stabilized and now it seems to be our turn. No disrespect intended to any fleet! We all do the same job with different airframes, even NJI. We just wear different ties!

Everyone gets their turn in the barrel.

 

[SAEflyer]

Do the flight attendants sit up in the cockpit most of the time or are they constantly back with the pax

 

[Diesel]

Hey slim when did you leave the hawker?

 

[flyfish]

Do the flight attendants sit up in the cockpit most of the time or are they constantly back with the pax

Most of the time[enroute] they're up in the front in the galley area. There is a door which remains closed to the cabin and they go back only to serve food and occasionally check on the passengers. Most pax are fairly low maintenance and they spend little time in the back, others may require their constant attention.

 

[Slim177]

Diesel-
I left the mighty 1000 just over two years ago. The G200 is a great plane of compromises and it is not worth debating here. There is no jumpseat for the FA. When we have one, she sits in back in one of the pax seats. We don't have a door that seperates the cockpit from the rest of the plane. I don't understand her role on our plane, but if the owner wants to pay for a FA we carry one.
I seem to work my butt off in this plane and I miss the old 1000. Atleast we get some Hawaii and Europe trips! My record is just over 8 hours of flight time. Too long for this seat.

 

[RNObased]

Diesel-
I left the mighty 1000 just over two years ago. The G200 is a great plane of compromises and it is not worth debating here. There is no jumpseat for the FA. When we have one, she sits in back in one of the pax seats. We don't have a door that seperates the cockpit from the rest of the plane. I don't understand her role on our plane, but if the owner wants to pay for a FA we carry one.
I seem to work my butt off in this plane and I miss the old 1000. Atleast we get some Hawaii and Europe trips! My record is just over 8 hours of flight time. Too long for this seat.

Slim,

Where is initial/recurrent training in that beast???

 

[psysicx]

I thought the G200 broke a lot? And are the Hawker 400's selling well?

 

[340.549 mps]

What do you NJA guys really mean when you talk about "working a lot/hard"? I understand customer service and other non flying duties for FO's vary between fleet type (obviously having an FA onboard is a major consideration). So do you guys refer to catering the airplane, emptying the lav, loading bags and getting the cabin clean during tight turns hard work, or are you just talking about stage lenght, legs per day, layover rest time, etc?
And heck, while I'm at it... how much soft time at home are the new domiciled guys getting during the "7 on" block (such as hotel night at your domicile between trips, or standby at the hotel with the ready-in-30 rule, etc)?
Thanks.

 

[RNObased]

What do you NJA guys really mean when you talk about "working a lot/hard"? I understand customer service and other non flying duties for FO's vary between fleet type (obviously having an FA onboard is a major consideration). So do you guys refer to catering the airplane, emptying the lav, loading bags and getting the cabin clean during tight turns hard work, or are you just talking about stage lenght, legs per day, layover rest time, etc?
And heck, while I'm at it... how much soft time at home are the new domiciled guys getting during the "7 on" block (such as hotel night at your domicile between trips, or standby at the hotel with the ready-in-30 rule, etc)?
Thanks.

When I was in the Ultra I considered working a lot somewhere around 5 to 6 legs a day. If someone asked me where I had been that day and I responed with a blank stare, then I was working hard.

Yes, all of the above come into play during a long day/tour. Most of the time the FO isn't the only one helping to get the jet ready, there is a lot to do.

I have got exaclty 2 soft days (overnight at home) or whatever you like to call them in the 5+ years I have flown for NJA. As for the other issues, standby at hotel and such, it varies, from tour to tour and fleet to fleet. I can't give you a exact number. I can tell you this, they are far fewer then 4 years ago.

 

[340.549 mps]

Hey thanks, that really helps bring things into perspective.
I'm trying to get an honest idea of what working with you guys is really like. Most of the research I've done just says 7/7 or 18 days reserves, but what your life is like while at work is something a little harder to come by. One thing I've learned in this industry is that management doesn't give ANYTHING or free. So I know there are often "sacrifices" behind most payscales that don't get the same attention as the bottom line. Just looking to have the right expectations. As far as I can tell, NJA is by far the best professional job out there right now for airline guys (in my humble opinion).
After 5yrs, do you ever worry about job security anymore?

 

[BrnJetFuel]

This is my opinon on who works the hardest at NJA with 1 being the most busy.

1. Excel
2. X
3. Ultra (moving down the list as it ages)
4. Falcon 2000
5. Hawker 800 (both)
6. C-680 (too new to determine)
7. G-200
8. Hawker 1000*
9. Hawker 400
10. CE-650*
11. BBJ

12. Falcon 2000EX EASy

only 2 a/c and sounds like it spends much of it's time in maint. Apparently the EASy describes the pilots lifestyle, not the avionics afterall.

 

[Slim177]

All the training for the G200 is at Dallas FSI. They are a great bunch of instructors and it is a pleasure to go there. I find the G200 to be a very reliable airplane after the first 200 hours. Each plane comes with some quirks that take time to find and fix. Then they run great. I won't get into a debate over my plane is better than yours, just I would buy a G200 over the X or the CL300!

Working hard is a good question! Sometimes it can be a two leg day. If the paxs show up with two SUVs full of bags and they are grumpy, and the weather is bad, it all adds up. Sometimes a five or six leg day is a pleasure and it flies by, no pun intended! The crew dynamics factor into it and the quality of rest can affect the way the tour seems. I would put the G200 fourth on your list behind the Ultra. We definately work harder than the Hawkers and the Falcons! 680s and 400s don't count yet. They are still working out the bugs.

I don't ever worry about job security because I can't control it. I have friends at all the airlines and some other fracs. There is no perfect job. I think I am lucky and my job is great. Netjets is a overall very good and sound company! My seniority is good and we are getting planes every week! I think this is a great career over the airlines, but that is my way of thinking. The glory days at the Majors are gone and my friends at SWA and JB are not happy with their QOL. Do your research before coming to the Fracs! It is not like airline flying. They give you the keys to a $20 million airplane and trust you to be safe and work hard. Netjets does a great job of supporting you, but the crew has the final word. The variety of flying is another great aspect that we surely surpass any airline career!

 

[psysicx]

Good post you don't see to many at Swa that are unhappy.