NJ Pilots, what would you do?

[Fly High]

I am looking for some serious feedback here! I currently fly for a 135 company that I hate, Hate, HATE! Yes, I am blessed to have a job but I am thinking about a change to a job where you do not have to see Management everyday and put up with their egotistical crap. My current pay is around $40,000 per year with standard benefits such as dental, health and 401K and about 2 weeks of Paid Time off a year including sick leave. At my current job I am away from home about 45 nights a year. Would I be absolutely stupid to look into NJ? I live about a 4 hour drive from MSP with a wife and kids who do not want to move. Please give me as much USEFUL feedback as you can. Such as: does it mean that I would be sitting in MSP for 1 week in a hotel on my own tab when I would be sitting reserve, how long does one normally get stuck on reserve, what is your best guess at what kinka pay I would be at. I love my wife and kids to death and I would not put them a jeopardy just to have a job that I do not hate, but if I can have a job that I am happy with and also no put my family in jeopardy I think it would be worth the switch.

I both look forward to and appreciate you opinion!

 

[acaTerry]

By the sounds of your situation you'd be nuts NOT to try NetJets. Feel free to PM me.

 

[NJA Capt]

I live about a 4 hour drive from MSP

does it mean that I would be sitting in MSP

Before I tackle any of the other questions I want to make sure you know that MSP is no longer an option for a crew base. If you had been hired prior to ratification of the new contract you could have used MSP. Unfortunately, newhires must pick/be assigned one or the following domiciles:

Columbus, OH (CMH)
Teterboro, NJ (TEB)
Dallas, TX (DAL)
West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)
Los Angeles, CA (LAX)

Hopefully, enough applicants will tell them no and force them to open the gateways again.

 

[Fly High]

Well, I guess that is one thing that I missed over the last month or so. I know that when I first started thinking about NJ it was on the NJ site and so I just assumed it was a base I could get. It amazes me that with the size of city that MSP is and the location of it that NJ nor Flops nor CS puts a base there. Well, I guess I will keep sticking it out at a job that sucks until things change.

Life goes on and all I can do is keep rolling with it as they keep kicking me!

 

[Ultra Grump]

How exactly does moving put your family in jeopardy? People do it all the time. I moved tons as a kid, and I'm only moderately screwed up.

Seriously, life is WAY too short to be working at a job you hate, especially when you know there are better ones out there. If daddy's unhappy, the family will be too, and vice-versa.

 

[semperfido]

i guess i have been blessed with a wife that was willing to go anywhere. young kids just adapt.

 

[wolfpackpilot]

Fly High,

Love that avitar. "Jesus is the reason for the season"

Merry Christmas, and God bless. I hope God leads you to a job flying airplanes you love.

Wolfpackpilot

 

[Fly High]

I have moved my family around enough in my wife's opinion. She ain't movin' no mo'. So, I guess I ain't movin' no mo'

There is nothing wrong with moving if everyone is in agreement. In my case, that is not the case. Maybe when my job turns me into a chain smoking alcoholic she will change her mind!

 

[miles otoole]

I have moved my family around enough in my wife's opinion. She ain't movin' no mo'. So, I guess I ain't movin' no mo'

There is nothing wrong with moving if everyone is in agreement. In my case, that is not the case. Maybe when my job turns me into a chain smoking alcoholic she will change her mind!

I guess you could tell her you ain't moving from the couch no mo' until she gets herself a job to help make ends meet. Sorry to hear of your predicament.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Fly High - it might be worth your while to keep an eye on the message boards. There's speculation that NJA will discover it is hard to attract good pilots a few months down the road due to the domicile debacle. It wouldn't surprise many folks if NJA management decides to open the HBA (Home Base Airport) program to all pilots at the company as a result.

 

[Fly High]

It would be great if they do that! I have been sitting on the fence for the last month or 2 in regards to sending my stuff into NJ and now that I have decided to do that I am finding that I am to late.

I guess if anyone could provide some other answers for other questions that I asked in my first post I would appreciate it.

Another question to add to that list: Does a person have a good chance at an interview/be hired without someone to walk in the resume or a Letter or Recommendation from a NJ Pilot?

 

[swampfan]

Absolutely!

 

[netjetwife]

Fly High, have you considered the lifestyle change it would mean for your family to have you gone from home 18 nights a month?


You have my support/understanding for not moving your family. Stay-home moms work very hard and their children are better off being raised by their mother instead of a daycare worker. Do what works best for YOUR family and ignore spiteful comments.

I agree that you should keep tabs on the domicile situation. A lot of pilots think that the company will have a tough time hiring.....still.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Fly High - send me a PM with whatever questions you have and I'll try to help out as best I can.

 

[CapnVegetto]

If NJA offers home basing, I'll probably apply myself. Since the new CBA, hell if it ain't a good job.

 

[netjetwife]

Amazing what banding together and standing up for your rights can achieve, isn't it? I agree with pilots who say that it shouldn't have to be that way, but, unfortunately, it IS that way and nothing will change until the pilots force the issue. If the other frac companies are such great places to work, they'd already have been paying their pilots better and not have to be pushed into it by the NJ pilots raising the bar. Question: When they do give a pay raise does it come in writing? Will it be guaranteed for 5 years like the NJ pilots raise?

 

[WheresRocky]

Unionistic fundamentalists

Amazing what banding together and standing up for your rights can achieve, isn't it? I agree with pilots who say that it shouldn't have to be that way, but, unfortunately, it IS that way and nothing will change until the pilots force the issue. If the other frac companies are such great places to work, they'd already have been paying their pilots better and not have to be pushed into it by the NJ pilots raising the bar. Question: When they do give a pay raise does it come in writing? Will it be guaranteed for 5 years like the NJ pilots raise?

Netjetwife:

Do you lead the Union radical fundamentalist movement? You all are almost like terrorists, pushing your beliefs, your radical pro-union viewpoints.

Ease off.

 

[FLYLOW22]

Netjetwife:

Do you lead the Union radical fundamentalist movement? You all are almost like terrorists, pushing your beliefs, your radical pro-union viewpoints.

Ease off.

We like to call it the URFM pal!

Come to the dark side. Make more money. Secure a schedule and a lifestyle that will allow you to enjoy time off with loved ones. Help us rape and pillage the ability for big business to sew and stitch their golden parachutes. Help us turn the CEOs 5th house in Aspen into W2 earnings for you and your peers.

Yes we are terrorists... to some who pay the bills and had their chance to abuse hard-working laborers.

 

[WheresRocky]

But seriously folks

We like to call it the URFM pal!

Come to the dark side. Make more money. Secure a schedule and a lifestyle that will allow you to enjoy time off with loved ones. Help us rape and pillage the ability for big business to sew and stitch their golden parachutes. Help us turn the CEOs 5th house in Aspen into W2 earnings for you and your peers.

Yes we are terrorists... to some who pay the bills and had their chance to abuse hard-working laborers.

FOR REAL though...

You RUFM people (chuckle) go into every post and push your views upon everyone. Those who are non union who got a payraise should bow to your almighty netjetwife and others who earned CS's wage increase for them. Those who do not believe they owe a debt to ALLAnetjetwife should die a horrible death by lav juice or something.

You people are incorrugable! (sp?) Now, the answer to every frax pilot's problem will be to fill out the cards. ABSURD.

It IS borderline pathological, this radicalism. Union JIHAD????????

 

[netjetwife]

My fundamental viewpoint---

Take a basic look at your job as a frac pilot and compare it to that of a NJ pilot. If you think that belonging to a strong union like 1108 will improve your situation then send in your card and vote for representation. If not, keep the status quo. Yes, it's a fundamental way of looking at things. A belief that it is possible to do something to improve your situation.

PILOTS ARE PROFESSIONALS AND SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH

If that's a radical notion, then I'm guilty as charged, and apologize to no one.