NJA Pros and Cons

[Limeyflyer]

For all you NJA pilots, just out of curiosity, what are your like and dislikes about NJA???

 

[Fozzy]

My likes.
All of the free beer and strippers.

Dislikes.
The new crew food.

Come on. Do some searching. THEN ask a questions with some meat.

 

[JustInfo]

Like: No Commute / Paycheck / 7 off / 21 off for 3 vacations per year.

Dislike: Airlining! / pilots stuck in pre-contract whining mode.

 

[Diesel]

eeeeech

banana phone

 

[netjetwife]

At the risk of being told that I'm not a pilot I'll tell you what my husband enjoys about NJA. 2nd the motion that said "no commuting" is an advantage. My husband also enjoys the variety and greater pax interaction frac flying offers. Dislikes would be-- still low FO pay and the 5% that whine too much about less important details while the volunteers are working hard on bigger issues. To end on a positive note, as a family we are glad that my husband's pay can now justify the time away from home.

 

[RNObased]

Ok, here is a list for you.. The order doesn't mean squat....

Likes.

No commuting
Nice, new equipment
Decent schedule
3 weeks of vaction that is actually 9 weeks
Stay in decent hotels
Most of the guys I fly with are cool
Variety of aircraft to choose from
Decent pay
Sick time that adds up quick

Dislikes

Assitant Chief Pilots that have only been here a short time telling me how to fly for NJA

Airlining

Not getting home on last day because of poor scheduling practices.

New crew food menu

TEB

Taking 2 days to recover from a long hard tour

Time away from home and family

That is it for now. Sorry ran out of steam............

 

[netjetwife]

How remiss of me! Thanks for the reminder, RNO. My husband also enjoys the camaraderie of being paired with the same pilot (usually) for most, if not all, of a tour. Today he arrived home minus his bag for the 2nd time in 3 months. Yes, airlining is part of the bad you have to take with the good.

My husband thinks the new crew food menu looks good. Guess we'll find out when he starts eating it.

 

[knowone]

I don't understand how any one can complain about free crew food? Just because it is not chilean sea bass or blackend mahi mahi doesn't mean it isn't good. If you want dinners like that, don't you get a per diem?

 

[CL604DRVR]

Limey Flyer

I agree with most everything others have posted except you will be a commuter on your own dime ( no formal jumpseat agreements) if you don't move to one of the five bases

CMH, DAL, LAX, PBI, TEB

And you won't know until 1800 the day before what time you have to show at the base so it can be difficult to plan your first day.

Otherwise it's probably the best thing out there.

PS

The foods not that bad either although I understand that it is a steep departure from the old way of getting anything you want. For those of us that don't know anything any different it's ok.

Good luck

604

 

[xcrew]

I don't understand how any one can complain about free crew food?

Spoken like a true pilot!

 

[netjetwife]

Looking at the crew food issue objectively.....part of the problem can be chalked up to change. It's human nature to resist change, especially if one was satisfied with the previous system. Prior to the new contract, NJ pilots were pretty much free to order as they pleased. Certainly, they had much more choice than the current menu selection offers them. I think the company indulged them to help keep down the complaints about the bad pay.

Now that pay has gone up substantially, management is no longer willing to provide other than a basic list of meals. Yes, they are free and that's a good deal. Now looking back on the pilots' side.....they are flying hard these days and there isn't much extra time that would be needed to go get a meal elsewhere. I read the NJ board and I'm aware that the point has been made that the pilots are saving the company lots of $$ by eating crew food and staying on schedule. That said, it's in everyone's best interest to help cut costs where they can and do their part to keep the company successful.

I think the NJ pilots should give them a chance to work on the menus, provide positive input, and realize that better pay also means making adjustments. Also understand that the volunteers have their hands full with committee development. A less vocal transition would go a long way towards making their (unpaid) jobs easier and would keep down the level of frustration which change often brings.

 

[notaNJApilot]

That said, it's in everyone's best interest to help cut costs where they can and do their part to keep the company successful.

For once I agree...well mostly. I'm not sure the company is successful right now.

But anyway, are pilots allowed to make suggestions for the meal choices? Obviously it's impossible to satisfy the desires of all 2400+ pilots, but was there some kind of input that prompted the meal choice changes that NJW has talked about previously?

 

[Hawk Driver]

For once I agree...well mostly. I'm not sure the company is successful right now.

But anyway, are pilots allowed to make suggestions for the meal choices? Obviously it's impossible to satisfy the desires of all 2400+ pilots, but was there some kind of input that prompted the meal choice changes that NJW has talked about previously?

The catering department compiled a list of all of the crew meals ordered last year to come up with the top seven ordered in each category. Many crews did not like the selections presented and recommeded changes. From what I hear, most of those changes will be seen in the new iteration of the crew meals.

HD

 

[netjetwife]

We should also explain that the menu choices are changed quarterly. The new menu started on April 5th so feedback should be coming in soon. It's too bad the Chef's Choice selection didn't work out right. That was supposed to be the avenue for offering a regional specialty, but apparently not all of the caterers got the word. Those that had nothing special to offer just gave the pilots one of the meals already on the list, which raised complaints as they thought they were getting something different. Miscommunication is the culprit there, it seems. A good idea with poor execution. When things have settled down maybe they can try that again?

If the pilots will be a little more patient while the system is getting fully developed (and I agree that a way to provide feedback should have been included from the very beginning) I think everyone will be able to adjust to the new way of providing meals. On balance, it all looks fair to me.

 

[hammer2]

NJA pro= 30+ billion in backing.
NJA negative= Can't think of one right now. give me a minute. ahh forget it.

 

[CheckandSet]

I just quit for a good corporate job at home! COns= 7 days gone with a new baby, You work your balls off, Wake up early 7 days straight, netjets waste alot of money!Those are my cons! Pros great first year pay, it can lead to a great job flying corporate, but at the end I had more fun as a rj captain! Missed the crews and having two flight attendants!

 

[BengalsFan]

Well from the outside looking in, I'd have to say that since this thread became all about Crew Meals, that the job must not be that bad. Just an outsiders opinion.

 

[linder]

Top of the "con" list has to be the 2nd quarter crew food. Out of 24 total menu items, there is one that I would ever order (maybe two if I order the L4b and throw everything away except the ham). If you like wheat bread, wheat rolls, wheat everything, then you might like it here. Oh well, guess I am going to lose a little weight over the next few months unless I can salvage some left over catering.

 

[crash41]

Does anyone know what the payscales are going to be on the Hawker 4000's?

 

[gunfyter]

Same as all the other planes.

 

[crash41]

Same as all the other planes.

Well, obviously not the same as all the other rates. Airline Pilot central has current payscales and hawker 4000's aren't listed. I was just curious which current payscale it would fall under or if there would be a new one.

 

[Tref]

Well, obviously not the same as all the other rates. Airline Pilot central has current payscales and hawker 4000's aren't listed. I was just curious which current payscale it would fall under or if there would be a new one.

Looks like it would be a class 2 aircraft (MTOW of 23,000lbs or more and passenger cabin volume less than 850 cubic feet.) Same column on the paychart as the Hawker 800. You can check out the a/c classes under the definitions section (section 3) of the contract at www.ibt1108.org.

 

[crash41]

Looks like it would be a class 2 aircraft (MTOW of 23,000lbs or more and passenger cabin volume less than 850 cubic feet.) Same column on the paychart as the Hawker 800. You can check out the a/c classes under the definitions section (section 3) of the contract at www.ibt1108.org.

Thank you. That was a helpful post.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Today he arrived home minus his bag for the 2nd time in 3 months. Yes, airlining is part of the bad you have to take with the good.

Checked his bag? NJW, hasn't your better half learned by now that you check your bag only when the gate agent holds a gun to your head? At the very least, take it through security and gate check it. At least then, you've cut the odds of them losing the bag by 50%.

Of course, I suppose it's possible he drags one of those oversized, won't-fit-in-the-overhead body bags that some of our F/A's and even a few of our pilots love to schlep around.

Remember, one of the primary goals every tour is to pack lighter than the tour before. Thank your favorite deity that it's time again for shorts and flip-flops.....

 

[gunfyter]

I always check my bag. A very large percentage of us do.

 

[Diesel]

love checking my bag. Don't have to fight for overhead space.

 

[gutshotdraw]

You say po-tay-toe, I say po-tah-toe......

When I get home from 7 days out, no way I'm cooling my heels for 30 minutes or more waiting for the Samsonite gorilla to find the conveyor belt with my bag. And where I live, 30 minutes is a good day.

 

[NJA Capt]

I always check my bag. A very large percentage of us do.

I wouldn't say large, and definitely the minority. I have only seen one person in the last 6 months check his bag. To each his own.

 

[acaTerry]

PROS:
1. Trips start and finish at base / home (depending on your situation).
2. Everyone is typed. None of that 24 y/o "I'm a captain" krap. On the same side, none of that minimally trained 350 hr FO krap.
3. People you fly own the plane. No barefoot, smelly, hairy backed cro-magnons as passengers.
4. Free food.
5. Good hotels.
6. Haven't seen any orange DMI stickers....
7. Decent pay, good time off, and sick time. Oh yeah, 100% paid medical, dental and vision.
8. Variety of flying.

CONS:
1. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES
2. You do all the work, and the line guy gets the tips...
3. People with dogs or spoiled kids (and this from someone who loves kids).
4. I tried, but can't think of it.

Sure beats the airlines!

 

[Ultra Grump]

CONS:
1. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

I second that!!