I know I will probably be flamed -- but wanted to speak out. I am an NJA owner in an Excel and have been happy for many years. The NJA service is fabulous and most of the pilots have been great people and fine pilots. I feel safe and feel comfortable bringing my business associates and family on board. I never felt comfortable with charter - not having controls in place with regard to both the planes and the pilots.
I have been monitoring this board for months and was quite astounded at the level of pay for the fractional pilots. However, it seems to be a simple case of supply and demand which all of us face in our businesses. In your case, there are just so many highly qualified pilots and so few positions.
While everyone wants to make more $$$, the fact is being an NJA owner (or ay fractional owner) is a very expensive propositon. And even at our levels, we do not want to continually have fees go up. That will drive customers from the fractionals, and the more customers = more planes = more employed pilots will help all of you.
Without turning this into the usual union thread, I said before that most pilots are great people. We have had a few surly, ornery pilots -- hey we all have bad days -- but months apart with the same pilot. I do not know whether it is jealousy or what (nor do I care), but a few pilots have a chip on their shoulders and the vast majority of them wear union pins or talk about the union or the contract at the FBO. Example -- recently a pilot who did not like the pilot lunch from the caterer in a rural city we fly into often. We thought the food was and is usually fine (not great) and we know the place it comes from (a town w/o a flight caterer). After the flight the piot complained to Columbus that we bitched that the food was bad. I did not appreciate the call from Owner Services becasue the pilot did not like the box lunch. Also, if I call Columbus and tell them that I will be 45 minutes late and they don't beep or tell you, please don't take it out on me. I don't have your beeper #.
Anyway, we appreciate the services of ALL of you. This can be a 2 way street and prodiuctive dialogue -- somethings you guys do irritate us -- and likewise owners are not perfect. I am sure some of the things we do irritate you. Let me know -- we can work together and spread the word.
I have been monitoring this board for months and was quite astounded at the level of pay for the fractional pilots. However, it seems to be a simple case of supply and demand which all of us face in our businesses. In your case, there are just so many highly qualified pilots and so few positions.
While everyone wants to make more $$$, the fact is being an NJA owner (or ay fractional owner) is a very expensive propositon. And even at our levels, we do not want to continually have fees go up. That will drive customers from the fractionals, and the more customers = more planes = more employed pilots will help all of you.
Without turning this into the usual union thread, I said before that most pilots are great people. We have had a few surly, ornery pilots -- hey we all have bad days -- but months apart with the same pilot. I do not know whether it is jealousy or what (nor do I care), but a few pilots have a chip on their shoulders and the vast majority of them wear union pins or talk about the union or the contract at the FBO. Example -- recently a pilot who did not like the pilot lunch from the caterer in a rural city we fly into often. We thought the food was and is usually fine (not great) and we know the place it comes from (a town w/o a flight caterer). After the flight the piot complained to Columbus that we bitched that the food was bad. I did not appreciate the call from Owner Services becasue the pilot did not like the box lunch. Also, if I call Columbus and tell them that I will be 45 minutes late and they don't beep or tell you, please don't take it out on me. I don't have your beeper #.
Anyway, we appreciate the services of ALL of you. This can be a 2 way street and prodiuctive dialogue -- somethings you guys do irritate us -- and likewise owners are not perfect. I am sure some of the things we do irritate you. Let me know -- we can work together and spread the word.