Part 91 Corporate to NetJets... same question

[BengalsFan]

Anyone moved from a corporate job over to NetJets? Major differences? Good/Bad decision, etc.?

 

[johnsonrod]

Anyone moved from a corporate job over to NetJets? Major differences? Good/Bad decision, etc.?

I haven't made that move but I presume the following factors apply:

1. Schedule stability (at Netjets you can plan your life around 7/7)

2. Growth of fleet and aircraft types (ever-expanding order list vs. sitting on one or two aircraft for a long, long time)

3. Opportunity to switch domiciles if you like (don't have to stay in one location forever like part 91)

4. Unionization (at Netjets) provides structure and checks/balances (no arbitrary management decisions) - although some people are not in favor of unions

5. "Relative" career stability - nobody is ever immune (including fractionals) but for the most part, you are not concerned about how your company's financials will impact your corporate flight department (you are one M&A deal or one bad quarter away from unemployment at many part 91 operators - hedge funds are bad news for you if they invest in your company and look for continuous cost cutting). Being related to Warren Buffet helps calm the nerves among Netjets pilots I am sure.

 

[On Your Six]

There are a lot of great part 91 departments out there. But you will never get that "secure job" feeling because things can change quickly in the corporate world. Owners die. Companies merge (redundant departments). Hedge fund investors complain (leading to cost cutting - the corporate jet is target #1 in some cases).

A solid fractional like Netjets is a "reasonable" bet because it is the market leader and it continues to grow (the ownership base is spread out vs. centralized). As a pilot you get airline-like structure with great/new airplanes and unlimited route variety. Not a bad option when you think about it from a risk standpoint.

 

[realityman]

I came from the corporate world over to NJA almost 11 years ago. Now, after being an IOE instructor and training people from both the corporate side and airline side, I can give you a few comparisons.

1. Corporate guys know the ropes about operating private jets better than airline guys. I'm not talking flying skills here. I'm talking attention to detail. Corporate guys are already up to speed (for the most part) on proper cleaning and servicing of aircraft on this side of the industry. Airline guys tend to not bother checking tables or wiping things down if there isn't any catering on board. Pax still leave fingerprints whether there's catering or not, but it's one of those detail things that airline guys mostly miss but folks from the corporate world understand.

2. Folks from the corporate world are already used to the personal interaction we have with pax that simply doesn't exist in the airline world. Not saying the airline guys aren't personable, just not up to speed on interacting with the pax the way we do in corporate (fractional) aviation. Once we level at altitude the corporate background guys are much better at taking the initiative to go back and check on the pax than the typical airline guy.

3. Corporate guys tend to have an easier time adjusting to the ever-changing circumstances of our type of flying. Coming from an extremely rigid type of schedule at the airlines tends to frustrate many of the airline guys here when our daily schedule keeps bouncing around. Changing destinations enroute is always an interesting exercise with a newhire who came from the airlines. But this is all old hat to a corporate guy.

4. Corporate guys tend to be a lot more proactive when dealing with typical problems we encounter. For example, if the pax catering doesn't show up, the corporate guy already knows 4 different ways to get food quickly for the pax, whereas the airline guys typically only think to call the company and let them sort it out.

Please folks, this isn't a slam against airline guys. The initial question was about corporate guys coming to the fractionals. Truth is, everything I said above is correct. The guys with the corporate background do INITIALLY have an easier time making the transition than the airline guys do.

I'm only talking about the initial transition in everything above. Once up to speed, the airline guys are just as good, and in some cases better than, the corporate guys.

 

[RTRHD]

I was a corporate DA/CP for the last 12yrs then Flight Dept. ended. Then a 100,000$ contract pilot then NJI. I would never go back, I have a f150 company calling me now with offers, so far no way. We will see how this integration goes. You are a lot busier here there is no such thing as a three day trip,four and five legs a day. But when you are off you are off.......

 

[PA44Jockey]

How many legs to typical NJA guys fly in a day. I understand there isn't a typical day, but just looking for an average.

 

[CA1900]

How many legs to typical NJA guys fly in a day. I understand there isn't a typical day, but just looking for an average.

Let's go with "several."


If you'd like to do a little research yourself, look at the histories for some of our airplanes:

http://flightaware.com/live/fleet/EJA

Click on one of the callsigns (EJAxxx) down below, and you can see its history.

 

[Mach92]

How many legs to typical NJA guys fly in a day. I understand there isn't a typical day, but just looking for an average.

Depends on the fleet. AVG is 2 to 3 a day. Some days more some no flying at all.

 

[johnsonrod]

Some fleets are more active than others. I hear the Beechjet and Ultra/Encore fleets don't fly as much as the XL/XLS, X and Falcon fleets. The X and XLS fleets are considered the busiest because they have the greatest numbers and are in demand (plus they often recover for other broken aircraft). The G200, Sovereign and Hawker fleets lie somewhere in between. During the holidays I would assume all fleets are busy due to increased customer demand.

I am sure the Marquis Card also helps to maintain high fleet utilizations.

 

[RNObased]

I was a corporate DA/CP for the last 12yrs then Flight Dept. ended. Then a 100,000$ contract pilot then NJI. I would never go back, I have a f150 company calling me now with offers, so far no way. We will see how this integration goes. You are a lot busier here there is no such thing as a three day trip,four and five legs a day. But when you are off you are off.......

Hell, RTRHD if you did that then you won't get to fly with me and that would be a loss for both of us.

Seriously though, I stepped off my plane the other day at a private hanger in so-cal, as soon as the pax were gone a CP of a corporate flight dept, asked me if I was looking for a job. Asked what he had in mind, Capt on a G4 was his response. He points out the plane in the hanger. So I ask him ball park what they were starting guys at??? He tells me, I say thanks but I'm not interested. Bottom line is that the corporate guys are going to have to bring their wages up even without the IBB pay scale that weren't even close.