QOL at the fracs

[a&p cfiguy]

To the guys that are working at the fracs now, how do you like it? How do you like the 7 on 7 off schedule? Is family life possible? At netjets, do you have to live at one of the bases or can you just commute to those bases? Do frac pilots get jumpseat privilages or any airline benefits?

I'm at a point where I'm thinking of going to the regionals, or pursuing the fractionals. I think I'd like the fractionals better. I like the adventure of going to any airport anywhere at any time. It'll be nice not having to deal with all the delays and security at the big airports. I don't know how i'll like the 7 on 7 off schedule. I guess it'd be okay. Most of the airlines are 4 on 3 off, so it's not that much different. I'm pretty good with people and am very customer service oriented, so I dont think i'll mind dealing with the high maintenance passengers. What else should I be considering in making my decision of which way to go?

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

I can't answer your question about the 7/7 schedule, because we don't do that. As for family life, you have to have an "FAA approved" wife. They're rare. All of the fracs, except for FLOPS requires living in some sort of gateway. (They may have changed now also.) I don't think anyone prohibits you from commuting, but none of us have jumpseat privileges, so best not to plan on commuting.

On the other hand, we get frequent flyer miles and hotel points. That makes for a pretty good (free) vacation or two per year. (Keeps that aviation wife happy.) I've stayed in some pretty swanky hotels as a fractional pilot. Hate to tell you, but the work week usually begins and ends going through airport security. At least that's only twice a week, rather than twice a day.

Your customer service skills would be better utilized with the fractionals.

The ultimate answer to which way you should go should be purely economic. From the CFI job, to freight dogging, to commuters, fractionals, even military, it's all flying (great) and just a job (reality). You want to go wherever your best opportunity for financial and seniority advancement are. In the current climate, my crystal ball says that fractionals will grow faster than commuters. On the other hand if you hear that some commuter is hiring 100 pilots, and you can be in the top 5, jump on it.

Flying wise, it really is a tossup between the commuters and the fracs. Keep yourself equally open to both. Look for the best opportunity for advancement, and best company to work for that you can find.

 

[Ultra Grump]

By day 7 at home, my wife is asking "What time do you start tomorrow?"

 

[Twotter76]

Best job i've ever had - no contest. I did the regional thing for about 6 years and it was fine (actually I enjoyed it) but there is really no comparison between the two. I do greatly miss my jumpseat (we have basically none) bennies but thats about it. I have to believe that job security is better with the fracs as airline travel just keeps getting worse for all involved. I KNOW the pay is much better. I enjoy the 7/7 schedule as I can plan my life months ahead of time because my schedule wont change unless I want it to (with a few minor exceptions).

If you go to the wrong regional your 4 day trip quickly becomes 6 if the lines arent built commutable (in day before out day after) so really that extra day doesnt hurt that much. Besides when its time for me to go home I just print out my boarding pass throw on some shorts and flip flops and have no worries about not getting there. And if by some reason I dont make it home that day, big money for me! I like the reserve schedule too and will try to get back on it at the next opportunity as it pays more.

The flying is hands down more interesting at the fracs - we go everywhere. But the flip side to that coin is that you do everything. Sure there are canned flight plans for you but be damn sure you check all the notams because its your ass out there and not all airports are maintained equally. You will work many times harder at a fractional than you will at any regional job (bags, catering, a/c upkeep, revisions etc).

My company is very good about treating us well (very nice hotels, town cars to ride around in etc etc) though lately they have been dragging their heels with regards to contract compliance on some issues (we have a strong union and I have faith that we can fix that). There are positives and negative as with all jobs but the negatives are greatly outweighed by the positives currently.

You should probably consider what your long term goals are before you come here - this place isnt a stepping stone to something bigger. If your end goals are to work for the airlines then you might be better off sucking it up and working the regionals to get some PIC time. If you want to be happy at work and reasonably well compensated and get lots of variety then a fractional might be for you. You certainly could go from any fractional to the big airlines if you wanted to but it doesnt seem to happen that much (with the majority of our Captains making over 100k I can see why).

 

[Flybet3]

I have to agree that having an "FAA" wife as a Frac pilot is a must have. As a matter of fact, having an "FAA" wife is needed for this career in general. Why? Well frac pilots are gone 7 days straight, Charter pilots are just gone, regional pilots are broke and also gone a bit, and major pilots are on the way to being more miserable and unemployed. The way I see my job is basically I work monday to friday and get 2 days of over time (saturday and sunday) Back home on monday and pretty much have 7 days of PEACE! I know that for 7 days nothing is going to interupt my time with my family. For me from the first day till like day five I am pretty much "there" day six and seven I am ready to go home. But like the other guys said we get to see some very nice places. I overnited on my last tour in Turkos & Caicos (providenciales) which was awesome. You work a bit more here then at the regionals, but my job security here cant be beat.

 

[Going2Baja]

Would some long timers at NJA please comment on how they feel about 7/7 after they have been doing it for years? I'm wondering how the 7/7 will feel after doing it for 10 + years...

Thanks - Baja.

 

[NJA bound]

One thing you need to consider is after 10 years you will get four 3 week vacations a year, I know someone that is basically taking the whole summer off.

 

[CX880]

Question for netjets, why do they hire seperately for the gulfstream aircraft? Say you have a strong prefference in one type of plane such as a G5, how long can it take for you to be able to be assigned to that aircraft, if you were first assigned to a smaller jet?

 

[Going2Golf]

The easy answer CX880 is that they are 2 separate companies.

The question you asked is exactly like asking why AMR hires separately for the 777 and the EMB145.

While there are options currently available to NJA pilots who have been there more than 2 yrs to fly the G4, it will ultimately take a court decision to merge the 2 seniority lists. There have been pages and pages of "debates" on here about the future merger and if it will happen or not.

 

[Just Peachy]

Question for netjets, why do they hire seperately for the gulfstream aircraft? Say you have a strong prefference in one type of plane such as a G5, how long can it take for you to be able to be assigned to that aircraft, if you were first assigned to a smaller jet?

Ya gotta be kiddin'............. u been under a rock??? The Gwizz is a seperate division of satin's air force, along with at least 3 other divisions. They all hire seperately. Ya wanna fly the G's apply to NJI. Ya wanna for the largest division, apply to NJA. Ya wanna fly managed aircraft, apply NJM. Overseas has a division also.

If you dont have a job, apply to all of them and take or turn down the first offer you get. None of the other divisions will know about any others. If your waiting for a specific plane, you will be waiting a loooong time.