Quality of Life at FlexJet

[mother fokker]

-"Take this from someone when ACTUALLY works there....not from "friends" who work there. I've been here for 4 years....yes as an FO...and things have got much better. No "reserve rot" here."-

I "actually" work here and "actually" it's not that great!

-"Again no disrespect to anyone that I have OFFENDED just some honest answers."-

I, believe, that you may have offended honesty, by painting the garden to be just a little rosier than it really is. Are you trying to pad your bank account with the thousand dollar, a head finder fees? If a Flexjet pilot recommends a candidate and they are hired, hello 1 grand....show me the money!

-"As far as upgrades, they will come slowly at ALL fractional (3-5 years). So I would say the the QOL at FLexjet is pretty good."-

True about the upgrades, QOL??? Pass the kool aid brother. If QOL is so great why are we losing so many guys? I mean the jobs that are out there in today's market aren't, for the most part, what I would call exactly great.

-"Descent (not excellent) pay for FO's. I am a 4th year FO and make what a 2rd year Capt at another fractional makes (No extra days,ot,etc...). No bridge pay required. You can check online and see the payscales."


I work 18 days out of 28. 6 on 3 off. On the first rotation I was on duty 72 hours the second was 65 hours, and the third was 68 for a total of 205 hours. I figured I was making about 12 an hour. If you take into account the time I'm incarcerated on the road, my life is worth about 10 an hour to the company. Typically, Flexjet trips are brutal. Max duty, min rest and early wake up calls from scheduling.

-"Descent schedule (now that the 7 day rotations are gone). The 221 days includes all training and vacation. More like 202 days (yr 1&2) and 197 days (y3)"

Decent schedule??? WTF!!! 6 on 3 off is not decent. 221 days is 60 percent of your life gone on the road. Training means being gone. I don't live in Dallas. 202 days is 55% of your existence at the Holiday Inn express. 3 days off after 6 means: Day one figuring out where the hell you are. Day 2, signs of life are starting to appear again. Day 3 breathing and heart rate returns to normal, to be followed by deep mental anguish which will set in due to the fact that you will be gone again for 6 days.


-"Good hotels (now that the hotel process has become somewhat refined)."

I have no idea what this means??? Refined to what. A corporate account with Sleep Inn and Motel 6???? Every now and then you will see a Marriott because the Stab Inn is filled up with a Dungeons and Dragons convention. Don't expect your over nights to take you any further away from the FBO than the outer marker.


-"Excellent benefits (medical,dental,vision,tuition,401K,stock,etc...)"

Good thing, you'll need the benefits, Therapy, and a ass replacement, from sitting in your seat all day, need a great comprehensive medical plan.

Flexjet is a great place to build time, eat free cookies at the FBO, all the while your chest and gut will grow until you get that coveted BRO.

As far as spending a career here, no way!!! Do your time and get out. It's too bad, because there are some great people here. Unfortunately, until the pilot group stands up to management and demands a truly decent quality of life, it will continue to be a revolving door. A door, that management, only tries to stop with a training contract.

 

[Cpt Splash]

mother fokker:

One question. Where were you flying prior to Flex? If it was for a regional, I can tell you right now that you are fokking nuts(note the pun) to say that flex is worse. If it was 135 charter then you know as well as I do that a schedule, whatever it is is better than no schedule at all. And if you had a sweet corporate job, what were you thinking?

The original question for this thread was how is QOL after a year of employment. QOL is decent and thats being honest. I'm not a koolaid drinker when I say that there is a lot of potential here at Flex. Potential for growth, potential for improved pay, and potential for improved QOL.

The Hotels are decent. I have been in some pretty bad places prior to working for FLEX, and I have been staying at Hiltons, Marriots, and of course the famous Holiday Inn of Hasbrook(which is probably the worst one).

Fraxjockey was not painting a rosy garden when he gave his opinion. Your response was 1 of 2 reasons. You were trying to give a more accurate description about QOL at FLEX or you were trying to be funny. Either case, you failed.

Keep the brown side down

 

[FraxJockey]

....and some don't like it here...

Mother Fokker,

I respect those answers but dude...lighten up. The truth is probably somewhere in between. Yeah maybe I am drinking a little kool aid, but then again I am a glass half full type of guy.

Last time I checked you can only get 18 if you bid it. If you were forced into 18 then my bad, if you bid it then WTF.

Were you here when we had the crappy lodging card (CLC)? If you weren't then you know nothing about crappy hotels, if you were then you are full of it if you think they haven't gotten somewhat better. I'm not saying they are 4 star hotels, but they are better.

Yeah we are losing people, I can't deny that, but then again everyone is has the right to look for a job elsewhere. I don't know of any fractional that isn't losing people. The fact that our numbers are smaller than the other fractionals just means we are more impacted by a loss.

Head finder fee? Give me a fricken break. A guy asked for someone's take on things and I gave him my opinion...for free. You gave your opinion so it is up to others to decide.

As much as I like this job, I have to agree that things are tough right now. As far as QOL for a Newhire (w/in 1 year which was the original question) it is better here ...IMHO.

Frax

 

[Stinkbug]

-As far as upgrades, they will come slowly at ALL fractionals (3-5 years). So I would say the the QOL at FLexjet is pretty good.

CitationShares upgrade is still 1-2 years...not to take anything away from everything else you said.

 

[naoroge]

I just got a call from Flexjet for an interview. However, I am in class at Skywest who is hiring a bunch of pilots this year. In addition, Captain upgrade at Skywest is right around a year. Just thought I would let people know.

 

[broken spoke]

Dear Mother Fokker,

I cannot help but laugh my tail off when I read someone gripe on this site. GET ANOTHER JOB, JACKASS!! Move on. Noone is holding you here. You make yourself sound like a real unhappy lifeless boob. Do yourself a favor and start selling shoes or something. Jeez.

 

[On Your Six]

Mother Fokker,

Seriously, you need to consider either another flight position or another occupation altogether... Believe it or not, there are Part 91 positions on your aircraft type available out there - you need to network hard to find them. Your Flexjet experience will be valued and you will work a lot less (for probably more pay). Good luck!

 

[MovingTarget]

Mother Fokker,

Count your blessings my friend. There are thousands of pilots walking the street right now that would love your job. If you don’t like Flex, walk with some of them for a while and you’ll find yourself whining out of the other side of your playpen. We’ve got great equipment, maintenance, pilots, training and scheduled days off.

Were you better off where you came from? If so, go back. Furloughed? See 1st paragraph. No place to go right now that’s better? See 1st paragraph. Repeat as needed. Flex is what it is and does what it does. Your QOL is up to you. Grow up and take responsibility for your life. Hack it or pack it. Quit simpering like a NJ or FLOPS crybaby. Do you want to fly jets and hang out with hairy burly manly-men or be a girlie-man victim crybaby with an entitlement mentality? Come on man, grow a set.

Sounds like you don’t have as many days off as you’d like which makes me wonder why you’re bidding 18 days. Don’t whimper about long rotations then turn around and bid 18 days THEN get on a public forum and whine like a sissy about “deep mental anguish.” Jeez Louise. Talk about a pantywaist drama queen.

I "actually" work here and "actually" it's not that great!

See 1st paragraph.

If QOL is so great why are we losing so many guys? I mean the jobs that are out there in today's market aren't, for the most part, what I would call exactly great.

So shut your pie hole, quit whining like a victim, see 1st paragraph. Wussy.

I work 18 days out of 28. 6 on 3 off. On the first rotation I was on duty 72 hours the second was 65 hours, and the third was 68 for a total of 205 hours. I figured I was making about 12 an hour. If you take into account the time I'm incarcerated on the road, my life is worth about 10 an hour to the company. Typically, Flexjet trips are brutal. Max duty, min rest and early wake up calls.

OK, can’t argue with the workload. What you write here is true. We work hard. We put in long hours. That’s what we do. We work long and hard. That's the gig at Flex. You'd better know that coming in. Hack it or pack it. Don't come here wanting a cush job. This isn't a job for a wuss.

“Incarcerated on the road?”

in·car·cer·ate
Pronunciation: in-'kär-s&-"rAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): -at·ed; -at·ing
Etymology: Latin incarceratus, past participle of incarcerare, from in- + carcer prison
1 : to put in prison
2 : to subject to confinement

Now, that’s a little over the top even for a Wussy Drama Queen.

Decent schedule??? WTF!!! 6 on 3 off is not decent. 221 days is 60 percent of your life gone on the road. Training means being gone. I don't live in Dallas. 202 days is 55% of your existence at the Holiday Inn express. 3 days off after 6 means: Day one figuring out where the hell you are. Day 2, signs of life are starting to appear again. Day 3 breathing and heart rate returns to normal, to be followed by deep mental anguish which will set in due to the fact that you will be gone again for 6 days.

“Deep mental anguish?” Quick, someone call Opera, Hillary and Jesse Jackson. Waaaaaaaaaah. Change his diaper.

Every now and then you will see a Marriott because the Stab Inn is filled up with a Dungeons and Dragons convention. Don't expect your over nights to take you any further away from the FBO than the outer marker.

Now, that’s more like it. That's funny and true.

Unfortunately, until the pilot group stands up to management and demands a truly decent quality of life, it will continue to be a revolving door.

Adults and professionals don’t need to demand anything from anyone. Victims do.

 

[750driver]

-"Good hotels (now that the hotel process has become somewhat refined)."

I have no idea what this means??? Refined to what. A corporate account with Sleep Inn and Motel 6???? Every now and then you will see a Marriott because the Stab Inn is filled up with a Dungeons and Dragons convention. Don't expect your over nights to take you any further away from the FBO than the outer marker.


Flexjet is a great place to build time, eat free cookies at the FBO, all the while your chest and gut will grow until you get that coveted BRO.

I've got to admit, I laughed pretty hard at these two quotes. Pretty funny lines although it's pretty sad if this is true.

 

[mother fokker]

Quit simpering like a NJ or FLOPS crybaby. Do you want to fly jets and hang out with hairy burly manly-men or be a girlie-man victim crybaby with an entitlement mentality? Come on man, grow a set.

whine like a sissy about “deep mental anguish.” Jeez Louise. Talk about a pantywaist drama queen.

So shut your pie hole, quit whining like a victim, see 1st paragraph. Wussy.

This isn't a job for a wuss.

a Wussy Drama Queen.

Quick, someone call Opera, Hillary and Jesse Jackson. Waaaaaaaaaah.
Change his diaper.

Dude...your freaking me out. Take the blowhorn away from your mouth. Take off the Star Trek uniform. Put down all sharp objects and breathe...relax....mellow. Get your gimp, or whatever you have, out of the trunk in basement, it sounds like you need a hug.

 

[Semore Butts]

Class of 99

I was at Flex from 99 thru 2002. Just saw 247 (Lear60) on the ramp at Tucson.

I was there when the hotels went "downhill" if thats what you want to call it. Also when the Crappy living card" came out. Also the new scheduling computer system. All bad things in my opinion.



I had a ball because of the great people I worked with there.

I left because I didn't know if Bombardier was gonna just up and close the dorrs any day. (The Gods in Canada). I was the next guy in line to upgrade and the company could give no hint as to how long it would be.

I just didn't get a warm fuzzy about the long term plans of Bombardier for Flex.

I rolled the dice and went to Netjets. Much nicer hotels and catering for sure.

But I have to go now because like many Netjets pilots, I have to get to my second job.

I keep in touch with alot of my buddies at Flex, after all, we are fellow Frax pilots, and they are some of my friends. The mine is bigger then yours crap bores me. Take care..