Question for Netjet pilots

[DC8CRIVER]

OK. So we all understand that you guys like Net Jets; But WHY?

Do you have to load bags? Is that a pain?
Do many of the passengers smoke? Is it bad in the cockpit?
Are many of the passengers a-holes to you?
Is there a lot of sitting around FBO's?
Do they dead head you around on airlines as well as dead heading Net jet flights? How much of each?
Do the reserves sit much or do they fly all the time?
Is there a call out preference for reserves?
What is the call out time for reserves?
Do you do reserve at home?
I can figure out what basic pay is, but is there much overtime and can junior pilots get any?

I know that is a lot of questions, but I've applied and want to go into the process with both eyes open and my brain informed.

Thanks.

8

 

[CRJFlyer]

Do you have to load bags?Yes Is that a pain?No, on occasion there are alot of bags. But we get reimbursed for our efforts..
Do many of the passengers smoke?I have had one guy ask for an ashtray for a cigar. Don't recall if he used it Is it bad in the cockpit? If I can't recall if he smoked then it must not have been too bad.
Are many of the passengers a-holes to you?Not one yet, some ask if you ned anything from the galley during flight, some are really social and some are there on business.
Is there a lot of sitting around FBO's? Not in my fleet, but 99% of FBO's have a huge flatscreen, lounge chairs, and computer access. Plus it gives me time to enjoy my teriyaki chicken stir fry.
Do they dead head you around on airlines as well as dead heading Net jet flights?First and last day are airlines for me. On occasion we may get a mid-tour ailine. Haven't had to deadhead on a NJ aircraft yet How much of each?twice a tour going to and from work
Do the reserves sit much or do they fly all the time?there are no true reserves. This isn't an airline.It's called a reserve schedule because the company has more flexibility with your monthly schedule. Within limits of the contract of course.
Is there a call out preference for reserves? There are no call outs. Again not an airline.
What is the call out time for reserves?See above.
Do you do reserve at home?depends where you live. PBI or LAX or TEB maybe. Not so much where I'm from.
I can figure out what basic pay is, but is there much overtime ?I'm already at 10+% for the year. My base is 69,188 and I'm uaranteed approx. 78K for the year if I don't get any more overtime. (which is not gonna happen). PS. thats first year pay on the 18 day schedule, with maybe one or two extended days.
and can junior pilots get any?This isn't an airline where you bid for trips etc.. the only real thing seniority is good for is PIC, vacation, and bidding your 7/7 schedule. I am very junior, and bid the 18 day schedule for the $$. I haven't had one schedule preference not granted yet. Fly your day and the overtime will just accumulate.

 

[kevin_p]

Looks like CRJFlyer beat me to it, but here is my take.

OK. So we all understand that you guys like Net Jets; But WHY?

Do you have to load bags? Is that a pain? It's very rarely a big deal at all...we usually only have a few business people on board each with a small overnight bag. On the rare occasion you get the family of 8 moving to their summer house, then just tip the line guys to load the bags for you and the company will reimburse you.

Do many of the passengers smoke? Is it bad in the cockpit? I've been with NetJets for a year and have only had one guy smoke one cigarette on board.

Are many of the passengers a-holes to you? 95% of the pax are very polite and courteous. The other 5% typically aren't really even rude, but maybe just in a hurry and ready to go. I haven't had any real personality conflicts yet.

Is there a lot of sitting around FBO's?
Depends on how busy the fleet is and what time of the year it is. Keep in mind that if you sit around the FBO, then it's not like sitting around at an airline terminal. You normally have a crew lounge with recliners, big screen tv, wireless internet, crew food, beverages, etc. It's not that bad.

Do they dead head you around on airlines as well as dead heading Net jet flights? How much of each? Most crew movement is on airlines. If it's close enough they'll get you a rental car, sedan service, or taxi. I've ridden on a NetJets ferry flight 4 times in a year and 2 of those were when I was scheduled to airline and found that there was a ferry flight going on the same route at the same time. It's pretty rare, though.


Do the reserves sit much or do they fly all the time? Is there a call out preference for reserves? We don't really have reserve pilots like the 121 world. How much you fly depends on how well-staffed your fleet is.

What is the call out time for reserves? Do you do reserve at home? If you get lucky and they don't have anything for you, then they can put you on duty at residence. This counts as a normal work day, but you just get to stay at home until they find something for you to do. Once they notify you of a flight assignment, you have 30 minutes to leave home. If you live more than 90 miles from your base, you have to let the company know so they can allow for the extra travel time.

I can figure out what basic pay is, but is there much overtime and can junior pilots get any? Depending on how busy your fleet is, the company will ask for volunteers periodically to work extra days. If you volunteer, a new FO will get around $500 for each extra day worked. Also, you get paid overtime for all duty over 12 hours each day. For a new FO, it's $40-$47/hour depending on schedule. In my experience, this averages around $200/tour, but I'm in a busy fleet.

I'm on the 7/7 schedule and so far this year have worked 4 extended days, 5 holidays, and one after-midnight (2 extended days pay). This, combined with OT has resulted in about $8000 over base pay for the year-to-date. Keep in mind I have probably had a lot more OT and extended days than those in a less-busy fleet than the Sovereign, but I just figured I would give you an example.

I know that is a lot of questions, but I've applied and want to go into the process with both eyes open and my brain informed.

Thanks.

8

 

[glacier]

And glacier, I know you like your job and all...

But if your life depended on you applying to Mesa you'd be right there with frosted hair, an ipod and a $50 check!

We both know it.

Seriously, fractional flying has been really fun. If I hadn't gotten to corporate flying and NJA, I'd still be at Mesa. If NJA dropped me tomorrow, I'd stay home, trade equities again full time, and be Mr. Dad to my two young boys. NJA is my last bus. I'm getting off the aviation thing if it all goes south. I don't have two shuttle missions and three lunar landings in my logbook to compete with the rest you guys. In fact, I don't think I could get hired at NJA with the new hiring protocol. I know they wouldn't look twice at me in this pilot market. Many more qualified candidates when it comes to flight experience. I will say this, I would consider flight instruction again as a side gig just to keep at home and get a few landings in now and then. You sleep in your own bed every night when you're teaching and trading.

 

[Fozzy]

DC8,

"Once you go frac, you will never go back."

 

[RP170]

Hi guys,

Just looked on the Airline Pilot Central website and it shows the Netjets page last updated on July 15, 2008 and "hiring stopped."

That's not accurate. It may slow a bit due to sim availability but I don't think it will stop. I can guarantee you if it does stop, it's not due to the economy, but rather sim availability.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

Seriously, fractional flying has been really fun. If I hadn't gotten to corporate flying and NJA, I'd still be at Mesa. If NJA dropped me tomorrow, I'd stay home, trade equities again full time, and be Mr. Dad to my two young boys. NJA is my last bus. I'm getting off the aviation thing if it all goes south. I don't have two shuttle missions and three lunar landings in my logbook to compete with the rest you guys. In fact, I don't think I could get hired at NJA with the new hiring protocol. I know they wouldn't look twice at me in this pilot market. Many more qualified candidates when it comes to flight experience. I will say this, I would consider flight instruction again as a side gig just to keep at home and get a few landings in now and then. You sleep in your own bed every night when you're teaching and trading.

Amen brother!

 

[netjetwife]

..."Once you go frac, you will never go back."

Great slogan!

 

[DC8CRIVER]

Excellent replies! Muchos gracias.

Sounds like a great job if you can get it. I'm about to be unemployed (Astar/DHL pilot - a whole 'nuther story) and I live in Dayton, so Net Jets is my first choice.

And... last question(s) - I swear!

1. What is the quick breakdown of the different fleet type typical schedules? ie "the X is transcon only 2 legs max; Hawker is East coast many legs per day", etc or are the schedules and types just too all over the place to qualify that way?

and

2. What is the process for moving into the equipment that you want? Assuming all new hires get base aircraft, how long to move into the Falcons or Gulfstreams?

Again, Thanks a million.

8

 

[Jafo73]

Excellent replies! Muchos gracias.

Sounds like a great job if you can get it. I'm about to be unemployed (Astar/DHL pilot - a whole 'nuther story) and I live in Dayton, so Net Jets is my first choice.

And... last question(s) - I swear!

1. What is the quick breakdown of the different fleet type typical schedules? ie "the X is transcon only 2 legs max; Hawker is East coast many legs per day", etc or are the schedules and types just too all over the place to qualify that way?

and

2. What is the process for moving into the equipment that you want? Assuming all new hires get base aircraft, how long to move into the Falcons or Gulfstreams?

Again, Thanks a million.

8

1. No set schedule. Wherever the owner wants to go. You could do 5 legs one day and sit the next. You could do all east Coast in a X for a tour and go cross country in an Encore...

2. 39 month seat lock, you can upgrade to capt during it, but you take what is remaining on your seat lock with you. Decades.

 

[172driver]

1. Yes, pretty hard to pin down a typical schedule. The only thing for sure is that some planes have different capabilities than others. You will not be doing 3+ hr legs (or many legs at all) in the Beechjet. You will be crossing time zones quickly in the X. You will go into a lot of short runways in the Ultra/Encore. You will be working hard in the Sovereign or Excel.

2. Equipment is assigned by need to new hires and by seniority after the initial 39 mo. lock expires. In the past, many new hires went into every fleet because upgrades were short and FO's became CA's before they could switch fleets. I don't think new hires will go to the Falcon anymore but all other fleets will probably still have openings. Just a guess.

 

[QOL_is_great:)]

Hope it helps too!!

Hope this info helps too.

Do you have to load bags? Every time we have pax that have bags. It depends which seat your in, but if it's a lot then team work kicks in to get the mission done. At least in my fleet. Is that a pain? Only when the bag is heavy (ha,ha). If you are coming from a gig that you didn't load bags then you'll get use to it by the end of IOE.
Do many of the passengers smoke? Two in four years. Is it bad in the cockpit? One trip a FLL to SAN with a gas stop in Waco was an ouch or cough trip. Part 135 so I wore the mask the whole time on both legs. The FO was happy, but I didn't like the chain smoker's tactic of cover-n-conceal with smoke.
Are many of the passengers a-holes to you? Only had two in the same four years. As long as you keep your cool and the pie hole shut then the company will support you. Some can be grumpy or distant, but you don't know what's taking place in their lives. 98% of the time they are super people. It may also depend on the fleet as well.
Is there a lot of sitting around FBO's? At times, yes, and then not. At times you can sit in a hotel for a day or a few. A few tours ago I didn't fly a single second then on day six I was at my house by 0815. Another tour home by 1500 on day six. Flew only 198 hours the first six months. Yet July of 2007, I saw 75 hours, 15 days of work and it's suppose to be slow in the summer. You can not judge a single tour or even a month, but it all balances out.
Do they dead head you around on airlines as well as dead heading Net jet flights? I've never "dead headed" here in a company plane. Ever! Now it'll change since I said that. I have flown (as we all have at NJA) countless times in the back of Boeings, Airbuses, and my styles of RJs as pax. So, we are not jump seating as many of an FA or gate agent thinks we are. That's always a funny situation. How much of each? See above.
Do the reserves sit much or do they fly all the time? We don't have a traditional reserve system or program as the airlines. The nearest schedule we have like that is the 15-flex. To much to explain, but you are purely at the company's will. There are some limitations, but to wordy to write. Not a bad schedule if you are flexible with your personal life.
Is there a call out preference for reserves? Not that I know of, sorry.
What is the call out time for reserves? Do we even have one on the 15-flex? I know if duty at home and the change my brief then I have 30 min or an hour to leave the house. I'd have to look that one up in the rules of engagement book.
Do you do reserve at home? Yes. Both in blocks of a few hours or a single day. It happens a lot less then one would wish. It may allow a pilot to hit the gym and/or put a kid on the school bus prior to showing at your base/HBA.
I can figure out what basic pay is, but is there much overtime and can junior pilots get any? Depends on the fleet and/or seat plus your location. With the three types of schedules we are much better at not dropping the ball and working our pilots. Or is it managing them, I can never remember. The O/T can add up over the course of the year. Extended days will happen when that ball is dropped. Those days are few and far between. Holiday pay happens depending how you bid. Many variables to play with throughout the year, but you'll land some extra money. Think it may be rough or near rough now; you should have tried it on $27K a year and the gateway system. Major OUCH!!

I know that is a lot of questions, but I've applied and want to go into the process with both eyes open and my brain informed. Good luck!! Also, if you can talk to one or more of our pilots then do it. You can gauge if the person is willing to chat about the company. Don't just walk right up and say, "hey, I've applied and have some questions." Do some small talk first. We get a lot of pilots looking for info and some come out and ask for a letter. Now that takes a pair.

 

[QOL_is_great:)]

Don't wait cl65capt!!

Ok. dont laugh but I'm interested in how former airline guys(or girls) like it at Netjets as compared with airline life. Thanks in advance.

cl65capt, whether you're one of the soon to be released Citrus guys or not and you are "thinking" about applying then DO IT now!!! I have a friend who applied last November, I wrote a letter for back in December and they just interviewed the last week of June. Now said pilot did interview here back in the Fall of '06 too. So, thus far it sounds good since no word from the company.

So, apply and don't wait for some magic date or time. That time has passed and you need to do it.

Good luck and keep asking away. Knowledge is power or so "they" say.

 

[captain007]

The airlines can never compare. I love it here and don't plan on ever going back. From the interview to flying the line, they blow the airlines out of the water.

 

[acaTerry]

Okay, there's two respnses from regional pilots. How 'bout the majors?


Oh wait, the question is from a guy named CL65Capt.

...nevermind.

Wait again...AC flown includes B717! That's AirTran / ValueJet. Back to the regionals


...nevermind.

Well then let's put it this way, we have a slew of major airline pilots here. Some retired, some who flat-out quit, and some furloughed. You'll see the same responses from them.

 

[acaTerry]

QOL I must laugh at you...I got to NetJet home 3 times, plus 3 or 4 crew movements! Who did you tick off?:laugh:
Of course it may be 10 yrs before it happens again

 

[glasspilot]

Yeah, sorry. My post was dumb. It's too hard to make funny work in type.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

I'm about to be unemployed (Astar/DHL pilot - a whole 'nuther story)

I went through INDOC and C680 school with one of your boys. Great guy. I hope you make it on.

 

[CA1900]

To expand a little, and reply to some of the questions:

Do the reserves sit much or do they fly all the time? We don't have a traditional reserve system or program as the airlines. The nearest schedule we have like that is the 15-flex. To much to explain, but you are purely at the company's will. There are some limitations, but to wordy to write.

One other thing to remember is that with all the different schedules, their rules only affect which days you work. Other than that, the rules are the same for each schedule: You'll be briefed by 6pm the night before your first workday, or as you're shut down on subsequent workdays. The showtime cannot change after that point, unless you agree to it. If they set you up for a morning show, then a couple of hours later realize that they'd rather have you rest longer and do the night shift, they can't do it once you've started your rest period.

I'm on the 15-day schedule, so I'll talk a little about that. Basically, the rules are simple:

• No prearranged days off (unless you burn PTO/sick time)
• It pays 10% more than the 7/7, for approximately the same number of workdays.
• No more than 15 days per month of work, and no more than 5 at a time without days off. Minimum 3 days off after any string of workdays.
• By 6pm each day off, you'll either be told the next day is an off day, or you'll be briefed for a showtime, and the next day is one of your duty days. In either case, they're committed to that; they can't say "nevermind" and not count it as one of your workdays
• If you're "off," you can go drink beer for the next 24 hours, until the next briefing's due. You're not living on a pager all day; not at all. There will be no 2am "get to the airport now" calls. It's not reserve. The "flex" means the days you work can vary. But you'll still get a briefed rest period the night before, and a hard showtime.

What is the call out time for reserves? Do we even have one on the 15-flex? I know if duty at home and the change my brief then I have 30 min or an hour to leave the house. I'd have to look that one up in the rules of engagement book.

There is no "reserve," as I said. There's rest, and there's duty. If you're lucky enough to be given duty at home, or duty at a hotel, the agreement is for you to be ready to be ready for transport to the airport within 30 minutes. But it's still "duty," subject to a 14-hour limit, a briefed start time, etc.

Duty at home or hotel can occur on any of our schedules. An assigned workday is a workday, no matter what schedule you're on: the rules are all the same.

Usually, if I get hotel or home duty, it's because one of two things happened: the plan wasn't quite ready (but they had to give me a show time before they put me in rest), or the plan fell apart, and they leave me in the hotel until they figure it out. This happens pretty frequently on my last days of a tour: the company will brief me for, say, a 6am show for an 8am airline flight they were looking at. When the travel department went to book it, it was full, so they put me on a noon flight instead.

When I wake up and look at my Blackberry, instead of showing at the airport at 6am, they had me stay at the hotel for the first four hours. Because the show location changed while I was in rest, I'm not required to accept that change, but that's one I'll gladly take. The duty clock still started at 6am (which means they have to get me home by 8pm), but I was in bed and then eating a hot breakfast, instead of rotting in the terminal eating a scone from Starbucks. :0 Works for me.

 

[BeeFCaKe]

Thanks CA1900

Thanks for the info, I found your post insightful. The 15 day flex schedule appeals to me the most, are junior people able to hold it on most fleets?

Thanks
-CaKe