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Regional to Fractional?

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Kingair1181

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 5, 2005
Posts
107
Currently I am flying for a regional airline, but I am not sure if I want to stay in the 121 world. I have been debating on eventually making a switch to a fractional - NetJets, FlexJet, CitationShares, ect.

My question is do many pilots make the transition from regional to fractional? Would it be better to try to go fly for a Part 91 operation or charter before getting on with one of those companies? What are competitive flight times and do you need to know a pilot working for the company to walk your resume in? Anything else to know? Thanks.
 
I made the jump from regional to frac a couple of months ago. I'd say that about a third of my class was former regional airline pilots.

Don't worry about flying corporate or 135 first. It isn't an issue as far as I can tell. What is an issue is that you have a good attitude and a good customer service background.

Competitive times depend on the company. They are definitely higher than new hire regional times. The more time you have the better. If you meet - or are close to - the company's minimums, send your app in. The worst that they can do is say no.

Having someone walk your resume in never hurts, but isn't a requirement. I got my interview through a job fair.
 
I made the jump from ACA to CS 3 years ago, night and day difference. Ill be a frac pilot for a very long time. I love the sched, pay is decent, great flying. And no lame-o eppulets.
 
I'm a furloughed regional pilot and I couldn't be happier at the fractionals. The regionals tend to beat up on their pilots and the pay is terrible. I now have the 7 on 7 off schedule, my vacation time is great, I fly ever where instead of the same airports over and over, and the pay (in my opinion) is great. I also feel like I have better job security over here. I don't think I will ever leave the fractionals. I would look into NetJets, they have the strongest position in the industry.
 
Lots are doing it ...

I will never go back to a 121 operator. I made the jump from regional world to frac a year ago. Things have never been better. In fact, I had the opportunity to interview with Continental and turned it down to stay at NetJets. Why you ask? Even if you didn't I'll tell ya - job security, benefits, schedule, pay, no commuting, better flying, just to name a few.

Alright, all seriousness aside, at a frac odds are (right now) you won't be flying any heavy iron, when you are on the road your schedule can and usually does change on a minute to minute basis, you'd better be flexible, you're going to load bags, you're going to get passengers coffee, and you're going to clean airplanes. I know guys furloughed from the airlines that absolutely hate all these aspects of the job, when I suggest they go back they always say they can't afford the paycut since they'd be junior FOs, even at the majors. However, a majority of the pilots roll with the flow, understand that good customer service is part of the job, and generally enjoy the work they do.

If you meet the mins apply. Someone to carry your resume in is nice but not necessary. The transition from regional to frac isn't that difficult. If you get the interview make sure and ask the HR folks any question you have, at NetJets they seem to try to be as honest as they can. Also, at NetJets, they really want you to talk to line pilots if you get the opportunity. After the interview, if it doesn't sound like the job for you, just turn down the offer if one is made to you.

Good luck with whatever decision you make.
 
Regional to Fractional is possible if you leave your past behind you. Forget how you used to do things....If you get hired by NetJets you had better do it their way.

I don't care how your former company did things....if you want a long and profitable carreer here you had better learn to do it per the SOP's.

JUst had a very interesting tour with someone who couldn't give up their former way of doing things.....I'm still scratching my head on how to deal with it.
 
Kingair1181 said:
Currently I am flying for a regional airline, but I am not sure if I want to stay in the 121 world. I have been debating on eventually making a switch to a fractional - NetJets, FlexJet, CitationShares, ect.

My question is do many pilots make the transition from regional to fractional? Would it be better to try to go fly for a Part 91 operation or charter before getting on with one of those companies? What are competitive flight times and do you need to know a pilot working for the company to walk your resume in? Anything else to know? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Training is alot faster then you are use to at the Regionals but if you work you can get thru it but other then that it is easy. I would have to ask like others why would you want to stay in the 121 world? If you are at the regionals you know that Mesa and Republic are racing to the bottom of the pay scales and with BK at the majors it is not the same. You will be secure in the fractional world and economic burps are easily rode thru compared to the airlines.

Bailey
 
How do the family guys handle 7 days away with Netjets? That sounds like a really long time to me. Is there any way to be gone a shorter period of time? Every other aspect of the job sounds fantastic to me. I just wish they had a more family-friendly schedule. Is there any hope for me?
 
It is tough, but the flip side is that you are home 7 days.. ALSO, come vacation time, you now have off 3 weeks just for using one week of vacation. ALSO, unlike the airlines, you can plan out things to do several years down the road. When you get 7/7 and netjets, that is YOUR schedule. It does not change unless you upgrade, change fleet, or change schedules yourself. Again, it is tough being away for 7, but the positives outway the negatives.. If you live in domicile, you can choose reserve (if you can hold it) and you might be home more once you learn how to use the system.. hope this help..
On a side note, I made the jump from trans mistakes and couldn't be happier.. good luck
 
Unfortunately 7 days gone is about all you can expect, reserve schedule is no different except you are not guaranteed 7 off after the 7 on. I think the 7/7 has been good for family life personally. 7 days away sounds rough, but just takes some adjusting because the 7 off is well worth it. I've worked jobs with 18 on and 12 off so things could be worse. I've also worked jobs with 3 or 4 day turns, throw in commuting and it is hardly worth going home it seems. 7 days gives you time to adjust to being home and enjoy it for a few days instead of always getting ready for the next trip. Just my opinion.
 
Hi!

7 days in a row sounds great. I once had to work 30 in a row (and it wasn't with the military).

I was also at Trans States-my buddy is still there and he's trying to survive through his 1000 PIC.

I'm just trying to figure out how the basing issues will play out at the fracs.

cliff
YIP
 
To throw my two cents in, NetJets has been far superior to anything I ever experienced at the regionals. Before I came here I was a little worried about the whole customer service thing and all, but now find I really enjoy it (for what it's worth, since more than half the legs tend to be ferry flights). The variety of flying is vastly better, the pace is much more relaxed than the 20 minute turn tedium of regionals, and the hotels are like night and day compared to many of the dumps one ends up at the regionals.

The 7 on issue is a valid concern vs. regional life only if you BOTH (1) hold an airline line with 16+ days off a month AND (2) live (and 2b- like to live) in your airline's domicile. I was a commuter and can't imagine just having 3,2, or even 1 day off between trips like I used to have.

Best of luck
 
Hey were all you regional guys that came over, regional FO or CA. It would be easy if you were an FO, but if your CA and logging turbine PIC, do you make the jump. Its the question I'm trying to figure out. I think I'm going to send the app back in and if offered the job out Dallas, make NetJets my career.
 
Griswold said:
Hey were all you regional guys that came over, regional FO or CA. It would be easy if you were an FO, but if your CA and logging turbine PIC, do you make the jump. Its the question I'm trying to figure out. I think I'm going to send the app back in and if offered the job out Dallas, make NetJets my career.
Click to expand...

I was a regional captain when I got the job at NJA. Very easy decision for me to make and I've got no regrets so far.
 
Same here.. PIC at trans craphole . In fact, the night I got my type rating I went straight to the computer and put my stuff in at netjets.. 1000 hrs pic means nothing anymore and I sure wasn't going to stick around anyway.. Best thing I've done so far.. I've worked for 2 regionals and netjets is without a doubt the greatest place.. If nothing else, put your stuff in and come to the interview.. If that doesn't impress you then I think 1-800 truckmasters is calling :) How many other places will actually pay for your airfare to come to an interview and then put you up in a hotel and FEED you? I know of none..
 
The question is... are you willing to fight to keep it and get more next time? Or are you the type that just likes to wait in the food line for corporate handouts.
 
What are you talking about? ohh.. I see.. First off, I was hired after the contract was ratified so I had no voice.. It appears though that 75% of the pilots couldn't wait. Rest assured Come next contract I will vote for me.. 75% of the pilots voted for their best interest, not the interest of the present and future pilot group. With that said, I will vote for what suits me and what I feel will benefit future growth.
When I left tsa, I left because I wanted a future.. When your union can't back the pilots up, then you've lost the battle and the war.. Alpa Could care less about what happened there.. Next time you're in TEB talk to me.. I will make sure you are aware of my intentions.
 
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Why didn't you get your info in sooner? Were you waiting to see what the T/A was going to bring bvefore you applied? Why did you accept the job knowing what the work conditions were?

You have no idea what the past 4 1/2 years prior to the contract was like and you have the nerve to accuse the 83%, not 75%, of the "YES" voters of not caring about the future pilots.

I would love to run into you in TEB or anyother FBO to give you a history lesson on the company YOU elected to come to. No one forced you to take the job after the contract was rartified....You can mail your resignation in anytime.

You've got some nerve!!!!
 
fly4funcrj said:
What are you talking about? ohh.. I see.. First off, I was hired after the contract was ratified so I had no voice.. It appears though that 75% of the pilots couldn't wait. Rest assured Come next contract I will vote for me.. 75% of the pilots voted for their best interest, not the interest of the present and future pilot group. With that said, I will vote for what suits me and what I feel will benefit future growth.
When I left tsa, I left because I wanted a future.. When your union can't back the pilots up, then you've lost the battle and the war.. Alpa Could care less about what happened there.. Next time you're in TEB talk to me.. I will make sure you are aware of my intentions.
Click to expand...


Who is that even directed at?

I underlined the item that is at the heart of most Union problems (ALPA included); the ME phenomenon.

ALPA may have not of represented you adequately. In fact, I know that they did not. Local 284 did not represent US adequately so we elliminated them. The pilots of each airline have the same choice but most pilots are ignorant of the facts, too complacent to care and even more apathetic to take action.

You need to talk to more pilots here about the history of things NJA and just how far this pilot group went to get to where we are today.

I agree that ALPA is Woerthless and Weak. I was a victim of ALPA at a major airline and at a regional. I can assure you that they care about one thing; the senior.

Welcome aboard, by the way. We have many issues ahead. One other thing that I can assure YOU is that these issues not only affect you... they affect US. All of us.

My post centers around the question: How much do you value yourself? Do most newhires these days coming from an environment like TSA and MESA and Pinnacle have a high level of self worth after being kicked for so long? I know that it took some time here to remind NJA pilots that had been here for years that they were worth more than 38K a year in the command seat.

We have a ways to go. How much are you worth with a Union that backs you? How much will you back the Union (your fellow pilots... US).

Why wait for TEB? Come to your Union message board and ask the tough questions. Atend a little more gorundschool than what is required by your company. Gather information tirelessly and don't settle for what is given to you.
 
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I came over from an RJ captain position and I am very happy with the job. I came after the contract and I knew what I was getting myself into when I signed the dotted line. I am not happy with the domicile issue, but you do what you have to do when you want a better job and this one is way better than I had before. Some day I'll have more choices over where I live and I can wait for that day. I make less, but not much less if you include the nearly 5k a year more I would be spending on insurance and the 2 to 3k more I'll make on my 401k over the regional this year alone. The hotels (and points) are vastly better, I have more days off- even if I stayed on the 18 day schedule, and crew food is great (compared to pretzels at the regional- not the old crew food that I didn't get to try). I wanted 7 in a row off and could only get that on vacations at the regional and now I have that twice every month. The union leaders here know what they are doing- they got a pretty good contract and they are all about protecting and improving the job. They have seen the carnage that ALPA has allowed and are doing a good job learning from ALPAs and the old Teamsters union mistakes. I think I have a fairly secure job that will get better and better in the future. I never for once felt that way at the regionals.
 
HEY ATPCLIFF....I know what movie your icon is from...bet most don't....:D

atpcliff said:
Hi!

7 days in a row sounds great. I once had to work 30 in a row (and it wasn't with the military).

I was also at Trans States-my buddy is still there and he's trying to survive through his 1000 PIC.

I'm just trying to figure out how the basing issues will play out at the fracs.

cliff
YIP
Click to expand...
 
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fly4funcrj said:
What are you talking about? ohh.. I see.. First off, I was hired after the contract was ratified so I had no voice.. It appears though that 75% of the pilots couldn't wait. Rest assured Come next contract I will vote for me.. 75% of the pilots voted for their best interest, not the interest of the present and future pilot group. With that said, I will vote for what suits me and what I feel will benefit future growth.
When I left tsa, I left because I wanted a future.. When your union can't back the pilots up, then you've lost the battle and the war.. Alpa Could care less about what happened there.. Next time you're in TEB talk to me.. I will make sure you are aware of my intentions.
Click to expand...

You are a NOOBIE idiot. You didn't live through the pre-contract PAIN so you have NO F'ing IDEA about what you speak of. You are experiencing the BEST CONTRACT IN THE FRACTIONAL industry and you make a stupid ass statement like that. Couldn't wait ? You have quite the gall to make a statement like that loser.
 
fly4funcrj said:
You don't know my history or my intentions.. You see my type? get out of your little ultra or xl and come over to every falcon you see and ask for this name..
Click to expand...

You get dumber and dumber with each post. See your TYPE ??? LITTLE ULTRA ??? LMFAO at you. You have an ego problem...the funny thing is most people you are currently working with have MORE time and MORE types and MUCH MORE ballsack than you do. I guess the hiring process just doesn't catch 'em all. :cool:

Do we see your type....snicker....LOL....LMFAO !!!!!!!!
 
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Not going to be hard for the union reps to find out who the new Falcon pilot that's filed 15 grievances is, if they're interested in who this guy is.
 

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