Thanks from an NJA Rookie

[gordon24]

Gwadwerc:

I've been wearing foam ear plugs and Telex headset in the CRJ. Will that effectively cross-over to the Excel? If not, what do you recommend?

A lot of guys wear the same setup you are talking about. The Bose quiet comfort/uflymike is becoming pretty popular. I just tried my set out last week and it was great.

I know NJA pilots don't drag around 50lbs of Jepps like I've been doing. What's the most elegant solution for hauling headset, flashlight, sunglasses, etc?

Laptop bag. I'm not trying to knock those who do, but, there is no need to carry a kit bag like at the airlines. You would be the minority if you do. Check out ebags.com

Is there some place in the Excel to carry one's laptop, or are you so busy there's no point in bringing one?

You store your suitcase in the baggage compartment and your laptop/ personal bag in the luggage area across from the lav. A lot of folks bring laptops. We have negotiated free internet at most of the hotels we stay at. Also, 99% of the FBO's have free wireless.

Any gotchas in training it would have been nice to see coming?

Know the memory items and limitations. Systems are pretty straight forward. In my opinion, it was easier and more laid back than my airline training. That being said, you still need to take it serious.

What else should I be asking that I don't have the insight to?

The XL is a hard working fleet. It's the equivalent of an airborne SUV. The owners love it for the baggage space. It's a fun jet to fly that is pretty straight forward. Enjoy and pm me with any questions.

 

[yosemite]

First, welcome aboard.

Be sure to read all the info given to you by the union folks in your indoc briefing about how to get set up on the union web site and message board. If you don't, you'll be answering to me..

Next, I've been on the XL/S at NJA for the last 3.5 years and am in the process of upgrading in fleet right now. Most of the information given to you is right on, except for the part about noise canceling headsets. There are none in the XL/S right now. All come with Telex 750. The popular NC headset option right now seems to be the Bose QC2 with the Uflymike adapter, but I agree that you should just wait till you get going. It could easily be 120 days from start until you get out into IOE and actually start flying much at all, so save your bucs for now.

We put the luggage bag in the back and our personal cases inside the ship across from the lav seat and under the baggage strap. Most of the folks carry one of those computer carry bags, including me, and there is plenty of room for both pilots bags in the back. I would also agree that you should loose the jepps case; save it for going back to recurrent and carrying all the books again. Just had to replace my old $75 NetJets computer bag and it took a while to find one big enough for all the books and manuals without a "wheelie" thing in it. You'll be carrying a jepps binder sized "FOM" and a 1/2" thick normal sized Int'l manual. You'll also probably end up carrying some sort of small 3 ring binder for your tour receipts, notes, extra info, phone numbers, customs forms, etc. Add in your normal stuff like glasses case, calculator, power chargers, the computer and it can be a decent sized bag in a hurry. I carry the 22" bag from Luggage Works and pack for 7 days; it ends up weighing 25 lbs. My computer bag ends up weighing 22 lbs, if that gives you any idea.

You'll like the Excel fleet. It is hard working, and by the middle of the year will be the largest at NJA. Average is 4-5 legs per day with about 1.5 hours per. I regularly get about 20 quarters of overtime per 7 day tour (OT is measured in quarter hours). The folks are real nice, both in the fleet and in the company, exempting the normal share of assholes.

One thing no one has mentioned: get all your hotel, airline, and rental car points/awards cards sent off for now. Except, that is, your Hilton card. If you have that already, fine... but through our Travel committee, you will be taken straight to Hilton Diamond status if you use their instructions for signing up. Don't forget to sign up for avfuel (www.avfuel.com) card and Pilots + at the Exxon website.

If you've got questions, PM me. I'm one of the "union" folks also so I can answer those questions for you to. And again, welcome aboard.

 

[gunfyter]

And you'll recognize in person ... he looks just like his avatar

 

[Ultra Grump]

I carry the 22" bag from Luggage Works and pack for 7 days; it ends up weighing 25 lbs.

Only an Oompa Loompa can pack 7 days worth of clothes in a 22" bag, let alone it weighing only 25 lbs. You know, a "little person" who wears the same thing every day...

 

[FLYLOW22]

Only an Oompa Loompa can pack 7 days worth of clothes in a 22" bag, let alone it weighing only 25 lbs. You know, a "little person" who wears the same thing every day...

Get the 26" bag... you'll be happy you did.

Good to have you here!

 

[jrav8tor]

Yosemite and all others,

I am also joining NJA...start indoc 7/10 in the XL. I am comming from a regional and can't wait to get started!

Just wanted to say thank you along with Gwadwerc! This is some valuable information for a newhire. I also have the 22" Luggage Works bag, and also have the round attachment bag. Since I am an Oompa Loompa (lol) do you think this should suffice for 7 days? I am used to 4 days and I can get more in there, but I worry about the dirty clothes. What are some of your techniques with keeping the dirties away from the cleans?

Also, glad to shed my Jepp bag! It weighed 38lbs at my airline!

Thanks for all the great info! Can't wait to join this team!

 

[fly26]

Welcome aboard!

Surprisingly, you will get used to packing for 7 days in that bag. I remember when 4-5 day trips seemed like an eternity. Now, 7 days is the norm, and it all fits in the 22' Costco roller bag. The bag still fits in the airline's overheads. You'll learn to get creative.

Enjoy the time before ground school....the class moves quickly. It's not that it is difficult, but it is fast paced. If you know the memory items and limitations ahead of time you'll be ahead of the game...sop's and callouts too if you have time.

Good luck!

 

[jrav8tor]

Thanks for the info fly26! Just received the cd with all the airplane stuff the other day. I am starting to review that stuff already...hope to stay ahead of the game to make training as simple as possible.

 

[gordon24]

The costco bag is the best deal out there. I don't see the big deal in packing. I hardly ever have more than 12-13 hrs off, so, I don't need a whole lot. What I pack (this time of year):

Pair of Jeans
Pair of Shorts
2 short sleeve shirts
One very light weight sweater 'cause ya just never know
2-3 uniform shirts
Uniform pant
2-3 white undershirts
Socks, underwear
Gym shoes
Workout shorts and shirt

I put the dirty clothes in one of the hotel plastic laundry bags. I let my workout stuff air out overnight and then I have a separate area in my bag to store them.

I fit all this in my 22" bag. Winter time is a little tighter but, like someone said above, you have to be a little creative. I'm not a slam-clicker by any means, and what I carry gets me through the overnights. Whether it's dinner with the crew or just checking out the town and grabbing a brew. You hear a lot about the 26" bag, but, I very rarely see someone carrying it.

Enjoy and good luck.

 

[yosemite]

Hey guys, you're welcome.

PM me with your e-mail addy and I'll send you some Excel stuff.

I pack the 22" as follows:

8-underwear
6-white undershirts
2-3 t shirts or 2 and 1 collared shirt during winter
1-shorts
1-jeans
6-uniform shirts folded in quarters so they fit side by side in bag
1-uniform trouser
tennis shoes
bathroom kit bag
6 pair of work socks and 2 shorty socks for tenny's in the two side pockets.

I ALWAYS wear a uniform to/from work because it minimizes the need to carry extra clothes, and I am proud of the work I do.

I don't work out that often so I don't have the issue of sweaty clothes to deal with (oompa loompa's do that you know. Biggest weight I lift is repeat 12 oz curls. I even switch arms! :beer: )

I use the hotel plastic bags to pack the used clothes in. I fold everything nice and flat, to size, before putting it in the plastic bag and I try to use one bag for two days old clothes. Also, toward the end of the tour I move the clean clothes to one side of the bag and keep them on top of or seperate from the plastic bags. Finally, I try to roll out the air of each bag before I put it up, and squish them down each day as well.

Sometimes my bag is pretty plump by the end of tour... in the summer it's not so bad. You just have to pay attention to it and take a little effort to minimize the size of things.

Hope this helps...

 

[On Your Six]

Hey guys, you're welcome.

PM me with your e-mail addy and I'll send you some Excel stuff.

I pack the 22" as follows:

8-underwear
6-white undershirts
2-3 t shirts or 2 and 1 collared shirt during winter
1-shorts
1-jeans
6-uniform shirts folded in quarters so they fit side by side in bag
1-uniform trouser
tennis shoes
bathroom kit bag
6 pair of work socks and 2 shorty socks for tenny's in the two side pockets.

I ALWAYS wear a uniform to/from work because it minimizes the need to carry extra clothes, and I am proud of the work I do.

I don't work out that often so I don't have the issue of sweaty clothes to deal with (oompa loompa's do that you know. Biggest weight I lift is repeat 12 oz curls. I even switch arms! :beer: )

I use the hotel plastic bags to pack the used clothes in. I fold everything nice and flat, to size, before putting it in the plastic bag and I try to use one bag for two days old clothes. Also, toward the end of the tour I move the clean clothes to one side of the bag and keep them on top of or seperate from the plastic bags. Finally, I try to roll out the air of each bag before I put it up, and squish them down each day as well.

Sometimes my bag is pretty plump by the end of tour... in the summer it's not so bad. You just have to pay attention to it and take a little effort to minimize the size of things.

Hope this helps...

Great suggestions! Very helpful and thorough...

 

[fly4funcrj]

those space bags work really well!! I've got the 22" purdy neat bag and I'm not an oompa.. I just use the space bags to condense everything with room to spare! Plus it keeps the stink from working out contained!

 

[jrav8tor]

Hey guys, you're welcome.

PM me with your e-mail addy and I'll send you some Excel stuff.

I pack the 22" as follows:

8-underwear
6-white undershirts
2-3 t shirts or 2 and 1 collared shirt during winter
1-shorts
1-jeans
6-uniform shirts folded in quarters so they fit side by side in bag
1-uniform trouser
tennis shoes
bathroom kit bag
6 pair of work socks and 2 shorty socks for tenny's in the two side pockets.

I ALWAYS wear a uniform to/from work because it minimizes the need to carry extra clothes, and I am proud of the work I do.

I don't work out that often so I don't have the issue of sweaty clothes to deal with (oompa loompa's do that you know. Biggest weight I lift is repeat 12 oz curls. I even switch arms! :beer: )

I use the hotel plastic bags to pack the used clothes in. I fold everything nice and flat, to size, before putting it in the plastic bag and I try to use one bag for two days old clothes. Also, toward the end of the tour I move the clean clothes to one side of the bag and keep them on top of or seperate from the plastic bags. Finally, I try to roll out the air of each bag before I put it up, and squish them down each day as well.

Sometimes my bag is pretty plump by the end of tour... in the summer it's not so bad. You just have to pay attention to it and take a little effort to minimize the size of things.

Hope this helps...

Great suggestions and detail to help a newbie. I figured I would make it work some how. Never thought of the hotel bags. Thanks for the info!

 

[netjetwife]

Congratulations on the new job, JR. Be sure to fill out survey forms for the union training committee; they are in the midst of making improvements to training and input/feedback from the pilot force is welcome and appreciated. There have been criticisms of Flight Safety's instruction. The UTC would like to see a greatly improved program for the pilots and documentation of the problems will help accomplish that goal.

Best Wishes!
Netjetwife

 

[AirBear8]

I struggled thru my 1st 6 months at NetJets using a 22" suitcase I paid around $150 for at a local luggage store. I'm amazed it never exploded. Then with the new contract I was looking at doing 7 day trips so I surrendered and bought one of those $300 26" Luggage Works suitcases. The thing weighs a freaking ton, probably because I pack way too much. But I don't have to sit on it to zip it shut and this time of year I even have some extra free space.

I also use the space saver bags you can get in the luggage department at Wal-Mart or Target. I divide my underwear and T-Shirts into a pair of small space savers (3 sets each). After exposure to the low pressure in the baggage compartment those space savers compress so much they're hard as bricks. I also use 2 of the larger bags to pack my civilian clothes and uniform shirts. I carry an empty 3rd large bag to hold dirty clothes. I lay an extra pair of uniform pants on top of all this and then fit my shaving kit and some emergency food rations in the leftover space. The Luggage Works bags have lots of outside pockets. The long side pocket holds my tennis shoes, the opposite side pocket holds all my socks. The back pocket can hold quite a bit. I've seen other pilots compress their London Fog trenchcoats in a space saver bag then fit that into the back pocket.

The space saver bags don't last all that long, I usually replace mine every 2 or 3 months. The get to where they won't stay compressed after a few months worth of trips. But they're not that expensive, somewhere around $12.95 for 2 large and 2 small.

AirBear