Sifting thru your post....

I found something relevant ...hope springs eternal...
I highlighted the part of your post I wanted to discuss further. How much difference is there between the Avanti (?) and the Ultra as far as the pax would notice? If it is significant then the case could be made for paying the pilot less---maybe. On the other hand, does an Avantair pax want a pilot any less experienced than NJ pax demand? The adage "You get what you pay for" isn't something people want to apply to their safety is it?

Let the company charge less for the plane but a comparable price for a pilot and make the safety/experience point to the owner. I doubt that they'd want to cut corners on pilots.
So tell me, when planes buy fuel in the FBOs do the smaller companies with fewer planes get a discount because they're
new to the industry? Isn't the fuel a cost of doing business that all companies must pay
regardless of size? Why then should pilots have to
subsidize newer companies when no other aspect of the business does? Why don't more pilots have the attitude that their salaries are a cost of doing business? When the NJ pilots adjusted their way of thinking they were able to get a much improved contract.
GP, the frac industry is growing, not shrinking, so demand for the service is increasing. Why should the pilots be left behind financially? Something in your post caught my eye---"
Now you and your "knowledgeable NJ FO" can realign your expectations and drop your $50K to start fantasy". I'm quite sure that all the first year NJ FOs on the reserve schedule are glad that didn't happen! Those pilots now have a base pay of $46, 286, plus very good benefits. Many are making over $50K when per diem, holiday pay, and OT are counted. My husband and other NJ pilots worked to get the pay brought up significantly.
Jonjuan, have you noticed that among professionals there seems to be a fairly set price for their services? Doctors, dentists, lawyers, etc all charge fairly close to the same for an office call. For that matter, so do auto garages and plumbers. The idea of a market price is very common. One frequently hears expressions like--
the going rate. I don't think the notion of a minimum rate for a pilot's wages would surprise any of the frac owners. Yes, the NetJet name alone can command a premium, but I don't think owners at the other frac companies expect to get comparable transportation for a significantly lower price. Perhaps the frac companies need to do a better job of educating owners if that's the case. If need be, the pilots can. You don't get what you don't ask for. Informational picketing helped the NJ pilots. As for comparing the frac business to the airlines, I hear the the NJ pilots say that you can't do that because the industries are so different and the pax base certainly is. Comparing NJ costs isn't too helpful because the company has been notorious for wasting money...

The pilots did the company a favor by demanding professional compensation. They're starting to make efforts to run the company more efficiently now they can no longer balance the budget at the expense of the pilots.
I believe that frac pilots share more
common ground than differences. I think that the industry is big enough for a variety of companies, and that the pilots would gain from
working together to support one another in their efforts to gain better contracts. I saw
firsthand what the NJ pilots did to improve their situation, and I firmly believe that
any of the rest of you could do the same thing. Flight Options is in the process right now. Flex is taking the first step. If those two are successful, it will help to strengthen the industry and make things easier for smaller pilot groups to also get the
going rate. I appreciate those of you who focused on the issues and avoided personal insults. Best Wishes to you and yours, NJW
PS It's all about standing up for what you deserve--the going rate.
Whatever means available to your group that
works for you--has my support.