which fractional to go?

[RNObased]

Ashaman: That's not the way it works. sometime this year we are switching over to training on days on.

Sometime this year huh.... Do you have that in black and white????? Oh, I thought not. Sometime this year could be Dec. '06. Then they will be oh, sorry it is now sometime in '07, we just need more time..... Then it is sometime in '08.....

If it isn't in written down they can play games forever....

 

[Kikuchiyo]

I'm not sure that I understand your question. Are you saying that you don't live close to either a NJA domicile or a CS domicile? But you're thinking of going to CS and establishing a 'crashpad' near one of their domiciles?

Correct. I live about 4.5 hrs drive from a CS base, but all the NJ bases are 12 hrs or more drive, or a 2-hop flight from my local airport. I've read elsewhere that when you get assigned your domicile, CS asks for an address to confirm that you really do live within the 120 miles. Thus I thought that I would need a real place, rather than just driving in and and crashing in a hotel the night prior to day 1. Yes, or I could join an existing crash pad. Either way, the commute to one of the 5 NJ bases is too much, so CS looks better (until NJ adds more domiciles or goes back to home-basing - but I'm not holding my breath for either).

Thanks for the words of wisdom.

 

[gunfyter]

I have seen posted that CS you must live within the required distance. No crash pad. At least with NJA you won't have to move

 

[ashaman]

Correct. I live about 4.5 hrs drive from a CS base, but all the NJ bases are 12 hrs or more drive, or a 2-hop flight from my local airport. I've read elsewhere that when you get assigned your domicile, CS asks for an address to confirm that you really do live within the 120 miles. Thus I thought that I would need a real place, rather than just driving in and and crashing in a hotel the night prior to day 1. Yes, or I could join an existing crash pad. Either way, the commute to one of the 5 NJ bases is too much, so CS looks better (until NJ adds more domiciles or goes back to home-basing - but I'm not holding my breath for either).

Thanks for the words of wisdom.

You're welcome.

It does seem like CS is the best option for you if you're not willing to move. And I think they're a quality operation and offer a decent lifestyle and compensation, as these things seem to go in this industry.
I think that CS's requirement for proximity of your house to your domicile airport is based on time, by the way (not distance). I think they do a mapquest from your home address to the airport address and require that the mapquest driving time be less than 2 hours. Hopefully someone from CS will chime in if I'm wrong about that. There is a retired Delta pilot in my new-hire class here at NJA that wanted to work at CS (because of the domicile thing), but they wouldn't even interview him because mapquest showed a driving time of 124 minutes. He assured them that he has made the drive several times and it never takes more than 1:50, but they were adamant. It's too bad for them because he is a super guy and we feel lucky to have him on our team here. But, it's their company...

When I was offered the job at CS I almost cancelled the other interviews that I already had lined up, I was so impressed with what I saw at CS. It really does seem like a first-rate operation. Also, they're still quite small, so, if they grow, you could be in a good position. I would like to caution you, though, to evaluate the industry carefully. There's no way to know which company will grow the most in the next few years or how any number of variables might affect our careers. But I would suggest to you that NetJets is better positioned for dominance and long-term growth and success than any of the others. That's not to say that the other fractionals are not quality operators or that they won't grow and be successful. None of us can know the future. But NetJets has the most resources and momentum. And, as I mentioned earlier, the compensation is SIGNIFICANTLY better. If it were me, I would try to get interviews at both companies, carefully compare all aspects of the different operations (compensation to incluce medical, 401k, salary, vacation, work rules, differences in fleets, stability, etc.) and then decide. But don't let CS know that you've got apps out at other places or that you're even thinking of any other job!
Personally, unless it was just out of the question for significant personal reasons, I would pack up and move to take the job at NetJets. You decide what's best for you and good luck!

 

[Nixon]

I have seen posted that CS you must live within the required distance. No crash pad. At least with NJA you won't have to move

With all due respect to Citation Shares, what do they do, come and inspect your living quarters? So, you say that you'll relocate, you get hired, you get a crash pad, you tell them that that is where you live, end of story, right? Do they pop in unannounced on your day off to make sure you're there?

Sorry, don't call it a crash pad. Call it an apartment. You live in an apartment, with a few roommates. You just happen to visit your family (who still live in your house, 124 minutes from your domicile) when you aren't flying.

 

[Stinkbug]

I have seen posted that CS you must live within the required distance. No crash pad. At least with NJA you won't have to move

Unfortunately this is true. Kikuchyo, you need to understand that CS is not an option for you if you're not willing to change your physical address to one within the 120 minute rule. A crashpad is not sufficient to meet this requirement. I'm not defending it, and I'm not even sure how it's enforced, but that's how it is. You're better off in this case just concentrating your efforts on Netjets.

 

[FRACTRASH]

RNObased: That's my point about CS, they don't play games. If it was an operation that treats you poorly, then yes get it in black and white. So far, management held to there word on everything up to this point. I believe that they realize there's nothing to gain by screwing with the pilots. We truly get treated fantastic at CS. It's by far the best move I could have made.

 

[Kikuchiyo]

Well, I'm glad I asked the question. Based on what ashaman said, the determination of proximity is done before offer of job. That would tend to eliminate those that are just going to chip in on a crashpad, cause you'd have to know the address before they called to offer the job.

I still agree with Nixon that CS probably can't really prevent you from owning or renting a second property closer to the domicile, and visiting your family on your days off. I suppose they could always fire you if they felt like you'd defrauded them on the terms of your employment. But plenty of people own second homes, who's to say that the condo I own as an investment property and stay in several nights a month isn't my home?

I'm still a year and a half out from being released from the AF, so at this point it's all research for me, but I hope this helps someone else make a decision in the short term.

As for the NJ commute, I must admit to my own stupidity. I was not thorough enough in my research, and the commute to TEB via EWR would be do-able. So back to the drawing board for now. Thanks for all the info, till nest time...