XOJet Update

[skiandsurf]

How many pilots at XOJet? And how many do they forecast?

Do they upgrade based on seniority or performance?

Is the insurance free?

And the unanswered question.....is most of your flying... charter (part 135) or owners (part 91)?

 

[Ultra Grump]

Looking to bail s&s?

 

[t-bone]

I need to make a correction on the SIC pay...it's actually only 58% of PIC pay...you can do the math. The good news is that upgrades run less than a year if you've got a good attitude and pick up our procedures quickly and if you meet our PIC minimums. Sorry for the bad information.

Guys that get hired as street captains start off at 80% of PIC pay, then move to 90% after training, and are expected to be ready to go as PIC after just a few rotations, where they'll go to full PIC pay. Those that aren't ready at that point may move down to SIC pay. If you're hired under these circumstances, and you're ready to go quickly, it's entirely reasonable to be at full PIC pay in under 6 months.

 

[On Your Six]

I need to make a correction on the SIC pay...it's actually only 58% of PIC pay...you can do the math. The good news is that upgrades run less than a year if you've got a good attitude and pick up our procedures quickly and if you meet our PIC minimums. Sorry for the bad information.

Guys that get hired as street captains start off at 80% of PIC pay, then move to 90% after training, and are expected to be ready to go as PIC after just a few rotations, where they'll go to full PIC pay. Those that aren't ready at that point may move down to SIC pay. If you're hired under these circumstances, and you're ready to go quickly, it's entirely reasonable to be at full PIC pay in under 6 months.

Any estimates on how many guys you plan to hire in 08? How many CL300s are expected to be on the property through the end of 08?

 

[t-bone]

How many pilots at XOJet? And how many do they forecast?

Do they upgrade based on seniority or performance?

Is the insurance free?

And the unanswered question.....is most of your flying... charter (part 135) or owners (part 91)?

Currently just over 100 pilots on the property. The only forecast I've heard is for the entire company...currently at 205 company-wide, forecast to be at 330 by the end of 2008. The bulk of that will be pilots and mechanics to support our growing fleet. Acceptance flights on the next 2 Xs are in progress this week. I'll try to get more specific #s, for both pilot hiring and aircraft deliveries. I think we'll have 2-3 300s on property by the end of 2008.

Upgrades are based on perfomance.

Insurance is free for the employee, cost for family is minimal...around $100 per month (I think...)

The mix between charter and owner flights varies. All of our flights are operated under 135 rules though. On days like today, where we're using 20 crews to keep our 15 airplanes flying as much as possible, we can turn down charter requests because our owners are all flying. On other days where the owner side is slow, we can increase our availability to outside charter. That is very helpful when we need to get an airplane across the country for a future owner trip...we have several venues to market that empty leg, minimizing our unpaid deadhead legs.

But to the crews flying the airplane...it really makes no difference if we're flying charter clients or owners. We treat them all the same...and it's amazing how many of those charter pax have become owners as a result!

 

[Ultra Grump]

Upgrades are based on perfomance.

How exactly is that "performance" measured?

 

[t-bone]

How exactly is that "performance" measured?

Peer Review Evaluations, completed by the other pilots the candidate has flown with.

 

[skiandsurf]

Looking to bail s&s?

No, I was trying to get some more detailed info about this company out to this board. If I was at VA, Skybus, FLOPS or _________, I would consider going to XOJet. From the little that we know about them, it sounds like a good option.

 

[CapnVegetto]

My resume is in....no internal rec though, so I doubt I'll hear anything soon. Keeping my fingers crossed though....seems like a darn good deal.

 

[learflyer]

A little defensive are we? I would never insult your mighty 1108, However when a union member uses the term "really sucks" to define gathering food for ones own nourishment, I'm reminded why being part of a union is not my cup of tea.

I tend to agree. we had to do it at RTA. Took 2 minutes in the back of a cab to order it.

 

[johnsonrod]

No, I was trying to get some more detailed info about this company out to this board. If I was at VA, Skybus, FLOPS or _________, I would consider going to XOJet. From the little that we know about them, it sounds like a good option.

I agree with this point. I believe Netjets has the best offer out there for fractionals, but XOJet seems to be a pretty good alternative to Netjets (still my #1 choice after the new TA). With its growth and strong financial backing (private equity firms and very wealthy Silicon Valley types), XOJet could be a good choice if you get in early (right now).

 

[EdAtTheAirport]

t-bone,

So "performance" is simply a matter of what the other guy thinks of you? Mgmt/Admin has no effect on this "performance" criterion. What's the whole story?

Also from reading your web site, I would suspect that there are many early call/ floating rest problems. Am I correct?

 

[t-bone]

For the most part, upgrades are based on feedback from the other captains. Guys are also NOT upgraded as a direct result of their evaluations. I've said it over and over, your attitude and personality will get you further here than your flying skills will. We can work with your flying skills if you've got a good attitude.

Yes, you're right. Rolling rest (no defined duty/rest periods) has been and will undoubtedly continue to be a problem until we get a better policy. But, I know from first hand experience that if I am too tired to do a trip, then no further questions are asked. We also have written into our GOM that after 2 consecutive 12+hour duty days we are entitled to an extended period of rest.

We also have a Risk Assessment card that we go through, and if our score puts us into the High category, Chief Pilot or Director of Ops release is required, and chances are good the trip will just be canceled. Repo legs back to base don't happen if they will put the crew over 14 hours.

 

[skiandsurf]

Repo legs back to base don't happen if they will put the crew over 14 hours.

It sounds like you repo the plane back to base at the end of your week, is that true? or do you guys park the plane at your last airport and airline home?

I always heard that you guys dont do many repo flights, but this is conflicting.

 

[Ultra Grump]

I've said it over and over, your attitude and personality will get you further here than your flying skills will. We can work with your flying skills if you've got a good attitude.

Q: What's the difference between an ass-kisser and a brown-noser?

A: Depth perception.