XOJet Update

[Capthuff]

Another bend over and take this. 2 years and the pilot group will be screaming foul. Sorry for the negative post but that schedule sucks!

Notice he didnt say anything about 7/7.
so sure, to him 8/6 is worse then 7/7. I think most of us would agree. But, I would be willing to bet, most pilots that are not working for a sched 121 have a schedule that is worse than 8/6 - certainly anyone working in the charter industry.

That doesnt excuse him from making a stupid statement though. 8/6 is a whole lot better then a lot of jobs out there.

I'm just happy there is another player in the industry that is growing. It helps us all.
(except for the NJ pilots that think they are the ones making life better for all of us)

Now, before you start thinking I dont like NJ, I do. They have a great group of pilots and they worked together with their union to get a better work environment. And the trickle down effect also helps us all. But NJ is not for everybody and there are other great places to work.

I know because I work at one.
(of course no job lasts forever and if mine goes away I'll be sending a PM to T-Bone)

Here's to a great 2008!!!

 

[imacdog]

You'd be a lot happier if you concentrated on the great things in our business instead of things that suck! You'd be a lot happier at home too!

A little defensive today are we? Im quite happy at home (which I spend nearly a month more per year at than you) and am not trying to put down whatever employer you work for. If you are happy with your conditions then great.

 

[Whale Rider]

A little defensive today are we? Im quite happy at home (which I spend nearly a month more per year at than you) and am not trying to put down whatever employer you work for. If you are happy with your conditions then great.

Whose defensive now? Happy? I doubt it.

 

[imacdog]

Come to think of it, I'm very miserable. You do have me figured out pretty well, Whale!

 

[t-bone]

Wow! I missed a lot of action today!

For what it's worth, just because we are scheduled to work more days on our current 9/7 schedule or soon to be 8/6 schedule, that doesn't mean that we are GONE FROM HOME more. I live near our MCC base, so I get home all the time. Truth be told, I haven't been gone 9 days straight thru since June. I am about to lose my Marriot Platinum status as a result of not enough nights, and I couldn't be happier! It means that I've been home!

Just curious IMACDOG, how often do YOU get home in the middle of a 7/7 tour?

Another interesting fact about XOJet...today was our crew transition day, and we had several airplanes go thru Las Vegas, which is where those swaps were made. All the crews coming on rotation that are MCC based got to ride down on one of our King Air 350s, and those coming home to MCC are on their way home on that same King Air right now. That doesn't always happen, but when it does, it beats the heck out of airlining to/from the airplane!

 

[imacdog]

I don't get an overnight at home all the time but it does happen. One tour I had three overnights at my home airport. I imagine it's just like any other company - live at one of the more popular destination cities and you'll be home more often in the middle of a tour.

 

[t-bone]

live at one of the more popular destination cities and you'll be home more often in the middle of a tour.

That's certainly true here. If you live near VNY or MCC, you'll get home more often than those guys on the double rotation that live in Kalispel or Tulsa.

 

[stratman560]

That's certainly true here. If you live near VNY or MCC, you'll get home more often than those guys on the double rotation that live in Kalispel or Tulsa.

So for those of us new to the fractional side of the business (namely me), what do they do with you if your on the road on the double schedule with no flying assignment? Company just puts you up in a Hotel I'm assuming until the next trip pops?

 

[t-bone]

Company just puts you up in a Hotel I'm assuming until the next trip pops?

Yup! If you're lucky, you'll be the crew that just flew out to Kona today and has no flights to come home until Wednesday! Chances are though, if you're on the mainland, you won't be sitting long. Our planes don't sit much!

 

[skiandsurf]

That's certainly true here. If you live near VNY or MCC, you'll get home more often than those guys on the double rotation that live in Kalispel or Tulsa.

Being that I have never been to MCC, I dont see it as a busy destination. And since only 5% of your your flights are empty, I am even more confused.

Not bashing XOJet, just dont understand the 5% empty flights.

 

[stratman560]

Yup! If you're lucky, you'll be the crew that just flew out to Kona today and has no flights to come home until Wednesday! Chances are though, if you're on the mainland, you won't be sitting long. Our planes don't sit much!

How many hours you gonna log this year t-bone?

 

[cessnapilot]

Nothing comes for free buddy boy! You got to work for it. Trying to work less to get paid more just puts companies in the drink! Thats what would really suck!

so where is the limit... you can work 24/7 and help "your" company, or you can balance it out. It tends to be that most 135 companies don't do a good job at this, despite making money. At some point, you have to put your life outside the company first. Look at the money involved in charter, and ask yourself how much of your life you should give to "your" company. It is good to be a team player, and anything looks better than unemployment, but there should be a bottom. If it is a fractional, there is money involved from owners, so your sweat benefits them. It its charter, then its the company you are helping. You are correct in saying that there are limits. It is what the market can handle.

 

[Ultra Grump]

Nothing comes for free buddy boy! You got to work for it. Trying to work less to get paid more just puts companies in the drink! Thats what would really suck!

You need to stop riding your boss' white whale. Why don't you run and tell your boss you'll work 29-on, 1-off, and you'll take a 25% pay cut to boot? Don't want that company to go in the drink, now do you? And what does your statement have to do with the FACT that working more and being home less SUCKS?

Don't ask the question if you don't want to hear the answer.

 

[Ultra Grump]

Just curious IMACDOG, how often do YOU get home in the middle of a 7/7 tour?

Most tours I spend at least one night in my own bed, sometimes several. I am VERY happy with my QOL at NJA. I have at least double the time at home that I did at my former airline.

 

[BengalsFan]

Ultra-where do you live? and is this common?

T-Bone-How military reserve friendly is XOJet? For military leave both short (like UTAs) and long (like initial/recur training...3-4 months)? someone high up in your company is coming to talk to us at Dadelians this month I think... I'm excited to hear what he has to say.