XOJet Update

[learflyer]

that is a nauseating amount of time to be away from home........

 

[AeroDMB]

Check your PM's t-bone.

58 new pilots this year sound about right?

Can you share with us what t-bone said about the 58 new hires for 08? I can't imagine that low of pilot demand for the amount of aircraft on order.

 

[cherry20's]

t-bone said that he heard 50-100 this year. You have to remember, they only have 100 pilots right now. They don't start taking deliveries of the 300 until next year, then they'll need a lot of pilots. I think there only getting 2 X's a month right now? Hope this helps.

 

[t-bone]

OK, this is what I've heard. Taking delivery of 11 X's this year, and 3-5 300s start showing up in September. So 14-16 airplanes x 4.7 pilots/plane = 65.8-75.2 pilots. Throw in vacation days that will need to be covered starting in November when our vacation policy goes into effect, and that'll easily bring the demand up closer to 100.

The plan is to triple our fleet from its current size of 17 airplanes to 51 airplanes within the next 24 months. Then double it again to 104 within the following 24 months.

As for being gone from home a lot, that all depends on where you live. If you live near one of our MX bases (MCC, VNY, ILG) you'll get home during your tours. I live near one, got home last night, spent all day today sitting on my couch watching football, and head out tomorrow morning on my next trip. Tuesday is the transition, so I only need to pack for a few days!

If you choose not to move, then you should plan on being gone for the entire tour. It's your decision.

Hope that answers some of your questions.

T

 

[sshrae]

info on xojet

anybody out there currently work for xojet that could shed some light on qol there. I am 2nd year at f9 and looking to split, live in san diego and would like to avoid commuting for the first time in ten years. I appreciate it. ss

 

[hammer2]

3 1/2. Your point is?

My contract is up in March. I am actually fulfilling my obligations, so?

Hard to turn down making 70k plus a year for another job that I fly right seat and make half of what I'm making.

Got plans on leaving for the right job when my contract is up, not running to the first place that will hire me and be miserable like you at Flexjet!

Get a life!

Who said I was miserable? Flex is a good job. By the way I got a good life, a lot of it is due to Flex. If someone left Cherry for Flexjet, 5 out of 4 people would say it was a good move

 

[cherry20's]

Maybe 4 out of 5, but whose counting? Most jobs are better than Cherry, that doesn't say much.

 

[hammer2]

Yeah about 600 or so huh! I doubt they will interview that many for 58 spots but I guess you never know. I just want a shot at one!

Cherry, unless you get a cpt spot,why would you want to go to a company that is going to be full of growing pains? You have the time try for netjets, citation shares or Flexjet.

 

[cherry20's]

I like the outlook? Looks like it might be a place to hang me hat for a long time if everything works out. Its not the only place my resume is at anyway. Just the one that I think sounds the best. I might come join you if something positive happens tomorrow. Yeah never know, good luck with the new contract!

 

[doylehargraves]

The plan is to triple our fleet from its current size of 17 airplanes to 51 airplanes within the next 24 months. Then double it again to 104 within the following 24 months.

T

Man you are optimistic aren't you? 51 airplanes in 24 months? The kool-aid must be very tasty over there at XO. There is no way you'll be at 51 planes in 2 years.

 

[flyzimex]

Not good at math, but I believe you are slightly wrong..

Man you are optimistic aren't you? 51 airplanes in 24 months? The kool-aid must be very tasty over there at XO. There is no way you'll be at 51 planes in 2 years.

Not to be a smartass, but my math teacher told me 51-17=34..

But then again, my math grade could have been better..:0

 

[t-bone]

Man you are optimistic aren't you? 51 airplanes in 24 months? The kool-aid must be very tasty over there at XO. There is no way you'll be at 51 planes in 2 years.

So, let's say you are correct. Would you suggest that we hold Bombardier and Cessna responsible for breach of contract? These numbers didn't just come out of thin air, Doyle. They are in the delivery schedule of the purchase agreements we have with the manufacturer, which I believe is a legally binding document. There could be delays on the production end of the transaction, but there's not much we can do about that. But I bet there are financial penalties built in if they don't meet their end of the bargain.

I tell ya what. If we only have 49 airplanes in 2 years from now, I'll send you a cookie. Would that make you happy?

I don't know who you work for, but what is your company's plan?

 

[doylehargraves]

flyzimex, he said they would be at 51 airplanes in 24 months? Did I miss something ??

T-bone,

My company doesn't tell us what future plans are. They think we should be kept in the dark in those areas. Contract or not, are you saying that your company has customers signed up already for these 51 airplanes or are they just buying them in hopes of getting customers? I mean, I can order planes all day but, if I can't fill them with customers, I'll be out of business. That is what I'm saying. I don't see it happening bro, but, prove me wrong.

 

[flyzimex]

flyzimex, he said they would be at 51 airplanes in 24 months? Did I miss something ??

I guess your statement "51 airplanes in 24 months" can be interpreted in two different ways. Looks like I picked the wrong way. I was referring to the 17 X's today and at 51 planes in two years, hence an addition of 34.

My bad..

/FlyZimex

 

[t-bone]

T-bone,

My company doesn't tell us what future plans are. They think we should be kept in the dark in those areas.

That's rather unfortunate! Maybe you should spend more time wondering why your company treats you that way and less time concerned with what we're doing.

Contract or not, are you saying that your company has customers signed up already for these 51 airplanes or are they just buying them in hopes of getting customers? I mean, I can order planes all day but, if I can't fill them with customers, I'll be out of business. That is what I'm saying. I don't see it happening bro, but, prove me wrong.

No, we don't have customers lined up yet to fill all of those airplanes. But, with the momentum we are building, and the amount of referral business we are getting from current owners, it looks plausible that we will have no problem keeping those airplanes busy. Do you think TPG and Lehman Brothers would have given us the amount of money they did if we didn't have a solid business plan and a team that can pull it off? They aren't dumb companies who throw money out into the wind...

This is a new thing we are doing over here. No one can guarantee that it will work. But so far, it is.

 

[t-bone]

Man you are optimistic aren't you? 51 airplanes in 24 months? The kool-aid must be very tasty over there at XO. There is no way you'll be at 51 planes in 2 years.

Oh, I get it. You work at Flex...are you bent that Bombardier sold us so many airplanes? I guess they saw it as a good business deal to forge a long-term relationship with us, just like TPG and Lehman did.

 

[doylehargraves]

I could care less what bombardier does. If they want to sell airplanes to a company that probably won't make it, then so be it. It doesn't bother me.

 

[Flex-ible]

Oh, I get it. You work at Flex...are you bent that Bombardier sold us so many airplanes? I guess they saw it as a good business deal to forge a long-term relationship with us, just like TPG and Lehman did.

Maybe Flex will buy XO, since Flex can't seem to find enough 300's to keep the customers happy. I hear they are selling "virtual 300's": 1/8 LR45 + 1/8 CL604 = 1/4 CL300.

Big question is going to be training slots. All the 300 sims are already booked out years in advance.

 

[Flex-ible]

My company doesn't tell us what future plans are. They think we should be kept in the dark in those areas.

2 CL300's to be delivered this month, already in work-ups. 6 additional CL300's to be delivered during the rest of 2008, giving us 37 on property by next Christmas. Don't know about 605 and LR numbers.

Seems that guarantees every CL300 FO currently on the payroll should be in the top half of seniority (300 FO seniority, that is) within a year.

 

[doylehargraves]

Those are "aircraft plans". What are the financial plans of our future? That's what we are kept in the dark about. Us getting airplanes means absolutely nothing. The NET GAIN of airplanes means something but,they won't tell us that either.

 

[X-rated]

I could care less what bombardier does. If they want to sell airplanes to a company that probably won't make it, then so be it. It doesn't bother me.

I think you're just popping off about something you know nothing about, but please enlighten us. What do you think you know that world class financial annalists at TPG and Lehman don't? Where did you say you got your MBA? Have you even seen XOJET's business plan, or financials?

Yeah, I didn't think so...

You're entitled to your uninformed opinion, but please don't try to pass it off as a probability. It just makes you look foolish.

 

[hammer2]

I like the outlook? Looks like it might be a place to hang me hat for a long time if everything works out. Its not the only place my resume is at anyway. Just the one that I think sounds the best. I might come join you if something positive happens tomorrow. Yeah never know, good luck with the new contract!

Going there is a gamble. If it works your at the top of the seniority list, at a good company. If it does'nt your out a few years, at your age not abig deal.
5 out of 4 was a joke.
We've had our differences on this board, but I've heard about you. Should you decide Flex, you would be more than welcome.

 

[t-bone]

Going there is a gamble.

What aviation job ISN'T a gamble today? Sure, there are some jobs that are more stable than others...right now. But if you told a guy applying to United 10 years ago that going there would be a gamble, he would have laughed in your face. He's not laughing today!

The playing field has changed, and I think anyone that is counting on their aviation job to support them in their retirement is foolish.

 

[cherry20's]

What aviation job ISN'T a gamble today? Sure, there are some jobs that are more stable than others...right now. But if you told a guy applying to United 10 years ago that going there would be a gamble, he would have laughed in your face. He's not laughing today!

The playing field has changed, and I think anyone that is counting on their aviation job to support them in their retirement is foolish.

Exactly, what isn't a gamble in this damn industry anymore? Skybus- they should have know it wasn't going to work, but XOJET sounds much more solid. I'd take my chances there like any other place.

Hammer, who else at Flex knows me? Might need there names!! Haha. We have had our differences but think were getting closer to the same page.

 

[hammer2]

XO is a gamble, with the current gas prices, maybe even with the pay standard set by netjets! It's up hill.

 

[hammer2]

Exactly, what isn't a gamble in this damn industry anymore? Skybus- they should have know it wasn't going to work, but XOJET sounds much more solid. I'd take my chances there like any other place.

Hammer, who else at Flex knows me? Might need there names!! Haha. We have had our differences but think were getting closer to the same page.

No one at Flex. Closing the book on Cherry and moving on is putting you on the right page.

 

[NETFLIER]

please move xo jet info over to the charter discussion board, they are not a fractional.

thanks

 

[KeroseneDream]

You found out how to make your font bigger. I am impressed.

Today I flew pax for a company that owns an entire airplane. Tommorrow I will fly pax that own half of an airplane. Probably will fly a charter pax this week as well.

NJA flys owners of varying scale as well as Marquis card hourly block purchases. How is that different. Let us all party on the Charter board then. Seems that some money is being made there.

 

[FamilyGuy]

Do you think TPG and Lehman Brothers would have given us the amount of money they did if we didn't have a solid business plan and a team that can pull it off? They aren't dumb companies who throw money out into the wind...

Hmmm...

Lehman: Writedowns Totaled $3.5B in 4Q

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=AP&date=20071213&id=7939710

 

[NETFLIER]

its different,

because,

Marquis Jets is our Largest owner, they are not a charter company.

now dont you have a charter to do someplace.