Originally Posted by AntiPeter

I'm guessing your first question is rhetorical, and I don't want to offend those 10 guys so I'll keep my mouth shut.

I'm content at NJA (12 year PIC). I have a lot to be thankful for, I upgraded quickly while a lot of my friends were furloughed for years or at best had a cruddy QOL at a cruddy airline. 2006-2008 were good years here, if you didn't get furloughed during that time we were all paid a decent wage to not fly much while the airlines were taking it up the rear.

However, times have changed. Nothing stays the same.

Basing is great. Healthcare is great. We are working harder than ever, our contract leaves a lot to be desired. Many pilots I know are exhausted at the end of a tour, even after a fatigue call a few days prior. The work level is not sustainable from a safety aspect (pilots were complaining directly to management at a recurrent class last month) and if it continues I hope our pilots can stay safe out there.

I don't expect much to change in the future. The union seems more concerned about their appearance and power, they are either incapable or unwilling to help out the pilot group where it matters. Perhaps that is the fault of our pilot group, I don't know...they certainly keep electing people that are, ummm, well, "status quo" imperfect.

Sitting on the back of an airliner or walking through a terminal is still the worst part of my job. The airlines I fell in love with in the 1980s and 1990s no longer exist, the industry has changed forever and the dream job(s) I came into the business for decades ago no longer exist anywhere.

NetJets is a stable company, the management is relatively good (considering the industry). It is by far the most successful and highest paying fractional, but there is a lot to be desired these days.

NetJets is both good and bad. Just like people, there are two sides to the coin.

As a 12 year Captain I have no desire to leave to an airline unless I'm forced through downgrade, furlough, economic collapse, etc. While people cheer the airlines on this thread many of my friends have the same grievances and are no happier than I am. They may retire with a bit more in the bank, but at my phase of my life that isn't significant enough to justify the uprooting of my family a job change will cause.

Some more senior pilots here absolutely love it and some junior pilots really hate it. Many have left. Everyone has a different (and valid) experience.

I do enjoy flying the Phenom and going to all the fun little airports. A good overnight in Lake Placid or Aspen is something a major airline pilot will never do, and I appreciate those parts of my job that are better than the airlines, even though unfortunately they are more and more seldom as time goes on.

If you are the type that is defined by your job and your status, this obviously isn't the place for you. It likely never will be. Why people can't move on from that fact, I dunno...like a previous poster said....it works for some. I'm content.