Originally Posted by
Das Auto
Really? What happens when you can only hold a reserve line as a new hire? Commuting is horrible, period. You can argue all you want that the majors are a better gig than NetJets and most would agree, but when it comes to getting to and from work there's no comparison. I moved from San Diego to Houston back in the day so I never had to commute. Guess what? When I upgraded I was based in Newark on reserve. I know my experience is not unique.
To even consider leaving NetJets for a regional is rediculous. Sure you get lots of carrots first year at a regional but then reality hits. The pay 2nd year for a regional F.O. Is what, $40 an hour? Assuming you credited 100 hours a month that's $48k gross for the year. Don't forget your health insurance premiums. The majors and legacies are hiring NetJets guys anyway so why wouldn't you just sit tight and be patient if that's your ultimate goal?
Its obvious that there are plenty of pilots at NetJets that aren't happy where they are which is fine, but please don't let that influence what you post in this forum. There are pros and cons but suggesting that commuting is great and the regionals are a better option than NetJets nonsense. There's enough B.S. out there as it is.
I am not talking about reserve, I am referring to line holders. Yea being on reserve, you're gonna need a crash pad, no way around that. How long you are on reserve greatly depends on the airline and base so that's hard to really average.
I disagree all day long that commuting is horrible (this coming from a guy who lives in base lol). Commuting CAN be horrible but I don't think labeling it as horrible universally is fair at all. Again there are lots of variables there. If you have a 1 leg commute on a company aircraft from a major airport that has 12 flights a day, its really not gonna be that hard. I know plenty of PHX, PDX, SEA, DEN, LAS, and DAL commuters to SFO and while commuting is a pain in the ass, and can be horrible at times, they do it, and it doesn't suck enough for them to move. In fact one guy is a 12 year vet at my current company, and was former NJA. He commutes from Dallas, says it adds maybe 4 days month so that is about 18-19 days gone a month. It all depends on if the juice is worth the squeeze to you or not. I live in base but I am considering moving to PDX (another base) and commuting to SFO until I can hold it. It will add some days to my month maybe, but I can bid afternoon trips and commute down. Commuter clauses now are pretty good so if you follow the guidelines, you are protected. The real litmus test is to see how many legacy 121 drivers are leaving to come to NetJets because of the commute they have at their airline. That number would be zero.
I didn't say commuting was a better option and I also didn't say that everyone should leave for a regional. I argue, that commuting and NJA travel are very similar from a stress standpoint. Yea you get a ticket at NJA but it doesn't make travel to and from work a cakewalk. The reason I said FOs should consider regionals is that you can upgrade quickly right now and get 121 PIC jet time, and you can also flow or get a preferential hire into a legacy depending on which one you go to. Granted most of us can't take the financial hit to go to a regional, I couldn't which is why I didn't.
Comparing NetJets to a regional for possible employment as a new hire is absolutely fair. Several young guys have left NJA to go to a regional, I think in the long run that is a great career move. Should a 10 year FO at NJA go to a regional? Probably not!