Update on my timeline with XOJET for those interested in applying:
Friday 18 Jan - Applied on XOJET website
Saturday 19 Jan - Received email notifying me I was selected to "start the initial interview process". I replied same day with availability to do phone interview. Helpful background on the company, benefits and other details were provided at that time.
Monday 21 Jan - nailed down phone interview date
Friday 25 Jan - 1+15 phone interview, very enjoyable discussion with XO interview team leader.
Monday 28 Jan - Email telling me I was being placed "in a pool of candidates to be interviewed" in SMF HHQs. Also attached was the PRIA, DOT, SWA training record requests that I completed and then emailed back within a few hours of opening the email.
Feb 6 - Email invitation for a Feb 28 interview at HHQ (@ MCC, old McClellan AFB)
Interview cancelled due to scheduling conflicts with XO flight ops (related to VistaJet conversion) and rescheduled for the following Thursday, 7 March
7 Mar - Interview..arrived on the 6th, no dinner meeting the night before (they have dropped the meet/greet that is discussed in previous threads beginning Jan '19), one other interviewee (Part 91 flyer...great guy)
14 Mar - Got the call saying they would be sending me a job offer and to please return within 7 days of receipt. Class date of 13 May start
Mar 26 - Sent offer information, PRIA and other forms to complete and sign within 7 days
Apr 3 - Request for DOT drug testing; completed successfully since there were no math questions
Apr 24 - Fini flight with SWA (19.5 yrs)
Why continue to fly in the 135 world?
1. I knew from everyone who has been in the 135 world the biggest change from 121 is
"work 3 times as hard for 1/3rd the $$"...clearly drummed into my thought process which is fine with me...I simply love to fly and wasn't ready to give it up yet because of Age 65.
2. I tracked where XOJET (any of the Fractionals) were flying on a daily basis to get an idea of how many legs, length, typical overnights, etc. on
Flightaware. So many of the airports are places I've never been too and the flying challenges associated with those experiences are obvious. 121 flying is mostly canned with the rare "airmanship" decision thrown in...others would disagree but after 19.5 yrs, the Cat3 approach handflown to 50 feet is about as challenging as it gets. I am ready for that type of environment.
Why XOJET?
It doesn't pay the most for FOs nor CAs but upgrades are much quicker (higher pay sooner), less vacation than others, work schedule 8/6 vs 7/7 with other top 2 but again these weren't showstoppers for me but going in I knew what I looking at. Similar situation when I started with SWA in '99, we were lower pay scales but upgrades were projected to be better at the big boys (OALs ended up furloughing so the point became moot). Work environment and view of management was important to me. XO won on those accounts.
Coming from a culture that is pretty unique and one I've enjoyed immensely, I didn't think I would find a similar situation in the fractionals.
I PM'd current and ex-XOJ pilots on here and got great intel, insight into the company...liked what I heard...all very positive.
I read every post on APC about NJ, Flex and XOJ...yes a dangerous thing to do but over time one can read through what is BS and what is genuine.
I did research on NJ, Flex, XOJ on Glassdoor.com (you have to join by rating your current company) and found wonderful information on all three...the data provided was very useful, i.e. review comments, rating of the CEO, rating the culture, would you recommend to a friend and much more).
I clicked on every link on the XOJ website, read the news articles (press releases and others), looked at every Youtube interview with XOJET in the title, google news search for VistaJet, Vista Global Holdings and XOJET.
The interview by phone and in person merely confirmed what I had already determined by looking at all of the various data points and told me XOJET was a great landing spot for me if they would hire me.
Fortunately for me they did and I'm really looking forward to the experience. Your mileage may vary depending on your age, location (mine is TX), family situation (empty nester), etc.
When I interviewed reference was made to a 1 Apr class that was starting and the class I'm in, 13 May. Don't know if the 1 Apr class started or how many in either class for those wanting to know.
My thanks to all the current and former XOJetters who post on here and answered my questions, shared your contact info with me and provided me great intel on XOJET. Super helpful and you are all great ambassadors for your company...first drinks are on me when we link up.
It is an incredible period in aviation history in terms of jobs and I realize how fortunate my timing is to be offered a chance to continue to fly after retiring.
PM me with questions about the process but definitely reach out to the current XOJetters who are on here who can do for you what they did for me.
My stats are below,
Chase
TT 17,000 +
121 - 13,000+, just a line pilot for 19.5 yrs
Mil 3000+
times don't include .2 per sortie...
No type in Challenger or the X