Originally Posted by
Fredturbo
How many G650s does flexjets have, 3? Sure nj is bleeding market to them. Lol....
Well that’s just it.
The large cabin market is the easiest to get into from a risk/reward stance for any entrant. Additionally, nobody appears to be “killing it” in the large cabin segment already defined by Gulfstream and Global and associated costs/revenue models. There are “discount options” available, those who have a much different safety footprint than we do that operate the same Gulfstreams. Customers have a choice and you get what you pay for. Vista’s latest spectacle out in BFI of a fully loaded Global taking off VFR and trying to game the system for an IFR Oceanic clearance airborne while under Class B and in the traffic pattern is a great example, and just one of many that could be cited.
Delta or Allegiant is a similar choice for airline customers.
Hemisphere represented a bold effort to examine the possibility of operating another (new) machine that would allow for operation into that large cabin segment with different economics that were good for NJA and program Owners.
Is it dead? Sure. And it’s one announcement away from being activated again. Textron and NJA know what the aircraft will do if Safron gets its ducks in a row.
Until then... other plans continue. The competitive pressure NJA exerts on the market continues. The same game of high stakes poker with many at the same table holding unsustainable wagers and hand of cards that won’t win ultimately continues. The poker stares are quite impressive.
NJA is adding light, midsize and super midsize Jets at a growth clip. Large Cabin jets are being added at a slower clip but the market is as stable as the market is stable. Fleet count for the US while changing out dozens upon dozens of old, high time jets is NETting increases headed for 500 gets, 460 this year.
Financial performance has never been so good. Sell offs are minimal, maintenance costs are more focused, fatigue and DNIF are far fewer, pilots are filling their 401Ks.
Why wasn’t this possible when we had 70 Gulfstreams? If anything, we probably had too many for them for the market to support in our colors. We had market share... but we saturated the market. NJA operates on a much different and more responsible business model today.
It’s just interesting to read such differing opinions. Ask the majority of those at NJA, the future is bright, things are great. Ask a former employee or current Gulfstream pilot and things are bleak, destitute and depressing.
It’s time to embrace a new aircraft or simply enjoy the new company you left for I think. Although I do appreciate reading everyone’s input, some of it just doesn’t correlate with what’s happening for the majority of NJA pilots and the companies trajectory in the industry.
All perfect? Hardly. Plenty to be proud and thankful for? Absolutely.