Flexjet: One year in
07-18-2023 | 07:43 AM
#172
New Hire
Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 3
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The QOL is definitely better than your average run of the mill 135. What you have to understand is, we are inferior to NetJets when it comes to retirement. Retirement is lacking here and KR knows it. Will that change, it may. With that being said, I’ll share my experience below:
I’ve gotten a few friends hired here and I believe the quick upgrade is something to think about. I told them to interview at NetJets AND Flexjet. And 3 of my friends have decided to join me. DRL CA (Challenger/Praetor) is down to 14 months. PBS CA (Phenom) is down to 8. I know folks who have gotten ILC CA (G450, among other large cabins) in under a year. There’s unique opportunities available depending on what your goals are. Pay becomes decent once Captain can be held. Right now there is a 24 month seat lock if you are in a midsize jet and upgrade into the phenom. Rumor is a 12 month seatlock will be instilled if you upgrade from right to left seat in phenom. Im not sure how accurate this is. There may be changes in the coming months, maybe weeks. As a PBS FO, I was able to have major holidays off. And a rotation is a nonevent. I don’t even talk about work when I’m home unless the in-laws ask me “where are you flying to tomorrow?” And I have to answer the question for the 1 millionth time: “I have no idea, pass me the potatoes.”
At the end of the day, in the 135/91k world, you have to be gone away from home to bring home the bacon. This is different than a airline when you live in base and can bid LCR and be at home all the time and make the monthly guarantee while also making 17% direct contribution. I’m not in an airline hub so I couldn’t do that without headache, although I’ve thought about it and commuting.
Flexjet pays for my parking or Uber from my doorstep to the airport on day 1. Pays for all food expenses on the road. Schedule flexibility is different than Netjets. As DRL, you’d have to get guys to cover for you for a vacation. This can be done while the schedule is being built with the other 2 pilots. Instead for example at Netjets, you would take 7 days off of a 7/7, and you have 21 days off automatically. I’ve flown my family in the Flexjet plane I fly. I was able to coordinate with dispatch for a short reposition. That was awesome, but it’s not like I can list myself as standby on Delta heading to the Canary Islands in first class.
They are extremely flexible with calling in sick for an emergency, whether on day 0 or in the middle of the rotation. They take your word for it, and don’t ask for a sick note or proof. I’ve had house emergencies, kid being sick, and me being sick. All approved. My friends at NetJets however have had the Bridgeway 1 arrival after their first sick call. If you don’t know what that is, just imagine their chief pilot drilling you about why you called in sick, and why you may not have checked into the hotel (yes NetJets tracks this; very creepy).
All the captains I fly with are very cautious and by the book when it comes to safety. This is very appealing to me as I have friends at mom and pop 135s where they discourage writing up the plane in order to keep revenue constant.
Flexjet is different, but in a good way. I made more than my friends at NetJets year 1. But will this always be the case, maybe not. If NetJets gets a pay increase, will we get one too? I hope so, since we don’t have a union. Do your research, make your decision. It’s not for everyone, but flying isn’t either. If you wanted to see your kid every nights maybe go to Allegiant or work for FlightSafety. We are pilots, and we are merely transportation tools.
I’ve gotten a few friends hired here and I believe the quick upgrade is something to think about. I told them to interview at NetJets AND Flexjet. And 3 of my friends have decided to join me. DRL CA (Challenger/Praetor) is down to 14 months. PBS CA (Phenom) is down to 8. I know folks who have gotten ILC CA (G450, among other large cabins) in under a year. There’s unique opportunities available depending on what your goals are. Pay becomes decent once Captain can be held. Right now there is a 24 month seat lock if you are in a midsize jet and upgrade into the phenom. Rumor is a 12 month seatlock will be instilled if you upgrade from right to left seat in phenom. Im not sure how accurate this is. There may be changes in the coming months, maybe weeks. As a PBS FO, I was able to have major holidays off. And a rotation is a nonevent. I don’t even talk about work when I’m home unless the in-laws ask me “where are you flying to tomorrow?” And I have to answer the question for the 1 millionth time: “I have no idea, pass me the potatoes.”
At the end of the day, in the 135/91k world, you have to be gone away from home to bring home the bacon. This is different than a airline when you live in base and can bid LCR and be at home all the time and make the monthly guarantee while also making 17% direct contribution. I’m not in an airline hub so I couldn’t do that without headache, although I’ve thought about it and commuting.
Flexjet pays for my parking or Uber from my doorstep to the airport on day 1. Pays for all food expenses on the road. Schedule flexibility is different than Netjets. As DRL, you’d have to get guys to cover for you for a vacation. This can be done while the schedule is being built with the other 2 pilots. Instead for example at Netjets, you would take 7 days off of a 7/7, and you have 21 days off automatically. I’ve flown my family in the Flexjet plane I fly. I was able to coordinate with dispatch for a short reposition. That was awesome, but it’s not like I can list myself as standby on Delta heading to the Canary Islands in first class.
They are extremely flexible with calling in sick for an emergency, whether on day 0 or in the middle of the rotation. They take your word for it, and don’t ask for a sick note or proof. I’ve had house emergencies, kid being sick, and me being sick. All approved. My friends at NetJets however have had the Bridgeway 1 arrival after their first sick call. If you don’t know what that is, just imagine their chief pilot drilling you about why you called in sick, and why you may not have checked into the hotel (yes NetJets tracks this; very creepy).
All the captains I fly with are very cautious and by the book when it comes to safety. This is very appealing to me as I have friends at mom and pop 135s where they discourage writing up the plane in order to keep revenue constant.
Flexjet is different, but in a good way. I made more than my friends at NetJets year 1. But will this always be the case, maybe not. If NetJets gets a pay increase, will we get one too? I hope so, since we don’t have a union. Do your research, make your decision. It’s not for everyone, but flying isn’t either. If you wanted to see your kid every nights maybe go to Allegiant or work for FlightSafety. We are pilots, and we are merely transportation tools.
07-18-2023 | 09:38 AM
#173
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Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 50
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No contract signed. Ever. Come get a free Challenger type rating and leave for a corporate gig or Southwest Airlines.
07-18-2023 | 09:52 AM
#174
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Joined: Jul 2023
Posts: 3
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07-19-2023 | 02:39 AM
#176
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Joined: May 2023
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Hello.
I currently work as a pilot for a commercial company.
I fly every day and I estimate that I work about 230 days a year.
I know that airlines have a maximum flight time limit for pilots(1000hours in year), and that pilots are not allowed to fly more than a certain number of hours in a certain period of time.
I think it would be very difficult to reach the 1,000-hour flight time limit in a year as a Flex pilot.
In theory, could a Flex pilot work up to 300 days a year? (Excluding the fact that it would be very tiring.)
I fly every day and I estimate that I work about 230 days a year.
I know that airlines have a maximum flight time limit for pilots(1000hours in year), and that pilots are not allowed to fly more than a certain number of hours in a certain period of time.
I think it would be very difficult to reach the 1,000-hour flight time limit in a year as a Flex pilot.
In theory, could a Flex pilot work up to 300 days a year? (Excluding the fact that it would be very tiring.)
07-19-2023 | 03:46 AM
#177
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
I currently work as a pilot for a commercial company.
I fly every day and I estimate that I work about 230 days a year.
I know that airlines have a maximum flight time limit for pilots(1000hours in year), and that pilots are not allowed to fly more than a certain number of hours in a certain period of time.
I think it would be very difficult to reach the 1,000-hour flight time limit in a year as a Flex pilot.
In theory, could a Flex pilot work up to 300 days a year? (Excluding the fact that it would be very tiring.)
I fly every day and I estimate that I work about 230 days a year.
I know that airlines have a maximum flight time limit for pilots(1000hours in year), and that pilots are not allowed to fly more than a certain number of hours in a certain period of time.
I think it would be very difficult to reach the 1,000-hour flight time limit in a year as a Flex pilot.
In theory, could a Flex pilot work up to 300 days a year? (Excluding the fact that it would be very tiring.)
In theory you could work that much, but it's not very realistic and I highly doubt the company would let you work 25 days a month over a year to begin with.
07-20-2023 | 08:49 PM
#178
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Joined: May 2023
Posts: 42
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Thank you sir.
Go look at 14CFR 135.265 and 267. Part 135 Fractional and charter operators have the same type of limits with some minor tweaks when compared to part 121 operators.
In theory you could work that much, but it's not very realistic and I highly doubt the company would let you work 25 days a month over a year to begin with.
In theory you could work that much, but it's not very realistic and I highly doubt the company would let you work 25 days a month over a year to begin with.
I understand that the same standards apply.
I have heard that it is easier to meet the annual hour requirements at an international airline than at FLEXJET.
I think it is almost impossible to fly 1,000 hours a year at flexjet.
However, since FLEXJET pays based on the number of days worked, it is possible to work many days and earn a lot of money if you want to earn a lot of money. Is that correct?
So, pilots who work at DRL can theoretically earn a lot of money without experiencing the inconvenience of international flights such as jet lag?
If I assuem that 1 year work 250days captain
195 day + 1.5 x 55 day (overcharge) + bonus 15% + fuel 4000 $ + 220days over perfomance 5000$ + 250 days perdium
Is it right?
07-21-2023 | 04:42 AM
#179
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 299
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There is no overtime daily rate, it's a flat rate regardless of number of days worked. There is hourly overtime for duty worked past 12 hrs paid at 1.5, but that's it. The $5k bonus for working over 220 days only applies to SICs. The fuel bonuses and 15% and per diem are all correct for the Phenom. I will say you can work 20-21 days a month here, but you'll quickly burn yourself out with the type of flying and duty days we have if you're not careful.
07-21-2023 | 04:59 AM
#180
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Joined: May 2023
Posts: 42
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Thank you sir.
There is no overtime daily rate, it's a flat rate regardless of number of days worked. There is hourly overtime for duty worked past 12 hrs paid at 1.5, but that's it. The $5k bonus for working over 220 days only applies to SICs. The fuel bonuses and 15% and per diem are all correct for the Phenom. I will say you can work 20-21 days a month here, but you'll quickly burn yourself out with the type of flying and duty days we have if you're not careful.
I saw some extra work day that can bid 1.5 or 2 even 3(such a christmas. thanks giving).
But your mean is every day has flat late. right.? I think that most people hope the schedule off during christmas season.
Is it only depend on senioriy number?
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