you get to order off of the cater menu along with one meal payed for by the company per day

plus your per diem

 

What is a 3 year FO making? Also, how hard is it to change fleets to say the G450 from the Challenger 300? Thanks!

 

Regarding Flex pay scales you have to remember that we are paid on a daily rate. Average pilot works 15.5 days per 28. You can bid to work from 14 to 19. Working 16 days per 28 a 3 year FO on the current scale makes 69K + OT + holiday etc. Last year i averaged 15.5 days and made about 10K over just the daily rate not including per diem. There are side benies like airline miles and hotel points as well as FBO fuel purchase programs that have some value but I don't ever count on them. All FOs make the same regardless of fleet. There is not a bid system for FOs to change fleets. In the past they have moved some FOs from one fleet to another based on company needs. That goes by seniority of the volunteers. Large cabin A/C (Gulfstreams and Globals) are staffed by 5 captains per A/C that are hired by interview not seniority. No FOs. Hope that long spiel answers your questions

 

So, if you are a bit "heavy" like many pilots and you get placed in the rather tight Lear 40/45/75, you can't bid the more comfy CL300/350 when a slot opens or after a set period of time? Are you basically waiting for your upgrade to potentially move?

 

When you bid a schedule, what are you actually bidding? How far out do you know what days you are working?

So what is the vacation package at Flex? Do you get to bid for certain days?

 

Thanks for the great info! Is upgrade time still around 2.5 years? Also, just wondering if there is much attrition of pilots jumping to the majors (UAL, DAL, AA). Thanks

 

Good luck on your upcoming bid to organize!

 

Ended up with the night off so I will try to answer the questions since my last post.

But first let me say that all of this could change. As indicated by Junglejett we do have a vote for or against representation starting next week. The NMB has found that Flight Options and Flexjet are a single carrier. Options is represented and we are not. Management has said if the vote is no then everybody keeps what they have etc etc. If the vote goes the other way then all of the pay and work rules are up for negotiation with a JCBA.

Now back to the questions.

Normally you stay in what ever fleet you are hired into until upgrade. That has not been 100% true but I would bet on it. Any movement from fleet to fleet by FOs is strictly to meet company needs. Fleet size changes etc. As far as upgrading, everyone goes to the small cabin when they first upgrade and then seniority moves captains to the larger AC. I don't know if they are even telling guys which fleet they are going to until indoc. You'll have to ask someone hired more recently.

Bidding. When bidding you request days on and days off. The system produces available lines with a these days on and those days off. You go in and say which is your first choice and second choice etc. The available choices can number in the hundreds. The system is seniority weighted. Junior guys may not always get one of there choices. Senior guys usually do. Not sure thats real clear. Let me know if not. Bidding is roughly a month out from the dates it covers.

I think the DO and CP are saying that they expect upgrades in about 2.5 years. Economics are what drives upgrades. Another slowdown like 2008 will put the breaks on that timeline. Who knows. There are some departures to the majors. Not a mass exodus but some. Starting pay is an issue at the majors. Long time Challenger captains can make 180K and its tough to make that jump to year one pay at the majors. Even long time FOs now newish Captains are making 130K and don't want to take the hit. All that may change with the election we have coming up.

Hope that helps.

 

Hank is right. If the election fails, you will see as many guys bail as are able. Things will change drastically. If the election is yes, there won't be attrition, but it will be a much better career choice to stay.

 

Easy Dutch. You have read my take on this union vote the wrong way. I do not think a no vote will end in a mass exodus. In my opinion a Yes vote will end poorly for Flexjet crews. Problem being that negotiations for a JCBA start with a blank slate. Negotiations don't start with what we have now. Therefor a yes vote will lead to more guys jumping ship down the road.

There is a lot of detail and nuance as to how the vote effects our pilot group and I don't have the urge to write a book about it here. Let me just urge everyone that has a vote to cast their vote in the upcoming election.