afterburn81

Hey guys. Yup I know that flexjet is crap and I’d have to be crazy to even be interested. So we can just assume I’m briefed.

Question though - I’m interested in a flying job that doesn’t consume me. Something where if I wanted to have a month where I got paid crap, I could take some time off. I supposed a way to drop flying here and there. Is there a way to work very little at times with Flexjet? Or are they severely understaffed where they will be taking your days off and giving you zero say in your schedule?

Thanks for the info

Dutch1

Afterburn81, the yield has always been about 15.5 days per bid period. That translates to 202 days a year. New hires have 10 vacation days. So you can figure 192 days a year. It’s pretty difficult to get a month off as a new hire. After 10 years, you have 4 weeks of vacation. You can back to back two vacations and have a month off that way. But as a new hire, I’m doubtful you can pull that off.

fooled2x

18 year Options/Flex pilot and I can't get one of my top 10 choices for vacation, so good luck. Very few, if any, vacations during a major holiday, so people just call in sick. That increases the workload for those already working.

ATIS

Have you considered just doing contract work where you accept the trips you want and how many you want?
There are lots of Part 91 places that could use someone for a few times a month.

Dutch1

How much does it cost to stay current for that type of flying?

afterburn81

That would be great. I only have one CL-65 type rating. Which I’m pretty sure the majority of pilots have. Renders me pretty much useless for contract.

Dutch1

Basically, you sound like you are looking for a semi retirement gig? You can always come here for the type. There is no training contract. Once you got a 300/350 type, if it doesn't fit you, contract. But check the cost of staying current on your own. I've no idea what that might run.

DoYouEvenFlyBro

Hey guys, I’ve been looking thru this thread trying to get info and I’m just looking for a summary basically. I sent my resume in, got an email back, and just want to get some honest info before I go any further. Most of the info here has been pretty negative.
So...
Schedules?
Upgrade times?
QOL?
Pay? Currently advertising $75,000 first year.
Any other important info I should be aware of? Sorry for the long list, any info is appreciated!

WiskeyTango

$75,000 first year? I think that would be tough. There are three schedules to choose from. 7on 7off (which you most likely won't be able to hold as a junior pilot), 8on 7off, and the preferential bidding system called PBS, where you will probably work 16-17 days per month (trip can be 4-8 days long).

The pay scales from the contract for each schedule type, year 1 FO:
7/7: $47,740
8/7: $50,923
PBS: $309 per day, or about $62,000/yr

Add in a couple grand from the bonus program, a couple grand from overtime pay, and then about $5,000 in per diem.

The schedule system has been overhauled recently so it's really hard to speak to that and QOL.

Upgrade time is hard to say. There are plenty of 10+ year FOs here. The company is actually shrinking, we are only hiring to replace the people leaving. There are fewer pilots and airplanes here than 2 years ago. I'm not sure if there are any significant growth plans for the future. It won't be a short upgrade time, put it that way.

ATIS

Mutiple schedules 8/7 7/7 fixed for 6 months
Flex schedule bid every month expect atleast 3 weekends a month and every holiday for a number of years it pays a bit more but basically no choice of schedule untill you are senior 10 years+

Upgrade time: We have 17 year Phenom SIC who hope to ugrade in a few years. You could probably expect 13 to 15 years before you upgrade.

QOL : on the road you will have 4 legs per day average and minimum 12 hours duty closer to 13 hours a day. Hotel quality has decreased in the last5 years.

Pay Advertising $75,000

New Contract says first year FO is $50,923 and at 10 year FO it is
$69,403 on 8/7 fixed day schedule a bit more if you want to work almost every weekend and holidays.
They might be including the value of benefits but pay is per contract.
Or they are doing some bait and switch when you quit your current job then find out what the real pay is.
Contact the union to get a copy of the contract to see the numbers in black and white.