Are the minimums for NJI hard and fast? I'm a military pilot retiring in a year and currently have >4300TT, >3500 ME, > 3300 PIC time with the majority of my time operating throughout Asia, Middle East and Europe. Unfortunately I do not hold any jet type ratings, the majority of my time has been in turboprops (P-3s). Do I have a chance for NJI or even NJA? Additionally after mil retirement, I desire to return to my home state of NJ and TEB would be my first domicle choice. Is it difficult to get assigned to that domicle should I be fortunate enough to even get hired by NJI or NJA?

 

Although I'm not on the inside, I can answer some of there questions after my reaserch. As far as NJI, and their 5K requirement, Please wait for further words, but if you were lucky enough to get on with them, they are home based (ie, no doms). If you got on with NJA, and from what I hear your hours and type of experience seems good even though it's all prop time, you do have the opportunity to get TEB as a Dom. The only thing is that they hire based on what they have open at the time. Once you get your foot in the door, you can bid to be re-assigned to a diferent Dom. If it were me, I would get on at any base first. Who knows - there may be a change with the new contract to Doms.

 

IF NJI allows for the same conversion that NJA does, then you meet the 5K mins. It's a 1.2 times your total military time. E-mail NJI and ask about conversions.

NJA is currently hiring for TEB.

 

Sounds like you have enough hours to get an interview with NJA using a conversion factor. However, in your situation, I would suggest that having someone at NJA who knows you walk your application would be the key. NJA is all about "who" they hire. They use the hours for initial screening because they have so many applications to choose from, but your background and experience should give you a better than even chance of being hired.

The big killer for guys with lots of experience is "recency". How long have you been out of the cockpit. More than 6 mos. is a killer. Keep flying something...

Good luck.

 

And while TEB is getting hired into, it is taking a very long time to get hired into it- more than six months for sure, even with internal recommendations. I would start applying soon if I were you and tell them your situation- available in a year. That way you can do the interview, get hired, and have a class with a TEB domicile around the time you get out versus not having a job for a long time while you wait if you don't start until you are out or very near it. For NJI I'd gues your odds to be very slim without the type and basically impossible without at least one inside recommendation even if you get to use the military conversion times to get the 5000 hours. Good luck.

 

I certainly appreciate the feedback and will expedite getting my resume out to them. I had no idea that should I get hired that it could take that long to start at your desired domicile. Fortunately for me I'm still in the cockpit and keeping my currency although it is just single engine time, T-6A, but I'm logging better than 30 hours a month. My biggest problem right now is finding someone that I know on the inside to walk in my application. Thanks again for all the feedback and useful information. Is there any chance of knowing what aircraft new hires are getting assigned out of TEB?

 

I was in your same situation in late 03/early 04. Retired from the navy with 4500+ hours and a Gulfstream IV type. During my last visit to FSI in Savannah, I took an unannounced road trip to NJI headquarters in Hilton Head, SC. I strode in with my resume (not fancy, but complete), and a bag of groceries (sweets and fruits) for everyone there. I was not even eligible for interview/ employment for several months. But that was my initial and only interaction with anyone at NJI. They did not start hiring (best of my knowledge) until late '04/early '05. I got the call for interview, based on my vist 'bearing gifts', in December '04. Unfortunately, the call came the day after I got the "you're hired" call from FedEx. I am very happy where I am now and think that I would be very happy at NJI as well. The message here is, start networking now. It helps to know people on the inside, but not an absolute. Do all that you can to help yourself. Frequent some nearby reserve squadrons. Those are the guys that can help you and have a good handle on airline practices. Longwinded, but hopefully helpful.

 

As far as what aircraft people are getting for TEB, or any other domicile for that matter, it just depends on current needs. We get lots of new airplanes, but FOs from all airframes upgrade and make positions available in pretty much every fleet eventually. It is impossible to say what they'll be offering if/ when it's your time. If you think it will take more than a month or two to find someone to give you a letter of recommendation, you might as well just send your resume now since the LOR won't speed things up all that much and you have a year to go anyway. The company hires many ex military (and reserve/ guard) pilots so you really shouldn't have a problem getting an interview- it's just TEB takes longer than CMH or LAX to get the interview since they don't interview people until they have positions available in their desired domiciles.

 

Once again I appreciate everyone's feedback and it looks like I had better pick up some fresh fruit and sweets and plan a trip to Hilton Head in the near future. Hey, if that is what it might take to land an interview at NJI I'll try anything. BTW, is it safe to assume that NJI has the same domiciles as NJA?

 

Home based, I believe. No Doms. They fly you out commercial to your jet.