RiverRnr5

These are the ones I have been considering. Gama, FlexJet, and XOJet. I have roughly 4100TT, 2600 Multi, 2100 Turbine PIC and my ATP. Looking for a good company to park it for a few, with great compensation and benefits. That will also allow me to live within 2 hours of my home base domicile.
A major airline is my end game, however I am not willing to go the regional airline route to get there.
Thoughts?
Thanks!

TeamSasquatch

I’m interested in the responses. I’m not that attracted to the regionals, but would like to end up working at a major and living in base someday. I’ve always figured I’d have to bite the bullet and do some time at a regional, but when and how much is the question. Fractional seems great, considering home base and week on, week off type schedules. But, I have no idea how many people go from Fractional to major, or how many people are trying to leave fractional for a major?

GeeWizDriver

If major airline is your end game as you state, in my view you are foolish to believe a fractional is the best way to achieve that goal.

Although some major airlines are hiring from the fractional ranks, there is still a bias against pilots who fly 300-500 hours a year as do most fractional and corporate pilots. Consequently, I would absolutely recommend going the regional route, no matter how distasteful that may be, and I would only select a regional with guaranteed flow through to the main line.

That said, if you insist on going the fractional route, on paper you are more than qualified to be hired at NetJets. The entire fractional segment of the industry is something of a dumpster fire but NetJets is the smallest blaze.

XOJet isn’t awful. The son of a friend is a check airman there and appears to like it. GAMA is a bit of a wild card. Kenny Dichter is a dynamic and slick salesman but I wonder about the financial model and its long-term prospects. Flexjet is simply a crap show that I wouldn’t send my worst enemy to work for.

Just my opinion and worth everything you paid for it.

RiverRnr5

How is the realistic pay over at NetJets though? Sure sounds like a good place to make a career, however if you are stuck On FO pay for a long time, then you’ll want to move on real fast.

Flyfalcons

Pay at NJA is FO scale for at least ten years. Don't go frac if you want to end up at the majors.

Pilatypus

Related question: Would it be faster to get to a major flying as an FO and then upgrading to CA at a regional? Or getting 1000 hours 121 SIC and then going fractional, potentially upgrading faster than at a regional and even becoming a check airman? Would it hurt you if you had less than 1000 121 (say you flew at a regional for 1 year before leaving)?

FNGFO

Don’t go Frac to get to the majors.

Read that again.

You can get there from a fractional, and many many pilots are leaving the Frac world for the majors, but the upgrade is long at the quality places to work. Also, it’s very hard work. The flying is diversive and challenging, but just understand now that it’s a 1:1 ratio or flying to cleaning, stocking, doing lavs etc.

Go to a good regional. The majors will Hoover up so many that upgrades shouldn’t be long.

Fractional flying is best left as a career destination and not a stepping stone. If NJ’s hired you then it’s possibly a career job.

Just my two cents from a former Frac pilot.

WiskeyTango

I have to agree with the others that if the Majors are your goal then fractional is not the best way to get there. You would want to go to a regional (pays the same as a fraction first year), get 121 time on your resume, and then upgrade to captain within a year (at most regionals). Upgrade time is long at the fracs (5 years or more?).

100LL

Regionals pay less than fractionals even on the captain side starting out. Sure they have bonuses but many don’t consider that pay. Even when they include benefits as compensation on their recruiting ads it comes off as pathetic. Not everyone can afford to work for a regional either unless they make substantial changes. For starters drop the bonus crap and increase overall base pay to 60,000 for first year FO and watch the applications pile up. I know many frac and corporate guys who succeeded to a major after 5, 6, 7 years flying jets to southwest, jet blue, United, delta and Alaska. They made it work.

RiverRnr5

So lets get this thread on a different track. Since I would agree that Fractional flying isn’t for everyone and not the best way to a Major. If you want to make it a career spot, with a faster upgrade, and make a bit more cash, what’s the best landing spot? Assuming you could pick anyone of them. Home based, roughly 7/7 or 8/6, or a combination/biding style schedule.