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XOJET Hiring/Pay Announcements

Old 06-17-2021, 10:29 AM
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Default XOJET Hiring/Pay Announcements

Today's announcements by Kevin Thomas, COO XOJet, had lots of good news:

1. XOCR (Global/350) & XOAV (X/300) will be merging...pay, work rules, operations will be all combined together. One caveat is the 17/13 will still be in place for Global crews due to their international schedule as more and more countries are opening up. An 8/6 schedule isn't effective for Global crews. The other fleet types will have a proportion of pilots on 15/13 (30) and remaining pilots on 8/6, Flex (70%). This will be based upon seniority.

2. 300/350 crews will all be checked out to fly any of the fleet, regardless of it is a Vista or XO configured airplane. Makes scheduling much easier.

3. All Pay freezes (for CAs over 10 yrs) and COLA freezes are lifted immediately. All Capt raises revert back to the original MOU signed in 2020. That data will be confirmed and I'll post that...FO entry pay as listed on website is still accurate.

4. A FAQ regarding all the changes are being prepared and will help get answers to questions that will inevitably be asked...will post more clarity as soon as I get them.

5. New aircraft on the X and 300 side coming near term and more 350 later in '21.

6. Last 3 months of yields have met or exceeded targets so was a major reason for the elimination of the freezes.

7. Will take time for the details to filter onto the website and HR folks are awaiting clarification but will be the point people in providing accurate information in the coming days and weeks as the dust settles.

8. 45 candidates interviewed in May, a little over 1/3 were passed along to the next review process. 2 new FOs in class starting this Monday. Don't know the breakdown of experience and probably won't have that until new hires hit the line.

9 Redwing is growing its fleet of XLS; hiring will occur under XO HR team but will be working under their own work rules. No discussions of if/when the same thing for RW would or might happen as to what happened with XO/VJ crews. The good news, is more pilot jobs at RWA for those wanting to work.

Impressed that the management XO & VJ management team did a thorough audit of many factors; surveys, yield numbers as mentioned but what the pilots were saying about the changes was significant also and determined the overall brand of VJ/XO would be helped if make the above changes/restorations were to occur. Despite what some naysayer's comments have alluded to, I applaud them for "listening" to our CPOs and leadership to keep us all moving in the same direction.

Old XOJET was not perfect but it was the basis for which people make comparisons and why VJ & investors bought 49% of XO. The fact that old XOJET wasn't flying to EU, Asia and other places requires a "new" XOJET and XO couldn't have gotten there by itself. Vista is providing that opportunity. If that doesn't appeal to folks, I get it but to me the changes and the future look very bright and encouraging. The changes are occurring, some may like them, others may not but to get to the next level XO is looking for the same type of folks that have made it a great place to work in the past and currently IMHO.

The '21 models of cars look very different than the models from 5-10 years ago...the same can be said of any company that works in such a dynamic environment such as aviation. I'm optimistic XO is a great place to come for the near future and down the road for those who want this type of experience versus a 121 career. It is also a great place to build time and experience that will make you highly attractive for 121 carriers..even the COO says that.

Lots of great energy and vision for growth in the company. Fleet size is increasing, more international flying opportunities for Challenger qualified pilots (several are being farmed out for overseas flying for several months, volunteers only) and more.

Always looking for a few good gals/guys. Good luck to all.
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Old 06-17-2021, 12:12 PM
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To remind potential applicants what this means for the new combined XOAV, here is the FO pay scale:XOJET Aviation First Officer Pay Scale

Base Pay Total Time MEL/PIC/Turbine/Instrument

Tier 1 $75,000 3,500 1,500/1,500/1,500/150

Tier 2 $65,000 3,000 1,000/1,000/1,000/150

Tier 3 $60,000 2,500 500/500/500/150

Tier 4 $55,000 <2,500 500/500/100/150

Also, 2 weeks vacation starting Year 1. On the 8/6 schedule, each week of vacation equals three weeks off!

Don't hesitate to PM me or with any questions…
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Old 06-17-2021, 02:08 PM
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Thumbs up Congratulations!

Nice post, Peabody..

Congratulations on the great news!!...

Does that mean that they put the kaybosh on the whole "B-Scale" thing?
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Old 06-17-2021, 02:18 PM
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Originally Posted by B727DRVR View Post
Nice post, Peabody..

Congratulations on the great news!!...

Does that mean that they put the kaybosh on the whole "B-Scale" thing?
YES!!!!!!!
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Old 06-17-2021, 03:25 PM
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Chase & Peabody,

Thank you so much for regularly putting accurate information out there for us wannabes. Hope to join you very soon.
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Old 06-18-2021, 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Peabody17 View Post
YES!!!!!!!
WAY TO GO, Round Table!!!!!!

The B-Scale ruined American for a generation and the C-scale (Regionals) continues to drag down our industry..

You guys did a great job getting that nixed..
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Old 06-18-2021, 01:07 PM
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Good job guys!
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Old 06-18-2021, 07:40 PM
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Decisions like this don’t come without loads of inputs from many sources. Pilots, Chief Pilot office, VP ops and others. I saw it at SWA, the military and know it happens in any well run operation.

The pilots were professional in their responses to the company in many forms and fashion. To those who are at other carriers looking to get changes made, Lesson 1, don’t get emotional.

Also at play and a huge plus for XO is the support from the XO CPO office and DO office. XO is blessed to have pilot’s pilot occupying both of those positions and that is worth so much in making a cohesive pilot group. That is not a secret among XO pilots but is unknown to those outside...one of the “secret sauces” that make XO a good place to work.

These are individuals who were chosen from XO pilots to fill these key positions.

These vacancies could’ve been filled by outsiders (non-XOers) and would’ve had much greater loyalty to VJ for being put into that position.

To KT’s credit he chose from the XO talent at the time, thereby telling all the XO pilots we have some talented folks here to keep the culture in place.

VJ recognized the appeal of XO was its unique culture among 135 operators.

Knowing that, these key positions were filled by great leaders who support the pilot group and yet have the skill set to mentor, coach, shoot straight and inform their superiors who had the ultimate decision control. KT and the VJ counterparts are to be praised by listening to XO Ops leadership team and being open to arguments against the B scale.

Most leaders say “hey, I’m open to your opinion” but it turns out that isn’t always the case.

Changing an unpopular policy when your team is advising such a decision is filled with obstacles to overcome.

The arguments put forward by the DO/CPO to KT I presume and others were key factors in getting the B scale and other issues resolved. Many of those came from the RT but also from company wide conference calls from pilots and many emails I presume. VJ leadership gets kudos also as they played a part in putting the final pieces of the puzzle together.

Moving forward and removing this “pimple” (B Scale) is great.

Equally fulfilling is the announcement the joining of XOAV and XOCR into a single operations. This was originally speculated about at the time on this forum, questioned by new hires and by all of the pilots in each group. That was nearly 2 yrs ago and some said it wouldn’t happen for many reasons.

It has now come to pass and again that decision was not inevitable (nothing is inevitable in the aviation industry) but makes good business/operational sense which reflects leadership openness to taking advice from seasoned professionals.

That couldn’t have happened without XO leadership making the case before the decision makers. Boardroom decisions are outside the purview of pilots but they obviously impact us all. In this case, those individuals are to be praised for something that makes sense and benefits the operations.

It will take a few more months to put all those pieces in place but the RT will work with Ops leadership and KT to put the final icing on the cake. The RT leadership (outgoing and incoming) deserves some of the praise but XO leadership gets kudos for actually making the change...something they had no contractual obligation to do!

They understood it was good business and that benefits our clients, our employees and our future. It is one of the reasons that separates XO from other 135 carriers.

I realize praising management on a pilot forum is anathema to many forum readers but having seen a few decisions in 22 yrs, this one deserves praise.

Last edited by chase; 06-18-2021 at 07:54 PM.
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Old 06-21-2021, 07:02 PM
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Is the flow agreement from XOJet to SWA still happening?
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Old 06-22-2021, 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by David Puddy View Post
Is the flow agreement from XOJet to SWA still happening?
XO still has jumpseat privileges on SWA as a result of the Destination 225 program.

The MOU between SWA and XO is still in effect.

The “flow” applies to those D225 pilots who SWA screened and selected in advance before entering the D225 program.

There is no “flow” program for XO pilots to SWA.

XO has many pilots who have applied to SWA and other airlines and been selected for employment, SWA, UAL, DAL, UPS, FEDEX, Spirit.

The good news is XO is trusted by SWA to train D225 candidates with a culture and operations that matches up well SWA’s.

I can attest to XO being a great place for a new guy to gain invaluable experience which will be of great benefit to SWA operation.

20 yr former SWA CA (ret)
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