JAAB9TEEN

Excuse my ignorance, as I am new to the 135 world. Previously all 121, but I am really enjoying the change from the public transportation and “Terminal Lifestyle”. I will be upgrading soon at FE and have an interview offer at NJ. Is it worth the hassle to complete the interview process? Or, just sit tight at FE till hopefully a Legacy calls. Would appreciate any advise and feedback. I know NJ is the top dog, but don’t know much about the schedule and quality of life on the road. The benefits at NJ alone make it seem worth it, FE is **** on health and dental. I wouldn’t mind staying in the 135 environment, just want to find the right place to be. FE is a great company for the most part, the pilots I’ve come across so far are fun to work with. Just the pay and benefits are subpar. Any FE guys at NJ?

mauipilot54

I've been with NJA now for 15 years and I'll be here until I retire in another 25. Can't think of anywhere I would rather be. Love my time off, love my benefits, love living where I want to live. It all boils down to what type of flying you enjoy. I still enjoy that I go somewhere every week that I've never been before. I also enjoy interacting with our owners. If you do too, then do some homework on our company and go through the process if you get on now you'll have a wave of people coming behind you.

avi8er

best advice anyone can give you is from actual people you know. Ask your buddy at majors, and fractionals. Don’t take life changing advice from this forum.

TiredSoul

Sit and wait, you have the luxury of time.
I would like not recommend NJ if you intend to stay on 135. Which right now you don’t.
Don’t forego the upgrade.
Enjoy the flying and sit down with yourself an adult beverage and do some self analysis every 9-12 months.

jtf560

Typically, the biggest reason for choosing NetJets over the majors would be where you live and how difficult a commute would be verses fly from home on duty with over 100 choices to choose from on day one. The majors will most likely pay much more over a long career and also provide a much easier duty day on average and also most likely waaayyyyy less duty days worked. That said, a bad commute can start to equal out the days away from home. There is a higher likelihood of a furlough at the majors, but NJA is not immune to that- just less likely. If you do plan on interviewing, you better take it seriously or you won't come close to getting an offer under the current weird ways of NetJets HR. It sounds like you have a good kind of problem if you are truly likely to get to choose between NetJets and the majors.

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JAAB9TEEN

Thank you, appreciate the advice. I’ll see how it plays out for now.

B727DRVR

Hey 9TEEN,

Former Part 121 Cargo guy here and fellow FE peep.. It’s kind of a tough call in one way and a no brainer in another way.

There are countless posts on here from former NJA pilots that praise NetJets and there are countless posts from former NJA pilots that diss NetJets. The one thing that is for sure is that NetJets has a 20+ year head start on 6.2 year old flyExclusive, and has support from Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway. On top of that, NJA pilots have an industry leading collective bargaining agreement after they stormed the beaches in 2005. There is no way that our little 6.2 year old company, despite its amazing growth, can compete with Netjets in terms of pay, QOL, insurance, other benefits, etc. But that comes at the cost of a 10 year upgrade (correct me if I am wrong, all).

What flyExcusive will give you is a much quicker upgrade in order for you to get that coveted Jet PIC (We just had a former XJT pilot upgrade in 5.5 months.), even if it is in a small jet. We have had pilots move on to Jet Blue, Spirit, Delta, and FedEx, so it can happen. While airline recruiters definitely know Netjets better, your chances of getting on with them would probably be better with Jet PIC, IMHO.

If you are wanting to find a destination company in our sector of flying, then Netjets is unquestionably the hallmark and the zenith of flying jobs. But as a former 121 guy, I would tell you to get your Jet PIC here and get your 121 seniority number as soon as possible. But it is a tough call and you will get countless different pieces of advice on here. I have countless friends who were junior to me, got furloughed, and went to Netjets in 2002 when it wasn’t considered a very good place to work. Now, they are laughing at the world and are doing great. Who knew that a company that paid in the $30’s K in 2003 would have pay and benefits that at least rivaled ULCC’s?

Joebob21

Word on the street is that an increase in Pay and benefits at FE is being examined closely as they are seeing a retention problem lately. Heard it through a friend that works there, take it for what it’s worth.

Macjet

A few comments to add.

The OP is 'previously all 121'. I'll assume that they were at a regional. Other than the fact that a regional and a major both are being operated under 14 CFR 121 there are no further similarities. If the OP is basing the future at a major based upon the experience at a regional (and I don't know that they are) then that is a major error.

I'd need to dig a little but I think that NJA is and has been shrinking since 2010. When I was there the IBB 07 had a provision for 10 additional bases when the pilot group reached 3,000 and I remember it being close to that number. APC shows 2328 pilots on property which I believe is a reduction over the last decade.

NJA is stagnant with no retirements and little, if any, growth. That was one of several reasons that I left. The claim that NJA pay rivals ULCC pay is perplexing. If I was still at NJA I'd be a 12+ year FO and on a 52 day schedule (which most closely mirrors my airline schedule) I'd make a base of $105k. I don't know how much above guarantee guys are getting now but let's add 25% and call it $130k round numbers. During 2020 (the whole Covid mess) I didn't fly for 4 months and still tickled $270k. Now, there are no 'less than 15 year' Captains at NJA so it's hard to make a direct comparison but anyone electing NJA, or any other 91K, would be doing themselves a huge disfavor by going anywhere other than a major. And know for a fact that the Big 3/FedEx/Brown will pay even more than F9 or NK. The 'free' health insurance at NJA cost me $4,500 for my family at NK in 2020. I'm still ahead $116k.

As someone pointed out, if you're the Beaver and want to live in Durango then NJA may be your best compromise to not have to commute as commuting does suck. Big time. I love the mountains, love them, but there's no way I'd live the lifestyle by cutting my salary in half and foregoing a 15% DC. I'll take the money and use my days off to enjoy the mountains while securing my retirement. I fly with a lot of former NJA/FX/CS guys/gals at NK. Not a single one regrets for one minute ever leaving. Your mileage and opinion may vary.

To the OP, NJA is a dead end for pilots unless your life long dream was to sling gear in a Phenom for two decades. I'd take the first gig at a growing outfit, get some PIC, and apply to every major that's hiring and take the first job that's offered. Best of luck.

Flyfalcons

Information on these threads is best given when it isn't woefully out of date.