Legacy Airline vs Fractional
#251
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: Retired NJA & AA
Posts: 1,916
How many NJA pilots are you guys seeing leaving for LCCs or Majors? Is it possible to do without any 121 time or PIC jet time? Need to make a decision between OO and NJA. Unsure of my end goal, but I'm attracted to initial pay, type of flying, QOL, etc. Also, don't want to limit myself just in case I didn't like the fractional work. This will be my first paid job outside of CFIing.
#252
It's a thing now. There was a cfi in my indoc and a cape air pilot that got the gig.
And, they're starting a pathway program for certain universities grads, 0 turbine time.
#253
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2019
Posts: 135
#254
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2022
Posts: 430
#255
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2006
Posts: 1,024
Because those hired on at 1000 hours have just come out of very regimented programs and they haven't had time to develope bad habits or issues yet. Even when I had brand new 500 hour pilots in the right seat at the regional, they could all fly the airplane and train wonderfully- they have a very high pass rate for training. That said, the lack of real world experience with weather and at busy airports takes some extra attention for the PIC while they learn the ropes. At least they tend to learn fast and don't have a bunch of bad habits to break. I personally prefer pilots that do have a wealth of experience, but it isn't for me to decide and it will probably benefit me more that we have to hire these candidates and that many will probably end up bailing out relatively quickly for the airlines, leading to a better contract and more money for me sooner.
#256
New Hire
Joined APC: Jul 2014
Posts: 5
I’m interested in at least researching a fractional career as this “bus driver” lifestyle is not what it once was. Especially as a commuter with planted roots and no desire to move to a hub at this point. I’ve never been one to choose money over QOL either.
I’m interested in QOL, pay, benefits, and overall job satisfaction differences.
Thanks! 🍻
I’m interested in QOL, pay, benefits, and overall job satisfaction differences.
Thanks! 🍻
First, as you know, NJA (and other fracs) offer homebasing. But more specifically we can change bases at any given time with only 7-days notice to the company. For example, I live and am based in the northeast, but this past winter I decided to spend the winter in Colorado to enjoy the ski/snowboard season, so I simply told the company I was changing my base to DEN until further notice and off I went. 4-day road trip out to Colorado and Airbnb’ed it while staying on the 7/7 schedule. When not flying I would get up each morning and head to the ski resort (Epic pass) during the weekdays (no crowds), and on the weekends I took up snowshoeing and took some backcountry Splitboarding classes. Then when it was time to go fly, it was an easy 1.3 hour drive to DEN, park the car at the Signature FBO (private terminal) and go enjoy some flying around the country. Return back to DEN 7 days later and repeat. By April I was ready to head back east, so I just changed my base back to the northeast. My point is, it is very easy to move around, explore different areas and activities without even taking vacation.
Another QOL example I enjoy is stringing together vacation, and utilizing Tour Slides and PTO to get long periods of time off. I know this is possible at a lot of places, but I just wanted to give an example: I finished up a trip from HOU to VNY on May 23, NJA flew me home and then my next “flight” - which happened to be AQP Recurrent - was not until August 3rd. May 23 to Aug 3. That was a combination of 3 weeks of vacation, a tour slide, 9 PTO days and normal time off. I just finished Recurrent, have one 7-day tour next week then go on another 3- weeks of vacation in September.
My point is, like at a lot of flying jobs, there is a great work/QOL balance here in my opinion. Other’s mileage may vary. It just seems that a lot of naysayers stick their noses up at having to spray and wipe a table, restock some Kind bars and M&M’s, and occasionally vacuum a carpet, and disregard some of the great things that are afforded.
Yes, we apparently work “harder” on the road than our 121 brothers and sister. But frankly, after 28-years in the military, this doesn’t seem like hard work at all! Everything is relative I guess . Anyway, I hope that helps you and maybe some others
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