Brooklyn99

Flexjet hands down. You'll get you ass whipped with flying; the customer base seems to be sticking with us post-COVID boom; we have more variety in our schedules than any other 135/91k operator I know of; our pay isn't based on flight hours, and if you needed to you could stay awhile and keep making a decent living; and I really like the people here. It's not perfect but I'm glad I'm here than any other fractional by far. I know people NJ, and even those who have gone from Flexjet to NJ, and they agree we have way more fun here. If you're looking for a place to fly a ton and get your soul crushed now and then with long duty days, this is it.

Do your research - the industry changes by the month, but I don't think for one second that a regional is better per se. Our training pipeline is waaaaay faster and we fly a lot. Only wild card here that could break your heart is if you get assigned to the Phenom, you might sit awhile waiting for IOE. But your upgrade to Phenom captain will be much faster too. Regardless of initial fleet type, you can get a captain bid award on the Phenom in 7 or 8 months, way quicker than a regional to getting TPIC; although no longer required TPIC can help your app score better.

FWIW - I left a stagnant regional training pipeline to come to Flex (and planned to stay actually, but life changed); have a CJO at a legacy with a few more interviews coming up. YMMV

Regional commuting is brutal. Save it for a legacy if you must and try the fractional thing.

followingdreams

One of the benefits of Flex is your guarantee pay is significantly higher than NJ not to mention, based on NJ message board, QOL is better at Flex. On the otherhand, as many people that FLEX would like to hire, not everyone gets a CJO. For me Id apply to FLEX, NJ, and FE and if I received all three CJOs, Id choose them in that order (Unless wearing a blazer is on top of your list!).

SandMan2

Thanks everyone, I’ve got an in person interview with Flex. Phone interview went well. They do seem to like the prior military time.

jtf560

If you are really just planning on getting experience and then bolting for the majors, then Flex is probably your best bet currently if the regional aren't offering quick hours for SICs. NetJets is a long slog to start getting the flight time with the training pipeline super backed up- probably an average of well over 6 weeks after the sim just to start IOE and the very real possibility of getting put into a dying fleet that flies much less than the others while still working a lot of days. NetJets management used to want it to be a career job, but that is no longer the case and it isn't even a good, quick stepping stone job either.

MinRest

I don't know how many hours a year FJ averages, but I only flew 500 hours or so per year at NJA. You can fly double that at any regional.

TexasLonghorn

We're about comparable to the 500 hr mark here too.

Sliceback

"Even if it takes longer to get to a Legacy." When you take longer to get to the major you're not delaying your probationary year, which some think is no big deal. Instead you're sacrificing your BEST years(s) at the majors. At your age you'd be approx. a 20% relative seniority n/b CA in DFW at AA. Pulling down $375K plus another $60K in your retirement 401K. What's the extra year at NetJets/FlexJets earn you? Would you pay $200K to take a year longer to get to the majors? That's the trade off. You mentioned that you have 1500+ hrs mostly military twin turbine time. Majors military hiring percentage is down to 25% +/-. The overall standards are getting lower all the time. You might get hired by a major right away OR would probably get higher by a major within your first year at a regional airline. Get 121 on your resume, a decent size jet type rating, and you'll have a better resume than you do today? How much TPIC time to you have? Not SIC flying the a/c - as first pilot/Captain/signed for the jet? IP qual? Airlines consider 500 hrs TPIC 'competitive' and 1000 hrs TPIC 'highly qualified'. Guys are getting hired at majors with 2500 hrs TT who've only been CFI's and then regional FO's. I'd go to a regional and I"d be surprised if you're not hired be a major - immediately or within your first year. IDK what the fractionals require to upgrade but one company I know of required 3,500 (?) TT to upgrade for insurance reasons.

Airline flying is easier. Yes you fly more per duty period. It's more scripted and consistent. Less sit time = more hard flying time per day. More days off. Can use end of month changeover to make 10-20 day mini-vacations. < You'll work hard the rest of the month to make the mini-vacations.

bluespoon

The fractionals are a safe bet but the flying is totally different than the airlines. Maybe that’s one aspect you need to consider too. With the fractionals, they basically own you for those 7 days or so on, there will be a lot more waiting and uncertainty while you’re on duty. With the airlines, technically they own you too during the days on but the schedules are much more reasonable, predictable and adjustable. As it’s been said though, you definitely would rather be stuck at a fractional than a regional.

jdm7565

This is a really interesting and informative thread! My fiancé has a CJO from Spirit (CFI through a partner program) but now that they have stopped new hire classes until further notice, it definitely is making her look at new options (while her end goal is still a legacy). TBH, I don't even know if she would be looked at by NJ/FJ with bare minimum times...but she will be restricted to commuting out of PNS until end of 2025 and that seems like a LONG time to commute for any airline but especially more so at a regional. Are we missing anything between weighing the factors of: 1) "if you want to go 121, go 121" since she would *likely* build hours faster at a regional/ULCC (while commuting) vice at a fractional 2) withstand or avoid the dread of commuting out of a heavy commuter airport (PNS)?

TexasLonghorn

Flexjet is quite selective about who we hire still (~40% of interviewees receive offers), but I know we're hiring plenty of low time pilots who seem to fit with our corporate culture. Being low time isn't a death knell for getting on here. You need a good resume beyond TT and display the type of personal attributes were looking for. Also PNS (and ECP depending on which is closer to you) is a base which means no commuting.