Hello all, my first post here.

I'm 53 and retired mil pilot, but went straight to defense work after retirement. For the last 12 years I've been primarily flying a turbine RPA but also fly PC-12s as support aircraft.

ATP with 3100TT, 2200 ME, 2300 Turbine PIC with 500 SEL and 1800 MEL. There's another 1000+ hours RPA time.

I have B737 and ERJ145 type ratings, one because I planned to go to SWA 20 years ago and the other from 6 months at a Regional

I'm seriously considering a change with my primary requirement to live in Tucson AZ (kids and now grandkids).

Based on age and desire to live in a non-domicile city, would you recommend fractional over legacy?

What's the latest on realistic first year pay and upgrade times at NetJets and Flexjet?

The idea of cleaning and handling the planes doesn't bother me. I'm also an A&P with IA. Is this helpful?

Thanks!

 

That level of TPIC plus staying current likely would be quite attractive to the majors. PHX is not a bad drive from Tuscon. I'd target AA

The other option would be finding somebody with a Citation (or King Air or Baron even) in Tucson. An IA who meets insurance mins and isn't leaving for the airlines is a very desirable hire in the part 91 world.

 

Take a look at Exclusive Jets out of Kinston NC.
AFAIK they home base.
https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/part-135/87559-exclusive-jets.html

 

Thanks to both of you.

For a few reasons I was thinking fractional, but I'm posting for a sanity check. I had never considered 91 jobs because I just don't know anyone in that world. I do need to investigate legacy options to PHX base. Commuting to SFO or DFW could work as well since I have family near both.


My thoughts:

With 11-12 years of to 65 yr limit, is the option to continue by choice vs forced out worth the benefits of legacy?

Both NetJets and Flexjet have TUS as home base. What will be the piece-of-mind benefit of fractional model vs commuting to legacy? With that said, are the likely options, a ticketed 7 day fractional trip vs commuting to a 4-5 day legacy trip?

This is really about a lifestyle change, wanting to spend more time with family compared to last 30+ years. Either route will be a substantial pay cut so although I'm not driven by money, it is a major consideration. I have enough to retire in Tucson now, just not ready for drastic lifestyle change.

Year 1, 3 and 5 pay -- will comparing Net/Flex to AA/UA or FedEx be a significant difference? I'll never see the high tenure legacy QoL and Pay so am I a case where fractionals makes more sense.

What are the primary downsides to fractional life, my age considered? I have read about two main gripes: 1) sitting around FBOs and hotels. 2) having to do the service piece that airline pilots don't have to deal with.

Thanks again!

 

Seniority really doesn't mean much when the schedule you're gonna be on is 7/7 for quite a few years. Mathematically, you're working a lot more days per month/year at a fractional than you are at the big 3. Hotel/FBO reserve is the fractional version of short/long reserve at a major, only worse. The only way it's worse at a major is airport ready reserve, which I don't think they do anymore given the new contracts. You're also not gonna make much at a fractional, compared to a major, cause it's not even close. However, given your age, maybe fractional is better since you'll be able to work a few more years past 65 (or 67) if that's whatyou wanna do.

 

10 years is PLENTY long enough for a major to be better than a fractional

AA PHX base is what you want. That's not a commute of any consequence. Ask on the AA forum how long it will take a new hire to hold it. May be immediate, might take a few months.

 

My advice to you is similar to my advice to anyone else in this hiring environment. This is not 2021, you most likely will not get to choose where you will go. You defintely have the resume for Majors, but it sounds like you are limiting yourself to SWA and AA for a PHX base. You also have the resume for the large fractionals (i.e. Flex and NJ). First step is to apply to all of them and see where you get a CJO from, take the ones you get the CJO on and come back and ask your question. Kind of like pick colleges, no reason to sit here and ask about life on campus only to find out you dont get in.

 

Many people have observed that getting a job at one major begets offers at others.

So it's worth applying everywhere and if United calls, TAKE THE JOB, and then keep applying at American. You can absolutely resign from United after three months or three days.

 

What you have to remember while American and Southwest have a PHX base you most likely won’t be there initially. For American you will most likely start out in New York and for Southwest you most likely will be in BWI. If you go the Fractional route (Plane Sense, Flexjet, or NetJets) you will be PHX based

 

One correction- at NetJets and likely the other fractionals, you will be Tuscon based if that is what you want.