Is it really that bad?
 

I am a part 91 corp jet pilot and have over heard several frac guys crying about thier jobs. The Citation Shares and FLOPs guys are the worst. Is it really that bad or do I just get the pleasure of sharing the pilots lounge with the whiners?

I am curious as to what they have been complaining about, particularly the CS pilots? Thanks

BTW, I am a Army pilot so I am merely asking out of curiosity.

the guys yesterday at HPN were squaking about thier schedules (CS). I have heard other complaining about pay and alot about vacation bid. I have never worked for a frac but it dosen't sem like it would be horrible. Day 7 may be a little edgy I guess. just wondering. I rarely hear frac guys say anything good about thier companies.

The first DO I ever had used to say he wasn't worried about hearing pilots whining. He got nervous when they got quiet.

Most of the Netjets guys sound pretty happy with their new airplanes and good contract. I know a number of guys there and they are uniformly happy.

FLOPS guys should be upset with their terrible management and high attrition rate - not a surprise that they are unhappy.

I am very happy with my frac job and there isn't anything I would trade it for at the moment.

You have to look at some of the dynamics in the pilot lounges and the two different pilot groups (91 v 91K).

Part 91 pilots are generally much smaller and you are far less likely to see multiple sets of pilots in a given FBO (ie...one plane there at a time). These pilots see each other week in and week out and know the experiences each other have had for the last year(s), thus fewer "stories" to tell. One of them is more than likely a management pilot (CP or DO), not someone a pilot is going to complain much around.

On the other hand you have the frac pilots. Hundreds of planes and thousands of pilots and you are HIGHLY likely to see multiple pilots in a given airport. Any two pilots may only see each other once a year or have never flown together. When they get together they catch up by telling "goofy" company stories that have happened since they last saw each other. To a "non-company" some of these stories sound like complaining. When you get somewhere like HPN, TEB, or PBI where there are 30+ pilots from the same company, there are going to be a LOT of stories to be told. Hey, it passes the time :D

I talked to a Flight Ops. guy at LAX yesterday. He thinks they won't be around in a year. He had just gotten back from vacation, and said he spent his whole time-off looking for a job. He sounded desperate.

For the most part, NetJets and Flexjet guys are very happy with their jobs. At CS, some are, and some aren't. At Flight Options, it sounds like the wheels are about to come off, and most are ready or trying to jump ship.

Thanks for the info. I was just curious. I don't know their situations and company work rules. They may have ligit gripes. NJA CAPT is probably correct with his explanation. There are many pilots working for these companies and it is always fun sharing war stories. I had considered going the frac route when I found my 91 job. I will probably be interested again when this dries up. I have talked with a few Net Jets guys and they seemed pretty happy. I do have to say that I have not seen a frac guy yet that was unprofessional outside of the pilots lounge.

You hit the nail on the head!!!! :cool:

Have a son that flies for Flexjet. He seems pretty happy. Should be upgrading to Capt. at the end of this recurrent[24 months with the company]. Someone one # junior to him just got upgraded, so son will get "bridge pay"[Capt's pay until his Capt's IOE]. About 2-3 weeks, he says. Called the other day to say he was on the balcony of his room, overlooking the harbor at Martha's Vineyard and eating a lobster roll. Tough life.