Bill Lumberg

How does that proposal compare to what you had at Jet blue?

dudemize

There is no comparison, IMHO.

The pay at JetBlue was not that bad but the thing about the airlines is you get nickel and dimed to death.

First year pay at the Blue was around $47,000 and by year 5 its around $75,000. However at JB medical/dental/vision for a family is around $300 (and the deductibles and max out of pocket are much higher), crashpad $200, gas/tolls driving back and forth to JFK, $200/month. Also, you get to pocket most of your per diem at NJA due to the crew food program.

Then you throw in hotel/airline points, schedule stability (at least on the 7/7), etc. and it's a no brainer for me. NJA also has some great benefits for a reservist such as myself.

I don't want to sound too down on JB as it is a good place to work and I will certainly miss the Airbus on those transcons!

NorthTxFlyBoy

I've been on the X at NJA for about a year now, and I have no complaints. Mind you though, I'm 5'8" and 165 lbs. It is indeed a cramped environment up front, and I can see how it would get pretty uncomfortable for some of the bigger guys. I last time I did legs longer than about 2 hours was in the C-130, so it took a little getting used to.

As far as the leg lengths, there are some coast-to-coast legs, but I tend to find that doing a long leg or two during the day is less fatiguing than having to do six short hops in a day. I've done both in the X, and it seems that way to me. Maybe that's my personal physiology. And if you're going to have to go coast-to-coast, at least you'll get there faster than anyone else out there. Do we work hard on the X? Yeah, most of the time. If I had to choose between flying all day and sitting around an FBO all day, I'd choose the flying every time.

As far as other comfort items go, the height of the cabin is also much nicer than some of our smaller jets. A guy my height doesn't have to bend over at all. The APU is huge for me as well. Cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter and no begging for a GPU at every stop.

Also, on the plus side, blowing by everybody in the sky besides the military fighter guys never gets old. Often, you have to reduce power at cruise altitude to keep from exceeding the max of 0.92 mach. The altitudes we cruise at also tend to reduce much of the hassle associated with traffic and weather avoidance.

The X was my first choice and I'm still glad I got it. Only the Falcon 2000, with it's roomier cockpit and FA would have come close in my book.

BTW, the hiring folks at NJA don't really try to match you to airplane may have prior time in. I had nearly 2000 hours in the Beechjet when I interviewed, and it wasn't even offered. Same story with a buddy of mine who had about 3500 Beechjet hours and was assigned the Falcon. They simply match you to an aircraft based of vacancies in the fleet, your preferences and what they think you can handle based on prior experience and what they see in the interview.

-NTFB

dudemize

Good post flyboy!

Glad you enjoy the X. I'm only 5'10" so hopefully it won't be too bad! I know it will be nice to fly something with some "get up and go" after flying the C-5 for several years!

NorthTxFlyBoy

BTW, welcome to the club, even if it was your last choice. It's always good to see more ex-mil guys getting hired as well. I understand from my last recurrent that only 5% of our pilots are ex-military.

Let me know how that first gusty crosswind landing in the X goes. Consider packing an extra pair of boxers during the windy months, if you know what I mean.

-NTFB

atpcliff

Hi!

I'm about 6'4". Any advice on which cockpits would work better for me?

cliff
YIP

dudemize

Will do! Sounds exciting.

BTW, I'm still flying Fred in the reserves. It should be interesting switching back and forth between the two.

dudemize

I think the Falcon or G200 are the roomiest.

Hornetguy

Dude,
Shouldn't you be in the FOM...How was indoc?

2nd week of IOE, good times on the road. I'll second the x-wind landing comment...

dudemize

Been studying the FOM all day of course..

Indoc was fine, we had a good group of guys. Start X training on Halloween!

Glad you're having fun in IOE!

I'll see you out there sooner or later!