DamonMeyer

Are there any fractionals with positions (or the willingness to experiment) with jobs that have, for example, a 7/7/7 schedule (7 flying, 7 office, 7 off)? I'm thinking of non-flying responsibilities like working dispatch, share sales, etc. It seems like the upsides could be: employees more invested in the company (because they get more varied responsibilities), and more $$ for folks who would otherwise be starving pilots. Downsides could be less free time (for pilots who like two weeks off a month rather than just one), and since not every pilot would want to split up job responsibilities - friction between the two groups (pilots and pilot/other). Thoughts?

jtf560

NJA has at least one management pilot that oversee scheduling (and doesn't fly on a regular basis), but management pilots don't have a set schedule and there really aren't any positions like you are talking about at NJA. My guess is that the union would discourage this kind of thing and the contract definitely doesn't allow the company to use a line pilot for other duties like you are saying. I think there are definitely guys out there who would be interested in something like you are saying so that they could be home more, but most pilots don't want to have anything to do with anything other than flying the airplane for their pay. I would personally love to fly and sell shares, but that isn't happening any time soon. The sales people at NJA and Marquis make a ton of money and since I have a good understanding of what the airplanes can really do and I don't like lying to our customers, I am not a good candidate for a sales job.

DamonMeyer

Yeah I figure it's small subset of pilots that would go for it, and I can see how it would be complicated by unions and the notion that pilots are only pilots and don't usually run other aspects of the company.

What's an example of what they lie about? Performance?

pullup

One of the problems that I've seen with that system is the guy works a full day in the office and then a trip pops up that can't be covered, guess who goes flying. It could make for some tired pilots, depending on how the company operates.

jtf560

The sales people tell the owners best case numbers- like max range with one passenger at long range cruise from a sea level airport at ISA. Put a family onboard and take off out of ASE and you don't get nearly as far in many aircraft. I have also heard them just making stuff up at static demos and then gotten a good laugh when they were corrected by a real pilot. I have no idea what they tell them about the Hawker 400, but if they told them the whole truth then almost nobody would ever buy it with all it's limitations.

flyergurl

I don't think there are many "starving pilots" in the fractional world. At our company, if you THINK you're a "starving pilot" (or you just like extra money) just volunteer for a day or two of overtime - flying.

DamonMeyer

"Starving" being a relative term, shorthand for "wife wants pilot husband to alleviate some of the 70% gross pay cut he takes to change careers". But I hear you...OT spent flying is the best kind of OT.

DamonMeyer

And who wouldn't say that, flying these??
http://www.planepictures.net/netshow.php?id=660759

flyergurl

That's the only kind of job for me... I don't like sitting in an office or cubicle...