Question about NetJets and PIC time
 

I asked a question about this in the 135 section but got little response, so I will try here.

I was recently offered a job at a 135 outfit flying twin otters over the grand canyon. If I were to stay on long enough to upgrade, would this time (Turbine twin multi PIC) be counted as the PIC requirement at Netjets? I was recently told that most majors would not value the time very highly, and some not at all. Would this be the case at Netjets? Are there specific carriers that don't value that type of time? Sorry if this seems like a newb question, but it kind of surprised me. I thought turbine PIC was turbine PIC?

Frankly, Twin Otter time in the Canyon will not help you a great deal for our operation. It may qualify you for our bare minimums, but it will not likely get you to the interview. I would try to get on with a charter or regional flying jets and go from there. Best of luck!

Thanks, I am glad I am researching this prior to taking the first thing that I get. It's very tempting to leave instructing for this offer, but maybe I should hold out for a better opportunity that will help me more efficiently get to my end goal of either a legacy or quality fractional such as NetJets....

I was really surprised to hear how "worthless" this time is considered in the long run.:rolleyes:

Turbine PIC is not the same, unfortunately. Jet is more valuable than turbo-prop.

Heavy Prop PIC (ATR, Dash 8 or C-130) is worth a few more points than King Air, Metro, or "Twin Otter" PIC.

Your PIC time on this twin Otter can be counted towards a Major or Frax, but you'll enter the race at a disadvantage.


just my opinion...

The type of flying is also very important. If you were flying the Twin Otter in Alaska on scheduled operations like Era Aviation does...In hard IFR, and mountainous terrain, this would likely be looked on more favorably than VFR only canyon flying.

So for a guy in my situation, (currenlty CFI with 775/30) would this be a good place to spend no more than a year at just having new experiences and building some 135 multi SIC time? Even though its not viewed as quality time by majors, wouldn't it be viewed a little better than all my time being in piston airplanes instructing?

If I were you, i'd skip the Canyon thing. If you have a degree/clean record/775 hours you should be a shoe-in for any regional right now. Be patient, apply to them all, and see who bites. My understanding is they are hiring with wet commercial pilot licenses into these jets.(:eek: YIKES!) Take advantage of that, it won't last forever. Get some PIC jet time. That type of experience is much more valuable for our type of flying.

If Netjets is your goal there is a MAJOR emphasis on customer service experience for those getting right now. Keep that in mind.

Thanks for the help. The more I research airlines, the more I think that NetJets (or a similiar company) would definitley be something to strive for in my career.

By the way, I already have a bachelors done, so I think you are right. I may just be selling myself a little short with the canyon thing.

NetJets is also my goal, but my situation is slightly different. I also have a 4 year degree, but I have 1700 hours all military jet (F/A-18 mostly, plus trainers and a few others), virtually all PIC (I am not including time pre-wings as PIC even if solo). One of the other guys on this forum suggested I just get a time building job to reach the 2500 hours to apply. How would a canyon flying job like this look for me? Good enough to get me the hours since I'm not that far away anyway? Or should I too look to the regionals for the time being?

For your situation, the canyon job is just fine. It involves the "customer service" angle and you already have the "quality" time. If you enjoy this type of job more than the regionals, go for it. You're main concern is getting the total time in the logbook up to mins. Good luck either way you choose!

If you like the canyon thing, I don't see anything wrong with taking the job and enjoying life until you get a better offer. Turbine PIC IS turbine PIC and NetJets hires from all backgrounds. We always have. The only snag you may hit is I believe we have an instrument hours requirement, but I would have to check to see what it was since I had all mins plus a bit when I first applied. Good luck! One word of advice: Never pass on a good job hoping a better one comes along. I don't know if you consider the canyon job good, but if it fits right now for you, take it. There's nothing stopping you from taking a better offer later, and if it is awhile until the better offer, you arfe building turbine MULTI. The multi is important since you have 30 hours.

Thanks Tim. I think commuting and sitting reserve for a regional would would totally suck. I don't even know if it would build time very fast if I were sitting reserve either. There are a couple of jobs like this and another one where I would probably be able to build flight time pretty quick and still work military reserves (which is where the money would be compared to these jobs, but doesn't build much time at .8 hours per sortie).

I really do think that NetJets would be the type of place for me, I just hope that they are still hiring when I get the mins and that if they are they like me. It sounds as though they are getting very picky with having so many applicants, but that is how it works when everyone (or a lot of people anyway) want to work for you.

That is exactly what is making this decision sooooo hard..... I have a class date for the canyon job. It's basically 3 times the pay (if you can believe that lol) compared to what I am making right now instructing. That's not saying very much at all though. (The instruction pay can get better, I am just in a slow season at the end of the semester here.) I am having a really hard time giving up on this job when I don't have so much as an interview on the horizon at a regional. (I will have my stuff on airlineapps.com as of Monday) Basically I would be giving up a sure thing, for the hopes of a regional job. I am seriously back and forth every day on it.

Some may say take the job and if the regionals call, just bail. But there it a really annoying 1 year contract at the canyon job........makes it a tough decision.

I second this, I flew a BE-1900 on the Alaska North Slope and NJA loved that. You won't get any better hard IFR flight time, white-out conditions, flatlight, etc anywhere else than you would in Alaska. That's my two cents of info!

I'm a 4000 hr pilot, with all of my PIC in singles, and about 1000 121 jet SIC. Without the multi PIC, would I be towards the bottom of the stack?

I don't think anyone other than the union guys doing the hiring, with Derinda's help, can say how the stack flows. My CAPT buddy says their internal message boards are always full of guys scratching their heads trying to get guys hired. I think it was already said, but quality/uniqueness of your flying may weigh just as heavy in your favor.