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Life at NJ

Old 05-01-2006, 09:40 AM
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Craig
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Default Life at NJ

I guess I will start this as a new thread since there seems to be a lot of questions about NetJets. This was my response to someone considering NetJets verses 121/cargo, etc. Just one persons opinion...I hope it is helpful:



I will chime in on this as well. I was at a small commuter before I came to NetJets. It was my intention at that time to build jet time and move on. It took me about 6 months to decide that I wasn't leaving. The new contract has certainly cemented that decision. There are some jobs out there that, with enough seniority, would be a better job than NetJets but to me it certainly would not be worth all the years and hassles it took to get to that position. NetJets is not perfect but I think the quality of life is pretty good.

Having said that, I realize for new hires one of the biggest headaches will be trying to commute or deciding to move if you accept the job. The way I understand it is, NetJets offers you a job and a location, i.e. one of the 5 new "super gateways", take them together or leave them. They seem to be filling one or two locations at a time and then moving to the next one. Now if offered a job and the location isn't the one you were hoping for I don't know if you could say, "I will be happy to accept the job at a future time when X domicile becomes available." They might go for that.

As for life on the road, most people start in one of the smaller planes and certainly upgrade in the smaller planes. All flight planning is done by dispatch. It is similiar to 121- pick up your release, look it over, sign it and you are on your way. Half the trips are empty and the pax are just ordinary people 99% of the time. Be cordial, helpful and friendly- butt kissing not required. Average pax load on a smaller airplane is 2 so not many bags to throw. Food is all catered so you set it in the plane and the pax help themselves.

Most trips are in the Northeast unless you get based in LAX. A small airplane will average 4 legs total of about an hour apiece with an hour in between. Most duty days are 12-13 hours. I know the math doesn't compute but somehow those seem to be the averages.

This website says upgrades are currently running a little over a year. That's probably about right or maybe less time. I think we have about 2400 pilots and the 400xp upgrade has been around 2000. This website also says we are hiring 500+ pilots this year. That sounds pretty high but they may have better intel than I.

I hope that helps. Good luck.
 
Old 05-01-2006, 11:43 AM
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I have a friends that work @ NJ they said it is the best job they have ever had.
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Old 05-23-2006, 01:47 PM
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Default Thanks for the info Craig

Thank you very much for the info on NJA. I realize everyone starts in one type of AC. Can you choose if there are openings in a larger AC? What does a 7 day schedule look like? Can you take one base once hired on and transfer to your first choice once it comes open? Looks good for upgrade time considering.How much time do you fly for the year? Sorry about all the Q/A. trying to see if this is for me and a career change. Thanks Craig
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Old 05-23-2006, 05:46 PM
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Are there any airlines that will allow you guys to jumpseat?
(I know.. not the actual!)
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Old 05-24-2006, 05:07 AM
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Originally Posted by ATPFlyer
Can you choose if there are openings in a larger AC?
Do you mean as a newhire? If so, sometimes they offer you a choice, sometimes they don't. It depends on the needs at the time and your background.

Originally Posted by ATPFlyer
What does a 7 day schedule look like?
Need more specifics. Do you mean where do you go on your 7 days?

Originally Posted by ATPFlyer
Can you take one base once hired on and transfer to your first choice once it comes open?
No. Plan on staying in the base you are hired in (at least for the duration of this contract).

Originally Posted by ATPFlyer
How much time do you fly for the year?
400
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Old 05-24-2006, 02:27 PM
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Originally Posted by NJA Capt
Do you mean as a newhire? If so, sometimes they offer you a choice, sometimes they don't. It depends on the needs at the time and your background.


Need more specifics. Do you mean where do you go on your 7 days?

No. Plan on staying in the base you are hired in (at least for the duration of this contract).

400
Thanks for the reply there NJA Capt. . Concerning the 7 day trip. What is the average layover time 12-19 hrs? Are you oncall during your duty day or free to do your own thing at the layover hotel if no fly is scheduled? Or can you possiblily get a call to reposition the A/C. How many legs per/day do you fly? What have the new hires in the last several classes been assigned aircraft type and bases?
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Old 05-25-2006, 05:19 AM
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Originally Posted by ATPFlyer
What is the average layover time 12-19 hrs?
LOL.....Not quite. 10 hours is pretty standard. 20 is not unheard of, but it's generally 10-12 hours. Don't try to compare it to airline layovers. 10 hours in Bermuda is just like 10 hours in Tulsa.

Originally Posted by ATPFlyer
Are you oncall during your duty day or free to do your own thing at the layover hotel if no fly is scheduled? Or can you possibly get a call to reposition the A/C.
This would be better answered if you talk to one of us in person. Way too many variables to type here. We don't have an "on call" status. We are either on or off. Usually if we are on duty (with no flights) they have us "standby" at the airport, although it could be at the hotel. Our duty days are usually pretty full. It is NOT like corporate/charter where you fly A to B and sit for 6 hours and fly home.

Originally Posted by ATPFlyer
How many legs per/day do you fly?
Lots of variables here too. It depends on the plane you fly, the day of the week or the time of year. It could be 6, 1 hour legs or it could be 1, 6 hour leg. Just for averages....I'd say 4 legs/day.
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Old 05-25-2006, 10:30 AM
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Originally Posted by Craig
This website says upgrades are currently running a little over a year. That's probably about right or maybe less time. I think we have about 2400 pilots and the 400xp upgrade has been around 2000. This website also says we are hiring 500+ pilots this year. That sounds pretty high but they may have better intel than I.
Upgrades will be two to three years minimum and only if everything works perfectly. For an upgrade in two years the company would have to keep current captain to fo ratios of 2 to 1, get aircraft on property probably faster than the manufacturers can build them, and either hire another 1300 pilots (if hired today) or have literally hundreds of senior pilots retire and only hire another 1000 or so behind you. Things in aviation change all the time and the massive growth that the company is going for could stop or slow down at any time. We have a backlog of customers waiting to get in, but things can and do change. The company was set to grow like crazy starting in 2000 and 2001 and while there was some growth, things stopped for a couple of years.

It is possible to be on duty at the hotel- it happens sometimes if your airplane is broken, but they could call you out any time if the airplane gets fixed, if they want to airline to another airplane, or put you in a taxi, limo, or rental car to get you to another airplane. You have to be ready to leave the hotel within 30 minutes of call out if on duty at the hotel.

It is almost impossible to say much for sure about the schedules other than they will change all the time- sometimes even enroute during a ferry leg. You will most likely report to your base on day one and get home by midnight or within a 14 hour duty day on day 7. If you are on the reserve schedule you have even less certainty than that. Change is the name of the game with the fractionals so if you have a problem with that (and some newhires are already complaining about it) then do yourself a favor and don't do it. I made the change from the airlines and I love it. I hope to upgrade before year 4, but if it doesn't happen I'll still be making nearly what the old contract paid captains on year 4.
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Old 05-25-2006, 05:20 PM
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Thumbs up Thanks for the insight on NJA

Originally Posted by jtf560
Upgrades will be two to three years minimum and only if everything works perfectly. For an upgrade in two years the company would have to keep current captain to fo ratios of 2 to 1, get aircraft on property probably faster than the manufacturers can build them, and either hire another 1300 pilots (if hired today) or have literally hundreds of senior pilots retire and only hire another 1000 or so behind you. Things in aviation change all the time and the massive growth that the company is going for could stop or slow down at any time. We have a backlog of customers waiting to get in, but things can and do change. The company was set to grow like crazy starting in 2000 and 2001 and while there was some growth, things stopped for a couple of years.

It is possible to be on duty at the hotel- it happens sometimes if your airplane is broken, but they could call you out any time if the airplane gets fixed, if they want to airline to another airplane, or put you in a taxi, limo, or rental car to get you to another airplane. You have to be ready to leave the hotel within 30 minutes of call out if on duty at the hotel.

It is almost impossible to say much for sure about the schedules other than they will change all the time- sometimes even enroute during a ferry leg. You will most likely report to your base on day one and get home by midnight or within a 14 hour duty day on day 7. If you are on the reserve schedule you have even less certainty than that. Change is the name of the game with the fractionals so if you have a problem with that (and some newhires are already complaining about it) then do yourself a favor and don't do it. I made the change from the airlines and I love it. I hope to upgrade before year 4, but if it doesn't happen I'll still be making nearly what the old contract paid captains on year 4.
Thank you very much for the info. You have given a clear and upfront view of the operation at NJA. With NJA Capt,Craig, and yourself and acouple of other guys. I and many others can now decide if this is a Go or NO GO decision. Should it spark a fire and try a career at NJA? Thanks again.
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Old 05-26-2006, 10:13 PM
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I have heard that they are looking for people who live at the domiciles. Is this correct, or do they care if you want to commute? Really, their domiciles leave something to be desired, if they want people to live there, if you ask me. Also, do I understand right that once they put you somewhere, you are stuck?
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