Dhood84

Just left JetsuiteX a few weeks back. Lots of people leaving for better opportunities. CFO and Controller resigned on the same day, so something is up. The Phenom 300’s are coming slowly, 4 on property now and more are coming. A lot of the CJ pilots are being brought over and typed, so the upgrade will stagnate a bit. Still only 5 135’s (suppose to be 10 by years end). Flying is still fun, equipment is good and the crews are awesome. Pay is still subpar and they are constantly saying “it’s almost there”......

Insurance is horrible, United Health Care with really high deductibles.

First year pay is not $250 a day anymore for low time FO’s on the X side. $170 a day for less than 1000TT.

It’s not a bad gig, I was there for almost two years, but there are other places that are better. Management will promise the moon, but won’t “deliver on commitments”.

YMMV.

DH

jks621

What did the FO pay move to from $250? I've heard constant talk of pay and benefits "being almost there". Hopefully that stuff works out for those that are there.

Jetlife

Where did you go? Congrats man.

Dhood84

Anywhere from 170-225 a day depending on how many hours you have.

DH

jks621

Thanks Dhood, wishing you good luck on your transition to whatever is next!

brocklee9000

This brings up a question I've had for a long time now. I see so many job listings with that tag of "ATP or Commercial with ATP written" and it makes me wonder...it's been over three years since the new rules went into effect, i.e. everyone now has to have an ATP-CTP before taking the written. So... do they (and every other non-airline operator) expect everyone to shoulder the costs of that? That seems to leave only a few options in my mind: either they're crazy enough to think y'all will shoulder the cost of this, or they're crazy enough to expect regional pilots to leave and come to them. When I say "they," I mean pretty much every 135 operator out there. Also, even once you get the written and the 1500 hours, are they paying for your ATP and type rating?

I can only imagine they'll have to go the way the regionals are going. All the perks (ATP-CTP, bonuses, etc) except no flow like some regionals offer (though I could see something set up like Ameriflight to Allegiant or Great Lakes to Frontier).


Are they really hiring below 1000TT? I know I could have sworn I'd seen the odd job listing in years past where they listed FO positions at something like 500-700 hours. If this was really happening, I and a lot of guys I know would reconsider a career track outside of 121.

Dhood84

They hired a few FO’s on the X side with less than 700TT.

I forgot to add the kicker.....

Still have a two year prorated training bond. That’s the thing killing the company on hiring.

DH

jks621

I think 135 operators will have to figure it out. It almost has to be offered to be competitive with 121 now. I'm sitting at 1200 TT with no ATP written mainly because as a CFI I can't afford to fund my own CTP. I've been told by a current JetSuite FO that they put you through for your ATP, but Dhood might be able to clarify more on that.

It will be interesting to see if they drop the training contract?

brocklee9000

But back in may, fresh out of college, no money and no CFI yet, I would have signed that. The time spent working on CFI plus the time I'll have to spend building hours as a CFI will be shorter than two years, but not significantly shorter. Plus it's real-world flight experience versus single engines around Phoenix. Of course, I would have still drawn a line somewhere. I'm not going to go off to Skyway or Key Lime, but somewhere like this or Gama or other similar operations? Sure. If I like it, stay for another year or two. If not, go to a regional of my choice.

I would change the "almost" to say "absolutely." The last batch of guys who could have been grandfathered in under old ATP rules either went to an airline ages ago, or their writtens expired last July. I don't have a lot of hours, I'm not even at 500TT yet, but I've been following the industry for years and know a lot of guys in just about every type of flying operation. I really wanted to do flying like this, or corporate, but more and more I'm giving up. I've got every regional ready to swallow me up at 1000TT and will pay for everything, so I'll be there months before any corporate, charter, or other operation would really be interested (or able) to take me on. I was hoping they would have felt the pressure or had the foresight to anticipate it, because I gladly would have committed several years if they were in a position to give me a chance, but instead I'm going to just build time as a CFI and go from there.

flybus

I got a call as well. I'm excited! PM me with any info you find out