LJ JE

Earning potential and retirement benefits are tremendously higher at the airlines. You also work significantly harder than the airlines for the most part. If those things don't bother you, XO is a great place to work. Most people really enjoy the diversity in flying and quality of life on the road.

Learflyer

Maybe regional pilots have left their jobs for XO, but I don't think there's ever been a case of a well established major airline pilot leaving that to go to Xojet.


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Smooth at FL450

The seat has nothing to do with who is PIC. Like what was already said, insurance companies are ok with the "sole-manipulator" definition of PIC, and that's what XO uses for upgrade.

Mr Rumbold

Thanks for the clarificafion on PIC in the 135 world.

Yeah I doubt a major airline pilot would switch to XO- but regional pilots are interested for sure.
The diversity would certainly be fun-
I had a NetJets guy on my flight y'day departing the west coast- he said he was done with his 7-day rotation but "as usual" they had him finishing on the west coast and now he was being airlined home to the east coast, 2 legs. Does XO do that a lot or do they try and get you somewhat close to home base, if only for their convenience?

How many aircraft swaps/day is common? I'll look on flightaware and see one going from FLL to LAS for example, and then to SJC And that's it.. was that the day for be crew or did they swap in LAS and have to do another long flight east while their airplane continued on?

Learflyer

1. XO has a ton of former 121 regional folks. XO is A better job for sure from what they've told me.

2. Ha. I live east and 9/10 I wind up out west to transcon middle seat home. . I don't think the company tries to do it, but that's what my price is right plinko chip usually lands on.

3. Aircraft swaps happen at different times of the week. Sometimes you're on the same tail all week, sometimes you're on 3 or more (pain in the a$$, cuz you now have to check the books on more than 1 plane)

Aviatormar

What are your thoughts? Pros vs cons for each? If you had to choose which and why?

Onetaco

What is your background? Where do you want to end up?

Aviatormar

I currently am a regional captain who just hates it. The same boring job over and over just doesn't appeal to me. What I figured is that with everyone hiring now would be a good time to try something new. I've never flown 135 and I think I would enjoy the diversity a lot. I currently have 7700 total with about 2500 PIC. Would that make the upgrade pretty short? Also what is the medical coverage like at XO?

dirtysidedown

We do have alot of flying variety here at Xojet. On an 8 day rotation you will see it all, Carribean, mountains, east coast, west coast, Hawaii, Alaska, and everything in bewtween. I have done both regional and 135 flying, flying here is way better. Keep all hotel and airline points, fuel purchase bonus money, $80 a day for meals( not per-diem, use or lose) so we eat very well on the road. Hilton or Marriott properties hotels 90 percent of time. We have a few different medical plans to choose from right now but going to all HSA plans next year. Very reasonable rates.

MOGuy

Your current times meet the argus/wyvern captain times minus time in type. Upgrade at best is questionable when it could happen. Get the X, could be very quick. Get the Challenger plan for 2 years minimum. I am on the 300 and was told 18 months. I'm coming up on that soon and still have a good few ahead of me. I'm betting 2 years and some change. That is one thing for me frusterating is the separate seniority list. There are guys who have been with the company less time than me who are going to get that 40k pay raise before I do bc you are on the Citation. You are airframe locked once you're on property. At least that's how it is now.
That said you will enjoy the variety compared to the regional, but do plan on twice the BS as well. The way I compare to is being on reserve for 8 days. They have you for 14 hours a day and will do their best to utilize you the majority of that time frame if they need to. Even if they don't use you they will keep you on duty for that 14 hrs just in case. No hotel and hitting the bar. Not trying to discourage but make sure you know what you're going from, to.
I've had a lot of fun here, but worked my behind off way more than I ever did at the regionals and deal with a lot more crud than the airlines. The experience you gain is hands down the best pull get with the type of flying we do and will make you a sharp pilot.

Medical is pretty decent and pay is moving in the right direction for now. A 7/7 would be great and if it didn't take 5 years to get 2 weeks baca would be great.