Learflyer

I had a bud at FlyExclusive. He didn’t like it. Having said that, Xojet is the best job in the country as far as charter/135 is concerned.

B727DRVR

Hey Rocky,

I am currently at flyExclusive and love it, but definitely give props to XOJET as being a great company with an amazing fleet of aircraft and a great group of pilots. Having quite a few friends there, I don’t want to get into a back and forth battle of who is better. The fact that we are even close to XOJET on paper is sort of a back handed compliment considering that we only celebrated our 4th Anniversary last month, starting with only 3 aircraft now up to 40.

FlyExclusive is also a great company, but for different reasons. I feel that we are a little more flexible as to where we allow pilots to fly out of, some examples being KDHN, KEWN, etc. And, I prefer our per diem over the $80 food allowance that XOJET offers.. I will admit though that it is well known in this business that XOJET pilots will gain a pound or two, as they are known to eat so well, much like everyone knows that the Navy has the best grub. Also, I feel that we are a little more Mom and Pop over here, but in a good way while still being professionals.

I’ll be honest, XOJET just got a pay raise on April 1 and they offer a flex schedule (more money potential) in addition to the 8/6, 15/13 typical schedules that we both offer. So that’s another positive for them

So with quite a few friends happily flying there, living in KAUN, CA.. just down the road from KMCC, and flying for a company just a few hangars down from the XOJET HQ, why didn’t I apply there? The reasons are simple, but admittedly dated: I was very disgusted with the way XOJET treated their pilots during the last economic downturn (fact), also heard that they required current VistaJet pilots to re-interview for their jobs in light of the merger(rumor), and at the time, XOJET still used the rolling clock without defined rest (old fact). Granted, this happened a decade ago, with totally different management, but was so atrocious that it really hurt the XOJET brand among the pilot community. Again, this was in the past, with a different management team, so some say that one should just let it go. I didn’t personally know any of the more than 1 out of five terminated pilots, but I later met several and heard their stories of the heartless and reprehensible way that this was carried out (Think getting greeted by security at a far flung FBO with a TERMINATION letter, not FURLOUGH letter, and a ticket home as long as you turned in your Company ID and property...). Again, this happened over a decade ago on a Saturday 2 weeks before Christmas, and XOJET has turned into a great company with great benefits... I am just concerned that with all the pay raises and perks, that they did not learn from their past and offer a WRITTEN FURLOUGH POLICY to ensure that those mistakes from the past never happen again. I guess that makes me a Negative Nancy to even be mentioning furloughs and terminations in the current market and the new realities of the pilot shortage. But....

If XOJET had a WRITTEN FURLOUGH POLICY, given their history, I feel that they would have learned and atoned for their misdeeds of the past.. Maybe they have one, and I just haven’t heard about it, but even with the Economy as great as it is, I wouldn’t go there without one. With all that being said, I don’t feel that you could go wrong either place.

And congratulations to the XOJET pilots on their recent pay raise. Chase made one of the most informative posts that I have ever seen on this forum regarding his/her experience there. Great write up on your experience there and I am glad that you are so happy. It is only fitting that SWA seems to love XOJET pilots, and now SWA pilots are loving XOJET.

chase

B,

Thanks for the kind words..hopefully my post provides some answers to interested pilots.

Sounds like FlyExclusive is a good home for you..glad it is working out!

As for XOJET’s history...and thanks for always reminding the reader “old history”...i too was aware of the things you spoke of. Anyone reading the forums, specifically this thread will see, can read all about it.

The specific issue of how the pilots were treated in the downturn is what I will speak to. ALL of the leadership that was there and responsible for those decisions at the time have long been removed. The current DO and Chief of Training (relatively new position) are fielded by seasoned aviators from the 121 world and very pilot centric. CP, ACP, Standards and other leaders have huge amounts of experience in the 135 ops and my recent experience demonstrate exceptional openness and pilot centric approaches to solving problems.

The former CEO, Brad Stewart was described as “a friend of the pilots and always had an open door”. His successor, Austin Schell, impressed me when he spoke to our new hire class and echoed Brad’s tone. XOJET is focused on the future, proud of their turnaround and shouldn’t (IMHO) genuflect for sins of leaders twice removed.

An analogy if I could for the lurkers...local restaurant that was once good but began to decline after a solid start begins to get get even worse. Owners come in and fire the chef, the day and night manager and encourages those who wish to stay to be part of a “new direction”. It will take the public months and years to trust going back there but after several years the word is out, “they’re back and better than before”. They could apologize for all the previous bad meals or they could just make sure the employees and customers are taken care and promote the hell out of that.

Some will never return and that is fine but adding extra to “right the wrongs” of the previous leaders for something the current leadership had no role in to me is a waste of time. Live in the now.

No slam intended B so if it comes across that it wasn’t meant too, my apologies in advance.

A No Furlough clause mean nothing if a true downturn occurs, see Delta plus, I am not the most knowledgeable in this area but if you know of a similar type or size operation as XOJET that offers furlough protection, pls share..it would be interesting to learn more about this topic. Again, making decisions today to atone for sins of previous leaders, while common in today’s PC world, is a misdirection of resources needed to make a company profitable TODAY.


Lastly, what did it for me in choosing to apply and accept a job offer from XOJET was this...visit Glassdoor.com...search any 135 operator out there..look at the ratings given..read the comments in particularly. Replies can be made by reps from the company ( titles required) if the company so chooses. Look back through 2014 reviews for any company and there is only 1 company where the CEO/President replied to every comment, good or bad with a personalized comment..for the negative evals he even left his phone and email for the person to provide direct feedback...that company is XOJET

Ironically my former company was rated one of the top 10 companies to work for by Glassdoor in 2019...XOJET has better overall rating for employee satisfaction and in their rating of their own CEO.

AGAIN, VERY new to this world of 135 but have studied XO and a few others..just one guys rambling thoughts.

B727DRVR

Hey Chase,

I believe that it was David Siegel that was your CEO in charge of the terminations. He was also famous for his slash and burn at US Airways.

It seems like XOJET has come full circle since those troubled days. Ironically, right before the mass terminations, XOJET had been voted best place to work in the Bay Area in 2008.

Quite frankly, a furlough policy should be no big deal to put in the employee manual. This is something that your pilot to pilot council could work on and be a freebie and no-brainer and take about 5 minutes to write. It simply states that if things go South, that we will respectfully furlough vs. terminate you in seniority order, as opposed to a no furlough clause that is afforded to represented pilots. FURLOUGH vs. TERMINATE is HUGE in todays world of online applications with possible filters on 2 year degree, 4 year degree, DWI, Accident, Incident, Violation, Termination, etc.

In the good old days, one might to actually get to explain to a real HR person why you were TERMINATED vs. FURLOUGHED, but in today’s online world you might just be filtered out before you ever get to explain that your company did not have a furlough policy (which is a head scratcher for Part 121 HR people used to furloughed pilots for no fault of their own, but not used to terminated pilots who were terminated without cause).

I’m glad to hear how good things have become at XOJET.

ak68W

just a correction to this, you will start to accrue 2 weeks of vacation in year 3, and thus can use 2 weeks of vacation in year 4.

The RT worked really hard on all this and many came in on days off to do so. The original proposal was much more encompassing than the above.

chase

AK,

Thanks for the correction..my bad. I heard the presentation but obviously misunderstood it. Pls pass along my thanks to the RT reps and for their hard workin making improvements.

RockyM

Chase and B727 thanks for taking the time to answer, I appreciate it. Both companies seem good, and most important, based on both threads, pilots seem happy to be here and there (Even at UPS threads we can see pilots complaining but not here which is awesome) I think I have the tools I need to make an informed decision. Thanks again. Cheers.

ak68W

Will do! Welcome onboard as well!

arrrrree

I know their website says 2000 hours tt is their minimum. Any idea what the majority of their pilot’s are being hired at? (Just curious about total time)

chase

My class, 05/23 grad with 6 XO pilots had 2 x 65 yr old with 18k+ hrs, 1 former Emirates/USA/ Piedmont with 25k+ hrs (61 yr), 1 Part 91 older guy who I presumed had 10K+ and 3 younger (mid 30’s) guys (all Part 91, Part 91/135, Part 91/121) who were between 3-5k hrs I believe.

Educated guesses on the last 3...all but 1 of the new hires met the new upper pay scale for FOs.

Hope that helps.