Fractional to JB
 

Anyone here leave NetJets for JB? What's your thoughts? Any regrets? I'm a year into
NJ and it's been a good experience but looking to get back into the airlines. Not commuting has been great. The 7/7 schedule is really nice and the company treats us well overall. I use to work at a regional and I like the predictability of an airline schedule and I get to focus just on flying.

I'm not B6, yet, but I left NJA for Spirit 7 years ago and there isn't a single second of a single minute of a single day that I've ever regretted that decision. The 7/7 schedules SUCKED big time. A week on the road? F! that nonsense. 3 day trips are my ideal. I generally fly what I want, when I want, and I make more money now working way, way, way less than I did at NJA. I don't worry about the fuel truck, the catering, the bags, greeting the passengers and their dogs, their rental car, or worrying about whether the airplane is clean and properly stocked. I fly the jet and let everyone else do their jobs until we have an issue to resolve.

What's the most junior captain at NJA? A 2006 hire? The pilot ranks there have shrunk since I was hired. What's your future opportunities? Are there still guys 80+ flying over there? Do you want to be a career FO? Maybe you do, I didn't. I saw no future there as a forever FO with a company waiting for the next downturn to furlough another 495 guys.

To each their own, but no, I don't regret leaving at all. Best of luck to you in your decision.

I’m neither, but have flown with tons of folks that came over from the fractionals. While I know they are out there, I’ve never flown with anyone who’s said they are leaving for one.

Thanks. Those are the same issues that I know will gnaw at me down the road. At just a year in all the stuff you mentioned doesn't bother me. Loading bags, cleaning, fuel truck, being the FA, and worrying about everything related to the flight. The upgrade time is also very long. Many people are guessing it's about 5-7 years right now. In this environment most airlines are upgrading years sooner. My career goal is to upgrade as soon as possible.

Thanks. Those are the same issues that I know will gnaw at me down the road. At just a year in all the stuff you mentioned doesn't bother me. Loading bags, cleaning, fuel truck, being the FA, and worrying about everything related to the flight. The upgrade time is also very long. Many people are guessing it's about 5-7 years right now. In this environment most airlines are upgrading years sooner. My career goal is to upgrade as soon as possible.

As a former 135 guy, you don't know how much you were used and abused until you go 121. I commuted 4 hours to my first 121 job at a regional and had better quality of life than I did flying charters. Not dealing with that BS all day long makes the job infinitely better.

Netjets isn't typical 135. Jetblue isn't the airline to upgrade fast at either.

Netjets is worse in some ways than 135, due to all of the legs.

Two very different jobs. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the corporate pilot lifestyle. I wasn't NJ but I did fly 91k prior to my airline career. They're two totally different jobs. I miss the corporate aviation world. Catering, credit card points, hotel points, fuel rewards. Hell, guys would make thousands of dollars a year just on fuel/FBO rewards depending on how they bought their fuel. I know career airline guys think that corporate/fractional is just carrying bags and vacuuming carpets but that isn't the case at all. Using my airline points or hotel points to guarantee me a seat, or book myself in a real 5 star property for free beats any airline discount or passriding deal I get now.

All that said, I don't regret leaving that world. 121 flying is infinitely easier and the job overall is much less stressful. You really need to ask yourself, do you want to be an airline pilot or a corporate pilot?


I always say if I could have the on the road lifestyle of my 91 days with my at home lifestyle of my 121 job, I'd have the perfect career.

I left a cushy fortune 50 flight department. No regrets what so ever. No butt kissing, no face time, no politics, actual sick time and the ability to turn it all off when your not working. Don’t walk, run….