What he said....

 

I am 43 and what is most important to me is my family and time with them. I have 'been there and worn the t-shirt' on the big airplane thing. I also have around 3000+ hours of international time (real international; ocean crossing international) as well.

I am at the point where perpetual reserve, commuting and crashpads have exceedingly worn off the 'luster' of the airline pilot mantra. I want quality of life with my family. I live in TUL and a 7/7 schedule with no commuting stress is an intangible that weighs very high in my opinion.

 

Well said. I'm tired of people telling me that Delta and Southwest are hiring like that thought never crossed my mind, and I have to explain myself for choosing private aviation.
Some people go to the steakhouse and order a salad. Everyone has their reasons.

 

I totally understand.

 

Well said. I started off wanting to fly big iron. After a few years of industry education, I don't ever plan to leave NJA.

Don't get me wrong, since graduating college I've saved as much as I can to retire as fast as I can.

 

I left NJA recently. There are many things which make NJA a great company, great choice and great career. There are many things I miss about NJA and for years felt it would be the place I would stay indefinitely.

If you are willing to live in base (a junior base) with an airline you will get more time with your family. I bid the lowest work schedule with NJA (the CC52) and maxed out my vacations and PTO. With that, I still on average was away from home about 260 hours per month. Being junior at an airline I'm away from home about 190 hours per month (no vacation, no PTO).

I'm sure you are already aware if you aren't willing to live in base airline life can be rough on a family, so my comparison isn't reasonable for those that commute.

7-days away from my family was tough, it was beginning to not work for me. In addition, the "contracts" that were passed encouraged more work for more money and the pilot group was OK with this. Without getting into a big political debate, let's just say my ideals did not align with the majority of the pilot group.

There is a lot NetJets does correctly and there is a lot to be proud of. Overall it can be a very good job and enjoyable. However, after more than a decade I was tired of being gone so long with one stretch and I was frustrated my peers didn't see the need to change that, often thinking just the opposite (willing to work very hard for their money).

Best of luck with your career.

 

Having left NetJets to go elsewhere I think you're wrong but good luck in your pursuit nonetheless.

Keep in mind you'll also be furloughed from NJA during the next downturn.

 

Tulsa’s not an airline base, so I can understand the motivation to work for a place like Netjets. Commuting blows.

But in base at an airline is definitely the tits.

 

As can be said for the bottom of the seniority list at any company when the economy tanks. No seniority list is immune to this.

 

What do you know about Netjets? Other than they have 7/7 schedule? Do you have friends there that can tell you exactly what’s it like on the road for 7 days? If the answer is no, then you are in for a rude awakening. Prepare to kiss some rich asses while you get the cockpit ready, Restock the airplane. Try to fit catering into the galley, clean the cabin, the lav (rich aholes don’t aim well). Load their luggages or furnitures or boxes. Now you get to do a safety briefing while they pretend you don’t even exist. Rise and repeat for each flight. Plus the millions of changes to your schedules every single day. Don’t plan on planning anything on the road. But hey whatever floats your boat. Good luck.