Av8rg8r

We won't know until Friday this coming week. I'll post it once I know.

Pilot4000

I'm a pilot for a 91 department. Typical operation, 2 pilots, one airplane. It's not horrible, but there is no set schedule and we have to do everything ourselves. I have my apps out to all the airlines, but so far have heard nothing from any of them. I interviewed with EJA back in 2015, but didn't get hired. Debating putting my stuff in at EJA again. Just not sure I would enjoy being a Phenom 300 F/O after coming out of a large cabin biz jet, but having a set schedule and being a small part of a big operation vs a big part of a small operation really appeals to me. It will also be a pretty big pay cut for a few years. Should I just wait it out for an airline to call, or would EJA be a good move? I have 5500 hours, over 2000 PIC, ATP, 4 year degree, 2 type ratings.

MWilliams

If you are even slightly interested apply. You do not have a decision to make until they offer you a class date. The majority of new hires are going to the Latitude, some are getting the 350 or Longitude. From what I read into your post, the worst thing that can happen is you spend 39 months in a phenom. After that you can bid out and never see that airplane again.

As for pay, ask around. If you come to work at NetJets it is not possible to make what is published in the pay scales of airline pilot central. The soft money adds up. A lot of new hires find that it is not a pay cut, for some it is a pay raise.

Best of luck to you.

shrsailplanes

I have something to add to this having worked at a121 operation the last three years. What is published here on APC for pay is absolutely correct. However, to make what the airlines are offering in hourly pay and add three zeros to it is another story.

For instance, I just upgraded to captain at my airline and I go to training November 1. I believe my hourly rate for year 4 CA pay is $87/hr. That does not add up to $87,000/yr.

Firstly, the company will avoid like crazy working you 1000hrs of block for the year. Timing out pilots is bad business. Also, I will be very junior as a captain and I will be earning minimum guarantee for the foreseeable future. Minimum guarantee is 75hrs of credit per month. This adds up to $78,300 for the year not $87,000.

To add insult to injury I must go to a base my seniority can hold which in this case is IAH. I do not live in IAH which is the case for nearly all junior captains assigned IAH. So, it is my responsibility to commute to and from work and given it’s a reserve assignment that means commuting the day before my reserve block and sometimes commuting the day after my reserve block ends. So, that’s 1-2 days from my days off sacrificed to the commuter gods every time I go to work.

And of course I am responsible for my own lodging which for me would be the cheapest hotel I can find within what I consider acceptable. That is a lot of overhead on $78,300.

Eventually, I will be a line holder and I will be off reserve. When you are commuting to a line assignment things, in my humble opinion, improve only slightly. Depending on if you are crossing time zones to get to work, hopefully paying for hotel rooms is mostly gone. The unfortunate part about being a commuter is that you have to leave a lot of credit on the table in order to bid a line that is commutable. Before I upgraded to captain, I was based in LAX and I was pretty senior. I had to leave so many juicy credit trips on the table just to keep my month commutable and even then I wasn’t always successful. Trying to bid high credit trips and pay for hotels just comes out in the wash in the end and plus you have given up days off.

From my experience in 121, unless you are living in base, airline pay takes a considerable hit. It’s certainly possible to live where you want and take advantage of your travel benefits but it takes a big juicy bite out of your pay, your time off and it really limits your bid potential.

Most airlines have half a dozen bases or so. If you don’t live at one of those bases or you don’t plan on moving to one of those bases, prepare for some possible disenchantment.

GeeWizDriver

This.

You can always say no if they offer you the gig. Can't win if you ain't in.

Das Auto

I can attest to this. I was a 7 year captain for a competitor and make more as a year 1 F.O. here. Especially if you factor in the 401k match and the money saved on health insurance premiums.

chrtrplt

Calls started going out this afternoon. 2 pilots that I know of will start November 8th.

VidNan

For those in the know...

How much (if any) of a say do the guys and gals that run the booths at the expo have on a candidate's chances of being hired?

Peabody17

A friend of mine that attended the October Expo last week just got the call, and will be joining NJ in the November class. Stay by your phones...

Marko

I would say they have valued input, but not the final decision.