We are in agreement on FDP. I have so many friends at NJA and none of them think FDP was detrimental to the pilot group. It shows the cognitive dissonance that occurs at NJA unfortunately.

 

Hesitant to wade too deeply into these waters, but I think it's safe to say both Netjets and Flexjet are the top two companies outside of the major/legacy 121 carriers. I interviewed at both and chose Flexjet because it seemed like a better fit for my family. I hold no ill will towards NJ, and think it's a wonderful option for many pilots. I also think FX is a wonderful option for many pilots, too. The overlap between the companies in terms of competing for pilots is quite large at this point, and I don't think a pilot can make a poor choice between the two.

I chose a quicker upgrade path and the pilot group that I'd enjoyed interacting with more over the years as someone on the outside looking in. I'm now about to be on year 3 PIC pay, and after bonuses etc I'll be making somewhere around $215-220k between May of '23 and '24. I wish some things were different at Flex, but I'm sure I'd wish things were different at NJ had I gone there, too. Overall, after close to a decade of flying for 134.5 operators, I'm very happy to be at a company that despite it's pitfalls, does it best to take care of me and my family, pays me well, and has allowed for my continued professional development.

Honestly that last sentence would probably be the same had I chosen NJ, too.

People like to come onto these boards and act like there is some horrendous divide between the companies and their pilot groups, but I just don't see that out on the line. Remember these forums are an echo chamber, and don't represent the reality of relations between the two companies when we're all finishing yet another diversion to Rifle and saying hello to each other on the ramp.

 

If there was a LIKE button, I’d click it..

 

There are pilots choosing Flex over NJ now.
And maybe the reason no one leaves NJ for Flex is because they're all crippled by the fear-based marketing gimmick the union constantly spews, especially onto the new-hires. "You need us or mgmt gonna get you!"

 

Why would anyone leave NJA for Flex? Let's get real, Flex is lower in the pecking order. Pilots are leaving NJA for the airlines, and Flex pilots are leaving for NJA because that is who they wish had called first. Always punch up, never punch down...

 

Let’s not misrepresent what’s happening at Flexjet. The majority of our attrition is from year 2-5 in the Phenom, and it’s to the majors and legacies, just like NJA. I’m sure that there may be the occasional cross-pollinator between companies, but I don’t think it’s an appreciable amount by any means.

 

I keep hearing that Flex pilots are leaving for NJ, I know of ZERO Flex pilots that have left for NJ and most FJ pilots I have spoken with prefer the FJ culture over the NJ culture. It doesnt make sense to me that a 3 year old CA at FLEX would leave to start as an FO making $79k/year at NJ. Are there maybe some that have left, maybe, are there maybe some NJ pilots that are at FLEX, maybe, it certainly is not a big part of the attrition issue at either place.

 

I don't think Flex pilots are leaving for NJA in droves like a lot of NJA pilots claim. That being said, I can see how somebody would leave Flex for NJA as it is a bigger company that offers more stability. There would simply be no reason for somebody to leave NJA for Flex.

 

Maybe not laterally, but choose Flex over NJ...yes.
And that says alot about NJASAP catering almost entirely to the senior pilots and leaving FOs out in the cold.
Capt Fireball = "We got your back"
15-year FO awaiting upgrade = "Pay your dues!"

 

There are no more 15 year FOs unless they want to be FOs. Junior upgrade last month was 21 months on property.