This industry sucks, we all know it, not one segment is more safe than others. The blind cheerleaders like to say NetJets is impervious to economic fluctuations, completely ignoring the fact that they furloughed 500 people less than a decade ago, and finished recalling them 2 years ago.

That being said, compare starting at an airline versus starting at NetJets, and being put on the street at year 11, your earnings, retirement, company stock ownership, performance bonuses etc at a legacy would literally be millions more. Sure you are more vulnerable at Netjets because you will not move up that seniority list. There is no growth and they are actively shrinking the fleet size and pilot group, which is why they won't hire for the rest of this year, and probably won't for the first quarter of 2018 by the looks of it.

You can measure where you will be on the seniority list if a major airline hires you. You know where you will retire at on that list. With no growth, Netjets will not have movement, even if an age 65 rule comes along, as a new hire it really won't have much of an impact.

Preparing for the next downturn is very smart but the real issue is that the company model is not sustainable. The only reason NJA has turned profit is because they paid their loan to BK off. NJA doesn't have the capital to make a large aircraft order to expand, and they can't even use their fleet as collateral because NJA doesn't own them. Without uncle Warren's pocket book, you won't ever see any big moves from NJA in terms of growth.

 

I've had none of those issues, flew 8 guys with clubs and bags recently and we still had room for our clubs, and no one has ever complained about the cabin. Could use a little more performance, but for what we use it for, its perfectly fine. All that really matters in the end is that my boss really loves it.

Most people that ***** about the airplane have never flown it.

 

Hey Wankel,

That is something that I've been thinking about. After 10 years, I have approx 10% of the list below me. Pretty sad. I don't think furloughs will happen again, but you never know. I for sure know that SWA will be around in 20 yrs. NetJets? Probably, but I have less confidence in that prognostication.

 

Did you see the photos of the 605 that couldn't climb above FL 360 that got rolled by a A-380? I just flew through the same part of the world in a G450 and crossed ABOVE an Emirates A-380.

There is a price to be paid for the crap performance of that POS. Only superior airmanship and a little luck saved the people on that jet.

 

It is well established that the 650 is a vastly underperforming plane.

 

I talked to an 10 year FO last week that is considering Kalitta and another 12 year that is wanting to go to Spirit for what it's worth. I guess no one else is calling. No upgrade in sight is what both said. They did say if they could upgrade they would reluctantly stay.

 

Being one of the guys that spent so e time at NJA and a Legacy I can say without a doubt the airline is better for many reasons. In schedule, seniority, money, time off etc etc...

I am at a place that is actually in the middle of the road in terms of upgrade. In year 6 now. Could have held 717 Captain 6 months ago. A guy 8 months senior to me is going 767 Captain.

Most importantly within a year or so I will be above the 50% line.. half the company would have to be furlought to get to my number! If I was at NJA I'd still be making $120k less and in the bottom 10-15%. So in essence, no real savings ability, plus furlough prone.

If your a newhire or looking at NJA for employment, the lack of movement in a historically volitile industry is reason enough to pass on it. Most who are looking at NJA are probably pretty new to aviation, ie <10YRS. Furloughs can happen on a dime.

If you're wanting to eventually go to an airline. Do the regional thing. Skip NJA

 

That was not a 605 that was involved in that incident.

Also, how do you know they were limited to FL360 by performance?

 

Coming off a month long vacation in the stratosphere, spent with my wife, kids, C47 : ) just checking this thread, and it warms my heart to see it alive and kicking : ) Airline flying great !!! Netjets Not !!! Ha!!! Hey man I tell you what I miss my 747s so much I can taste it, I feel the 121 pull my own self, but at this moment, this instant in time NJA with all its issues, frustrations, and limitations is fitting the bill,for my familia and me, if I ever go back though it will be boxes not pax, Cheers ❤️out. 😎

 

Excuse me. It was a 604. Same pig, different lipstick.

Because a Challenger 60x.x-x (pick your model) can't get to the 40's unless it's on fumes. And when I'm in Europe, I go as HIGH as I can to stay above the ridiculous amount of traffic criss-crossing the continent. Like the Emirates 380 that crossed directly underneath us last Monday.

Look, I'm glad your boss likes his Challenger. For certain mission profiles, it can be an adequate platform. For what NetJets does, it's a piece of junk. Part of the problem is the airplane, part of the problem is the moronic interior that NJ selected.