FlexJet

killbilly

killbilly

Vocals, Lyrics, Triangle, Washboard, Kittens
Are there any current FJ pilots - especially new hires - with any thoughts/insights about working there right now? Pay looks pretty darn good but I know it's not just about pay. They seem to work/fly a lot but also seem to be busy and growing. Just curious.
 
I have a friend there who enjoys it, but they do work hard. I’d say his biggest gripe is flying a ton every tour, but not receiving any additional compensation for it. Just base salary.

I was interested in the Fractionals and ended up at NetJets. I’m very happy here so far. The nature of the work is the same, but your compensation is commensurate with how much you fly and the schedule you choose to work (i.e. a busy tour is still hard work, but you receive flight time based compensation on top of your base salary).

Also, if it matters to you, NJ is a union job and FJ is not. Many different opinions about this, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from NJASAP so far.
 
BaronPete said:
I have a friend there who enjoys it, but they do work hard. I’d say his biggest gripe is flying a ton every tour, but not receiving any additional compensation for it. Just base salary.

I was interested in the Fractionals and ended up at NetJets. I’m very happy here so far. The nature of the work is the same, but your compensation is commensurate with how much you fly and the schedule you choose to work (i.e. a busy tour is still hard work, but you receive flight time based compensation on top of your base salary).

Also, if it matters to you, NJ is a union job and FJ is not. Many different opinions about this, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from NJASAP so far.
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Reflects what I’ve heard so far. What’s upgrade time like at NJ these days?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
killbilly said:
Reflects what I’ve heard so far. What’s upgrade time like at NJ these days?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...

Ask 10 and receive 10 different answers…

There are still 150ish 07-08’ hires that haven’t upgraded yet, but there is progress being made there. So, you could say upgrades right now are 15 years and wouldn’t be incorrect, but it would also be somewhat of an inaccurate picture. NJ did not hire between 2009-2014, so after those 150 or so, upgrade times drop to 7 years (still a long time for some people)

There’s been a lot of growth over the past couple of years that seems to be continuing and, when considered with an aging pilot group, some super optimistic people think a relative new hire might upgrade in 5 years or so. More conservative guesses are closer to 10. Actual will probably end up somewhere in the middle.

To be sure, don’t come here for a quick upgrade — there are better places to go if that’s your primary motivation (F for example). I would say come here for the stability, pay, work rules, and ability to live essentially wherever you want and not commute. We have a great contract (IMO) and FOs can make a very good living here (though not really comparable to living in base for a major).

Also, don’t be mislead by the base salaries on ACP. They are only part of the compensation package.
 
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BaronPete said:
I have a friend there who enjoys it, but they do work hard. I’d say his biggest gripe is flying a ton every tour, but not receiving any additional compensation for it. Just base salary.

I was interested in the Fractionals and ended up at NetJets. I’m very happy here so far. The nature of the work is the same, but your compensation is commensurate with how much you fly and the schedule you choose to work (i.e. a busy tour is still hard work, but you receive flight time based compensation on top of your base salary).

Also, if it matters to you, NJ is a union job and FJ is not. Many different opinions about this, but I’ve been pleased with what I’ve seen from NJASAP so far.
Click to expand...
Quick, nerdy question for you...Does your labor fall under the RLA the way 121's does or are you under NLRA?
 
BaronPete said:
Ask 10 and receive 10 different answers…

There are still 150ish 07-08’ hires that haven’t upgraded yet, but there is progress being made there. So, you could say upgrades right now are 15 years and wouldn’t be incorrect, but it would also be somewhat of an inaccurate picture. NJ did not hire between 2009-2014, so after those 150 or so, upgrade times drop to 7 years (still a long time for some people)

There’s been a lot of growth over the past couple of years that seems to be continuing and, when considered with an aging pilot group, some super optimistic people think a relative new hire might upgrade in 5 years or so. More conservative guesses are closer to 10. Actual will probably end up somewhere in the middle.

To be sure, don’t come here for a quick upgrade — there are better places to go if that’s your primary motivation (F for example). I would say come here for the stability, pay, work rules, and ability to live essentially wherever you want and not commute. We have a great contract (IMO) and FOs can make a very good living here (though not really comparable to living in base for a major).

Also, don’t be mislead by the base salaries on ACP. They are only part of the compensation package.
Click to expand...

That's good to know. NJ's minimums are considerably higher than I am right now (I'm closer to FJ's mins - I have a little less than half the ME time that NJ wants) but I realized I knew so little about Fractionals that I'd be doing myself a disservice without additional research.

Can you elaborate on what's missing from the compensation package on APC? It seemed fairly detailed, but I have no frame of reference.
 
There are other reputable companies out there that can provide experience, good pay, and schedule that would be happy to overwork you!
Where do you live? (Might help to get you close to a “base”)
 
Looks like FlexJet is eyeing a European expansion, getting some aircraft on the Malta registry.

I'm curious; do any shops encourage/offer assistance for US pilats to get European certificates?
 
Minuteman said:
Looks like FlexJet is eyeing a European expansion, getting some aircraft on the Malta registry.

I'm curious; do any shops encourage/offer assistance for US pilats to get European certificates?
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They'll hire pilots from Europe. They are just mirroring what VistaJet already does. VistaJet is a Malta based company that bought XOJET and a host of other US operators. So Flexjet is expanding to compete.
 
killbilly said:
Are there any current FJ pilots - especially new hires - with any thoughts/insights about working there right now? Pay looks pretty darn good but I know it's not just about pay. They seem to work/fly a lot but also seem to be busy and growing. Just curious.
Click to expand...

What're your times?
 
CoffeeIcePapers said:
My worst day flying 121, even at a regional, was still better than most days flying 135/91. I used to be that “I’ll never fly 121” guy, but kick myself for not doing it sooner.
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I get that. I don't have a frame of reference, so while I'm not a "I'll never fly 121" guy, I'm more of a "I don't know what I don't know, and want to explore what's interesting" guy.

Right now, it's all interesting. :)
 
Is the APC pay scale accurate and did someone say the pay is good? It looks like absolute crap. If the scale is correct and using 195 paid days per year that's year 10/11 to break $200k in a 350. That should be starting pay, not a decades worth of service.
 
CoffeeIcePapers said:
My worst day flying 121, even at a regional, was still better than most days flying 135/91. I used to be that “I’ll never fly 121” guy, but kick myself for not doing it sooner.
Click to expand...
This. Don't waste your time seeking a drinking problem if you don't have one already. Go to a reputable airline and enjoy your bank account and time off.
 
MikeOH58 said:
Is the APC pay scale accurate and did someone say the pay is good? It looks like absolute crap. If the scale is correct and using 195 paid days per year that's year 10/11 to break $200k in a 350. That should be starting pay, not a decades worth of service.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Like I said, I have no frame of reference, thus asking the question. I don't know if that's good pay or bad pay.
 
MikeOH58 said:
Is the APC pay scale accurate and did someone say the pay is good? It looks like absolute crap. If the scale is correct and using 195 paid days per year that's year 10/11 to break $200k in a 350. That should be starting pay, not a decades worth of service.
Click to expand...

Starting pay in a Challenger 350 is anywhere between 125 and 150 for an untyped pilot. I don't know where you're getting 200 from. LOL

I'm a Challenger 300 pilot.
 
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