NetJets Lifestyle

[ComJam]

Hi all, i'm a Falcon 20 F/O, 4500 hours total and 1700 on the jet.

I'm thinking of applying to NetJets, looking for information on the lifestyle, the working pattern and pretty much anything you think I should know.

Above all, is it enjoyable?

Thanks

[jammers]

Try reading the thread initiated by SILVERHAWK ' Netjets claim to have the BEST pilots'......you could find the posts rather informative if you can read between the lines:ok:

[270/55G75]

Hi ComJam,

Lifestyle at Netjets is fine. Working 18 days a month. This means 12 to 13 days of/month except february.
The 18 days are split in 3 tours of 6 days.
Day 1 you airline to wherever your aircraft is and day 6 they airline you back home. Depending on the demand you work maximum 12 duty hours per day and 55 per week. (according JAR-OPS)

The pay is according aircraft type and you will receive 70 Euro's per diem. During duty plenty of crew meals are foreseen. Hotels are high class (Hilton, Mariot, etc..)

Flying is quite professional. Average 500 hrs/year.
Back up by Lisbon dispatch makes life easy.

Filter out the good stories from the bad ones yourself.
Remember that the negative stories mostly come from people who never worked for Netjets because they did not pass the selection or where not invited to it.
Some people left Netjets with a bitter taste and are happy to broadcast their frustration.

[bluesafrica]

ComJam,
I never worked in person with NetJets but I do know few friends from there. All they stories are extremely positive. Seems to be very prosessional operation and there you only fly practically new airplanes with lates avionics. If you like to fly bizjets and enjoy steady schedules NetJets are the place to be! As well they seem to be only operation with a steady growth and therefore their crews are also able enjoying a steady secure job.
You can simply disregard 99% of negative bull!!!! written by frustrated pilots.
Blues:ok:

[AIRWAY]

steady growth

Correct, but NetJets hasnt reported a profit yet, plus they will be transfering some A/C from their US Base to Portugal all this to attract ex-concorde business passengers.

[bluesafrica]

Airway,
Growth and profit are very different items in biz aviation! I would be very surprised if NetJets are able to make any profit in Europe for next few years.
However you should understand a bigger worldwide picture in their business plan. NetJets are the only company really growing and able to offer a steady jobs for European crews!
Look what happened for Flexjet, they tried to take over the Europe with a left over airplanes from US program and it all turned waste of time and effort. Lost millions and gained nothing.
In corporate aviation you better do things right or not at all!
Blues:ok:

[Bames]

First of all, I have never worked for NJE, never applied for a job with them, so never been turned down either. But I know people who work for them, and people who used to. All I can say is that jammers has a point, having listened to these fellow aviators. The other thread, started by Silverhawk, is extremely interesting.
About steady jobs in Europe, I hope bluesafrica is right. Usually reliable sources have told me that NJE lost about 30 million US in 2002. In the first half of last year they already managed to achieve the same loss figure. Haven't heard anything about the total of 2003. As long as Warren Buffett is ready to pour money to Europe, they should be okay. Then again, is it fair competition? Someone with seemingly unlimited resources walking over everybody else. Could be something for Brussels bureaucrats to decide...

[bluesafrica]

What would you like Brussels to do, prohibit investments to new airplanes? I think that there is nothing unfair in NJE's business and without them Europe was still flying 30 years old bizjets and paying peanuts for pilots.
Blues

[ComJam]

Thanks for the input so far guys, anyone else care to comment?

[Chris Higgins]

Work for Netjets North America. Best job I've had in 20 years of flying!

Originally from Australia and at the moment, have no intention of going back at all.

For a long time we didn't make a profit either, but we are now, and it is public knowledge that North America offsets the loss in Europe. Mr. Warren Buffett announced this at his shareholders meeting last year and it was quoted in the Wall Street Journal.

Europe will make money as soon as the industry evolves and the scales of economy start to improve. We are adding aircraft types in Europe to satisfy a need...not for any other reason. We will expand our Trans-Atlantic operations out of a desire to serve our customers and become the world's most succesful form of business jet ownership. We will succeed, both in satisfying the needs of our customers and achieving worldwide profitability.

The lifestyle is superb! I'm not going back to the airlines and I have a strong desire to fly the Citation X. In addition, those stays at an island resort basking in the sun are just too much to give up.

Good luck to you! I hope you get on and enjoy it as much as I do.:ok:

[bidouf]

HI

I really think that NJE is a great company . Obviously , it needs some improvements to get the 6-5 more often for instance , but I really , love my job and it's the first time I feel such a pleasure .

Just be positive , having such a job today is a real luck .

Bidouf

[contrail]

Comjam,

Have a chat to DF from FP. Sure you know, but he's starting with them in next day or two. He'll be able to tell you hoops he had to jump through.
Future brighter with Brit 757 though!!! :E

[LVL CHG]

Future may not be brighter in the Summer months when you are working 10 weeks straight.... Flying a 757 would be great, but flying a Falcon 2000 into Cannes or to Dubai wouldn't be bad either...

[High Volt]

Flying 757 for brits rather dull actually.

[LVL CHG]

I agree - I'd rather fly a F2000 into Cannes or St. Moritz one day and then the Greek Isles or the Middle East the next.