redsnail

I think the late deliveries is compounding the problem of people not leaving etc. I hope once they (the 4000, the 750 and the 7X) start turning up then movement will happen and vacancies appear.

However, I know what you mean, if you're an FO then you want to crack on and get some hours.

northern boy

Does this mean that those with start dates will also be told to go away?, I hope not since I have already resigned current position to start in August and I am sure thare are others in the same boat.

redsnail

I doubt it. It's easier to cancel interviews than it is to cancel an Indoc.

hantesp

Redsnail, what do you think about the next inteview section on th 1/2/3 july?? What should we expect????

CE550B

Thanks redsnail! But I'm wearing the 4 bars for over 2 years now with Netjets ! Still wouldn't mind some more flying though! Guess you're right, Lisbon thought a lot would have left by now. But he, guess its not a bad place here afterall!

redsnail

Oops sorry Bravo

hantesp, no idea, not in recruiting. Presumably, if they're interviewing there's positions available. What to expect has been done before. It's a bit of a search but it should all be available.

hantesp

Thanks radsnail....i was asking information just with reference to the "crewed" situation!

well...it will be even more challenging being interviewed now!!!
I'll try to die hard...anyway!
Thanks again!

spaniel

Recruiting is part of HR isn't it?? Just remind me again, which bright spark is in charge of that dept??

ADFS

I for one have just resigned flying the A 330 ( not that I´ll miss it ) long-haul, so yes, there are some of us out there that bet on Netjets, you better believe it.

Iver

ADFS,

Congrats on new job with Netjets Europe. For benefit of those of us who are applying, what about Netjets did you feel most appealing? What would make you consider leaving A330 position - QOL improvement, wages, upgrade time, etc.? I always find interesting what factors led to that type of decision. Any idea what type of aircraft you would fly at NJE?

Cheers

ADFS

Iver, there are a variety of reasons....mainly
my chronic fatigue due to mixed fleet flying ( 320/330 ) and time away from home, and I mean time a long way from home. Yes, its part of flying long-haul but after years constantly trying to recuperate my inner gyro to normal status, the chance to fly executive jets very much appeals to me and my family.
Netjets will allow me to have a better quality of life, Im 53, and I think theres a lot more to aviation besides flying the wide bodies of the world.

Buttie Box

I have to agree with ADFS here, as I'm a -400 driver suffering from chronic fatigue. Add to that 1 landing a month if I'm lucky, 2 days off in between ULH patterns, spending at least £500 a month to get to and from work, flying 70% of the time at night and sleep patterns that would make any doctor cry "foul" and all of a sudden Netjets is where it's at.

I agree it's horses for courses but there's a line in the NJ blurb that says something along the lines of "discover why you liked flying". It's true. I'm presently getting my UK ATPL in order and should be applying in August sometime.

I like the idea of looking after people; I like the idea of staying current and proficient on something smaller; I like the idea of being trained 29 days a year instead of the 2 canned sim exercises I perform every 6 months, and I look forward to the fluid, ever-changing challenges that NJ provides.

My only worry is that is that even with 6000 hrs, I don't make command within a year because the 66% pay cut to join is going to hurt. However, I feel as if I'm dying in my current job and at 45 realise that this is your only go at life. No job is perfect but compared to what I'm doing at the moment it's my dream shot.

Hope to see you guys by the end of the year.

BB

fred_bgt

Hi Butty Box !
Am currently flying for NJ. You're right, life style is paramount above 40 yrs old with a family. And NJ does give you the opportunity to have a fair 6-5 roster. I also undergo the paycut in my FO salary which is not too bad in fact, but just inadequate for an experience and aged pilot who has a high-salary lifestyle ...
If I can just suggest something : get into NJ ASAP, because the more you wait, the worse is your seniority in the company to upgrade quickly.
Another good point in NJ :
Be confident, even with the fuel crisis : fuel price is not a problem, it doesn't affect NJ operations at all. We always cruise at max speed, and we don't have any restriction on the extra fuel. NJ makes profits on buying / selling aircraft, not on flying ... And you can fly something like 300hrs a year, NJ will still make profits !
Flyingwise, I love flying bizjets. Nice to fly, a lot of sectors in Europe (middle and small size fleet), we operate on ~800 airports in Europe, VIP contact with the owners, VIP terminal, big variety of destinations and airfields, and finally very nice spirit in the company (CRM).
You just have to put your 'ego' aside because you will never fly widebody jets again. However, if you think about them, there are just flying big bus ! Boring isn't it !... Just think about handling a F2000easy from
Cannes to a beautiful greek island and have a night somewhere in Greece in a 4star hotel... Not too bad ...
Good luck chaps !
;-)

request visual

Wow Fred! I am also in Netjets. I do enjoy flying for Netjets. The picture you paint is accurate up to a point however it disregards the negative aspects!
Regards,
RV

northern boy

Hi Butty box, I've packed in the 744 after many years for the same reasons except it costs me more like 6-700 pounds a month to get to work and up to 1000 for a standby month and it is getting more expensive and less convenient all the time. Plus I have to suffer the UK rail network which falls over every weekend and grinds to a total halt on bank holidays until the "improvements" finish sometime in 2400 or so. Will I miss it? , I might miss San Francisco but the rest of it, absolutely not. I will not miss being awake at 3.00 am halfway across the Hudson Bay, I will not miss crawling out of the bunk feeling like sh*t with another 7 hours to go, I will not miss the bloody Carribbean or even more bloody Florida 2 trips which are up to 10 hours in the winter with 2 crew just for a nightstop and most of all I will not miss having one day off then dragging my tired arse down to LGW to stay in the nasty Travelodge at my own expense and coughing up 15 quid to some thieving taxi driver to get me 1 mile to the airport in the morning because the hotel hoppa is always late and is full of horrible pikeys who stare at anyone in uniform like they are from a different planet. Forget the glamour of long haul, the loads are falling and as they get worse the companies will screw the crews as hard as they can. 6 or 7 transatlantics a month in your late forties/early 50's will ensure that you never collect your pension.

I'm sure that NJ has its faults and frustrations but the big difference I notice from talking to those I know in NJ is that they enjoy it for the most part whereas most of my current colleagues either want out or early retirement. I do reckon that having done the big jet stuff first is an advantage since you then know that size is not important and in fact lifestyle is everything as you get older. The biggest change will be not having to be responsible for commuting any more. That alone compensates for the salary drop both financially and in terms of stress levels. Maybe in a years time I will be up there with comrade Smeagel but I somehow think not. To be honest I'm rather looking forward to it and I have not felt that way for a long time.


BTW I was under the impression that upgrades were based on hours and ability rather than seniority number. I have 8000 hrs and was told at interview and also by mates within NJ that it should happen within 12 - 18 months.
The seniority is I understand applied to fleet changes. I am more than willing to be corrected viz the current slowdown.

Iver

Very good description Northern Boy. I can see how that would get old after awhile. Surprising that you developed such disdain for the Caribbean!

So, have you then applied to NJE and been hired?

northern boy

Yes, start in Aug. Still a hard decision to make but now it's been made I'm a lot happier.

3 or 4 nights in the Carribean with a good crew can be fun but 95% of them are nightstops and in one particular case with a 2 hour coach journey each way during which you loose the will to live. BTW have you ever been to Kingston?, leave the hotel and you risk being drilled full of holes. Wonderful. Personally I'd rather go to Cyprus or the good bit of Tenerife. plus it dosen't take 8-9 hours to get there, the foods's better and you don't get savaged by communist mosquitoes in the pay of greenpeace, specially trained to attack aircrew.

Apart from that its a great place, unless you run into Michael Winner in Barbados.

fred_bgt

Hi again,

I totally agree with you northern boy. We have 1 life, not more. Let's have a good lifestyle for the benefit of our family and our health ...
Just look at your children growing. You will have your days off, fully available for them ... (talking about middle and small size cabin).

Upgrade policy ?
It is currently changing. Seniority, compentency, and a bidding process are to be settled soon ... A lot of different improvements in NJ.

Hope you'll fly with us soon.

Wish you the best ...

cheers,
fred

northern boy

Fred, by upgrade do you mean promotion to Captain or changing to a different aircraft?

See you soon.

fred_bgt

Sorry,
I was confusing :
I was meaning changing fleet. (bidding process is based on seniority and current fleet you fly in, with a seat lock requirement).

Promotion to captain is a fleet manager/training dept issue. It depends on your experience, your hours, your competencies and of course the needs of NJ to have some new captains. That's why I told you it's important to get in ASAP. But no worries for you I think with your experience and age.

cheers

fred