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-   -   NETJETS Europe hiring again (https://www.pprune.org/biz-jets-ag-flying-ga-etc/642679-netjets-europe-hiring-again.html)

5strypes 17th Sep 2021 17:40


Originally Posted by redsnail (Post 11112595)
G'day Winged Lion,

I think I was within the first 1,000 members. Definitely the first female pilot. Seen lots of changes over the years....

Toilet? Definitely. There is one. If you need to use it, you use it. You also clean it :D It is a good opportunity to see how the pax are. Folks on the Hawker used to dread the stuck bung... (The Hawker's no longer with NetJets).

Downsides? Well, the old saying "one person's poison is another person's cake" definitely rings true. Airlining is a chore but it is what it is. Fortunately being at a London gateway means I don't do that much airlining. A colleague put me onto the Apple Airtags so I can track my luggage. Others don't bother checking theirs in. Also, I have a secondary role now so that has cut down on the line flying a bit but it's another string to the ol' bow. Some people just never adapt to the constant changes. Fair enough. At first it is a lot to absorb. Ever changing hotels can be an issue for some. While sometimes you "win" and can go and explore a new and interesting city, often in Summer you'll be just keen to scoff some food and get some sleep. In some cases, the hotel is "so so" but the location is great and you're spoiled for choice re dinner.
Loading/unloading luggage is probably the thing I don't like. Forget standard 20kg weights. The space is often awkward and there is high potential to injure your back.

Some folks can be "size-ist". If someone thinks "bigger is better" well, they'll be disappointed. (Trying very hard to avoid any double entendres. And failing). Sure the Global is big but it's tiny compared to B787 ;) But while they go to some great places, the jet lag's a bitch and it'll take over an hour to "close" the aeroplane. Long after the Excel folks have left the airport. ;)

Essentially, if you're a glass half full sort of person, you'll enjoy the job. Compared to an airline job, you'll have a lot more autonomy and authority to get stuff done. Compared to a "true" private jet job, we're very well looked after with very good support from the office in Lisbon. (If the support isn't there for some reason, see the previous sentence, you are armed with a credit card after all). :D

If folks like routine, eg run 3x a week, weights 2x a week and golf with the family on Sunday, this job won't really work for them. Happily, we get our roster published 2 months in advance so you can plan your days off. :) There is flexibility too, you can request specific days off with enough notice.
I've made some lifelong friends at NJE. Probably some mortal enemies too, but hey ho, can't win them all. :D

Can't thank you enough for the wealth of information. I'm in a balance between trying to gather as much information and trying not to get too invested should it lead to nothing. Looking forward to the process and it certainly sounds like a positive place to be and somewhere I'd be happy to leave my current airline for.

redsnail 17th Sep 2021 17:54

You're very welcome. :)
The way I see things it is easier to say "no" to a job offer than "yes" to something you haven't applied for. Or - to win the lottery first you must buy a ticket.


Winged Lion 17th Sep 2021 19:02

I would like to thank both redsnail and buzzc151 for their valuable information and the small sneak peak you gave us into your/a pilot's job at NJE. To be honest Netjets was on my radar even before this hiring round started so I am very very happy to at least be able to knock on their doors as a candidate now. But just like 5strypes put it very correctly, I too am looking for that crucial balance in order to get myself not too invested. After all, let's first wait and see if NJE even returns to me for the next stage and following that if I'll be even able to survive the selection.

I would be thrilled though as I am looking for a way out of the airliners. I am a very positive person and even if the glass is not filled at all sometimes, I will always make sure to fill that glass myself with my own positivity so my family and I can enjoy life as much as possible. It seems for me the negative things mentioned are not adding up enough to surpass my positive expectations so that's a good start. Salary aside, flexibility like the gateway system, the respectful relationship with their pilots etc. are things that I am looking for now.

One thing I am wondering by the way is if you guys have any staff ticket discount for other airlines. That would be a huge bonus for me.

Cheers.

KAISERSOZE 17th Sep 2021 19:49


Originally Posted by Winged Lion (Post 11112739)

One thing I am wondering by the way is if you guys have any staff ticket discount for other airlines. That would be a huge bonus for me.

Cheers.

Nope...
No staff ticket.

But I doubt you would want to airline on your days off !

ulispranger 17th Sep 2021 20:21

[QUOTE=Mike Oxbig;11112488]I am guessing your are not a Latitude owner? :)

Yes, I am ... and I love all the crew. I have never meet any boring person there. Plus, I like the Latitude-Self-Service. Getting drunk on a plane with a stewardess just takes much longer. :))
I love NJE and would fly more frequently if not anything was on Microsoft Teams these times ...

redsnail 17th Sep 2021 21:35


But I doubt you would want to airline on your days off !
Truth! :D
You can get access to some industry travel discount sites. I've never used them. My husband's with easyJet and he doesn't get ID discounts. The eJ discounts are ok but not the same as the ID 90 from the legacy airlines.


Getting drunk on a plane with a stewardess just takes much longer.
You need to change your Profile instructions with OS. ;) Glad you enjoy our Latitudes. A really good bunch of crew on that fleet. :)

Winged Lion 17th Sep 2021 21:46


Originally Posted by KAISERSOZE (Post 11112756)
Nope...
No staff ticket.

But I doubt you would want to airline on your days off !

Well actually, my situation kind of needs that calculated in somewhere. Still no big deal. The salary will be there to take care of it up to some point, but it would have been nice.

Globally Challenged 17th Sep 2021 21:50


Originally Posted by buzzc152 (Post 11112419)
Plenty of bad stuff. Ask any NJE pilot what they hate about the job and most will probably say ‘airlining’. It sucks, especially in covid times. Long duty days. Expect to fly anywhere from 300-450 hours a year, which doesn’t sound much but also expect to regularly hit 60 hour weekly duty limit.
If you had your heart set on that planned midday finish in Palma Mallorca and you’ll get upset when they add an extra 2 legs at the last minute finishing in the worst hotel in Luxumbourg at 10pm then think twice. You need to expect and be able to cope with last minute changes, especially over the high season which currently runs from Jan 1st-Dec 31st (nb, the hotels generally are pretty good)
Also be comfortable with operating on a small aircraft like the Phenom. It’s a great aeroplane but it is small. Learn to love that.
Time to command…..almost impossible to predict but I’d guess in the 7 year range for someone joining today.
I’m sure there’s stuff that annoys me but others cope with better. Each to their own. For me, the positives outweigh the negatives by 10-1 at least.
Oh, and contrary to what one generous person has posted above, don’t expect tips to supplement your income. I get between 0 and 1 tips per year and I’m sure I’m not alone in that (we don’t look for or expect tips…our customers are paying premium €£ for our services and we’ll always go the extra mile irrespective of whether or not we think there might be a tip at the end of it).

This really sums up the job.

Globally Challenged 17th Sep 2021 21:53

Wow there have been over 1100 applicants so far.

So if you are considering it, don’t hang about and get your name in the system.

5strypes 18th Sep 2021 08:10


Originally Posted by Globally Challenged (Post 11112808)
Wow there have been over 1100 applicants so far.

So if you are considering it, don’t hang about and get your name in the system.

Wow. Though I shouldn't be surprised really. Anyway, application in and let's see where things go. Thanks for all the advice so far folks.

Mike Oxbig 18th Sep 2021 08:29

Verzeihen Sie Herr Spranger! Ich freue mich, Sie bei Ihrem nächsten Flug, begrüßen zu dürfen! :)

MrGustave 18th Sep 2021 11:19

Are there any part-time schemes available and what do they look like?
Thanks for all the great info, appreciated.

sangiovese. 18th Sep 2021 11:19

Flew for NJE for two years at the end of the noughties before the downturn. Look back on the time there as enjoyable, good colleagues and variety. Seniority now in an airline for me. Would o go back. Yes, flying was fun, London base and I looked forward to my tour. I’m sure there are lots of changes there but it’s still a fleet of very nice aircraft flying to delightful locations (usually!)

ulispranger 19th Sep 2021 09:49

@Mike: Happy to see you :)

redsnail 19th Sep 2021 16:22


Are there any part-time schemes available and what do they look like?
There are. The number of duty days is 200. Subtract leave, training etc and you have how many days you should turn up for work. :)
There are a few part time options. Currently there's 180 days (minus pro rata leave, training etc), 160 days (pro rata etc) and 160 days Seasonal. That is, you do most of the work in Summer (high season, although Buzzc152 cheekily suggested our high season is now all year - feels like it). There is/was another scheme of 5 months off/7 months on (in the northern hemisphere Summer) but I haven't seen any details on it recently.
I am not sure what the qualifying period is. The bids/requests are open now and allocated soon. The numbers allocated are based on company needs, how many applied, etc.

happyjack 20th Sep 2021 14:13

It can only be fair if I am allowed to vent my NJE experience...?
Against my better judgement as an airline captain I was talked into joining NJE more than 20 years ago. There were weeks of negotiations prior to joining regarding terms and conditions, salary and position. Once I agreed all that meant nothing and I was employed as an F/O on an F/O's salary plus a 3 year bond for a type rating that I already possessed!!!!
So they had been lying to me from day one. The loss of licence insurance didn't exist, the private health didn't apply to non USA citizens and my pension contributions were subsequently stolen by the company!
After 3 months I got upgraded however to LHS and received my agreed contract.
The insane management were firing pilots at the rate of 3 per week! When I asked my fleet manager about this he assured me that it was not so. The next day I got fired!
I sued the hell out of them. A 13 year very expensive legal process. They did everything on God's Earth to avoid being held responsible. Never once presenting any justification for their actions. I witnessed their CEO and CP take the oath and then lie and lie and lie.
The judge saw through it all and found in my favour.
I was awarded a considerable sum of money plus expenses and set a precidence in Portugal against this company.
But they refused to pay and then appealled. They lost that too.
They seeked to go to the supreme court in Portugal but were refused.
I received the settlement but not the considerable expenses still owed.
So you wanna ask an ex nje pilot what they think of them??? The treatment I received at the hands of this disgraceful company cannot be overemphasised. I did nothing wrong at all and was treated like a criminal. My biggest career mistake by far!
I hope it has changed, I really do. I want to think I was there at the wrong time with the wrong people but was it?
Leopards and spots?
Take nothing said on face value? They have proved themselves as supreme cheats and callous liars!

5strypes 20th Sep 2021 20:12

Is anyone able to provide better salary details. Such as top of scale for both FO and Captain? I see some varying figures around the net. Happy to take DMs if not comfortable posting publicly.

Regards the above, certainly an awful situation to find yourself in and I'm glad things are finally turning for you but appreciate the miserable experience you've been through. I would have to take this as an outlier given the generally positive NJE feedback but it's certainly worth considering.

dirk85 20th Sep 2021 23:58

Well I have been in the industry just over 10 years and can clearly remember two rounds of redundancies happening in NJE, one of which very recent (all pilots hired back this time unlike the first).
Something to keep in mind, if job security means a lot to you.

FlightDetent 21st Sep 2021 05:35


Originally Posted by 5strypes (Post 11114171)
better salary details. Such as top of the scale for both FO and Captain?

Personal observation: No new joiner receives the top salary advertised before signing. Nowhere, never. By the time you get around to it the contract would have changed (multiple times) or the company pulls any strings available to avoid creating an expensive asset (shiny new rating they need you to have, e.g.).

General advice, if your company supported its pilots during the first COVID year by paying a salary, the best life choice is to stay put and go seek gratitude to feel happy about it. Easier to find than a better job, the grass is always painted greener on the other side.

Tailstrik 21st Sep 2021 10:55

Anybody got called for an interview already?


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