NetJets (Europe) info please....
 

After many years of flying around the 'big stuff' (Airbus/Boeing), I feel like a change is in order. Having looked around, Netjets sounds the most interesting, but the website is a little sparse on information. I was wondering if someone who works for them could answer some questions:

1. Are your first and last work days to/from your gateway actually operating days, or just positioning?

2. What's the pattern like down route - multiple sector days, or just go there and hang around for a few days? Or anything in between?

3. Standard of Hotac? Good, bad or ugly?

4. Is the €70 per diem all you have to live on, or are meals etc.. provided?

5. Where does each type operate geographically (approx)? Any particular fleet considered to be the best to be on?

6. Any tax breaks................

7. Licenses/Medicals? JAA I presume (do they have to be issued by the Portugese)?

8. Any wrap around days on your leave?

9. Travel benefits with any carriers (probably not, huh)?

10. Lastly, and probably most importantly (since it'll be a big pay cut), do you enjoy it? Is it a fun company with good people? Is it do'able (it is a word, honest) for the long term?

Any and all info would really be extremely helpful as it's a big decision - always nice to hear directly from the inmates.

Many thanks. :ok::ok:

Many, many threads on NetJets in the BizJet & GA forum.

This one's a good Bamber....http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...hlight=netjets

BBD is right, tons of INFOS under the menioned post. Anyway here's a readers Digest version of what is written there.

1. First and last days are working days, so depending what your gateway is you might have an early start and a late coming home. Average you are either home for breakfast on day 1 or home for dinner on day 6. If you rely on it it will not happen :bored: . . .

2. Its work. Average of three sectors a day. Saturday normally quiet as well as certain month. Summer busy. Limited by 55 dutyhours per tour / week. Rarely hanging around. You might end up dead on day six on certain tours. On some few tours you come home nice and tender.

3. Mostly the standard Hilton / Crowne Plaza / Holiday Inn stuff, but due to the nature of the operation (Short notice bookings to busy places) you might end up in lower standard. Rarely in higher. But generally oka-ish hotels close to the airport. Always a new place every tour so charming ones in remote places as well.

4. Always breakfast. Crewmeals if you are flying during lunch / dinner hours. Cold meals on the short haul; nice and warm with the big boys and girls.

5. Bravo / 400 / XL generally central europe. 800 / 2000 classic centraleurope / russia and middle east. 2000eZ, 900, G IV, GV worldwide. . Bravo and 400 no APU. No influence on assignement besides the fact, that lowtimers go on the longhaul to collect hours.

6. Tax might be a mess. Generally good for the Island, bad for the frog-eaters and a few more countries. Majority seems to be happy. 25 % in Portugal and 5 % NI in GB.

7. Right. Your country.

8. Depending of the duration of your leave request two wrap around days before and after which do not count for your quarterly workday limit.

9. Maybe Perry Cars in London :{

10. Depends what you want. Colleques excellent! Flying is great, second to none. New Jets, nice ones in the pipeline. No calls during days off. Good support generally, some departments can not cope with the growth. BUPA insurance. No Loss of License (should come soon they say), unclear pension plan, no union reps, no clear seniority. Ugly ties.

Hope this helps, tons of reading materiel in the BIZ-Jet section.

And you have to meet SMEAGEL. :E

I thought it was 55 hours per tour?

Since you're in the UK then whatever you can claw back from the Tax mob is your deductions.

My gateway's sunny Luton and therefore we have access to all the London airports which is good for getting home in a reasonably timely manner.

I'd say the Hawker 800XPC's the best fleet but I am slightly prejudiced. :ok:

The flying's great, we got great colleagues, equipment's pretty good and new toys on the way. Is the job perfect? No. There are some issues that need addressing.

The corporate sector is booming right now.

Thanks to all for the excellent info - greatly appreciated! Two more questions if I may;

1. What's the demographic of the pilots - waiting to get into the airlines, retired from the airlines, or just a general mix?

2. Still got many, many years till retirement - do you believe it to be a long term prospect (I suppose that ties in with question 1)?

Once again, thanks very much guys and gals.

p.s. Redsnail - any particular "issues that need addressing"?

p.p.s. SMAEGAL???????

General mix of ex-mil guys who don't want to go to airlines, a lot of guys from airlines who joined when their airline went bust or downsized, many from GA and from regional airlines who wanted a more stable roster.

On going? I'd say so. The bizjet market is expanding, courtesy of checkin/security queues, holding patterns over LHR, desire for privacy and own schedule. Netjets Europe is part of the netjets group which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway. That's run by Warren Buffet. He's not short of a quid or two.

Yes there are issues. Namely the tax issue for our European colleagues (contract came on shore). Some HR issues that have affected some colleagues.

@ redsnail: Of course 55 hours, sorry for this.

1. General Mix. Mostly GA and Ex-Military. Airline pilots more and more for flying and lifestyle reasons. Just a few waiting to get into airlines (Wide open anyway . . .)

2. Depends what you want. Start RHS short / medium haul, move left somewhat soon. Wait for the "big" fleet if you like. Since a lot of long range Aircraft are in the pipeline high demand soon (Acc. "Seniority"). Tons of Jobs besides flying if you like: Training, Screening, Fleet Management, SOF, and so on.

You decide, generally: The grass is always greener somewhere else, but its not a bad company to work for.

Netjets retirement age
 

Could some netjets insider tell me what is the retirement age with the company,

...and how old can a new recruit be?

Netjets retirement age
The retirement age is now 65, and some (experienced!) new recruits joined at more than 55 years old
Regards,
Goose