The Company

Corporate aviation meets the needs of businesses that utilize personal air transportation rather than relying on commercial carriers for business travel. Sometimes called business aviation, it allows business people to travel as necessary without the inconvenience of scheduling trips around commercial carrier flight schedules. There is not one company, which outlines this definition more than NetJets. Mrs. Wall introduced me to the company NetJets my first year at Eastern Michigan University in a discussion about fractional ownership. I have never heard of this type of operation, but saw it as very inventive and a massive opportunity. Marveled by this approach over the last few years I have made contact with a few individuals within the company to get their opinion. The pilots speak very highly of the company and therefore the reason I chose to base this blog on.

The concept of NetJets, formerly Executive Jet, was first thought of in 1986 by the companies chairman, Brigadier General O.F. Lassiter, to provide a service to individuals looking to have the convenience of their own plane without all the hassles of hiring and scheduling crew, hangaring the aircraft, maintenance, and other operational procedures. NetJets provides the opportune service by taking care of all the background tasks allowing for the owners to literally show up and leave right away. NetJets sells aircraft to the customer in what is comparable to a time-share. Each customer is part owner of the aircraft and enters into a contract upon purchase. The customers have the option between 13 different aircraft types, which can accommodate up to 18 passengers. The company started with just 10 Lear 23s, but today has over 800 aircraft worldwide. The selection includes a variety of Cessna Citations (Bravo, V Ultra, Encore, Excel, sovereign, and X) Gulfstreams (200, 400, 550), Falcons (2000EX and 7X), Hawkers (400XP and 900XP) and newly acquired Phenom 300. These aircraft range from light, midsize, and large cabin corporate jets. NetJets prides themselves in offering the most diverse, safe, and reliable aircraft variety.  Since 1986 NetJets has expanded the operation to 4 companies; NetJets Aviation, NetJets Europe, Executive Jet Management, and Marquis Jet Partners.  NetJets visits more than 170 countries annually racking up over 285,000 flights at 2,000 airports. The pilots average 7500 hours of experience and have simulator training twice a year to refresh their skills. Netjets employs over 6,300 people globally providing jobs to dispatchers, flight attendants, pilots, and corporate management positions as well as the sales and marketing. With our Aviation Flight or Management degrees we are certainly capable of all these positions. According to the website the qualifications for a pilot (which is my hopefully conclusion) are a ATP certification, first class medical, 2500 hours or total time, 500 hours fixed multi time, and 259 hours instrument time. First officers make rough anywhere from $56,000 to $69,000 their first year and top out between $80,000 and $100,000 before they move to the left seat. I'd like to think I'm not too far off but that just isn't with my slice of pie. The flight attendants are required to have safety, service, exceed the expectations of the company, and be open to an ever-changing schedule. There was no other information I could find on the site on information about these positions, but I'm sure its out there somewhere and I will be sure to look for it int he future.