NetJets predicts record flight levels as it unveils plans to hire 150 pilots

By Doug Gollan, April 21, 2021

After suspending hiring due to COVID, NetJets will now add 150 pilots to support 39 new private jets

NetJets is hiring pilots again. The news came in a joint communication by NetJets’ management and its pilots’ union – NJASAP. The company said it is expecting to reach record flight levels by October. March was a record for North American Part 135 flight activity.

By hiring now, NetJets said it would ensure it can meet customer demand on-fleet. It will add 39 new private jets into its U.S. fleet before the end of 2021. Speaking at Corporate Jet Investor last October, NetJets’ president Patrick Gallagher said the world’s largest private jet operator expected to add around 40 aircraft per year for the next decade.

According to the memo, “When the pandemic declaration forced NetJets to discontinue hiring and to suspend plans for additional new hire classes, four pilot-candidates were preparing to travel to Columbus for the April 2020 New Hire Class. We are happy to report each of those pilots has reaccepted a position with NetJets and will report for Company Indoc Training here in Columbus on Monday, April 26. We are exceedingly encouraged to be in a position to welcome new pilots onto the property.”

The notice continued, “A second group of pilots in the hiring pool last March had completed the interview process, and management was preparing to complete background checks when those steps were put on hold because of COVID. The Recruitment Team has reached back out to those applicants to determine their interest in completing the process and reporting for class in May. Today, as we plan for the future, we anticipate hiring up to 150 pilots through the year’s end and for the first class of entirely new pilot-candidates to commence in June.”

Record Flight Levels Expected

NetJets said it plans to train “up to 100 new pilots prior to October when demand is expected to reach record levels. In doing so, we ensure our focus in Q4 is where it needs to be – on operational safety and customer service. Moreover, adding new pilots to our ranks reinforces management’s ability to mitigate subcontracts, making certain NetJets owners are flown by NetJets pilots on QS tails.”

Last month NetJets’ said it had negotiated purchase options for 20 Aerion AS2 supersonic private jets. They won’t arrive until the second half of this decade.

Flight crews at NetJets average 16 years with the company and over 10,000 hours. Its attrition rate is under 5%, including retirements and extended leaves. In 2018 it hired 185 new pilots who had an average of 6,500 flight hours.

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