The NJASAP represents NetJets’ 3,430 pilots and recently signed a new contract with the world’s largest private jet operator. 

In a news release published on Monday, the NJASAP alleged the two pilots were terminated because of their role in negotiating the five-year agreement, which was overwhelmingly ratified in April. The union also said the termination decision was “unlawful, unjust and in retaliation for the $1.6B in improvements the pilots negotiated during midterm bargaining that concluded earlier this year.”

NetJets said it had no comment on the matter. 

The terminated pilots included the NJASAP vice president and strategy group chairman. According to the union, they were both captains with 23 and 18 years at the company, respectively. The two pilots had “unblemished professional records,” NJASAP president Captain Pedro Leroux said in the release. 

“Choosing to terminate two high-ranking union leaders is not simply another hurdle to resetting the landscape, but a move reflective of a strategy that is not sustainable in the long term,” Leroux said.

This move is the latest in an ongoing back-and-forth between NetJets and its pilots union. In June, the company sued the NJASAP for defamation over safety and pilot training claims. 

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Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, NetJets has 8,300-plus employees worldwide, helping to serve 10,200-plus owners in the United States and an additional 2,200-plus owners in Europe. The company counts more than 40 Fortune 100 companies as clients.

NetJets’ fleet includes 137 light jets, 329 midsize jets, 151 super-midsize jets, 60 large jets, and 68 long-range jets.

NetJets Mission Statement 

Per its website: “Our mission is to enrich the lives of our owners with extraordinary experiences.”—Adam Johnson, chairman and CEO

Latest NetJets Jobs on FindaPilot.com

• PIC – G450 – Green Bay, WI – Charter Pilot Job
• PIC – Challenger 300 – Dallas, TX – Charter Pilot Job
• PIC – Legacy 600 – Miami, FL – Charter Pilot Job
• PIC – Sovereign – Burlington, VT – Charter Pilot Job
• PIC – Gulfstream 500 – Boca Raton, FL – Charter Pilot Job
• SIC – CL650 – Charter Pilot Job
• PIC – Gulfstream G200 – San Jose, CA – Charter Pilot Job

NetJets in the News

NetJets to Add Bombardier Global 8000 to Fleet: NetJets will operate a fleet of 24 Global 8000 aircraft, which includes the new firm order for four Global 8000 jets, eight conversions of Bombardier aircraft previously ordered, and aircraft already on order or in service.

FlightSafety International Partners With eVTOL Developer Lilium and NetJets: FlightSafety International partners with fractional aircraft ownership company NetJets and Germany-based Lilium to help train pilots to fly electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis.

NetJets to Purchase Up to 150 Lilium eVTOLs: Fractional aircraft ownership company NetJets has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to buy 150 electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxis from Germany-based Lilium (NASDAQ: LILM).

Other Resources

• NetJets Careers 
• Twitter 
• LinkedIn  
• Instagram 
• YouTube 

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“This valuable exemption allows operators of piston-powered airplanes, small airplanes and rotorcraft to realize the cost-sharing benefits outlined in Part 91 Subpart F, making more effective use of their aircraft,” said Doug Carr, NBAA’s senior vice president of safety, security, sustainability, and international affairs.

Subpart F of Part 91 was written into the regulations to accommodate the fractional-ownership business model pioneered by NetJets. NBAA said its members who operate small aircraft for business can “take advantage of the flexibility usually offered to operators of larger, turbine-powered aircraft.”

NBAA members must submit a letter of intent (LOI) to the public docket to use Exemption 7897M. The letter must include detailed information on the business entity and an attestation that the operator will adhere to the terms of the exemption.

Previously only available for aircraft of more than 12,500 pounds gross weight, the benefits of Subpart F include “alternative maintenance programs” and limited cost-reimbursement from passengers for certain flights.

“The cost-reimbursement options of Part 91 Subpart F are useful regarding transportation of a guest on a company aircraft, the use of the aircraft by employees of a subsidiary company and other common scenarios,” NBAA wrote. “Time-sharing, interchange, and joint-ownership agreements are also permitted under Part 91 Subpart F.”

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.

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The pilots, who are members of the NetJets Association of Shared Aircraft Pilots (NJASAP), an independent pilot labor union, said they took out the front-page ad after their negotiations with NetJets soured. The union said NetJets has refused “to pay market-rate wages for pilot labor and to make commonsense enhancements to current scheduling practices.”

• READ MORE: NetJets Pilot Union Files Grievance, Cites Training Standards

NetJets and Berkshire Hathaway have not responded to FLYING for a request for comment.

The union said hundreds of pilots have left NetJets this year to take jobs with better working conditions, and that it expects more rapid attrition during the first quarter of 2024. In its statement the union said it is “baffled” by the company’s policy given the current pilot shortage and industrywide competition to hire and retain qualified flight crews.

“Right now, we are seeing a trend unfold that is almost unheard of in aviation: Pilots in the middle of their careers with decades of experience are leaving to start at the bottom of seniority lists at mainline carriers that recognize the value of retaining talented aviators,” said Captain Pedro Leroux, union president. “Owners pay for the peace of mind that comes from having two experienced pilots seated on the flight deck, but right now, we are seeing quality pilots across the seniority spectrum leave the fractional [aircraft operator], and both Berkshire Hathaway and NetJets executives are seemingly just fine with that.

• READ MORE: NetJets Signs Record-Setting Deal with Textron Aviation for 1,500 Citation Jets

Among the union’s complaints is a claim that the company has declined to increase pilots’ compensation to a level competitive with that of those at major airlines. NJASAP said NetJets pilots are “not content to earn 60 percent of what their JetBlue, United, and Delta peers will make across a 30-year career.”

The union said it continues to organize pickets in Las Vegas and on Wall Street to apply pressure on NetJets, Berkshire Hathaway, and Buffett. Members plan to hold their next demonstration on Friday in conjunction with the Art Basel event in Miami.

The relationship between NetJets and its pilots has shown signs of discord for years. NJASAP was formed in 2008 and has a history of staging highly visible protests, including previous Wall Street Journal ads.

The post NetJets Pilot Union Airs Grievances in Wall Street Journal Ad appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The fleet agreement extends over the next 15 years, with deliveries of the Ascend to begin after type certification is achieved and entry into service projected for 2025. The deal also includes the Citation Latitude and Longitude.

“NetJets customers around the world continually select Citations as their aircraft of choice,” said Ron Draper, president and CEO, Textron Aviation. “We’re honored to be the largest provider of industry-leading aircraft to NetJets and look forward to continuing to work together to design and deliver the best aviation experience based on customer feedback. Expanding and adding the Citation Ascend to the NetJets fleet will provide its global customers with even more versatility and flexibility to accomplish their missions, building upon the exceptional performance and popularity of the Latitude and Longitude.”

In a media briefing on Tuesday, Draper talked about the strength of the fractional market overall, as well as indicating the Ascend has been part of the company’s commitment to introducing a clean-sheet design on a regular cadence with significant improvements to popular Textron Aviation models. “We’re proud of our current product lineup, but we’re excited about the new [models] we’re bringing,” he said.

Since the partnership began more than 40 years ago, NetJets has taken delivery of more than 800 aircraft, including the Citation SII, V, Excel/XLS, Sovereign, X, Latitude and Longitude.

“As a longtime, trusted ally who shares our commitment to safety and service, Textron Aviation is the ideal partner to help us expand our offerings to NetJets Owners with the introduction of the new Ascend to our midsize jet class, as well as by growing our overall fleet,” said Doug Henneberry, NetJets executive vice president, aircraft asset management. “Based on past demand for the popular Citation Latitude and Longitude, the new Ascend and all our new Citations will undoubtedly be well received by our owners, particularly those who depend on NetJets to help them do more and miss less.”

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Representing roughly 3,000 pilots who fly for NetJets Aviation Inc., the pilot union alleged that the company is “failing to provide adequate and standardized training across all segments of the pilot group from its newly hired pilots who are completing initial aircraft training to crewmembers who have been on [the] property for decades and are completing new aircraft transition training.”

FLYING reached out to NetJets for comment. The law firm representing the company clarified that the grievance is not an official lawsuit. “The only proceeding NJASAP has initiated against NetJets on this subject is a grievance under a collective bargaining agreement,” the letter stated.

According to NJASAP president Capt. Pedro Leroux, one of the paramount concerns is the lack of experience from instructors who are new and have little to no knowledge of NetJets’ standard operating procedures and aircraft. Additionally, the instructor-to-pilot ratio is too high for a conducive learning environment. Leroux also stated that many pilots were seeking outside resources to compensate for the shortcomings in their instruction.

“When pilots are so concerned about the level of instruction that they have no choice but to supplement their training resources outside the classroom, you have a very big problem on your hands,” Leroux said.

The NJASAP also noted that NetJets pilot training is insufficient when compared to their Part 121 peers. NetJets pilots are expected to perform international, extended overwater, and mountainous airport operations and fly to 20 times as many locations as their airline counterparts—but without the same level of training.  

In many instances, proficiency in challenging environments only needs to be demonstrated in a flight simulator. The NJASAP mentioned that a Delta Airlines pilot must complete special qualification training flights for certain airports such as Jackson Hole (KJAC), Aspen/Pitkin County (KASE), and Telluride Regional (KTEX) while NetJets pilots need only the simulator experience or a single in-theater flight to conduct such operations.

“When flying the line, unexpected situations insert themselves into our duty day, and when they do, pilots rely on their training and experience when every second and decision count,” Leroux said.

Leroux went on to say, “NetJets owners and customers pay a premium not only for the flexibility to travel to the locations of their choosing, but also, and just as importantly, to do so with the peace of mind that a highly qualified flight crew is seated in the front of their aircraft. The training we, as pilots, receive should better position us to deliver that product to our clientele.”

The union said the deficiencies in the training program are a violation of the parties’ collective bargaining agreement, and noted that the grievance must be heard within 10 business days unless the parties agree to an extension.

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NetJets said the agreement will help it provide “an enhanced customer experience” as it conducts an average of 1,200 flights per day worldwide.

• READ MORE: NetJets Orders 100 More Phenom 300s from Embraer

The companies’ relationship dates back to at least 2010, when NetJets entered its first purchase agreement with Embraer for 50 Phenom 300 jets with options for up to 75 additional aircraft. NetJets said the Phenom has since become one of its most requested aircraft. 

In 2021, following the delivery of more than 100 aircraft to NetJets, the companies entered a continuing agreement for as many as 100 additional Phenom 300E aircraft. The deal was valued at more than $1.2 billion.

“We are eager to add the Embraer Praetor 500, one of today’s most state-of-the-art business jets, to our midsize fleet,” said Doug Henneberry, executive vice president of NetJets’ aircraft asset management. “This historic fleet agreement is another way that we are growing our fleet for the benefit of our loyal customers. By adding up to 250 aircraft to our fleet, we will continue providing NetJets owners with exceptional service and seamless access to all corners of the globe.”

Said Michael Amalfitano, president and CEO of Embraer Executive Jets, “Since 2010, Embraer has enjoyed NetJets’ ongoing commitment to our industry-leading aircraft, which is a true testament to the value of our brand and our ability to deliver the ultimate experience in business aviation. After building this successful foundation with the Phenom 300 series, it’s our pleasure to have now signed this monumental deal for the Praetor 500 midsize jet, and we look forward to an even more exciting future ahead.”

Embraer said the Praetor 500’s speed, runway performance and range, making it capable of coast-to-coast U.S. flights, help set it apart from other jets in the midsize category. In addition to fly-by-wire controls, the Praetor 500 offers the lowest cabin altitude and the tallest, widest cabin cross-section in its class.

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The long-time fractional company has placed a firm order for four Global 8000 ultralong-range jets valued at $312 million. Additionally, it converted eight existing orders for Bombardier products, the OEM said. 

• READ MORE: Take a Look at Bombardier’s New Global 8000

“The new Global 8000 aircraft is the ultimate solution for NetJets’ discerning Owners, offering a truly seamless private aviation experience,” said Eric Martel, president and CEO, of Bombardier. “NetJets’ experience and expertise make them the ideal partner to unlock the full potential of this revolutionary Mach 0.94 business jet in a large fleet context. Our valued relationship continues to grow stronger, and we are proud to share this historic milestone together.”

This new commitment adds to the Global 7500s that NetJets already has on order and in service. The operator plans to expand the fleet to 24 Global 8000s, and at a point in the future upgrade the entire Global 7500 fleet to Global 8000s.

“The new Global 8000 will help us to continue offering our owners, specifically our international travelers, the pinnacle in unforgettably personalized experiences aboard the finest ultralong-range aircraft available,” said Patrick Gallagher, NetJets’ president of sales, marketing, and service.

• READ MORE: Bombardier Displays New Global 8000 Executive Interior

Bombardier also said NetJets could continue expanding its fleet through options that it has the right to exercise soon.

“With inventory sold out through 2023 in the U.S., we are continuing to invest in further expansion for prospective owners in North America and across the globe. In fact, by the end of 2023, we are proud to share that our worldwide fleet will be approximately 30 percent larger than it was at the beginning of 2022,” Gallagher said.

Bombardier introduced the long-range Global 8000 at the The European Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (EBACE) in Geneva, Switzerland, earlier this year. Currently, in flight testing, it has achieved its projected 8,000-nm range and a top speed of Mach 0.94. The Global 8000 is expected to enter the market in 2025.

• READ MORE: Bombardier Unveils Global 8000 Jet at EBACE

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The deal is valued at $3.1 billion, which the company says is nearly 11 times (10.8X) than the $288 million adjusted earnings expected for 2022. When the deal closes, the Ohio-based company said it would use the proceeds to continue growing its fleet and operational footprint, which includes MRO facilities and a private terminal.

Excited to share, #Flexjet a global leader in subscription-based private aviation, is going public. See the vision for the next chapter. https://t.co/scVEqed3XC

— Flexjet (@Flexjet) October 11, 2022

• READ MORE: The Aviation Business Trend of 2021? SPAC Mania

Kenneth Ricci, chairman of Flexjet, said in a statement that his company’s profitability would serve as a “launch pad to accelerate our growth,” and that Flexjet was “making this decision at a time when we believe the marketplace is expanding at a more aggressive rate.”

Flexjet’s ‘Accelerated Growth’

Flexjet has seen significant growth this year. Even amid talks of an economic slowdown, potentially reducing business aviation traffic—and a broad trend of companies that went public via SPACs struggling to appeal to investors—the company remains on track. 

• READ MORE: Update: What Would a Recession Mean for Aviation?

In April, Flexjet said it would hire 350 pilots to fly the 50 new jets it will add to its fleet this year, which will stand at 254 by year’s end. It partnered with GE Digital Maintenance in May to improve its flight data and predictive maintenance capabilities. In June, by acquiring the Associated Aircraft Group (AAG), Flexjet launched a private helicopter division to offer complimentary helicopter hours—using Sikorsky S-76 helicopters—to its Gulfstream G650 fractional owners.

On the pilot side, the company is known for its “Dedicated Crew,” a unique pilot operating model that assigns pilots to a specific tail number. As pilots have flocked to the airlines as compared to Part 135 operators, Flexjet says it has been able to attract and retain pilots. Its average new-hire pilot has more than twice the flight hour minimum required for application. 

The company says 36 percent of its 1,000 non-union pilots have been with it for more than 15 years. 

Preservation of #Flexjet culture is a priority in this next chapter and is a key focus among our 3100+ employees. pic.twitter.com/FtpjSFx9GZ

— Flexjet (@Flexjet) October 11, 2022

More broadly, Flexjet employs more than 3,100 people globally, including 450 certificated maintenance technicians across nine locations in the U.S., United Kingdom, and Italy. To minimize extended aircraft-on-ground situations, it also has a network of 20 mobile maintenance support units in the U.S. and a network of partner facilities across the globe.

The company’s fleet includes 142 super-midsize, large-cabin, and ultralong-range jets. The company is seen as the rival to its neighboring Ohio counterpart, NetJets, which has a much bigger fleet, with more than 750 jets.

What Does Flexjet Offer?

The company provides various marketing solutions and branded storefronts to service private and business jet operators. Customers can leverage fractional jet ownership and private leasing through the flagship brand, Flexjet. Through its Sentient Jet storefront, there are jet cards for customers needing fixed hourly rates. Its FXAIR and PrivateFly brands offer on-demand charter programs, and Sirio focuses on full aircraft ownership. Collectively, Flexjet says its subscription-based recurring revenue model has provided predictable revenue and cash flow, which is a metric the company is betting public investors will desire.

• READ MORE: Best Charter Jet Service for Your Next Getaway

“Having capital and currency will position us to expand market share at an accelerated pace in an opportunistic environment,” Ricci said.

The company says its clients stem from a customer base of ultra-high-net-worth individuals and Fortune 500 corporations that make up approximately 10,000 contracts. Moreover, the company says it has maintained a 97 percent retention rate of members and that more than a third of its fractional customers—35 percent—have more than a decade’s long account. The company has undoubtedly benefited from the switch that travelers are making to private and business jet travel, especially following the pandemic—it says 55 percent of customers have been members for more than five years.

Terms of the Deal

Business-wise, Flexjet told investors via its presentation that in 2021, its revenue grew to $1.72 billion and is expected to reach $2.3 billion this year. Its 2019 adjusted earnings were $97 million, meaning the company could nearly triple that this year if it meets its $288 million projections.

Serial entrepreneur Todd Boehly will commit up to $300 million from his Eldrige Industries company to backstop the deal. Boehly co-owns a range of entertainment brands, and sports teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Chelsea Football Club, 

Boehly, CEO, CFO, and chairman of Horizon—the SPAC—said, “I’ve known Kenn and the team for nearly a decade. Their ability to profitably grow Flexjet to what is estimated to be over $2 billion in revenue through an unrivaled product offering and desirable subscription-based business model sets the team apart.”

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Engineers said adding tricycle landing gear to the finalized preliminary design of the Lilium Jet will offer pilots the option to execute short running landings as an alternative to landing vertically. 

“This will give our customers additional reassurance of safety, flexibilIty and operating range,” said a company letter to shareholders released last week.

The change, said Lilium chief technology officer Alastair McIntosh, is about managing precious available energy during all situations in the battery-powered aircraft. The Lilium Jet is designed to carry a pilot and six passengers with a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 3,175 kg (7,000 pounds).

‘Real-World Scenarios’

For any eVTOL, the transition from horizontal flight to vertical landing and then hovering to touchdown typically requires significant amounts of battery energy. McIntosh said designing the aircraft with a running landing capability will be important to the aircraft’s certification by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other aviation regulators “because it increases reserve range to address the jet’s ability to deal with real-world scenarios and be able to divert to an alternate landing site.”

Speaking in a newly released company video, McIntosh reminded viewers that transition is “the most difficult maneuver that a VTOL aircraft can undertake.” In fact, after years of test flights with full-sized prototypes, Lilium announced last month it had successfully achieved transition with a demonstrator aircraft for the first time. 

Lilium is just one of several companies currently developing eVTOL passenger aircraft. While many other eVTOL air taxis are propelled vertically and horizontally by tilt-rotor systems, the Lilium Jet uses an array of ducted fans embedded across the aircraft’s wings and forward canards.

This isn’t the first major change to the design. Last January, Lilium revealed it was tweaking its ducted fan array—reducing the number of propulsors from 36 to 30—nine on each wing and six on each canard. As a result of the change, engineers said fewer batteries were required to power the aircraft, thereby reducing its overall weight while maintaining the same total thrust efficiency.

Batteries Are Key to Success

Lilium acknowledges that the batteries powering the aircraft are “at the core” of its architecture. Engineers have chosen cell technology developed by Zenlabs and manufactured by Germany-based Customcells. The design of these batteries is exclusive to Lilium and described as “one of the highest performance cells for practical use in eVTOL aircraft in existence today.”

Based on independent test results, these cells can support a high specific power density of 2,500 watts per kilogram, even down to 20 percent state of charge,” said McIntosh.

As battery technology improves, according to the letter, Lilium plans to upgrade its air taxi, which it said will result in “significant range and capability upgrades” over time.

• READ MORE: Lilium Names Airbus Exec as New CEO

Other Design Changes

Other changes to the Lilium Jet’s final preliminary design include:

• The aircraft’s rear wings were moved slightly upward and to the rear of the fuselage;
• Winglets were added to the tips of the canards;
• Redundant space was eliminated in the fuselage by decreasing the overall fuselage length, which reduced the eVTOL’s overall weight.

Lilium has been flying full-sized prototypes of its Phoenix test articles since 2019. Most recently, its Phoenix 2 demonstrator has been undergoing flight testing at ATLAS Flight Center in Villacarrillo, Spain.

‘Optimum Final Jet Architecture’

EASA certification of the Lilium Jet continues to move forward. Proposals have been submitted to EASA outlining how the aircraft will comply with certification requirements, which is part of the process for demonstrating airworthiness requirements outlined in EASA’s certification basis. 

The company has long said its eVTOL will have an expected range of 200 km (108 nm) and a cruise speed of 300 km/hr (162 knots).

“We believe we’ve converged on an optimum final jet architecture that will meet the agreed certification requirements and achieve a projected physical range of approximately 250 km (135 nm) at launch, which is more than enough for our anticipated launch routes,” McIntosh said in a design update video. 

Pending certification, the company has made provisional agreements with Brazilian airline Azul, which will purchase 220 Lilium Jets_, and with U.S.-based NetJets, which will buy up to 150.   

“We’ve successfully conducted a rigorous preliminary design review process,” McIntosh said. “We’ve converged on a final design which we have every confidence safely achieves the performance our launch customers require.”

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