Peter wrote:
It would be great to hear some detail from a bizjet pilot how they do flight planning, filing, etc.Do they use an agency (Jeppesen used to be popular) to do everything? I know some use Rocketroute for all route planning, handling requests etc.
I used to know a German bizjet pilot / TB20 owner who used a company which produced the “routepack” for €35. This included the Eurocontrol route generation.
Hi Peter,
Depending on the operation we are on.
I’m flying different planes Mustang, PC12, and Legacy’s
For my client I’m beta testing an app like rocket route for planning filling and briefing pack. Regarding handling request e-mail is working fine.
Some operator I’m working freelance have monthly subscription with flight planning/operations company.
GA_Pete wrote:
the Biz-Jet jockey job is closely aligned with the superyacht crew job
I fear the bizjet crew are one or two rungs below the yacht crew, definitely blue collar heavy machine operator status for the flight crew. The flight crew tend to be older, uglier which may be a reason.
Rocket Route seems to be the main planning app, and is very good.
It would be great to hear some detail from a bizjet pilot how they do flight planning, filing, etc.
Do they use an agency (Jeppesen used to be popular) to do everything? I know some use Rocketroute for all route planning, handling requests etc.
I used to know a German bizjet pilot / TB20 owner who used a company which produced the “routepack” for €35. This included the Eurocontrol route generation.
I happen to fly for a big bizjet operator, which has its advantages compared to flying for an owner. I love it, but it is what you make of it. If the rest of the family doesn’t support it, this job can be hell. It can be a lot of stress, but the amount of experience gained is really great.
GA_Pete wrote:
Somewhere there will be a Jet-Jockey with a similar deal but I’ve never met one.
pal of mine used to fly a rather large but underused jet based mid east. underused to the point where the crew had to go fly just to stay current.
he got news that his home in the PAC region had received damage and he was needed there pronto. Went to the owner to tell him he needed time off, was told, why don’t you take the jet there, might as well do some needed currency flying for the crew…. I think he misses that job… the jet got retired a few years ago and he with it.
From accounts I’ve heard, the Biz-Jet jockey job is closely aligned with the superyacht crew job.
In one corner you’re treated with respect and the rewards and perks are good.
In the other corner it’s quite shocking how things are done.
I knew a Pilot that would absolutely have to keep an overnight bag for every trip (that was supposed to be a day trip) and often slept in the jet, lounge or crap local hotel.
I knew experienced and qualified yacht crew who were to be seen and not heard, mostly not seen. They were never allowed to enjoy the yacht in down time and never allowed in the sea to swim when guests or owners were aboard (sometimes for weeks).
A family member spent a year as yacht crew and ate like a king with the family and captain, was encouraged to use all the toys, and left to use the Yacht within reason as they pleased (he and the Captain) when the owner was away!!
Somewhere there will be a Jet-Jockey with a similar deal but I’ve never met one.
RobertL18C wrote:
Not unusual for destination to be changed while the owners are driving onto the apron. Duty hours are an aspiration and you are somewhere below the main household/mayordomo/driver on the entourage pecking order. I have even known crew kipping in the ‘plane as the overnight turnaround was so short.Most owners will not have special requests, and it is good practice to keep a formal distance, the go or no-go decision is still the crew’s!
In one lounge recall some PAX was asking if they can go to some funky place in the Bahamas, and were pissed off to hear that the crew will have to arrange a boat trip for them instead of flying straight there, I looked at the airport someone mentioned in the map would have been marginal for C172 and will invalidate my rental agreement, let alone fit a Honda Jet 
The lifestyle of corporate pilots is sufficiently nomadic that crew seem to self select. Am not talking heavy iron corporate flight departments of major blue chip companies, which are run very smoothly in top class equipment and passengers are senior or middle managers busying with their spreadsheets.
The personal biz jet scene, the crew are cooks, bottle washers, and short order pilots. Not unusual for destination to be changed while the owners are driving onto the apron. Duty hours are an aspiration and you are somewhere below the main household/mayordomo/driver on the entourage pecking order. I have even known crew kipping in the ‘plane as the overnight turnaround was so short.
Most owners will not have special requests, and it is good practice to keep a formal distance, the go or no-go decision is still the crew’s!
Some owners, usually featured in the Sunday papers, are a real piece of work. Anyone who has spent time in the Nice crew room will match the article cited, admittedly with elements of embroidery.
Long haul you are spending several hours prepping linen, food, before off blocks. Expect to be cooling your heels in remote places for weeks, albeit while being paid.
In North America definitely a stepping stone to Part 121 Airline work, unless it is, say the G650 of an S&P30 fleet at White Plains. From flying 200 to 300 hours a year, to the airline’s 880 hours is a culture shock.
We used to have a bizjet pilot on the forum who was pretty frustrated with the job, complaining about his clients, etc.
Yes; pure envy. If someone doesn’t like it, they can go and work for Ryanair. Plenty of non-rich customers who probably consume similar amounts of alcohol
Apart i’ll call b.s on most of this article, if someone is as frustrated with their job, they should move on.
What I hear from people who do this job in Europe, most of the time it is all about being on time and work on the jet. Clearly there will be exceptions, but they are not the rule. Trying to make people believe that executive jet transport is mostly about these issues is simply wrong and comes out of the envy corner of society, who would like to believe just that. Most biz jet users do use them for exactly the purpose they are designed for, to save time, to make their own schedule as far as possible and to travel in relative comfort while being able to either catch up on sleep or work. Certainly there may be oddballs and society stars who may do different things, but I would not think they are the norm, at least not over here. Of course in the US and between certain destinations that may well be different, but I would be surprised if not also there the major purpose of biz jets is to get their passengers from a to b fast and reliably at a schedule of their choosing.
