NETJETS US VOLUME 9 2019

on the pulse
BEFORE JOINING THE NETJETS TEAM,
I WAS … engaged in a career in the Marine
Corps that lasted more than 28 years. I
enjoyed flight in more than a dozen different
aircraft models, as well as assignments that
ranged from the Far East to the Pentagon and
many places in between. I found that military
service really is an excellent environment in
which to gain organizational, management,
and leadership skills and experience, which
have served me well and made for a smooth
transition to NetJets.
PILOTS IN PROFILE
Darrel Sheets
Director, Deferral Programs, Technical Programs
MY FIRST EXPOSURE TO FLYING WAS …
in flight school at Naval Air Station (NAS)
Pensacola, Florida. Primary flight training was
in the T-34B Mentor, a two-seater powered
by a reciprocating engine. This was followed
by basic jet training (T-2 Buckeye, which was
built in Columbus, Ohio) at NAS Meridian,
Mississippi, and then onto advanced jet
training (F-9 Cougar) at NAS Beeville, Texas.
Upon completion, I was designated a Naval
Aviator and Marine pilot, and launched into
my career in Marine aviation.
THE BEST PART OF FLYING IS … found
in slipping “the surly bonds” (as described in
High Flight by John Gillespie Magee Jr.). A
sense of exhilaration is found in merely lifting
off the Earth’s surface, knowing you are in
control of a machine that lets you enjoy a
wholly different world.
THE ONE DAY AT NETJETS I WON’T
FORGET WAS … actually my first tour of duty
as a First Officer. It was five days long, by the
end of which I had nearly flown to the four
corners of the United States—from northwest
of Seattle to Southern California, to Teterboro,
New Jersey, and to Southern Florida. My
new logbook sported 44 hours of flight time!
I felt like a lieutenant all over again, with an
approved cross-country request and a fuel
credit card. I soon realized some of the most
rewarding flight and personal experiences that
NetJets offers.
ONE THING OWNERS PROBABLY
WOULDN’T GUESS ABOUT ME IS … that
much of my flight experience before NetJets
was in the Harrier or AV-8, the British-built
vertical and short takeoff and landing aircraft.
I would be happy to regale them with stories
of the unique capabilities of that machine.
Of course, I would then have to assure them
that I would not be demonstrating a vertical
landing with them on their NetJets flight.
ON MY DAYS OFF … I am generally
enjoying seasonal activities—golf, hiking,
sightseeing—or simply relaxing at home.
WITHIN THE NEXT TEN YEARS, I WOULD
LIKE TO … close out my NetJets career,
which is now in its 22nd year and counting.
I am finding that doing so may be difficult;
early on I discovered the dynamic, everchanging
NetJets environment much to my
liking, and it remains so.
MY BEST ADVICE FOR STAYING SANE
ACROSS TIME ZONES IS … being well
rested beforehand, coupled with adequate
hydration en route and brief ventures from
the flight deck.
JULIAN RENTZSCH
26 NetJets