Corporate to Majors?

[tgabster]

I was recently offered a job to fly a Citation II as Co Captain however, what I truly want to do is fly for the Airlines Majors. How often do Majors hire Corporate pilots and is it harder to get hired if they do? Everyone is tellling me that they dont. Is this true??

 

[twad]

Untrue

I came from corporate and now fly for a major. You will definitely be in the minority but it is possible.

 

[spro1815]

corporate to majors

I was recently offered a job to fly a Citation II as Co Captain however, what I truly want to do is fly for the Airlines Majors. How often do Majors hire Corporate pilots and is it harder to get hired if they do? Everyone is tellling me that they dont. Is this true??

I don't know who "everyone" is, but their advice is garbage. The airlines are looking primarily for total time, and in particular PIC in Jet equipment. No matter if background is civil or military. Don't let the civilian vs. military crowd sway you. Get in the left seat of a jet and build your hours. You will be fine.

 

[On Your Six]

It is always possible. But flying an older, light jet probably not equipped with EFIS certainly won't help you in differentiating yourself. I've heard that having PIC time and good glass experience is often preferred - it's almost expected given the standard regional jet equipment out there. That said, I am sure plenty of King Air and Dash 8 pilots with no glass time get hired.

Good luck.

 

[Guppiedriver]

Don't listen to those that say you can't do it through the corporate route. Especially those that say you have to have EFIS time.

Get in the first turbine powered multi-engine aircraft that you can and take the first available upgrade, even if it's in an old beater Citation II. If you have solid turbine PIC time, they're not going to give a rats arse if you have EFIS time.

Any moron that can't transition from round dials to glass in just minutes needs to find another career.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

I started flying freight...went to the regionals...went to the nationals...went to the majors... went back to the regionals (post 9/11) and then corporate.

I hope your luck is better than mine.

 

[Bavarian Chef]

I was recently offered a job to fly a Citation II as Co Captain however, what I truly want to do is fly for the Airlines Majors. How often do Majors hire Corporate pilots and is it harder to get hired if they do? Everyone is tellling me that they dont. Is this true??

Take the job, build some time and then apply to jb. We will definitely hire you. By at least 2028 or 2008 (if "Big League" Chew has his way) we will be a real major.

 

[145EXR]

my new hire class at cal had two corporate and several turboprop pilots (all round dial, no glass)..it can definitley be done! get the pic time!!

 

[BID]

I think it is easier to network when flying for the airlines. You meet many pilots at the regional level and many move on to different majors. So before you know it you have friend everywhere.

Getting the interview becomes an issue of "who do you know?"

 

[TXDA2000]

Half of the corporate pilots at my field have gone to the airlines in the past 10 years. They came from different backgrounds, different equipment, etc.

Total time and pic turbine seem to be the key, but don't forget the ability to present yourself well during the interview. No amount of 121, efis, or mil time can correct a deficiency in that area.

 

[AA717driver]

IMO, you can even get away with having lower time as a corporate pilot because they recognize you just don't fly as much as others.

The also recognize corporate flying requires very different skills and more independence than, say, the regionals.

Just don't go to a job where you will only be flying 200 hours a year. TC

 

[FurloughedAgain]

"Just don't go to a job where you will only be flying 200 hours a year."

Depends on what it pays. To some, that is the very definition of success.

 

[AA717driver]

"Just don't go to a job where you will only be flying 200 hours a year."

Depends on what it pays. To some, that is the very definition of success.

True but he's trying to get on at a major and needs turbine time.

For the rest of us slackers, you're right. TC

 

[gutshotdraw]

Sure, you can get to a major from corporate aviation. The real question is: Why would you want to?

 

[GuppyWN]

gabster, are you "flying" the citation or lowering the gear? PIC Turbine time is macho grande to the interviewers.

Gup

 

[HarryParatestes]

I went from Corporate to Regional back to Corporate. The economy and 9/11 wrecked the 121 biz, so I jumped back. Sure, it's not the glitz and glamor of walking through the terminal, but home almost every night. The pay is descent and No commute.

note: if Southwest calls, I'm there.

 

[svcta]

I still wouldn't take a job that flew less than 400 hours a year. Trust me. But I don't think that corporate is a bad mark for a major job.

 

[tgabster]

I will be flying as co captain 50 percent of the time.

 

[AA717driver]

I will be flying as co captain 50 percent of the time.

That's a loaded response for this board.

Now, will you be a "co-captain" that splits PIC legs 50/50 or will you be a SIC that occasionally (pt. 91 legs) gets to fly from the left seat?

Big difference for the purposes of your question. TC

 

[CKJET]

I will be flying as co captain 50 percent of the time.

Does that mean you log pic or sic?
After time will you be able to be the PIC?

If you can build actual PIC in a Jet go for it, If all you will do is be SIC with no chance for PIC, then you may want to keep looking.

 

[Freight Dog]

Sure, you can get to a major from corporate aviation. The real question is: Why would you want to?

I second that, especially if you get into a large cabin jet and get paid appropriately.

 

[svcta]

I fly part 91 only. And it was over a year before I was allowed to left seat with pax on the a/c. Had nothing to do with capabilities, it's just a number on a calendar. Matter of course. Now, we don't sign for the a/c and I'm typed and log PIC whenever it's my leg, regardless of what seat I'm sitting in, though we interchange freely now.

Moral: Ask plenty of questions and make them the questions that you really want to ask. If I had stood my ground about a couple of things in the interview, I believe that I would have still gotten the job and had some better contingencies in place. Live and learn.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

There is always such confusion over the term "Co-Captain" on this message board. The airline guys can't comprehend how two Captain-qualified, type-rated pilots could possibly get along without somebody being "the boss".

It's really simple. The company determines who PIC for the trip, day, or flight is. That person signs for the aircraft and there ya go.

 

[blueridge71]

gabster, are you "flying" the citation or lowering the gear? PIC Turbine time is macho grande to the interviewers.

Gup

Over macho grande?

I don't think I'll ever be over macho grande.

 

[gutshotdraw]

"The bro was onnn. Put that sucka down like a mutha. Sheeet."
Subtitle: "Golly"

 

[tgabster]

Okay, just had a chat I will be getting a CE500 type rating. Will fly a Citation II equippet with EFIS. Approx hours a year 300 pay 40k with bonuses? Not sure what that equates to, but not as much flight time. Will take turns each leg logging and flying PIC. Not sure what to do.
My all time childhood goal has been to become one of the few out there female pilots get a decent airline job and just fly. I have been through so much sweat, hardwork, financial hardship like everyone else, and just want to make sure if I take this job and build enough time I won't get rejected by the Majors.

 

[670X]

TGABSTER I get over 40 wearing shorts and T-shirt flying 3 days a week vfr.
Don't sell yourself short.
I'm thinking Regional maybe you should as well then there is no question about your time. Remember pic is king.
At a regional you would get more time pic after you upgrade in one year than you will after 3 at that company.
Just a thought.

 

[AA717driver]

670--Yeah, but she's getting jet PIC starting NOW. That trumps 6000 hours of right seat RJ time. Maybe--and I mean MAYBE she can find a regional to upgrade in less than three years and the time would be a wash but who knows.

If she gets another thousand hours in three years, 500 pic jet (the quals for getting hired at a major won't be climbing in that time, IMO) she'll be in the ballpark. A bird in hand...

gabster--Keep in mind, if you take this job and keep your mouth shut about wanting to fly for a major, you might land a better corporate job (ie. full-time PIC turbine--135 flies a lot more than 91) and it'll help with the quals at the major.TC

 

[Charlie Brown]

I think it is easier to network when flying for the airlines. You meet many pilots at the regional level and many move on to different majors. So before you know it you have friend everywhere.

Getting the interview becomes an issue of "who do you know?"

Best point in this thread. However, getting a jet type and PIC now would be excellent as well. Either way I bet you will be fine. Best of luck.

 

[gutshotdraw]

Okay, just had a chat I will be getting a CE500 type rating. Will fly a Citation II equippet with EFIS. Approx hours a year 300 pay 40k with bonuses? Not sure what that equates to, but not as much flight time. Will take turns each leg logging and flying PIC. Not sure what to do.
My all time childhood goal has been to become one of the few out there female pilots get a decent airline job and just fly. I have been through so much sweat, hardwork, financial hardship like everyone else, and just want to make sure if I take this job and build enough time I won't get rejected by the Majors.

tgab,

My decidedly better half recently pulled the plug on 27 years as a pilot including 11 at the only major airline she really wanted to work for. She wishes she had gone in a different direction long ago. It used to be a great career, now it's just a crappy job. She loved the people she worked with and she liked flying the jet. The rest sucked big time. If you actually enjoy FLYING, get over the notion of being another number at an airline and consider all segments of aviation. Pick the one that pays you what you're worth but lets you enjoy what you do. You may find that job doesn't include a dorky hat and Captain Steubing jacket.