Breaking into the Corp aviation world

[Flyby1206]

Hello all, I am currently an RJ FO and have really had enough of the schedules and ridiculous pay. I would like to hear any advice/info about getting into corp aviation in the New England area, specifically PSM, MHT, ASH, BED areas. Is it reasonable to get hired without a type for an FO position? What would be a rough figure for starting FO pay in an entry-level corp flying job? Should I just be hanging out in FBOs trying to make contacts? Thanks for the help!

 

[landlover]

the best way is to get a type rating in a biz jet and like you said hang around fbos and make contacts. hitting the street dropping resumes isn't going to hurt either. most corporate guys start out flying dogsh!t charter then get upgraded to captain then move onto a corporate gig after they get a lot of PIC time. but having the right connections could easily trump all of the above. starting pay will vary from aircraft to aircraft.

 

[G100driver]

Do NOT go out and buy a type rating! As a CP I would no interest in you. Kinda like the PFT thing in the 90's.

The rest of the advice is sound. Unfortunatly you might end up flying charter for a long time. Best QOL is at NetJets if you want to go frac.

 

[landlover]

Do NOT go out and buy a type rating! As a CP I would no interest in you. Kinda like the PFT thing in the 90's.

The rest of the advice is sound. Unfortunatly you might end up flying charter for a long time. Best QOL is at NetJets if you want to go frac.

i re-read my post and you are correct, i inadvertantly implied buying your own type rating. that was not my intention at all. sorry about the mix up. DO NOT BUY A TYPE RATING! i was trying to say go fly charter and get yourself in a position to become captain

 

[Flyby1206]

The rest of the advice is sound. Unfortunatly you might end up flying charter for a long time. Best QOL is at NetJets if you want to go frac.

Thanks for the advice, I would never have a desire to or afford to buy a type rating. Ive thought about trying NJA to see if the 7on7off sched would work for me. Is it looked down upon if someone left NJA after less than a year with a type?

 

[G100driver]

Take a closer look at the contract at NJA. It might be a better gig than you think. Over the long term it might be a better place than a lot of the 91 flight departments out there. The big comanies with big iron and great benefits are few and far between when you consider all the scumbag charter and low rent 91 flight department out there.

Good luck!

 

[BoilerUP]

Do you meet NJA's requirements?

2500tt and an ATP?

You might consider Avantair or Alpha Flying if you don't both as have bases around MHT/BOS I believe, and would wash the "airline stink" off you. Downside is both are props.

Or you could just know somebody...that's what I did...

 

[Flyby1206]

Do you meet NJA's requirements?

2500tt and an ATP?

You might consider Avantair or Alpha Flying if you don't both as have bases around MHT/BOS I believe, and would wash the "airline stink" off you. Downside is both are props.

Or you could just know somebody...that's what I did...

I dont have the ATP yet, just the written, so I will eventually have to cough up some cash and take the checkride. I have a boatload of SIC RJ time, but that wont get me far anywhere in the aviaton world. Ive looked into Avantair and Alpha, but the reason i wanted to go corp was to avoid long trips like the 7on7off lifestyle.

 

[BoilerUP]

If you don't know somebody, don't have an ATP and don't have any corporate experience it is EXTREMELY difficult to break into Part 91 flying as a current 121 pilot.

A fractional or, to accommodate your desired schedule a charter company, will help you make the transition. If I could get an offer from a 135 company to be a light jet CA there, anybody can - believe me!

Good luck!

 

[Floyd94]

So which is better? A quality part 91 job or NJA?

 

[gear_guy]

Good luck finding a 7on/7off schedule(or any firm schedule) in Part 91. That being said, it's well worth it.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Do you meet NJA's requirements?

2500tt and an ATP?

You might consider Avantair or Alpha Flying if you don't both as have bases around MHT/BOS I believe, and would wash the "airline stink" off you. Downside is both are props.

Or you could just know somebody...that's what I did...

He did mention he was sick of the low pay so that rules those places out. If you're at Eagle, you wouldn't be the first FO with plenty of jet time to make the jump to NJA. Do some research on NJA, Flexjet, CS, XOJet and anything else you can think of. Probably won't take long for you to be flying a mid-size business jet if you put in the effort.

Mr. I.

 

[NGT]

Hello all, I am currently an RJ FO and have really had enough of the schedules and ridiculous pay. I would like to hear any advice/info about getting into corp aviation in the New England area, specifically PSM, MHT, ASH, BED areas. Is it reasonable to get hired without a type for an FO position? What would be a rough figure for starting FO pay in an entry-level corp flying job? Should I just be hanging out in FBOs trying to make contacts? Thanks for the help!

Almost everyday I see someone that wants to jump from 121 to 91 and is looking for the top 91 gigs out there. And before you even qualify for a highly regarded NJA job you want to know if jumping with a type prior to a full year is acceptable. I have 15+ years corporate, several types, and have flown for 5 Fortune 500 companies so if I decide to jump to 121 can you tell me how I can get a Captain job with Southwest? Because anything else would be a lateral or downgrade move. If I bang on the CP's door at Southwest and show him how motivated I am can I pass up the first 1000 seniority numbers because I've already spent my time at the bottom. If you want a 91 gig with no 91 experience there is a very easy 3 step way to get it:
1. Entry level crap job. Take what you can get and get what you take. Crap schedule, pay, and QOL(sound familiar). 3 - 5 years and maybe a type
2. Descent level job. 5 - 10 years. Descent schedule, descent pay, descent QOL. Hey I could ALMOST retire here.
3. THE JOB. Hold your descent job and make contacts and don't stop till your dream job comes to you. Pray some other big company with a crappy flight department doesn't buy you and send you packing!!

Just because you are currently paying your dues on the 121 side doesn't mean you get 91 credit, just the same way 91 doesn't get 121 credit. Good luck in your job hunt but set realistic goals because I know a lot of overexperienced guys in the Northeast are looking for the same job you are!!

 

[BoilerUP]

He did mention he was sick of the low pay so that rules those places out.

3rd year CA at Avantair will make at least as much, if not more, than a 4th year CA at Eagle. Wanna guess how many 4th year captains there currently are at Eagle?

I agree that Flex, CS and obviously NJA are all likely better for his desires and goals...but as NGT said a 121 RJ FO with no ATP, no TPIC, and no 91/135 experience needs to set realistic expectations for their transitional employment.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

3rd year CA at Avantair will make at least as much, if not more, than a 4th year CA at Eagle. Wanna guess how many 4th year captains there currently are at Eagle?

I agree that Flex, CS and obviously NJA are all likely better for his desires and goals...but as NGT said a 121 RJ FO with no ATP, no TPIC, and no 91/135 experience needs to set realistic expectations for their transitional employment.

You mean like the RJ FO's I know of that went straight to NJA?

Why take a pay cut? Something disasterous happens in the industry and he is stuck at Alpha/Avantair FO pay, although that pay looks ok to someone living in Indiana or Kentucky, it's about the equivalent to someone in New England making 17k-20k per year. Now do you see why I don't think he should take a job at those places???

Mr. I.

 

[Floyd94]

Good luck finding a 7on/7off schedule(or any firm schedule) in Part 91. That being said, it's well worth it.

Have you seen a good Part 91 flight department schedule?? Puts that 7/7 to shame.

 

[maximizer]

been doin p91 for about 25 yrs and never had a 7/7 sched. it has been a great career, would do it again. fixed sched wouldn't be great for me. to each his own. most p91 pilots i know , play more than work.

 

[Floyd94]

been doin p91 for about 25 yrs and never had a 7/7 sched. it has been a great career, would do it again. fixed sched wouldn't be great for me. to each his own. most p91 pilots i know , play more than work.

Exactly my thoughts. The 7/7 can be brutal, being away from your family that long.

 

[Flyby1206]

Thanks for all the replies, I appreciate the info. I definitely know that going straight into a GV job isnt going to happen, nor should it. At this point I just want to fly less than 90hrs a month and spend more than half the time at home without being gone a week at a time. I cant afford to take a paycut from my current crap RJ FO pay. Maybe I am being too unrealistic and I just need a reality check, but I want to at least look at other career options to know what is out there.

 

[AA717driver]

Almost everyday I see someone that wants to jump from 121 to 91 and is looking for the top 91 gigs out there. And before you even qualify for a highly regarded NJA job you want to know if jumping with a type prior to a full year is acceptable. I have 15+ years corporate, several types, and have flown for 5 Fortune 500 companies so if I decide to jump to 121 can you tell me how I can get a Captain job with Southwest? Because anything else would be a lateral or downgrade move. If I bang on the CP's door at Southwest and show him how motivated I am can I pass up the first 1000 seniority numbers because I've already spent my time at the bottom. If you want a 91 gig with no 91 experience there is a very easy 3 step way to get it:
1. Entry level crap job. Take what you can get and get what you take. Crap schedule, pay, and QOL(sound familiar). 3 - 5 years and maybe a type
2. Descent level job. 5 - 10 years. Descent schedule, descent pay, descent QOL. Hey I could ALMOST retire here.
3. THE JOB. Hold your descent job and make contacts and don't stop till your dream job comes to you. Pray some other big company with a crappy flight department doesn't buy you and send you packing!!

Just because you are currently paying your dues on the 121 side doesn't mean you get 91 credit, just the same way 91 doesn't get 121 credit. Good luck in your job hunt but set realistic goals because I know a lot of overexperienced guys in the Northeast are looking for the same job you are!!

Take the above and throw in some psychotic management and the seemingly-requisite backstabbing co-worker you inevitibly run into. If you can navigate THAT minefield, you'll probably get where you think you want to be.

There are few perfect jobs out there and not a whole lot of REALLY good ones--in any segment of this business.

It's up to you to either be happy or not. Happiness rarely finds you... TC