121 or corporate?

[parrothead]

Can anyone help my decide if it would be wise to take a corporate/135 PIC job based at home versus wait for an upgrade at a 121 regional and commuting? The upgrade would be sometime this summer. Thanks for any advice/comments.

 

[sleepy]

Can anyone help my decide if it would be wise to take a corporate/135 PIC job based at home versus wait for an upgrade at a 121 regional and commuting? The upgrade would be sometime this summer. Thanks for any advice/comments.

Pay, benefits, QOL (schedule), career progression? I don't know, we don't have enough to go on to give you any advise.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

forget corporate...

ya know...boss sells the airplanes the minute the company has problems (just a luxury) and ya know, you have no Union Protection! - thats worth AT LEAST $11.50/hr...but ya know, the new contracts coming...

Not too shabby, as they say...

No seriously, you cant come ask such a vague question and expect some real info...maybe provide some details???

/

 

[parrothead]

Sorry to leave it so light. The pay is 40K to start, 45 after three months, and 50K after a year. Full benefits. Medical, dental, vision. Profit sharing 401K. Home based. One week vacation after a year, two weeks after two years. QOL is one of my big concerns. Two captains and one contract FO will be hired. If the plane goes out, one captain gets the day off. Weekends will alternate. They expect to fly 300-400 hours a year. It's set up as a 135 and flying for one guy and his family. If it flies more on charter, that' great, if not, OK. He's an old oil guy(big money) and likes to hunt, fish, and ski. If something were to happen with this, I could go to the corporate hq and fly one of the other 15 planes, but in a different location. They anticipate an aircraft upgrade after about a year or so. One other concern is leaving the 121 world for 135 and slightly smaller aircraft and then trying to get back in it when it gets better. Losing jumpseat priveliges is a big one and the hard days off is a big one. Those are my main concerns. I want to go with a major one day if it gets better. I don't want a QOL enhancement now to prohibit one later. The company managing this airplane is in a different location than where it will be kept. They are a great company though. I was VERY impressed when I went to meet them. Maintenance is top notch and they are very friendly and seam to really care about you. They spare no expense on the little stuff. They have a staff to flight follow, set up catering, send rounting info, set up hotels and cars, and coordinate with the pax. I hope I've given sufficient info. Thanks again for the help!

 

[parrothead]

Forgot to mention that there is a one year training contract. They will send me to Flight Safety. Also provide a cell phone. They really don't think that the owner will want this plane long, meaning something bigger, faster, and more range.

 

[AA717driver]

From what I saw in 15 years at a major, coming from corporate (and you would be corporate regardless of your 135 status) actually differentiates you from the hordes of regional guys. You've already filled your airline square so they know you can handle the line flying. The HR departments at the airlines respect corporate captains because of the responsibility--you can handle all the curves corporate can throw at you.

Besides, you may like it here. I'm glad I changed. Find out if they keep you out over the holidays--that gets old quick. Check on other QOL issues in a tactful manner. Good luck. PM me with any questions.TC

 

[Flying Illini]

I want to go with a major one day if it gets better.

If you want to fly for a major one day then I would have to say that you would be better off staying 121.

I don't want a QOL enhancement now (corporate) to prohibit one later (major).

I think you are answering your own questions. Stay 121...maybe in 10-15 yrs you will be right where you want to be.

Good luck

 

[Gulfstream 200]

watch those "fly the rich old owner to his vacation home" jobs......read that as to mean you will gone all weekends and holidays. You married? kids? -- ever want either one?

I guess I can say, IMHO, these jobs get OLD QUICK.

Another thing...dont ever buy that "hes getting a bigger plane" thing or "they promised me another job if this one tanks" thing....if this guy is THAT RICH he wouldnt be pimpin his ride out on someones 135 certificate, regardless of the "tax reasons" they state...

Only you know whats best for your situation, but I would stay and upgrade at the airline before this job for 40K. He cant have much more than say...a King Air to be paying 40K...

A good corp gig can be a great job. 135 management can truly $uck.

Id pass.

Just an opinion....good luck!

 

[parrothead]

Well I was told that I'd get an airline ticket home for Christmas. But you're probably right. The airline upgrade, as $hitty as the company is would probably be best. Maintenance is a big problem right now. That bothers me. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[some_dude]

In my experience, the best corporate jobs are the ones where the airplane is used primarily for business purposes. Then the pax want to get home just as much as you do.

 

[slowto250]

They provide a cell phone ? Hmmm....nice fringe. I'd hold out for a beeper AND the Cell. The real clincher would be the batteries. Now if you could just swing all of these. Man, jobs like these are tough to find, but sweeeeeet when you do ; )

 

[Jetboy]

I would have to agree with the others. If you were fed up with 121 flying and wanted out for good, as I am, you would take the 135 job. Stating that the lure of 121 will be there when things improve tells me you would likely regret your choice to go corporate. Look 10 years down the road and think which will have a more positive outcome.

Good Luck!

 

[banned username 2]

In my experience, the best corporate jobs are the ones where the airplane is used primarily for business purposes. Then the pax want to get home just as much as you do.

EXACTLY!!!

 

[parrothead]

Thank you guys!!! I love the feedback. It sure helps to have some peers ring in with their experience and opinions.

 

[psysicx]

Do majors really care if you came from 121 vs 91?

 

[AA717driver]

Do majors really care if you came from 121 vs 91?

No.TC

 

[AA717driver]

Now that young Parrothead has heard from you jaded corporate types, here's the airline side of the story :

Unless Parrot is 15 years old, he's going to be competing for that coveted "major airline job" with the thousands of RJ captains (many of whom were left standing when the major airline hiring music stopped on 9/12/01). These guys have several thousand hours of jet PIC time and are building more at the rate of 80 hours a month. AND he will have to compete with my ex-FO's (and the thousands of other cast aways from USAir, UAL, DAL...etc. all of whom have several thousand hours of big jet time--many with types and experience on 767's and the like.

It is ugly out there. The guys who are getting interviews at JB, AirTran and SWA are people like me. Ex captains at TWA or USAir or former major FO's who want a shot with a successful airline. It is a very LONG way to the head of the hiring line.

Did I mention it's REALLY ugly out there? You can find someone to blow sunshine up your a$$ and make a case for either path. AND you can find someone who will make you want to slit your wrists at the prospect of continuing your career in aviation. I just think you have more options by going corporate. But that's just my opinion, I may be wrong... TC

 

[Gulfstream 200]

In my experience, the best corporate jobs are the ones where the airplane is used primarily for business purposes. Then the pax want to get home just as much as you do.

These are the ONLY good corp jobs. Unfortunatly, many times one has to suffer through the "rich owner" and the "isnt it great to go to apsen every weekend" $hit jobs before landing a good one...

PS - I loved that "company provided cell phone" thing too!!!
..

Youre gonna need it, might as well shut off your home phone, you wont be there....

 

[sleepy]

I have two friends that fly for a very rich owner. They make a lot more $ than I do flying for a Fortune 15 corporation. However, I know that my job will be here for a long time, I don't know what will happen to them if their owner decides to sell the plane or die. I just went through training with a guy that also flew for a rich owner. His stories of $400 diners and all expenses paid trips to play golf at Pebble Beach sounded pretty nice, but I would rather have a $30 diner and long term job security. Just some things to think about.


Really though, if you want to get to a major airline (whatever that is, Southwest I guess), I suggest that you build your 121 PIC time at the Regional Airline.

 

[HMR]

These are the ONLY good corp jobs.

Wow...Where can I find one of those? I thought living on the beach, knowing my schedule two months in advance, averaging 20+ days off/month and working for a wonderful family ranked as a good corp. job.

PS-My avatar is from our last RON... 6 weeks ago.

 

[rocker]

I am furloughed from one of the largest major airlines. First off, I would like to give you the advice of giving up on that “major” dream job. Those jobs are gone forever, I expect the assault to continue on the contracts until they are whittled down and the pension plans are all gone. Throw in the threat of cabotage and you can see where this profession is headed. Not to say that there still won't be good 121 jobs out there, but the ones that got you hooked on a flying career are history.


My advice would be determine what means the most to you. If you want hard days off, union representation, seniority based upgrades, regular pay increases, and space-A travel stay 121. If you are willing to gamble, negotiate your own pay and live by the sked of the boss, go corporate.



The good corporate jobs are extremely hard to get, since no one is dumb enough to leave them, and they are impossible to get if you come solely from a 121 airline background, unless you have another sort of connection in the flight department. I am very unhappy in my current situation, I am gone nearly every weekend and I have no hard days off unless the aircraft is on jacks. I keep sending out resumes, making contacts, and working towards getting a corporate gig that I can stand and one that I can possibly retire from. But, once again, you have to be willing to relocate, and go where the good jobs are. Also, remember that these “party plane” companies will tell you almost anything to get a butt in the seat. I was lied to about my current position before I started, and I would be skeptical about any claims that are made to you about any “party plane” type operation. Since everything is dictated by the whims of the owner, you must give up all hope of having a normal life.



So, make up your mind, do you want to slug it out in the airlines with the realization that it will probably never get any better than what you have now, or ask yourself if you want to strike out and try to find one of those diamond in the rough corporate jobs.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Wow...Where can I find one of those? I thought living on the beach, knowing my schedule two months in advance, averaging 20+ days off/month and working for a wonderful family ranked as a good corp. job.

PS-My avatar is from our last RON... 6 weeks ago.

Youre right...sounds like a great gig...

How long ya think it's gonna last???

I've had a lot of those sit around 20days and make good $$ jobs....I wish each one lasted....they just never did!

.

 

[HMR]

Youre right...sounds like a great gig...

How long ya think it's gonna last???

I've had a lot of those sit around 20days and make good $$ jobs....I wish each one lasted....they just never did!

.

Point taken.

Now...where did I put that sunscreen?