91 to Fractional experiences?

[siouxicide]

I'd like to hear some of the experiences of guys/gals that have gone from corporate to a fractional. Reasons for leaving, ease of transition, spouse's adjustment, QOL difference, etc. Thanks in advance.

 

[Talako]

It depends.............If you are going from a lousy part 91 gig to one of the better fracs, life can be good. On the other hand if the fracs hit a slow down because of the economic downturn you can end up sitting as a FO for up to four years or better. If your spouse needs to have you around 24/7 frac life is not the ticket. Days off are great but being gone up to 6 or 7 days is taxing on anyone. Some 91 gigs are sweet and boring others are not. Fracs are not all good or all bad. It is all work for the pay with flying being the good part. Good Luck.

 

[NachoMamma]

Hands down, this was the best decision I ever made in my life. I can't even list all of the reasons, but for starters...

Finally have a fixed schedule
No longer the Flight Dept's Biotch
Waaaaay better pay

No regrets what so ever...however I did have a pretty crappy corporate job.

 

[siouxicide]

If your spouse needs to have you around 24/7, flying is not the ticket. That's not the issue for me. Not having a life is the problem. You quickly lose touch with friends and I fear family will follow suit. Zero firm days off so you can never make plans, sometimes not even same day. Pay is OK, employer is great, co-workers great....schedule is murder.

 

[Floyd94]

It depends.............If you are going from a lousy part 91 gig to one of the better fracs, life can be good. On the other hand if the fracs hit a slow down because of the economic downturn you can end up sitting as a FO for up to four years or better. If your spouse needs to have you around 24/7 frac life is not the ticket. Days off are great but being gone up to 6 or 7 days is taxing on anyone. Some 91 gigs are sweet and boring others are not. Fracs are not all good or all bad. It is all work for the pay with flying being the good part. Good Luck.

Excellent post and I agree 100%.

 

[White Feather]

Not having a life is the problem. You quickly lose touch with friends and I fear family will follow suit. Zero firm days off so you can never make plans, sometimes not even same day. Pay is OK, employer is great, co-workers great....schedule is murder.

I am in EXACTLY the same position. I wouldn't call our sched 'murder' but it's not great either. I am the only pilot in my dept type in BOTH airplanes we fly - so it's even harder for me to get a personal day, or vacation, and this is with a Fortune 200 company.

Pay could be better too - but it will never equal NJA pay once you have a few years in. The ability to live where you like (100 domicile) is great too.

 

[-FlyAuburn-]

I flew air ambulance on a 4 and 2 schedule. The 2 was not neccesarily hard time off and we were told we still had to be "available" that only time we took as vacation was sacred time. Even then I got phone calls while on vacation when they were in a crunch. I worked my butt off, often flying 6 legs in the middle of the night and had to sleep during the day quite often. I had no life. I just spent 5 weeks training at NJ and now I'm home. No one has bothered me AT ALL in 6 days, not to mention the 17 days I had off in between indoc and FSI. I love this job!! I finally have a life, the pay is great, the benefits are great, the wife is happy. What more can I say?

 

[siouxicide]

I'm sure it's been asked, but does being typed and current on two aircraft that a fractional flies help in the hiring process or is it still more of a "who you know" thing?
When it all comes down to it, I just want to be able to tell my family "I will be home on the XXth at 0000Z for ## days." I don't care what seat I sit in. If I can make more money by doing that...even better!

 

[siouxicide]

FlyAuburn, that's great to hear. That's the kind of stuff I was looking for.

 

[DAS at 10/250]

I'm sure it's been asked, but does being typed and current on two aircraft that a fractional flies help in the hiring process or is it still more of a "who you know" thing?

I don't think so. You're still going to school and you're still going to learn it the NJ way.

This company hires customer service people who know how to fly.

Who you know will help in getting the interview quicker but it carries no weight in the interview. It's all up to you!