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[Mammoth]

Hello everyone,

I'm new to this site and message board. I've enjoyed reading posts from most of the forums and benefiting from your knowledge and experience.

I'm currently 27 with a 4 year degree and my CFI, CFII, MEI (next week), and will begin looking for a job instructing in California (southern preferably).

When I started flight training I had my heart set on flying 747's internationally, after 9/11 that pretty much changed. I told myself a career with a regional would be great, however, I'm now really leaning towards some of these corporate jobs that Falcon900 is talking about. The quality of life issue is very appealing, I don't want to miss too many Christmas' and birthdays.

I feel as though I'm in a great position, poised at the threshold of this exciting path ready to take the journey.

Can you experienced guys give me some advice on the best way to go from here? I plan on instructing for a year or two, but what about after that. What does a "corporate resume" look like after CFI jobs? I don't really know many people in aviation or have any contacts, yet, to speak of.

Thanks in advance

 

[JetPilot500]

Welcome to the Message Board and also, welcome to the career.

There are good corporate jobs and their are bad ones too. But I guess that is like any career. And a job that is good for one person may be terrible for another. So you will need to decide for yourself, what you are looking for. Also, you will need to make some compromises as well, because no job is perfect.

I love the job I have now. I have worked as an instructor, traffic watch pilot, charter pilot, airline pilot and a corporate pilot...and this, by far, is where I am the happiest.

As far as what you should do...

Well, with the ink still wet on your certificates and low time, I highly recommend that you primarily worry about building hours right now. When opportunities come to build Multi time, take full advantage of them...you will need the time. Be the best CFI you can be. Treat your students right and be fair. And remember, you love flying, so love what you are doing, even if it is "only" flying a C-152. Too many people are so focused on the "Brass Ring" they lose sight of what is important now. You probably already know this, but I felt it was important to say.

Once you get your ATP and a few hundred hours of multi-time, I would start looking for the next step towards flying passenger charter in a Turbo-prop or small jet. Charter jobs aren't always very glamorous, but the experience will be very useful towards becoming a corporate pilot. You may not have all of your holidays and birthdays off, but your family needs to understand that this is what you do. As you work for better companies, you will have more opportunites for that stuff later. Find a job with a company that has a variety of airplanes and opportunities to move up and eventually become a captain. If you go to a small corporate job with one airplane, you may be a co-pilot forever. However, charter companies typically have attrition and growth potential. That will give you opportunities to move forward. Do this for a few years and try to get a few jet type ratings.

Most large corporate flight departments are looking for 3000-5000 hours for an entry level position. Also, they like to see some type ratings and PIC time in turboprops and jets. Another thing that is important is to have experience doing a similar job. Customer service is a big part of what corporate pilots deal with. For example, if you fly cargo at your current job, you wouldn't look as attractive as a pilot who flys passengers for a charter company. It is usually not necessary to have experience in the airplanes they operate. But if that company flys jets, you should have jet experience. If it is a good flight department, they will train you in their aircraft.

Some people say that you have to know someone to get a corporate job. I say that it doesn't hurt, but it isn't necessary either. The first corporate job I was hired at, I didn't know anyone. I applied, went through their interviews and was hired. This was with one of the largest companies in the world flying a Gulfstream IV. My advice: network, but don't try and network too hard. I hate when I see a pilot at an FBO, whom I've never met before, and he tries "networking" with me. I love talking to other pilots, but don't just jump up and ask if my company is hiring and could I give him a recommendation. Just talk to people. Be nice to everyone you meet in aviation, no matter how significant or insignificant you think they are. At a company I used to work for, I was asked to interview a candidate for a pilot position. He was a CFI that gave me a progress check about 8 years earlier. He was kinda a jerk back then....he didn't get hired. Another thing, walk your resume into the office. Try and meet the Chief Pilot, it can be invaluable...if you make a good first impression.

So for now, just be the best CFI you can be. Keep your focus, remember what is important, and you will obtain your goal.

Good Luck,
JetPilot500

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Excellent reply above!

One comment to the newbie...

Corporate flight departments DO fly on the holidays...maybe not as much as the airlines, but we do. Usually our pilots wives are invited along but still you may fly...

And beware...the so called "best" corporate jobs entail flying VERY long range aircraft....GV,Global,DA900EX...etc...they go around the world often -- 10 days away at a time is not unheard of, so dont get into this thinking you will be home more with your family....some months I do 18 overnights all over the world - other months home every night!....an understanding wife and family is essential.

Good Luck, its a fun job!!!!!

 

[Airpiraterob]

good start. dont ever stop.

BOO!
heh heh....

welcome to the flying life and the community. good luck with everything.

at my old job i began instructing at 400 hours. 2 years later i left with 1700. advice? to help guarantee a charter/corporate career, make sure who you teach for also has a flight department. My old job let me teach all i wanted to. and then once i met the minimum 135 requirements they began training me on the barons, navajos/king air time came later and right seat jet time was after that. i never got to the jet time as i left to go the cargo route. i couldnt withstand the chance at 700 multi-pic turbine hours a year. so i left for it. but yes, a place with a flight department would most likely upgrade you when they get a chance. and you also get to work on customer skills and everything required for an 'above entry-level' job possibly somewhere else afterwards. also, on bad weather days where you cancel all your students, or a good trip comes up early enough in your schedule, there just might be a charter/corporate trip with empty legs on it or space availiable in the right seat to ride along. chances are the pilot is a former instructor and if still current he can give you dual on the empty part 91 legs. its a way to pump up your logbook. be careful on how its logged and who truly is the sole manipulator. but....its another way. multi time is a good replacement for a day of not teaching...but DO NOT put off your students to fly multi...some really hate that. they think about how much you really care about them. there wont be much money but youre flying and that in itself is part of the paycheck. believe me theres worse jobs out there. although i got my gob of turbine pic in 2 years, cargo was a bad environment to get it in. i would onyl recommend it to a few. and my future employment? its probably hampered by the customer service issue, since i just took care of boxes. i can take care of people, but they have no proof of that unless i use former students as references perhaps.

good luck! hope you find that golden job!

 

[Mammoth]

JetPilot500, Gulfstream200, Airpiraterob,

Thank you for your very thoughtful replies, I do appreciate your time and insight.

The ink is still very wet on my certificates and I will strive to be the best CFI I can be.

Thanks for the networking advice, because I never really like going up to pilots for fear of seeming like a network whore. I know if I was a hot-shot corpo pilot and some guy came up to me that way I would be turned off. I'm kind of shy when it comes to that.

Anyway, thanks again guys!

 

[banned username 2]

Mammoth,

Welcome to the world of Corporate Aviation. You have received a lot of good advice from a lot of experienced pilots (boy am I glad JetPilot500 typed all that so I didn't have to!)

You have a good group of Corporate Pilots to draw information from on this board. As far as networking goes, it is important, but isn't the only way... When I first had my CFI's I, like you, knew no one in the aviation industry. I was persistent at sending and delivering resumes to perspective employers and it eventually paid off... Worked hard as a CFI and got a job flying Charter in King Air's and Lears... after a few years of doing that I got my current job (Fortune 100 Corporate)... I didn't know anyone at any of the jobs, had no inside recommendations... just persistence, hard work and a little luck... I also didn't have the internet to get advice!

You'l be fine, keep your goal in sight, be flexible, work hard and fly safe... a few years from now you'll be looking out the window from FL410 and wonder how you ever managed to get there..

Good Luck!

JetPilot500, Gulfstream200, Airpiraterob,

Thank you for your very thoughtful replies, I do appreciate your time and insight.

The ink is still very wet on my certificates and I will strive to be the best CFI I can be.

Thanks for the networking advice, because I never really like going up to pilots for fear of seeming like a network whore. I know if I was a hot-shot corpo pilot and some guy came up to me that way I would be turned off. I'm kind of shy when it comes to that.

Anyway, thanks again guys!

 

[bigD]

I also didn't have the internet to get advice!

Jeez...I can't imagine what it was like before the internet. Back then, the only thing I needed to research was what my Mom was putting in my lunch bag for school that day!

 

[bigD]

And smart @ss comment aside - this is a great thread. Lots of good info. It's amazing the value of these boards.

 

[banned username 2]

BigD! My man!

I was in Ft. Worth yesterday... I still gotta get down to AUS for some of that BBQ at the Salt Lick you keep telling me about!

 

[bigD]

Yes! You DO! I've been holding off eating there for when you get down here!

I'm really jonsin' for some BBQ. You can't just hop in that Falcon of yours and go for a joy ride?