Advice for a college aviator

[USAFftrplt]

Hey guys,
Im looking for advice into how to make it as a corportate pilot out there. Ive heard it is all connections and I know this is true. Most of the places I look are hiring people with a lot of time sometimes more than what regionals mins are. If this is true, then do you find a lot of guys that came from other flying outfits before corporate? My plan right now is to get my cfi rating and fly a ton of hours and either try to get on with a regional or corportate outfit. I'm just curious if there are guys out there that guy hired with low time through connections and what not? Basically, if some of you could volunteer how you got to do what you do, I would highly appreciate it! I"m just trying to learn more about corporate flying overall

 

[Phrogboy]

I am in the same boat as you, so I can not say anything really helpful other than what you seem to know already. Oh, one thing......

WAAAAAAAAAAR EAGLE!!!!!!!

 

[Dangerkitty]

Hey guys,
Im looking for advice into how to make it as a corportate pilot out there. Ive heard it is all connections and I know this is true. Most of the places I look are hiring people with a lot of time sometimes more than what regionals mins are. If this is true, then do you find a lot of guys that came from other flying outfits before corporate? My plan right now is to get my cfi rating and fly a ton of hours and either try to get on with a regional or corportate outfit. I'm just curious if there are guys out there that guy hired with low time through connections and what not? Basically, if some of you could volunteer how you got to do what you do, I would highly appreciate it! I"m just trying to learn more about corporate flying overall

Corporate flying is all in who you know. After my furlough from AA I was hoping that with my time and experience I would hopefully get a job in either DFW or in my hometown of BHM, Alabama. To say that I was looked at as a Leper was an understatement.

After a while though I met some people and was able to land a pretty cushy Lear job. Pay isnt as good as AA and it can suck being on call all the time but it pays the bills and the plane is alot better than flying a S-80. And the overnights are usually better.

My advice to you. When you get your CFI and graduate get as far from Auburn as you can and move to an airport and instruct with alot of Corporate aviators. While you are instructing you should network your a$$ off. Who cares if you are low time. After a while people will recognize you and you might be given a shot at a job. There are plenty of Corporate jobs in my neck of the woods if you are just willing to look and work for them.

PM me if you want more information.

And by the way WAR EAGLE!! Darn do I miss that place.

 

[S2Pilot]

I was right where you are now about six years ago. The problem you have living in auburn is the amount of pilots that are trying to build time just like you. Unless things have changed, I don't remember a whole lot of opportunities to build time in auburn. You need to branch out to other airports outside of auburn, and try to find some corporate flight departments, and get to know some of there pilots. Also, talk to corporate pilots that fly in to auburn while you are at the airport and see if they know of any possible jobs. I understand your situation. Every corporation has different criteria when hiring a pilot. I was hired at a flight department without knowing anyone there, so it just depends on the flight department. Also, hustle. I washed airplanes and did whatever I could to fly and build flight time. I left auburn at midnight to drive to mobile for a 7am departure to fly with a guy in a Navaho. And finally, don't be shy. Networking is just as important as building flight time. Get to know as many corporate pilots as you can.

 

[Whale Rider]

Corporate World is not only who you know, but like all other areas in avaition, its being at the right place at the right time. When you finally do make it to corporate, you may go through a few jobs before you find the one that suits you. You'll have to decide between the private owner and the Frax. Its all goodflying its just what you make of it. Best of luck on your quest.

 

[sleepy]

My advice is to not tell a prospective employer that you are an Albarn grad

Really though, since you are still in college it is not too late to change your major to something better or to go to law school. That is my advice.

 

[FO4life]

To get a job in the corporate world best thing to do is what has been said. I got my present job with very low time, practically no time. I was just at the right place at the right time. Talk to everybody; ask every pilot you see “are you looking for pilots? Can I get some interview experience?” And when you least expect it you will get an offer.

 

[Brett Hull]

WAAAAAAAAAAR EAGLE!!!!!!!

And by the way WAR EAGLE!!

Allright. I can't take it anymore, especially after last week's Iron Bore...I mean Bowl.

What does that mean? I've lived in BHM for the last 2 years and I can't figure it out. Are they the Auburn Tigers or the Auburn War Eagles? You can't be both. Alabama only has one name, although I can't seem to figure out how an elephant and Crimson Tide go together; but you don't hear them shouting, oh, something like "INSURGENCY HIPPOPOTAMUS!!!!, or CONFLICT IMPALA!!! And what about the University of Missouri? Can they shout "WAR EAGLE", or do they have to make something else up?

Please help me understand.

Oh, and to stay on topic, I got my job by shotgunning resumes. I didn't know anyone. But putting yourself in the position to meet the right people sure would help.

 

[Bandit60]

Most of the places I look are hiring people with a lot of time sometimes more than what regionals mins are.

I think if you want a good corporate job, you have think of it in the same manor as getting on with a major airline. Most corporates want guys with lots of experience and flight time. Flying jet charter is a great way to get the edge. The companies want a person who has flown like aircraft and know how to deal with the pax on a one to one manor.

Pay isnt as good as AA

As far as pay goes, he is right it is not as good as AA but I have never been laid off either. I always have had a stable income which I think offsets the pay difference.

 

[Dangerkitty]

Allright. I can't take it anymore, especially after last week's Iron Bore...I mean Bowl.

What does that mean? I've lived in BHM for the last 2 years and I can't figure it out. Are they the Auburn Tigers or the Auburn War Eagles? You can't be both. Alabama only has one name, although I can't seem to figure out how an elephant and Crimson Tide go together; but you don't hear them shouting, oh, something like "INSURGENCY HIPPOPOTAMUS!!!!, or CONFLICT IMPALA!!! And what about the University of Missouri? Can they shout "WAR EAGLE", or do they have to make something else up?

War Eagle is a battle cry. Legend has it that during the Civil War a Confederate soldier found a wounded Eagle on the battlefield. After the War he nursed the Eagle back to health. During a football game in which Auburn was tied up with the opposing team, the soldier released the Eagle and he circled the field. A chant of War Eagle began. Soon thereafter Auburn won the football game and the Eagle after circling the football field passed away on the 50 yard line. Hence the battle cry of "War Eagle". Makes for good story telling huh.

As for the school on the West side of the state I have no idea how they came up with their stuff. Nor do I care.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I think if you want a good corporate job, you have think of it in the same manor as getting on with a major airline. Most corporates want guys with lots of experience and flight time. Flying jet charter is a great way to get the edge. The companies want a person who has flown like aircraft and know how to deal with the pax on a one to one manor.

As far as pay goes, he is right it is not as good as AA but I have never been laid off either. I always have had a stable income which I think offsets the pay difference.

I bet there are plenty of corp jobs out there paying better than AA these days.

Whats a 5 yr AA F/O making with the new and improved pay scales? Maybe less than 100K? Not that I think thats funny, I think it $ucks. SO if you get lucky and reach a major at say 30yrs old, you be looking at 35-40 before making ANY real money. And the stability and pensions....uh-huh.

A few short years ago I would say shoot for that major airline job, but as these times drag on and on that route is looking worse and worse...

lovely.

 

[AA717driver]

Narrowbody Captain at AA is just over $150/hr. for 12 years. NB FO is around $100/hr. for 12 years. Year 5 -80 FO pay is $89/hr.

Nothing is secure anymore. Soon, AA will be the only pax airline left with a DB retirement program. How long will that last?

All I know is that most of the guys in my department with 15-20 years have plenty of disposable income. These days, everything is a crap shoot. Good luck.TC

 

[JetPilot500]

Narrowbody Captain at AA is just over $150/hr. for 12 years. NB FO is around $100/hr. for 12 years. Year 5 -80 FO pay is $89/hr.

Nothing is secure anymore. Soon, AA will be the only pax airline left with a DB retirement program. How long will that last?

All I know is that most of the guys in my department with 15-20 years have plenty of disposable income. These days, everything is a crap shoot. Good luck.TC

I have worked at my company now for 2.5 years.

According to AirlinePilotPay.com, I make MORE than.....

American: 6 Year MD80 FO
United: 7 Year 737/A320 FO
Continental: 5 Year 737-300 FO
Delta: 4 Year 737/MD80 FO
Northwest: 4 Year DC-9 FO

Midwest (where I was furloughed from): 14 Year 717/MD80 FO

America West: More than ALL FO's
FedEX: 3 Year FO
UPS: 4 year FO

I am not here to brag. Only to point out that you can make a good living as a Corporate Pilot. Granted, I am a Captain where I am now and I compared my pay to FO's at these airlines. However, comparing years of service, I am doing way better as far as pay goes if I were hired at any of the above mentioned airlines on the same day. I also have a pension & 401k matching. I have an average of 18 days off per month with about 8 overnights per month. Most of my trips are scheduled and known about 1 month in advance.

JetPilot500

 

[gear_guy]

The key is finding a job in a city you want to live in. There is a plethera of jobs in the NE corridor. But who wants to live there? Personally, I want to live out in the country. But, how many corporations are based there? It's a tough decision, but I would say that corporate flying is a good career. You won't be rich, but there is alot of networking(it's a small world in 91) so your chances of staying employed are better.

 

[JetPilot500]

.....so your chances of staying employed are better.

Not just staying employed, but staying employed with a lateral pay move.

At the airlines, if you have a good salary and good schedule then get laid off, your next airline job will put you at the bottom of the list with low first year pay and a reserve schedule.

Corporate flying can typically allow lateral moves, and sometimes you can get a better job making more money while in the same position at the new company.

Corporate isn't the answer for everyone, and all jobs are not the same.

Jetpilot500

 

[wiggsfly]

I can't speak for the Auburn area, but being from Panama City orininally I can say that it is difficult at best to fly anything with low time. I moved instead to Chicago in August and with only 800 hrs I have managed to land a job fflying VFR 135 in a musketeer with as much right seat time in a navajo as I can handle. Once again though this was a matter of "who you know." My goal is also corporate and from what I've seen I've had better luck at a small airport (3CK) with a lot of well-to-do private plane owners than most of my friends have had at the bigger corporate airports.

Good luck!

 

[Ty Webb]

I have worked at my company now for 2.5 years.

According to AirlinePilotPay.com, I make MORE than.....

Oh, boy, here we go again. When you're comparing your pay to an airline, you can't just go by hourly rate times the minimum.

Don't know about AA, but at my airline, I average 1080 hours of pay, but actually fly less than 60 hours a month!

In other words, if I make $112./hr, I can plan on $121K this year . . . not bad for having been here just three years, flying brand new 737NG aircraft, and living where I want to live . . . . . Flying on a schedule is great. Just show up, do your trips . . . .trade up or drop down- that's freedom, baby!

Corporate was fun, I enjoyed it greatly, but I wouldn't trade.

Ain't it great that we all don't want the same thing?

 

[wiggsfly]

Ain't it great that we all don't want the same thing?

Amen to that!!!