Airline to Corporate

[bafanguy]

GV,


Ah so...I see the difference.

 

[av8tortype]

..... Personally I LOVE corporate flying. I just never found the great part 91 gig that fit with what I wanted.

English ... what do you think about the argument that it's better to stay away from a 121 job if the goal is to fly corporate. I think you know my situation, I passed on 2 offers at Island Air holding out for an opportunity at a Fortune 100 company. Hindsight is always 20/20 but it seems getting on with a 121 regional carrier for the turbine and line experience shouldn't poison the well.

You've done both so your feedback would be informative.

 

[English]

I think there's a lot less harm in having a regional airline on your resume than a national, LCC or major airline on it. It's apparent to most that a regional airline gig is mainly for timebuilding and increasing qualifications. However, if you go to a major/LCC/national etc., I think you'll have a harder time convincing a corporate operator that you intend to stick around. Not impossible, but difficult.

I think the guys that have it made are the low time guys who work their way up in the charter world - maybe 135 PIC in a piston twin while doing SIC in a turboprop or light jet, upgrade to captain, then start moving up the jets, preferably into something other than or in addition to Citations. All the while making contacts for the move up to the right corporate gig - that's what I have seen work.

If what you really want is a good Fortune 100 gig, I'd 1) read Falcon Capt's posts about how he did it at a young age, and 2) I'd forget about Island Air and go find a charter gig on the mainland. While working at Island Air won't necessarily hurt you, it won't help you towards your goal. All it will give you is total time, which is not important at most corporate operations. Having the connections is what's important.

 

[FracCapt]

I think you know my situation, I passed on 2 offers at Island Air holding out for an opportunity at a Fortune 100 company.

According to your profile, you have 2,000 hours and no jet time(I didn't see any jets listed in aircraft flown)....but it also says that you have "both" military and civilian flight experience...so I'm not sure if you have military jet time or not. Well, if you have no jet time....I wouldn't be turning down jobs that would get you turbine or jet in hopes of landing a job with a Fortune 100 company. There are lots of us out here with tons of jet time, most of it PIC, that are waiting for those calls as well. You need to make yourself more competitive.

 

[AA717driver]

Fatburger has it right. Prior to 9/11 the majors were great to work for. After 9/11 ALL that changed. I would hate to go back to commuting and security everyday.

I don't have many hard days off and even they can be busted in an emergency. But, I don't have to worry about getting furloughed. Everything is a tradeoff.TC

 

[jetjockey1231]

not all corporate pilots live on standby. does anyone in this forum know about fedex corporate pilots' quality of life? probably not, so i suggest you reseach it and compare it to airline quality of life before you knock part 91.

 

[av8tortype]

....I wouldn't be turning down jobs that would get you turbine or jet in hopes of landing a job with a Fortune 100 company. There are lots of us out here with tons of jet time, most of it PIC, that are waiting for those calls as well. You need to make yourself more competitive.

That's just the issue. It seems the line is drawn between whether 121 time in fact makes you more competitive. Some say yes, others say it makes you a suspect rather than a prospect. I think you and English tend to agree, as I do now, that a 121 regional job can't hurt the resume. Back to the drawing board.

 

[Rook]

If I could find a 91 job flying something like a G-IV or Citation X back in my home in Nowheresville TX I'd leave 121 in a heartbeat. But with my luck they'd go out of business and I'd be kicking myself in the A$$ for leaving in the first place. Hindsight is indeed 20/20. But man those Corp jets sure are nice.

Rook

 

[xdays]

They key to corporate flying is thinking outside the box and being a valued team player in the corporate world. Pilots for a 121 could care less about how the people in the back feel about them. To a corporate pilot it is crucial to be liked by the guy in the back. I disagree with training being a breeze for corporate guys compared with airline training. I've seen plenty of guys at training with 121 experience having trouble with the training program.

I have to disagree with your assessment of how 121 pilot's feel about their passengers. My background includes 9 years corporate/charter, and 27 years 121. In each of those arenas I , and the pilots I flew with greatly cared about the comfort and safety of our passengers. Now I wont disagree that there are exceptions, but I believe they occur in every area of aviation.

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on a side note: Don't you 121ers get sick and tired of the same routes day in and day out. Personally I like the challenge of going into airports that don't have 10,000ft runways to eat up. Give me Eagle or Aspen any day of the week over JFK, DFW, or LAX. Plus the skiing is better.

How about taking a 757 into EGE, or a 767-400 or L-1011 into LGA? MSO was always fun in a snowstorm! Also, as I've experienced both airline training and Flight Safety I feel confident in saying the training is as good as your instructor. I have nothing but good things to say about both the training I received at DAL and FSI.

 

[ultrarunner]

The one perk I do miss is jumpseating.
-fatburger-

Yeah, that was a nice perk... but I lost interest in it after commuting for a year..eeek....

I am WAY into postive-space...and can afford to do it when I want. But, if you've go the time and don't mind the hassles..have at it.