Decision Time: Corporate or Regional

[your_dreamguy]

It's time for me to move on from my current job and I'm going to start hitting my contacts. I have some good contacts at regionals and corporate outfits. My problem is that I'm having trouble to decide which path to choose. To be honest, I feel that I can fit into both. My long term goal is to fly heavy jet (such as pax or cargo) for an international carrier. I've come with some Pros for both sides. I would only consider a jet regional or coporate job at this time.

Pro Regional:

1. Set schedules.
2. Free jumpseat and companion travel (I love to travel in my off time).
3. Average about 1000 hours flight time per year.
4. Do not need to be on call.
5. Upgrade is seniority based.

Pro Corporate:

1. A lot higher starting pay.
2. Work half the time of a regional pilot, i.e. more personal time.
3. Usually accumulate free airline miles through re-positioning travel.
4. JOB STABILITY. Most corporate outfits are growning and are not under the threat of folding.
5. G-V and Citation X.

I really like flight time. The average regional pilot, usually flies about 500 hours more per year than the average corporate pilot. That's 1000 hours after two years. On the other hand, the average corporate pilot starts out at $36000 versus the $18000 a year a regional pilot makes. That's $36000 over two years that could be invested and grown.

I'm kind of leaning towards corporate right now. I would really love a corporate outfit that averages 1000 hours per year for their pilots. Anyone want to add anything to my lists? Please give me your two cents.

Take Care.

 

[FN FAL]

If you are on salary at a corporate flight department, why would you want to fly 1,000 hours a year? On salary, If I fly one hour a year that's enough for me.

If you are looking to go to corporate to build time to get to the majors, you might want to re-think things a little bit. First of all, SIC time isn't going to help you out the most and with a corporate flight department, upgrade time is based on job movement and retirements. There is no age 60 rule in part 91 flight departments and a lot of your corporate captains are not looking to leave to go to the airlines. They are working out of the town they want to live in and they just don't move out as much as you think they do.

Another thing that you could see at a corporate flight department is the fact that they can hire a captain to replace the captain that leaves...leaving you sit right seat.

Also, as far as job security at the corporate level...the fractionals have shut down a lot of under utillized corporate flight departments. What do you think is going to happen when one of the little jet manufacturing companies gets their Eclipse or Adams jets certified and the concept of a national charter company becomes a reality? I think corporate and fracs alike are going to feel the competition from the new LCC carrier of the biz jet world.

If you are thinking of flying the heavy iron, I would say the corporate job may not be the best choice...not saying it's a bad choice...just not the best. I'd go where you can be assured PIC time in jet aircraft...be that with a progressive charter outfit or with a regional airline.

As far as job security at corporate outfits? Hahaha...that is only as good as the economy or until the corporation gets sold. A buddy of mine used to fly a B-100 as captain and hired his kid to be the co-pilot. The company got sold to a larger company which had it's own corporate flight department. He's now the co-pilot on that same aircraft, his kid had to take a job riding as co-pilot in an owner flown King Air 350.

 

[typhoonpilot]

I'd say sit tight where you are and upgrade on the 1900. Don't be in a hurry to move on unless your carrier is about to go out of business. The PIC time that you will get will be very valuable. Once you have 500 or 1000 hours PIC then find a cargo carrier or other charter type outfit with big jets and get hired there, places like Kalitta, Polar, Southern, World, Gemini, Atlas, etc. Once you are typed in a 747-400 or similiar widebody and get some PIC time you can go fly international contracts all over the world.

TP

 

[Gulfstream 200]

It's time for me to move on from my current job and I'm going to start hitting my contacts. I have some good contacts at regionals and corporate outfits. My problem is that I'm having trouble to decide which path to choose. To be honest, I feel that I can fit into both. My long term goal is to fly heavy jet (such as pax or cargo) for an international carrier. I've come with some Pros for both sides. I would only consider a jet regional or coporate job at this time.

Pro Regional:

1. Set schedules.
2. Free jumpseat and companion travel (I love to travel in my off time).
3. Average about 1000 hours flight time per year.
4. Do not need to be on call.
5. Upgrade is seniority based.

Pro Corporate:

1. A lot higher starting pay.
2. Work half the time of a regional pilot, i.e. more personal time.
3. Usually accumulate free airline miles through re-positioning travel.
4. JOB STABILITY. Most corporate outfits are growning and are not under the threat of folding.
5. G-V and Citation X.

I really like flight time. The average regional pilot, usually flies about 500 hours more per year than the average corporate pilot. That's 1000 hours after two years. On the other hand, the average corporate pilot starts out at $36000 versus the $18000 a year a regional pilot makes. That's $36000 over two years that could be invested and grown.

I'm kind of leaning towards corporate right now. I would really love a corporate outfit that averages 1000 hours per year for their pilots. Anyone want to add anything to my lists? Please give me your two cents.

Take Care.

Average corp starts at 36K? where did you get this?

Many companies start thier corporate co-pilots at 80-90K MINIMUM. Especially if you are flying that GV, etc...equipment you list above.

A corp gig flying 1000/yr. OUCH. If thats possible its a terrible job. BUT, fractionals do fly that much - but now you are back to that 36K/yr range....for a Captain. Laughable..

I think you are describing fractionals. surf over to thier board and get the full scoop. Its a little crazy right now because the pilots are fighting hard for a well deserved raise and the "man" is handing them their a$$es (as anticipated). Give them support, dont even send a resume there....unfortunatly there is 4 newbies lined up for each position they want to vacate.. sickening.

For now I would just keep building time, your options will be chosen by the state of the industry at the time anyways...


As far as those micro-jets...lets step away from the crack pipe there fella..

And as far as fracs closing down flight departments? not so quick....many flight departments have also been expanded due to a stint of supplemental lift in a Quarter Share...charter simply does not work for many companies. Look outside the aviation industry - there are many sectors that ALWAYS make money - and gee whiz...they have flight departments!!!

this thread is hilarious!

 

[bobbysamd]

Decision - or not

I have gathered from your recent posts that you just on got on with a regional. Review of your profile shows that you are flying regional equipment. Therefore, because you are barely into probation, job-hunting seems premature.

Why don't you give it at least a couple of years before you start looking? At least long enough to upgrade to Captain on the 1900. As is said repeatedly on these forums, that "TJ PIC" (even if props) gets you the better jobs. And, there aren't many jobs with the potential to get you that time other than the one you have.

Good luck with however you proceed.