How do I find a good corporate job?

[The Natural]

what kind of "corporate' gig do you have that has you eyeing up the regionals?

I was eyeing Horizon because I was thinking about living in Hawaii. I'll have to start a thread and ask about QOL there. No corporate jobs there unfortunately. I'm a PC12 pilot for about 2 years now flying 700hrs a year. Operator/pilot I'm starting to get a little burned out, would love a 2week on off schedule, somewhere descent.

 

[g159av8tor]

It's all about life-style! All facets of flying (Frax, 135, 121, 91 Corp.) are different. In the relatively short time I've been flying I have been able to test (except military and frax) what fits me the best for what I want out of my life for me and my family.

Airlines are basically balanacing and or sacrificing pay, QOL and relative seniority. Corp is about finding the needle in the haystack where pilots are scheduled days off and not on a pager or gone for long stints and paid well for the type of job that's required, not the type of airplane flown. Charter 135 flying is just about taking it up the butt.

I've flight instructed, flown for a charter operator, a military/gvernemt contractor, 121 and 91 corp. I've found the needle in the haystack and I don't look back except to know that what I've done in the past has gotten me where I am today. Never regret mistakes, just bad choices...Tailwinds.

 

[Lear70]

Well said G159! Cool Avatar too, my daughter loves it!

I've done just about everything out there except pure corporate and I think G159 hit it on the head - trying to find the needle in the haystack job that gives you the best of all worlds.

I also believe that, as other posted, everyone works differently. Now that I have kids, my home time is the most precious commodity that exists, hence my desire to get out of the airline rat race.

I also grew up 3rd generation airline pilot up-and-coming and I know that this industry will NEVER regain its heyday highs, even as recently as the 90's.

I also firmly believe that this cyclical jumping from regional to regional that the majors are doing will never stop, and that all regional pilots will find themselves getting new regional jobs once every decade as their legacy carrier drops them in favor for a cheaper ASA elsewhere. I don't like the sound of that for being able to plan long-term on taking care of my familiy and my long-term goals and dreams.

No future is ever certain, but I believe that "needle in the haystack" corporate gig is the best bet in the times we live in.

By the way, having flown fractional schedules I can tell you on-demand sucks the big one. Having flown regional scedules getting 2-3 days off in between trips on a 12-day off schedule sucks as well. If you're in a GOOD corporate gig, I'll gladly trade you a recommendation for an interview here if you'll trade me a recommendation for an interview there...

 

[FalconPilot69]

AMEN Semperfido

LG diff strokes fo diff folk- blanket statements rarely apply

My corporate gig has made me see a light at the end of the tunnel and I am running to it as fast as I can. There is nothing worse than working for an individual who does not like for his pilot to have time off and chief pilot who has absolutely no spine.

 

[HMR]

Superpilot- Are you trying to compare a decent corp gig to the regionals?

Just out of curiosity I went and looked up some salary figures. In our area, mid-size jet captains (and I'm talking about 1st year junior captains) make significantly more than 18yr. CRJ captains at SkyWest or Eagle yet fly almost 80% less. There's NO comparison.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

I would agree. I've had the misfortune of working for 3 regionals (two might have even been more traditional "commuters"), one national, and one major and I still can't believe that I was lucky enough to find one of those needles in the haystack.

I have a guaranteed schedule (no pager), NBAA average pay, and more time off than I ever imagined was possible -- so much time off, in fact, that I tend to get scared!

In the airlines time off meant they had no need for you. To me it meant a furlough was right around the corner.

Here it seems to be just a part of life. It may take years to get used to it.... but if this is standard procedure for a corporate operator -- well, I'm only sad that I wasted 10 years at the airlines!

 

[AA717driver]

I wouldn't trade my 15 years in the airlines for anything. I have great friends, great memories and great experience from that time.

I wouldn't trade what I have now for the airlines (as they are today) for anything. Commuting (or living in a crappy city in order to drive to work), TSA, bottom dollar management assisted by worthless unions, worrying about fuel prices, what line did I get?, vacation in February...AGAIN?!, who's buying us THIS time? and "what did the WSJ say about our cash position...?"

The business has changed forever. I got a piece of it when it was still decent (yeah, TWA in the '90's was still better than UAL or USAir today) and I'm content with that.

Gotta run, my Marriott Platinum card just came in the mail... TC

 

[LegacyDriver]

Yeah and how many days on are you usually on before that 7 days off. Plus just because i am on for 4 days doesnt mean i worked them either. Plus i am still on probation so once i get a line i will have a lot better schedule. dont get me wrong i am sure corporate has its good sides also. I guess it depends on what you want.

Well I will give you a rundown of my schedule for the last two months....

June 1 - Ended a Trip (After Five On)
June 2-6 - Recurrent (I considered this OFF - TNG was half a day each)
June 6-26 OFF (20 Off)
June 26-July 4 - On (8 On)
July 5-19 - OFF (14 Off)
July 20-28 - On (8 On)
July 29-Aug 4 - Off (7 Off)
Aug 4 - Aug 13 - On (9 On)
Aug 13-29 - OFF (16 Off)

I go ON for 8 and will be OFF for 13 after this trip.

The REGIONALS *NEVER* GAVE ME THAT QOL even when a SENIOR F/O paired with Check Airman and getting trip releases with regularity. NEVER.

We stay in the best hotels (Embassy Suites or a VERY NICE HILTON/HAMPTON INN - not the hot sheet motels I stayed in with the airline), get crew meals, and are treated as humans not seniority numbers.

I have done the Regional thing and I say Corporate is hands down the winner by FAR.

No Regional gig in the world could beat this job...

 

[LegacyDriver]

LG diff strokes fo diff folk- blanket statements rarely apply

You are right, but rules of thumb do apply. As a rule of thumb a Corporate gig beats a Regional one hands down. YMMV, true. I concede that point.

 

[BenderGonzales]

LegacyDriver.... but didn't I see another thread where you said you were considering leaving that "needle in the haystack" job?

 

[LegacyDriver]

LegacyDriver.... but didn't I see another thread where you said you were considering leaving that "needle in the haystack" job?

I am considering it, but...it is a tough one. I am working for a great group of people. The place I was contemplating going to is also a great bunch. I think it is possible to leave a "needle" job for another if you are REALLY lucky. It is a very tough choice and I am the first to admit that the unknown scares me quite a bit and might be enough to make me stay put. After all, I just bought a house and moving my kids around for the third time in a year is not necessarily fair to them. I have to take all of this into account.

I am in a very unique position. I have a great job right now and a great offer on the table. I must think it over carefully and decide.

I wish my current problems on everyone here--it's a great place to be, really it is.

 

[inthewind]

Ok, we've discussed corporate vs regional. I'm up against a bigger dilemma. A shot a dream corporate or World Airways. At the corporate pay is better and the planes are cool but at World I could live anywhere in CONUS that has three airlines serving it, good pay, long trips but lots of time off too. Pretty hot flight attendants(so I've heard), exotic overnights and oh by the way the MD-11 is awesome and for good pay at that.

 

[BenderGonzales]

What's good pay?

 

[inthewind]

first year fo pay in the 40's, second in the 70's plus profit sharing
first year captain pay around 115k

 

[semperfido]

what are the particulars of the corp job?