How Do you get into Corporate???

[100 c.i.]

Only thing I can say is he hit it right on the head. I for one instructed for 3 years (flying 1000hr/yr)before getting a 91/135 job that got me an interview at Reno which was cancelled by AA when they bought them, then I went to a regional the let me sit in the rt. seat for 6+ years. During which I got a pool side spot at TWA, until AA bought them and kicked all kiddies out of the pool and furloughed thousands. So I quit the regional last year so I could afford to pay rent in California and actually buy a car and now I fly a desk, dreaming of flying, but making a ton more money than I did at the ""regional."

Good luck to you. Network and don't do what I did and get stuck at a regional that won't grow and feels its employees are lower than whale sh*t!

Munga, See want happens when AA gets involved "career killers"....

 

[StaticWick]

Hi, it's a month after 9/11. I am 38 yrs old, 500 hrs and I need a job.

Yeah, you might nail the first goal but that's it. You sit in the right seat of a CRJ for year after year until you are bitter and pissed off at the ripe old age of 25. Or you leave for greener pastures (which are never greener) and you are bitter and pissed off at the ripe old age of 25.

P.S.--Go get a 135 job in an area that has a lot of good 91 activity and slug it out and network like a S.O.B. It'll happen.

Why did you stop at age 25 AA717driver? My dad retired out of B747 flying, 27 years w/ NWA (8 international and the rest domestic and 6 different type ratings) .....Bitter and pissed off.

These rules worked for me and the first two I know WILL work some of the unemployed high time pilots:

Rule #1
Don't placed a high expectation in whatever you fly or do...this leads to bitter and pissed off. Unfulfilled expectations are the worst kinds of let down. Get your facts straight and don't lie to yourself. Don't become a player hater. Aviation is small world. Good attitude is a must.

Rule #2
Network, Network, Network, Network.....locally, statewide, nationwide, call everyone on a regular basis.
Everyone is your friend at the airport. Opportunities will come from the least expected person/or place. I tell/told everyone in my network that this was the reason of the relationship. Lets face it: I don't care if you is ugly and talk funny. You fly an airplane and we got something in common! I'll talk airplanes all day long. Get to know people outside of the box. I don’t know of a single person out there that won’t go to a free lunch or dinner. I networked with CFI’s all the way to Presidents of corporations. As you go up the ladder bring that low time with…. The DO in my network gave me clues of the business and the direction it was going. I don’t know how many times he’d say, “Keep going, and keep flying.” Some guys I network in their own networks established relationships with people running their own business. One guy I know got a job in corporate flight department flying a Hawker because his student pilot started his own business.

Rule #3
Put yourself where you can network.
If you work at Lowe’s, you must spend equal time at the airport. I started an aircraft cleaning & detail business. 1) To keep myself at the airport and 2) feed the family after 9/11.

Rule #4
If you fly part 135 try to avoid freight.
Some of you guys love "boxes" that's ok. I am not flaming you, this is a list I made for myself that works for me. Boxes are great for some, just not my bag. But Part 135 is a great place to fly after flight instructing. I just know it can be literal hell flying boxes if not death. I known two guys killed themselves chasing hours in freight. The airplanes are just not the best shape, nor are the flight conditions. Several freight companies fly out of my old airport. Seriously, it reminded me of World War 2 missions...I personally saw two gear up landings without the rescue trucks waiting. A good friend of mine (in my network) bailed out of flaming Baron rolling down the runway after landing. BTW - heard the best altitude to punch a thunderstorm is 7000' with boxes ...but with people in the airplane it best to avoid them. Hence, I prefer people over boxes. When you reach that magic Part 135 number try flying scenic tours, aerial photo, traffic or pipe line gigs. These guys are putting in 10 and 12 hour per day of air time. My .02 on flying part 135.

Rule #5
You "reap what you sow".
Give within your network. In other words, if you are short a couple of hours of time and a buddy fits the profile it's better you let him know about the job opportunity and you wait. He gets the job and you don't he will NEVER forget you. This rule also works in line rule number one. This rule also helps with maintaining a good attitude if another pilot screws you over trying to position himself for employment. He will reap what he sows. I’ve seen this happen too much to not mention this rule. I had some guys jump over me for a freight job and a fast track to a flying career only to come back wanting to know if I know of a job because of being furloughed or flight department closing down.

Rule#6
Screw the employment websites that cost you money or team up on them.
Case in point: We posted a Saber pilot position at my old place of employment (company paid for it) on a Saturday night. On Monday when I got to work my boss is crying to take it off. We got over 300 email responses with résumé’s that ranged from qualifications you have up to the furloughed captain from American. Our CP just sat his desk all morning long and deleted them unless someone exactly fit the profile we posted.

"The Hangar" is a good place to network and find jobs for people local in your network. Finding that job requires rule#2 nine out of ten times.

Rule #7
It will take time.
Figure a month for every first digit of salary you are looking for before finding a job. Got a good solid network could take less depending on how big your network is. But a month is counted of looking for a job at average of two hours per day per week.

Rule # 8
Prepare yourself for the "thank you, but this position has been filled". Sometimes it could be a blessing in disguise more often than not. Never give up. See rule #1 …I find humor helps.

Rule# 9
It's not what you know...it's who you know. See rule#2. This applies to every job known to mankind. It's the only way, I can figure out how these guys with less experience, less flying time, and less qualified than I get the job or the are just full of bull$hit.

Maybe someone can add rule #10...I got to go and see the guy who got my present job. He needs help with his computer.

Later,
SW

 

[BoDEAN]

Anyone know any corportate gig's hiring in the St Louis, MO area by chance?

 

[AA717driver]

Bo--Man, STL has kind of been picked over. Most of the charter people won't hire ex-airline types. Most of the 91 departments won't hire anyone with a hope of being recalled to AA.

(Note to 135 and 91 operators in STL--You passed up a whole hell of a lot of quality people who were begging for an opportunity to NOT go back to AA because of your anti-airline paranoia. Get a little self-esteem, why dontcha...)

Sorry for the rant. Bo, I'd try Jet Corp. at SUS. They are 135 and fly lears. Things have been a little screwed up because they just got bought but hopefully they are getting their stuff together.

Good luck.TC

 

[maximizer]

The key is knowing somebody.

.....and then marrying the bosses daughter and fathering his gran-kids!

 

[tracearabians]

I'm a considerably low time pilot in the grand scheme of things and would love to fly corporate. How do I get into it without going to the regionals to build the all mighty turbine multi time? I have about a 1000 total with around 50 multi (don't laugh). I just graduated college and am currently flight instructing. Any advice I can get would be really appreciated. How do you guys do it????

I started out instructing and after building enough time for 135 flew charter for a few years. One of the companies that used us on a regular basis finally bought an airplane and hired me. Are there a lot of corporate flight depts. close to you ?

 

[icefr8dawg]

I got a great gig by simply getting to know people. The guys that say talk to everyone are right. I got to know the security guy who knew my current bosses. One night I was applying type II with a bug sprayer and they felt bad enough for me that they offered me a job.
Never turn your nose up at a crappy freight, banner towing, survey gig , etc. it's the people you meet while doing that crappy job that will move you up. Especially in corporate