I returned to the world that made the most sense to me. After leaving single pilot IFR for a corporate 91 gig, I learned QOL is the most important thing to look at. I went from single engine pistons to single engine turbines which after a few years would still be the same logbook entry, single not multi. High time, low multi would equal few opportunities later on. I worked for a company that after an accident told the pilots we needed to better time manage ourselves to fuind sleep in between flights since our days would never be normal. Considering that they asked us to do 20 hour days all single pilot its a miracle that all they had was a hard landing with a bent prop. I handed my resignation and rolled the dice with a couple interviews lined up short notice and it paid off. This time I am flying twin Cessnas carrying cargo with a set schedule, will make 35K my first year and a few jumpseats and a greater piece of mind. I know 35K starting doesnt seem great, but I looked at the regionals and thoght no way in the world I could live off 19K starting off. I love to travel like the next person, but after 6 months of not knowing where I would be sleeping on a day to day basis, M-F with weekends off sounded good. Most important, boxes dont B&^%h. My old flight director actually looked down on my being a prior freight pilot because his image was someone breaking equipment, flying into anything and not being on top of things. But the same person would ask me to make an important flight because they couldnt trust the other pilots to complete it because of lack of single pilot IFR, the same person that would run my aircraft off the runway onto the grass and back on becasue the couldnt handle it, and finally the same person who felt intimidated by the fact I could fly a plane by myself without a copilot. That taught me where valuable flying was, the place I had left before which I only left because of long upgrade time to a twin and flying a turbine appealed. Flight Express I love you but the upgrade time is too long, my only gripe I ever had with them. Single pilot IFR is not for everyone or even multi crew IFR in old aircraft, but for me its where I feel the mkost comfortable and it offers the stability I want.
For those coming up and waying the choices, understand what 91 corporate flying maybe like, (never at home, unknown schedule, unregulated hours on duty) but yes there are some nice things, usually newer equipment, better starting pay sometimes, various routes). Cargo we maynot fly the prettiest aircraft but usually home everyday with the exception of larger ops, decent pay over time although generally better than 1st year FO pay, weekends off and stable schedule. Nothing against anyone at the regionals, I admire you for toughing it out with that pay the 1st couple of years. So to all my fellow freightdogs stay safe and also, if you are looking at corporate gis, before you take it, get it all in writing and ask every question you can, if they are hesistant to answer it, move on.
Keep the wheels down and locked
For those coming up and waying the choices, understand what 91 corporate flying maybe like, (never at home, unknown schedule, unregulated hours on duty) but yes there are some nice things, usually newer equipment, better starting pay sometimes, various routes). Cargo we maynot fly the prettiest aircraft but usually home everyday with the exception of larger ops, decent pay over time although generally better than 1st year FO pay, weekends off and stable schedule. Nothing against anyone at the regionals, I admire you for toughing it out with that pay the 1st couple of years. So to all my fellow freightdogs stay safe and also, if you are looking at corporate gis, before you take it, get it all in writing and ask every question you can, if they are hesistant to answer it, move on.
Keep the wheels down and locked
