Job opportunities

[Sabresaurus]

To all of you fractional folks, thanx for your replies in advance.

Currently I am employed as the Chief Pilot of a FAR 91 department. Pay is slightly above average (low 70's) for a mid sized jet, benefits average at best, and periodically the principle (boss) threatens "Marquis Jet Card etc" to our flight department typically after a rather large maintenance bill, or when I tell him he is unable to do something the aircraft sales guy said was "doable". Lots of paperwork (airport office work) + expectation of the principle to help at main office / facility when schedule is slow at the airport (major grunt work involved). I am not opposed to putting in a honest days work, just prefer the work to be aviation in nature / scope if you know what I mean.

While I am somewhat happy, I am curious about several issues.

1. 4950 Total, 1900 PIC Jet, 540 PIC T-Prop,etc.
2. Are these numbers competative at your company and / or do they help upgrade quicker?
3. What is the QOL at your company? 7 on / off etc (please indicate company)
4. How quickly (realistically) can one expect to upgrade to captain?
5. What can I realistically expect to make (not including per diem) entry level copilot and then 5th year copilot / or 1st yr Capt if applicable?
6. Having experience in Mid-Sized A/C, will this experience help be selected into a similar sized a/c or is it strictly based on the need of the company at the time?

Considering my options,

Sabresaurus

 

[Diesel]

1. 4950 Total, 1900 PIC Jet, 540 PIC T-Prop,etc.
2. Are these numbers competative at your company and / or do they help upgrade quicker? Very compettitve. upgrade is senority based at NJ

3. What is the QOL at your company? 7 on / off etc (please indicate company) 7 on 7 off NJ

4. How quickly (realistically) can one expect to upgrade to captain? 5 years is my guess. I'm a glass half empty kind of guy.

5. What can I realistically expect to make (not including per diem) entry level copilot and then 5th year copilot / or 1st yr Capt if applicable?
Check out airlinepilotpay.com they have a better list. ps. 5 year fo then goes to 5 year captain. You don't go back down to the bottom.

 

[Stickshaker]

Currently I am employed as the Chief Pilot of a FAR 91 department. Pay is slightly above average (low 70's) for a mid sized jet,

Sir, I hate to open your eyes to the real world, but low 70's for a chief pilot on a Mid size jet is not "slightly above average"
It's below average for a line Captain. Please take a look at the Pro pilot salary survey. As a Chief pilot you should be making a lot more. I work for NJA and make over six figures for a small jet as a line captain.

 

[Stickshaker]

Sabresaurus,
Point taken in your private message.
Now, to answer your questions
1. 4950 Total, 1900 PIC Jet, 540 PIC T-Prop,etc.
2. Are these numbers competitive at your company and / or do they help upgrade quicker? First of all I work for NJA and speak from my experience at NJA.
With the number of furloughed pilots and guys hitting age 60 on the street from the airlines, Your numbers may be a little shy of average but really wont hurt you on getting an interview. Upgrade has to do with your seniority number only, not your experience or hours.
3. What is the QOL at your company? 7 on / off etc (please indicate company)
QOL will rock compared to most corporate jobs. Most guys have a 7 and 7 schedule. Some select to work a reserve schedule for more money. A reserve schedule is more random and 2 or 3 days more a month. A year five capt. on the 7 and 7 earns 90k Base and a reserve guy at year 5 makes $ 106, 813 a year base. Now I say base because that doesn't count overtime, holiday pay and per diem. I made an extra $2,200 my last trip ( 7 days out), 741 for holiday pay, and 1500 for two extended days pay for not getting me home by midnight on my last day. Also I make 71.00 an hour on overtime.
4. How quickly (realistically) can one expect to upgrade to captain?
My guess right now is 3 years, and if so then you will be making 3rd year captain pay, not first year.
5. What can I realistically expect to make (not including per diem) entry level copilot and then 5th year copilot / or 1st yr Capt if applicable?
First year FO starts at a base of 39K, but expect several thousand more for Overtime and holiday. Year 5 fo tops out at 47k ( but you will upgrade before that)
6. Having experience in Mid-Sized A/C, will this experience help be selected into a similar sized a/c or is it strictly based on the need of the company at the time?
Having Corporate experience will be a big help. A/C type hired into is mostly there need at the time but experience does come into play if there hiring into multiple A/C. Also they give a choice to you at times.
Hope that helps a little.

 

[Publishers]

Stickshaker you can point to the survey all you want, there are experienced people flying Hawker 800's and Lear 60's all day between 70 and 80 k.

 

[Hawkered]

Publishers

There are a few suckers out there, but not many and I doubt there'll be any left making less than a 100k on a Hawker 800 as a captain come Spring. Netjets is hiring 475 more pilots and they have to be captain qualified. I heard of a 135 operator who is threatening to close up if any more crews go to Netjets.

It's time for the two-bit operators to realize that it's cheaper to keep people around and treat them with respect than use and abuse.

So let me guess which one you are Mr. Publishers?!

 

[Stickshaker]

Publishers,

I agree with you 100%.
The part that I was pointing out at the time was the chief pilot position and being above average at the low 70's.
You know what, I did throw out a flame and for that I apologize to sabrese.
I should of just answered his question.

 

[Sabresaurus]

question answered thank you all

Stickshaker and Diesel thanks alot for your input. I realize my dilemma, just need to do make some decisions regarding this issue.


Sabresaurus.

 

[Publishers]

The Chief Pilot position needs further defining as to the number of aircraft and pilots that report to the position. Lots of flight departments call someone Chief Pilot but that does not mean much if it is a one plane operation with two pilots.
I also know a number of Challenger and Gulfstream pilots whose base is less than 100k. The numbers I know are not in a magazine somewhere, they are in checks.

 

[rice]

The Chief Pilot position needs further defining as to the number of aircraft and pilots that report to the position. Lots of flight departments call someone Chief Pilot but that does not mean much if it is a one plane operation with two pilots. AGREED!!!!!
I also know a number of Challenger and Gulfstream pilots whose base is less than 100k. The numbers I know are not in a magazine somewhere, they are in checks.

Any Challenger, Gulfstream, or Falcon driver doing for less than $100k is either hiding/has something in his/her past, Stupid, or living in just about the cheapest COL area in the US. I've turned down more than a few offers in the last year from potential employers for just that reason. Now I'm no special gift to aviation but I'm worth much more than that for my 20+ years experience flying high tech aircraft all over the world. As they say, If you want to play you have to pay.