Leaving Regional for charter

[Freight Dog]

I'll echo the majority here... if the QOL is what matters to you, you'll be hard-pressed to match the airline lifestyle. Question to ask is regarding hard days off at the charter outfit. Any pop-up trips?

Charter flying is night and day from the airlines. You'll go from a set schedule at an airline to on-demand, and that can be rough on some people. Other people thrive on that.

My personal experience is that you get substantially more job satisfaction flying charter than with the airlines primarily because you are more intimately involved with the entire aspect of the operation, and not just picking up paperwork, loading up the FMS and blasting off...

G-V is an awesome airplane and an extremely valuable type rating to have.

If I were presented with the same option at this point, I'd happily trade my 737 job for a G-V gig.

 

[TheDogsBollocks]

Hey guys,

I have been presented with a unique situation. A long time friend of mine is trying to recruit me to a charter operation he is running. He has offered me left seat in a G5 starting at $130K(I have no experience with this type of equiptment). I will be traveling to "visit" this operation and to try and get a feel of whether this is a good move or not. The oportunity requires me to move far from where I live now, away from family and I will be taking a girlfriend and 2 year old with me.

Currently I make $90K as a CA on the ERJ with weekends and hollidays off. I usually have 13-15 days off a month, and enjoy a pretty good "quality of life". I am activally trying to move on to a major, and I have excepted the fact that I will take a huge pay cut. I know I will miss the benefits of being an airline pilot. (Example: My girlfriend and I are going to Germany in April free of charge.{vacation passes}) an other example I jumpseat to visit family on a regualar basis.

I know there are alot of charter guys out there that make great livings and enjoy a wonderful quality of life. I am interested in hearing their opinions. If I go to a major, I am optimistic I will be presented an oportunity within a year. I am 32, so I have lots of time left.

The important things to me are 1)being home for my family 2) making money 3) stability.

Thanks.

If I am not mistaken, I think the insurance company that underwrites that GV is going to be most reluctant to allow you to fly that aircraft as PIC with a brand new GV type and zero experience-a issue you might want to discuss with your buddy.

I think you should stay put as you have control of your schedule and can thus balance personal and professional commitments, going the charter route generally means a sacrifice in personal QOL. If you are living comfortably on your current salary and working conditions, it will be probably better to wait for a major airline opportunity.

 

[CapnVegetto]

An old grey-headed pilot once told me to look at how many steps are on the airplane door, multiply that by 3, and that's how many days a month you're gonna be away from home flying that thing. 7 steps X 3 = about 21 days a month you're not in your own bed.

The big thing to get out of these fellas is how many HARD days off a month are you going to have? Are you on call 24/7? How many nights a month can you expect to be gone? How many hours a year do you see the airplane flying? Usually, on the last two questions, multiply the number he gives you by 1.5 and that'll be closer to the real number. If an owner tells you he's going to fly 200 hours a year, 200 X 1.5 = 300 will probably be more true.

The biggest thing I've learned in my about 10 years in this stupid business is KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING IN TO. Ask the right questions. QOL is #1 to me, and if an owner is questioning why you're asking stuff like that then you probably don't want to work for him. $130K is great money, but if you're gone 25 days a month and never see your family it ain't worth sheeite.

My $.02.

 

[AMANSWORLD]

Hey guys,

I have been presented with a unique situation. A long time friend of mine is trying to recruit me to a charter operation he is running. He has offered me left seat in a G5 starting at $130K(I have no experience with this type of equiptment). I will be traveling to "visit" this operation and to try and get a feel of whether this is a good move or not. The oportunity requires me to move far from where I live now, away from family and I will be taking a girlfriend and 2 year old with me.

Currently I make $90K as a CA on the ERJ with weekends and hollidays off. I usually have 13-15 days off a month, and enjoy a pretty good "quality of life". I am activally trying to move on to a major, and I have excepted the fact that I will take a huge pay cut. I know I will miss the benefits of being an airline pilot. (Example: My girlfriend and I are going to Germany in April free of charge.{vacation passes}) an other example I jumpseat to visit family on a regualar basis.

I know there are alot of charter guys out there that make great livings and enjoy a wonderful quality of life. I am interested in hearing their opinions. If I go to a major, I am optimistic I will be presented an oportunity within a year. I am 32, so I have lots of time left.

The important things to me are 1)being home for my family 2) making money 3) stability.

Thanks.

Should you not want the job, please PM me all the info. I am sure myself and 1000 other ASA pilots would take it in a heartbeat.

 

[rattler]

If I am not mistaken, I think the insurance company that underwrites that GV is going to be most reluctant to allow you to fly that aircraft as PIC with a brand new GV type and zero experience-a issue you might want to discuss with your buddy

Good point, but it hasn't been brought up. I do know however it is not unheard of to hire into left left seat of jet aircraft. As previously stated I do not have Gulfstream experience, but I do have a fair amount PIC jet time. A very good question, I will look into it.

 

[Makesheepnervus]

The Insurance wouldn't be too much of an Issue, you might have to fly with an experienced captain until you have 50 or 100 hours in type, but that would be all. With your amount of PIC jet time It most likely would not present a problem at all; I can remember being assigned with another fellow on an Astra we both came on board with fresh types and zero time in type and were flying as a crew straight out of school.
Wyvern or Argus PIC minimums are a bit more tough, usually requiring 250 hours in type along with the other total, pic, jet and multi engine minimums.
Not all charter operations require these minimums though.

 

[boeing72]

I just left the Regionals for a charter job. Mostly out and backs from my home town on a BE400. Only 55k per year.

If you are not taking the charter job, have your friend call me please! lol

Is it by any chance in Naples, FL? I had a friend just mention a similar job.

Sounds like you have good seniority, might as well stay where you are until u get the main line job you want.

 

[capt_zman]

Probably not a big deal, but being a charter outfit, you can kiss your holidays goodbye.

Also, you'll need to get some intl experience as well before they turn you loose as a PIC. It's not hard, but alot different than what you're used to and will take a little time to be comfortable with. And you can bank on being gone more often, that is for sure.

Good luck.

 

[Rook]

Currently I make $90K as a CA on the ERJ

Holy $hit dude! Where do you work? But seriously, good luck whatever you choose.

 

[landlover]

when it comes to charter "the bigger the airplane the bigger the suitcase". out and backs nearly don't exist in that airplane. lets just say you do a day trip. where naples is the company's base, naples-orlando-teterboro-orlando. i bet money you drive a rental car back to naples from orlando instead of flying the airplane, or just go to a hotel in orlando and wait for a trip. the best part of this job would be the money and the type. once you feel like you have fulfilled your requirement to your buddy you could quit and do contract work for at least $2000 a day. or go teach at flight safety and be home every night

 

[hawkerjet]

Why would you even consider this move if you are thinking of eventually moving to a major? You're fat, dumb and happy right now which would change immediately when you go charter. Uproot yourself twice as opposed to just once? The grass is always greener on the other side because there is more fertilizer there, so don't forget to bring your boots.

 

[Canucit]

you seem to be getting alot of advice.
but we all like change hoping it will get better
I think that you should be looking for the long haul, most charter/corporate gigs dont always last
and you'll be on the bottom of the new job and why are they hiring anyway
good luck

 

[Captainzero1]

Rattler, you mentioned your ultimate goal is a major. If that is the case, you can forget about family, money and stability for at least five years until you build up some seniority at the major. A GV type is to die for dude. Take the GV, with your experience you are competive with just about all the majors down the road. Live life a little. Out and backs must get boring as hell after a while.

 

[MissKittyKat]

There is no such thing as to be home everynight in aviation. I've worked on Hawkers, 727's and the Global Express ( and it goes a long way). I just got back from HNL, and I used to live in Guam. QOL of life depends on you, and what your looking for. Please do not let anyone steer you away from what you want to do.

My boyfriend works for stanford financial, I now currently work for Miami Air, all I can say is, we both love what we do, granted we do not have small children, We really love what we do, and as far as the money or quality of life, we have investments, and yes it is always good to get home to your bed!

Hard work pays off!

 

[FlyFlyFly]

I know there are alot of charter guys out there that make great livings and enjoy a wonderful quality of life.

Really? Are you serious? Charter is the quintessential antithesis of quality of life. Unless the owner just does 20 hours a year for taxes, charter equals unpredictable schedule, giving up days off, pissed off families, crying children, etc. If quality of life is your goal, charter is NOT the way to go, unless you have connections and are using it to make your way to a reputable 91 operation.