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Leaving the regionals for corporate

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tweeter125

It's crazy man...crazy
Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Posts
52
I'm sure it has been discussed here before but I havent seen a recent post about it. I am at a medium size, fast growing regional. I will have about 350 below me in seinority by years end. My QOL is what I need it to be. I live in base. That being said I may have an opportunity to go to a small corporate/charter operator in my home town. The pay is almost triple. This would be a co-captain position, so there is a type rating and PIC involved. QOL may suffer but I am single with no kids so I can accept the change. I also signed a training contract at the regional so I have to take that into consideration. We can start a whole new thread about the morality of signing and even those companies that force people to sign them so lets not get stuck on that. I honestly felt that I would be there for at least five years. I have to at least take a long look at this opportunity. I would like to hear from anyone who has done similar. Pro's and con's. Would you do it again?
 
Okay.....this has been discussed ad nauseum and very recently. Like yesterday, even. You should have no trouble finding plenty of ammo for that cannon. Thread search it, and good luck to you....whatever you choose.

matter of fact....it's like two or three threads below this one at press time. I can't get teh link to paste because I have no idea what I'm doing. Sorry. Good luck, again.
 
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I would recommend to carefully weigh your options. This has certainly been discussed here before, and the corporate life *can be* and is great for many.

But the grass is not always greener...
 
I know that the grass isn't always greener. I have not even been offered this yet but I do believe I will be. I am trying to gather as much info that I can. This is not a decision that I would be making lightly. I was just hoping to get some responses from those who have done this same move. I have my own list of pro's and con's I just wanted to make sure I dont miss any thing. There are alot of people out there that can provide some insight but in the end it is ALL a matter of what is right for me.
 
When will you upgrade at the regional? What do you want out of life? TC
 
Both difficult questions to answer. If all stays the same here upgrade should be about a year and a half to two years from now. If growth continues at the same rate that it has been then over the past three then it should be in about a year from now. So to best answer I see it at anywhere from 1 to 3 years from now. The other question requiers much more thought. (and a crystal ball wouldnt hurt) I have been in the 121 environment for about two years, at two airlines, dont get me wrong that by NO means makes me an expert, but I am not sure that I want to work my way up one seinotity list (twice) just to do it all over again IF i get a shot at a major. I think I would like to try the corporate side of aviation but I do know that if I do make the switch it will be alot harder to get back if I dont like it. And I will have to start at the bottom somewhere else. I think if that were to happen I would find something else to do and go back to aviation as a hobby. Come to think of it I really enjoyed instucting. Wish you could make an honest living at that.
 
If it is corporate/charter in most cases it turns out to be charter/corporate. That can turn into 24/7 and the owner wants to know why the charter does not pay for his flying.

Worst case is it is a one plane operation on a local 135 ops. that will use you to when they do not have the airplane to do it on their own.

A real corporate job with a good flight dept. is the way to go.
 
If it is corporate/charter in most cases it turns out to be charter/corporate. That can turn into 24/7 and the owner wants to know why the charter does not pay for his flying.

Exactly the kind of info I am looking for. Definitely didn't think of that. Thanks. Keep em commin.
 
Me too, I am suddenly in this position as well...

I am a regional captain with a decent schedule making a little less than 60k a year. I was recently offered a Challenger position at 90k a year. I would be flying with a friend which would be awesome, but I don't know much about the corporate world... I am wondering what the pluses and minuses are. In addition, I have reached the Southwest mins just to add fuel to the fire. hmmm... decision, decisions

Thanks a bunch.

PS Where do I find that pro pilot pay survey?
 
Why not apply to Netjets? Fly corporate airplanes on an airline-type schedule. It's not a cure-all, but a lot of people have gone to the fractionals and are still able to leave if they don't like it. Jet Blue, for example, has picked up a lot of Netjets pilots over the years...
 
Me too, I am suddenly in this position as well...

PS Where do I find that pro pilot pay survey?


Screw ProPilot and their survey. If you want the real deal find someone that has access to the IBM or Stanton Survey. This seems to be the gold standard that "most" corporate compensation analysts use.
 
Mercury--He meant that on PPW, you will have access to the REAL numbers from NBAA/Stanton...

NOZ--If you already have SWA mins, take the Challenger job, hoard some cash, see if you like corporate and apply at SWA. If you want to stay corporate just pass on the SWA interview (tell them you have a training contract or a family situation or some B.S.--just be very gracious when you do it!) and ride it out.

Sounds like a good corporate gig. I'm working with one of my good friends and it makes a big difference.

Good luck.TC
 
If you seach here on Flightinfo for "NBAA" you'll find quite a bit of rate information. $90K for Challenger FO is good, $90K for Challenger CA is weak.

Been to Delta, now with a good 91 gig, just bypassed recall with Delta if that helps at all. If the rates were what they were five years ago things would be different.

Good luck.
 
How are you guys getting these jobs. Everyone I know is in the 121 world and I really want to break out of it. Any ideas?
 
mamba I am in the opposite situation. Wanting to go to the (big)freighters, I know no one. corporate world is all about talking to everyone in the fbo's you never know who you might meet.
 
tweeter said:
Its all about making and keeping contacts. I did not actively seek this opportunity, It found me.

Let's see, can I throw an extra question into this thread since I'm hoping to make the same transition in about 5 years? Here goes...

And now that I think of it, it seems like sort of a silly question, but nonetheless, here it is:

For corporate jobs, what techniques for networking do you all find most effective? How do you meet these people? I mean, I know what the term "networking" means, but I'm a bit mystified by how it actually happens, especially in the corporate flying world.

-Goose
 
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hawker, what are you interested in? I know a few people at some of the supplemental carriers but none at UPS, FEDEX, etc.
 

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