Microsoft?

[Stearmandriver]

Does anyone know if Microsoft maintains a corporate flight department? I'm looking for a career-type job in the northwest, and Microsoft is obviously one of the biggest and best corporations based up there, but I can't find any info on a flight dept. They aren't in the NBAA and their coporate website makes no mention of any aviation related jobs. Seems like they'd easily be big enough to justify a flight dept. though.

Anyone?

Joe

 

[750driver]

I used to fly Steve Ballmer every so often. As you know, he is the CEO of Microsoft. I'm not sure if they have any company owned aircraft, but if they do, it makes me wonder why Ballmer has a Netjets fractional share in the CE-750. Maybe he uses it as a backup?

 

[2000flyer]

Does anyone know if Microsoft maintains a corporate flight department? I'm looking for a career-type job in the northwest, and Microsoft is obviously one of the biggest and best corporations based up there, but I can't find any info on a flight dept. They aren't in the NBAA and their coporate website makes no mention of any aviation related jobs. Seems like they'd easily be big enough to justify a flight dept. though.

Anyone?

Joe

Do a search of this board for info. Not long ago there was a thread talking about Bill Gates. I believe he's either in a Challenger or Global. I think there was also talk about a 737 as well.

Now, I don't know if they are "his" aircraft or corporate owned.

2000Flyer

 

[User546]

I also know that Paul Allen (co-founder of Microsoft) has a pair of Executive 757's, and is known to occasionally loan one out to Bill Gates when he travels.

I've always been curious myself about this question, so hopefully someone out there has more information on this topic!

 

[Computer Geek]

Gates owns a Global

CG

 

[Valkyrie]

The following may need an update:

N108CJ 1995 CitationJet 525-0108
Vulcan Northwest Inc. Seattle-Tacoma, Wa.

N531AF 1998 Gulfstream V 531
Vulcan Northwest Inc. Seattle-Tacoma, Wa.

N601AF 1989 Challenger 601-3A 5045
Vulcan Northwest Inc. Seattle-Tacoma, Wa.

N724AF 1999 Global Express 9031
Vulcan Northwest Inc. Seattle-Tacoma, Wa.

N756AF 1991 B 757-23A 24923
Vulcan Northwest Inc. Seattle-Tacoma, Wa.

N757AF 1991 B 757-2J4 25155
Vulcan Northwest Inc. Seattle-Tacoma, Wa.

 

[Publishers]

Right

Valk wins the award. Vulcan is the Microsoft flight department.

 

[eCrewster]

Vulcan

Microsoft does not have a flight department. They use Vulcan frequently, however. Pretty amazing considering the major money that Microsoft and Bill Gates both have!

Aviation Employment Board

 

[LongBoarder]

Mente Aviation

Vulcan is Paul Allen's flight department... and there is also an F-5 in the barn.

As of 2000, Gates had a 604. I am sure that there is something new in the barn by now, but I do not know that for sure.

Two pilots.... no contractors... they know there schedule nearly a year in advance.

One of the pilots came over from Nordstrom in 1998.

That is the best info that I have.

LB

 

[User546]

Below is a photo of Bill Gates Global Express for the interested:
http://www.airliners.net/open.file/485522/M/

 

[DHPFLYN]

Actually if you look at the tail number the AF stands for Allen family. Which is Paul Allen if you go by his hangar all his aircraft have that on them.

 

[LAZYB]

Don't ask, don't tell...

Microsoft does not have a flight department...

A lot of their millionaires have their own.

Bill Gates - Mente Aviation, Mark McIntyre used to be CP @ Nordstrom

Paul Allen - Vulcan, pretty much what Valkyrie enumerated, plus a Twin-Otter on amphibs and 3 or 4 helicopters. Some of the corporate iron is on The Air Group certificate.

 

[G100driver]

Had to pipe in:

Bill Gates does have 2 aircraft. He own a 604 and Global. Gates uses the 604 (he wants dispatch reliablity) while his wife uses the Global.

Allen has all the other stuff mentioned on the board. Mostly to haul around his band of criminals and drug dealers (the Trail Blazers).

Steve Balmer uses NetJets. Gates gave him a Cit. X share as a Christmas present about 4 years ago. Ballmer does not want to own a jet himself as he thinks he will ruin his children. He still uses the airlines when taking vacations. No pies in the face yet!

Interesting though, he uses NetJets because the local BFI charter companies would all talk about what Balmer was doing and he no sence of privacy. NetJets flies the likes of Balmer all the time. What do they care. Just another famous Billionair.

Anyhow, no Microsoft F.D. There will probalbly never be one while Balmer is in charge either. I guess that is good for the local charter companies.

 

[Stearmandriver]

Thanks for all the info. Like most things in the world, I'm discovering that corporate flight arrangements are more complicated than I'd guessed!

I was hoping to find another place to send a resume to, but I guess I'll have to be satisfied working the contacts I have so far. To be fair, I've been more than lucky in that regard... now I guess it's just time to wait till one of these places does some hiring. I'm usually a pretty patient person, but I guess once you get in the send-out-resumes mode, it's hard to stop even when there's nowhere left to send them!

Thanks again!

 

[Gulfstream 200]

G100...

where you get your info man??

amazing what gets put on the internet

 

[CatYaaak]

"... He still uses the airlines when taking vacations...."

What is he, some kind of sicko?

 

[G100driver]

G100...

where you get your info man??

I live in the Pac NW. We used to do a lot of charter for Gates et. al. Balmar would fly an airplane up from the Portland area just to keep touges from wagin in Seattle. It was a bummer to our charter business when Balmer got a NetJet share.

Besides, my former boss is now working for Gates.