the life as a "corporate pilot"

[Mercury]

You're (and 501261) too kind. Thank you. I'm humbled by your compliments.

We really only have one CAPTAIN ego in the department. He, and his wife of all people, refer to anyone he flies with as "his copilot." Generally speaking, he's a nice enough guy and easy to travel with until his supremacy issues surface. For example, paying for the fuel he'll hand the credit card and receipt to me (especially if there is a good looking CSR behind the counter) and tell me to put it in the log. To this I reply with a chuckle and walk off leaving him holding the card and ticket. Most of the time he knows when he has crossed the line.


2000Flyer

Geesh, he works for you guys too!!!! , Just kidding, I shouldnt judge someone I've never met but it seems to me there is always one in every group!!!!

Cheers

 

[AA717driver]

GulfstreamSDL--When I got started, only flying 48 days a year would have been like a prison sentence. I wanted to FLY!!! Get me out there on the line!

But now, I'm 47 and my daughter will be off to college in a year and my 8 year old likes me being around. You cannot get that time back. That's what's important to me now.

When the kids are gone and the wife is working full time, I may want to fly more. But until then, I'll take these long stretches with time off.TC

 

[BizAvFA]

No one has mentioned that some are one heart attack away from the Dole.

 

[Lead Sled]

GulfstreamSDL--When I got started, only flying 48 days a year would have been like a prison sentence. I wanted to FLY!!! Get me out there on the line!

But now, I'm 47 and my daughter will be off to college in a year and my 8 year old likes me being around. You cannot get that time back. That's what's important to me now.

When the kids are gone and the wife is working full time, I may want to fly more. But until then, I'll take these long stretches with time off.TC

Exactly. Having a low key job is as good as it gets at this point in my career. If the wife and I have a spur of the moment urge and feel like jumping in the 'ol S2000 and taking a 5-day road trip we can - and do.

It wasn't always quite this good. However, during a 25 year corporate career I've avaraged 12 days duty days and approximately 50 hours per month. I've also averaged 8 RONs per month during that same period. (My wife of 34 years tells me that the RONs got me out of the house and saved our marriage. :0 )

I did the airline thing a long time ago and I found out that it just wasn't for me. Different strokes for different folks, but once the novelty of flying "big" airplanes wore off (and it does very quickly) I found it pretty boring - just how difficult is flying a radar vector departure to the departure gate, fly the route, then vectors to an ILS - repeated ad nausium. Personally I really preferred the "hands on" aspects and variety of corporate flying. There are few places on this planet that I haven't flown myself to. I think that if I was a Southwest pilot and only had to look forward to a 35 year career flying 737s on domestic routes I probably end up slitting my wrists. But hey, that's just me.

One thing about it, there is a lot of variety when it comes to corporate aviation. (Please don't confuse those 91/135 positions as corporate. They're not and they, almost across the board, suck.) If you can find a good corporate job there's nothing better. Unfortunately, there are also bad ones out there and there's probably nothing worse.

'Sled

 

[Jeff775621]

thanks everybody for the advice

 

[AA717driver]

Sled--Having done 15 years in the airlines you are right on the mark. I wouldn't trade my time there but I'm glad I was able to make the move I did.

THANKS AA! TC

 

[Spooky 1]

Agreed. To many years at the airlines although they were what some would refer to as the "Golden Years", but none the less I have enjoyed the coprorate flying as much as anything I did in my prior life. Leaving the company that I have flown for during the last five years and starting anew with someone else next week. Life is a hoot if you just keep thinking positive.

 

[Propnose]

I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones who works for a unshceduled 135 charter company that loves my job AND the company! Although we are "unscheduled", we fly corporate shuttles that operate on a schedule. We also do charter search stuff, which is a nice change of pace after doing the shuttles for a while. We also do some 91 stuff, but the bread and butter is the 135 ops. We know our schedule a month in advance and our work week is 7 on 7 off.

 

[Groundpounder]

5: Our new plane is scheduled to enter pre-buy next week.

What are you getting, and what do you have now?

 

[Flybet3]

I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones who works for a unshceduled 135 charter company that loves my job AND the company! Although we are "unscheduled", we fly corporate shuttles that operate on a schedule. We also do charter search stuff, which is a nice change of pace after doing the shuttles for a while. We also do some 91 stuff, but the bread and butter is the 135 ops. We know our schedule a month in advance and our work week is 7 on 7 off.

That's nice...I dont understand why all the other 135 operators can't do something similar.

 

[jschroed]

I hate to rain on everyone’s parade, but at least for me corporate flying is awesome when it’s good but can really suck. Almost everyone I know in the business (including myself) has at one time or another been kicked to the curb by having the flight department close or the airplane completely sold out from underneath them. Don’t get me wrong I love what I do, love the QOL and love the pay, but I never get to cozy because it could end at anytime.

 

[AA717driver]

I hate to rain on everyone’s parade, but at least for me corporate flying is awesome when it’s good but can really suck. Almost everyone I know in the business (including myself) has at one time or another been kicked to the curb by having the flight department close or the airplane completely sold out from underneath them. Don’t get me wrong I love what I do, love the QOL and love the pay, but I never get to cozy because it could end at anytime.

That IS a hazzard of the business--there is no job security anywhere! BUT! At least you can take your experience to another department and have it count. AirTran doesn't give a rats a$$ that I've got 2000 hours of PIC in the 717--"to the bottom you go, junior!".

Portability is a HUGE advantage corporate has over the airlines.TC

 

[HMR]

Good point AA717 (as usual).

 

[HMR]

What are you getting, and what do you have now?

DA50.
Astra.

 

[psysicx]

One bad thing about corp jobs can be the location. I have a friend who is looking in VT and there is nothing.

 

[Lead Sled]

I hate to rain on everyone’s parade, but at least for me corporate flying is awesome when it’s good but can really suck. Almost everyone I know in the business (including myself) has at one time or another been kicked to the curb by having the flight department close or the airplane completely sold out from underneath them. Don’t get me wrong I love what I do, love the QOL and love the pay, but I never get to cozy because it could end at anytime.

Sorry to say it, but you're right...

However, how is this any different than airline, military or any other type of flying? (Or any other career for that matter?) I've got plenty of airline and military buddies that were furlowed or forced to "fly a desk". I've lost two or three jobs over the years, but guess what? In each case, the replacement job I found was better in every way than the one I left.

In order to find that dream job you've got to be willing to go to it, it probably won't come to you. I've been flying corporate off and on (mostly on) since 1975. During the 25 years that I've flown corporate, we've lived in Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Ohio, Oregon and finally California. If you're only willing to stay in one particular area it will probably be difficult.

Just some thoughts.

'Sled

 

[Groundpounder]

DA50.
Astra.

OK cool thanks.

 

[banned username 2]

DA50.
Astra.

50EX or straight 50?

 

[FlyingPieceOfSt]

I fly corporate and enjoy the occupation.

What I don't like is that they are always taking away from the flight department. Sure we have nice equipment to operate, with the oldest bird being 4 years old out of 12 jets. All of the nice little perks I saw when I first came onboard were great. Five years later we are down to 50% of those perks with zero new perks in sight. The cost of living raise is a joke. I am actually making less overall now than I did last year. The company I fly for is nothing to sneeze at either. They are always increasing revenues and capacity but are squeezing us low management guys tighter and tighter.

Anyone else with this same impression flying corporate? QOL is exceptional. Pax are mostly very nice. The pilots I fly with are great to be near in the cockpit and on the ground. Is it just me or do I have a normal gripe?

 

[Lead Sled]

I fly corporate and enjoy the occupation.

What I don't like is that they are always taking away from the flight department. Sure we have nice equipment to operate, with the oldest bird being 4 years old out of 12 jets. All of the nice little perks I saw when I first came onboard were great. Five years later we are down to 50% of those perks with zero new perks in sight. The cost of living raise is a joke. I actually I am making less overall now than last year. The company I fly for is nothing to sneeze at either. They are always increasing revenues and capacity but are squeezing us low management guys tighter and tighter.

Anyone else with this same impression flying corporate? QOL is exceptional. Pax are mostly very nice. The pilots I fly with are great to be near in the cockpit and on the ground. Is it just me or do I have a normal gripe?

Are you a straight part 91 operator with 12 aircraft? Would you like to discuss your salary, perks, retirement, etc. issues with the guys from Delta?

'Sled

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

Corporate sounds fun and all, and from what many of you guys are saying it pays very well. However I just do not want to carry someone's bags, matter of fact I want someone to carry my bags.

 

[SCT]

My fellow "corp" brothers.....let me answer this fine regional aviator!


B-J-J-Fighter,

I'll gladly "carry" the boss's suitcase or briefcase to/from the aircraft. (Even though 90% of the time he won't let me take it from him). I have no problem pouring him a coffee or a drink on a rare occasion that he does not grab it himself. I have no problem leaving later than the proposed departure time because his meeting has ran longer than expected. (It's his plane and his business pays my salary. And he even calls sincerely when he'll be more then 30 minutes late.)

Mean while, I'll collect my six figure pay, sit in nice destinations (except TEB) for several days on the company money, fly new- well maintained equipment, and enjoy my time off.

On the other hand, BJJ, even though you refuse to carry the CEO's briefcase....I'm sure you will have a great career in aviation as a 121 FO. Making 20-25+ the first year to fly a "jet". Staying in a flophouse in NEW with several other pilots. But hey, you are flying a "jet", I'm sure your old CFI buddies are pretty impressed! And if the industry ever gets straightened out, you might have a chance to "fly" one of the big jets for the majors......maybe someday. And if your airline doesn't furlough you or go bankrupt, you might actually make it to the left seat. But hey, you are an "Airline" pilot!

Meanwhile, I'm going down to Miami for the week and I'll gladly "belittle" myself by getting the boss's suitcase off the airplane.

Seriously, though...I think this is where the airlines our F..ing up. We provide a service and you guys just drive the bus.

Best of luck,

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Corporate sounds fun and all, and from what many of you guys are saying it pays very well. However I just do not want to carry someone's bags, matter of fact I want someone to carry my bags.

SO....are you saying you have too much pride to carry someones briefcase but you work for 19K/yr?

only person that might help carry your bags is your mom after she picks you up at the terminal to drive you home.


:0


not many corp guys carry briefcases...but if it was beyond you and unacceptable - yup, you belong in that 121 world.

 

[Groundpounder]

Corporate sounds fun and all, and from what many of you guys are saying it pays very well. However I just do not want to carry someone's bags, matter of fact I want someone to carry my bags.

I think I spend about a total of ten minutes total touching peoples luggage on each round trip, and thats at the most. Normally its throw a bag or two in the back and away we go. I'd much rather do that then sit around waiting for someone else to do it for me, and all the other BS airline pilots put up with.

 

[SCT]

"not many corp guys carry briefcases...but if it was beyond you and unacceptable - yup, you belong in that 121 world." G200

Come on G200, the guy has 1500 hrs....he must be one of those "real" airline pilots. It's below him to touch someone else's suitcase......it's in the ALPA contract. But hey, he's a 121 FO.

"He can ride that pony right down to the bankruptcy court..."

 

[Gulfstream 200]

"not many corp guys carry briefcases...but if it was beyond you and unacceptable - yup, you belong in that 121 world." G200

Come on G200, the guy has 1500 hrs....he must be one of those "real" airline pilots. It's below him to touch someone else's suitcase......it's in the ALPA contract. But hey, he's a 121 FO.

"He can ride that pony right down to the bankruptcy court..."

imagine for a moment..

paying ALPA dues when you make less than a Mcdonalds drive thru worker.



(but Im not carrying my bosses bag damn it! - Im NOBODYS bitch!)

 

[Lead Sled]

SO....are you saying you have too much pride to carry someones briefcase but you work for 19K/yr?

only person that might help carry your bags is your mom after she picks you up at the terminal to drive you home. :0

Not many corp guys carry briefcases...but if it was beyond you and unacceptable - yup, you belong in that 121 world.

I've flown corporate for 25 years and I honestly can't remember ever being asked to carry anyone's bag - sure I've offered to help some of our passengers (mostly the ladies), but by far and away most of the time the passengers carry their own bags to the airplane or to the baggage cart. Basically all we ever do is load and unload the baggage compartment. That's seldom a big deal and most of the time our passengers or lineguys are there feeding us the bags.

I can't remember that last time I had one of our passengers ask us to serve them anything or pour them a drink. What I do find is that our passengers are always coming forward to ask us if we'd like them to get us anything.

In the past it seemed that there were plenty of horror stories floating around about pilots being treated as little more than white slaves, cowering to their domineering company passengers. Perhaps they were true, but I've never experienced it. My feeling is that the turnover in such a department would be horrendous and, as it always does,word would get out and quality guys would apply elsewhere for work.

Is corporate flying the end all to beat all? Of course not. But there are enough of us out there that wouldn't have it any other way. You commuter guys just keep on trucking, someone's got to fly them busses.

'Sled

 

[HawkerF/O]

Wtf????????

In the past it seemed that there were plenty of horror stories floating around about pilots being treated as little more than white slaves, cowering to their domineering company passengers.

Pilots were White Slaves? Why was it necessary for you to even mention a race? Why? Good thing there are no Black pilots. Hispanic or Asain pilots either. I didn't know pilots were only white.

Lead Sled, I don't EVER want to hear you talking/whining about how some black, woman, or hispanic is getting a job when there is some poor qualified white guy that gets passed over. It's that type up unintenional thing that "slips out" that reveals the real you. It's because of things like that that minorities get preference at times. Why don't you think about what you say and do so the playing field can be leveled.

I'm not a "black/white" guy. You don't know me, but there are a couple of folks on here that do, and they've never heard me talk about blacks get this or whites get this. Not my style. But what you said was out of line. Normally, I would have given you the benefit of the doubt, but because you specifically said "white slave" when refering to a group of pilots in general who you don't know, that let me know your thoughts were intentional and infcat they were.

 

[Groundpounder]

Pilots were White Slaves? Why was it necessary for you to even mention a race? Why? Good thing there are no Black pilots. Hispanic or Asain pilots either. I didn't know pilots were only white.

Lead Sled, I don't EVER want to hear you talking/whining about how some black, woman, or hispanic is getting a job when there is some poor qualified white guy that gets passed over. It's that type up unintenional thing that "slips out" that reveals the real you. It's because of things like that that minorities get preference at times. Why don't you think about what you say and do so the playing field can be leveled.

I'm not a "black/white" guy. You don't know me, but there are a couple of folks on here that do, and they've never heard me talk about blacks get this or whites get this. Not my style. But what you said was out of line. Normally, I would have given you the benefit of the doubt, but because you specifically said "white slave" when refering to a group of pilots in general who you don't know, that let me know your thoughts were intentional and infcat they were.

Lighten up, Francis.

 

[Spooky 1]

My fellow "corp" brothers.....let me answer this fine regional aviator!


B-J-J-Fighter,

I'll gladly "carry" the boss's suitcase or briefcase to/from the aircraft. (Even though 90% of the time he won't let me take it from him). I have no problem pouring him a coffee or a drink on a rare occasion that he does not grab it himself. I have no problem leaving later than the proposed departure time because his meeting has ran longer than expected. (It's his plane and his business pays my salary. And he even calls sincerely when he'll be more then 30 minutes late.)

Mean while, I'll collect my six figure pay, sit in nice destinations (except TEB) for several days on the company money, fly new- well maintained equipment, and enjoy my time off.

On the other hand, BJJ, even though you refuse to carry the CEO's briefcase....I'm sure you will have a great career in aviation as a 121 FO. Making 20-25+ the first year to fly a "jet". Staying in a flophouse in NEW with several other pilots. But hey, you are flying a "jet", I'm sure your old CFI buddies are pretty impressed! And if the industry ever gets straightened out, you might have a chance to "fly" one of the big jets for the majors......maybe someday. And if your airline doesn't furlough you or go bankrupt, you might actually make it to the left seat. But hey, you are an "Airline" pilot!

Meanwhile, I'm going down to Miami for the week and I'll gladly "belittle" myself by getting the boss's suitcase off the airplane.

Seriously, though...I think this is where the airlines our F..ing up. We provide a service and you guys just drive the bus.

Best of luck,

Well said and spot on!