What is Life like flying Corporate?

[pilotusnow]

So, I have pretty much ruled out flying with the airlines. And I am now wondering if I want to fly corporate or walk from aviation all together?

How many days a month are you away from home?
Will a company usually pay for your first type rating?
What are the pros and cons to the corporate lifestyle?
Do you like being a corporate pilot?

Answers to any of these questions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[ksu_aviator]

So, I have pretty much ruled out flying with the airlines. And I am now wondering if I want to fly corporate or walk from aviation all together?

How many days a month are you away from home?
Will a company usually pay for your first type rating?
What are the pros and cons to the corporate lifestyle?
Do you like being a corporate pilot?

Answers to any of these questions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Flying corporate is a tougher nut to crack than any other part of the industry. To get that first job, it takes luck and connections. In my case, I was lucky because I was flying an airplane for a charter company that happened to be the same as the one that came up for a job that was 5 miles from my home.

As for the "first type" you are probably going to have to get on with a charter company, get promoted through the ranks, get your type and then get on with a corporate department. Right now, the number of people that need a job and fit the job discription of an opening are so great, you won't find a department that is willing to look at someone without a type in their aircraft.

As for the job, your role will vary from department to department. Some of the larger companies will have dispatchers, line crews, mechanics....the works. The smaller operations will have you, you, you and you. I know people that fly a single pilot aircraft and are rarely home. They do everything. I also know that some operations, from the pilots stand point, are show up and fly the leg.

As for liking the job, it depends on you. Corporate jobs are not the airlines. You are the point of contact for the passengers, which means you must develop relationships with your self loading cargo. You'll be asked to help coordinate transportation, load baggage, walk the dog, get lunch, clean and stock the inside of the airplane...if you can think of it, a pilot has done it. You'll also be part of a small group of employees. Even the largest corporate departments are small enough to know each and every employee. That means you must be able to tolerate flying with anyone, no matter how annoying, demanding or rude.

One thing that should be noted is job security, or lack there of. Corporate departments don't have unions. If the boss doesn't like you, you are on food stamps by the end of the day. If the boss decides the airplane isn't worth the money, you get to meet the pleasant lady at the unemployment office. If the boss dies, so does your job. Being a corporate pilot means you must be very disciplined in your financial matters because you will have to endure numerous lay offs and moves.

Or, you can do like me and find a city that is about to go from dry to liquor sales approved and start a new business in an under served market.

 

[AA717driver]

There are several other threads that have discussed this extensively. So, I'll add to the next one (this... ).

If you keep the same "good" corporate job your whole career, it will be a remarkable event. Just plan on having the rug yanked out from under you or deciding to move to a better job.

Network, be nice to people, don't back stab, be a good employee without being a suckup. If you're a good guy, word will get out. If you're a d-bag, word will get out. It's an extremely small community.

If you're already doing 135, you're halfway there. People recognize that you're not afraid to pay your dues.

Good luck.

TC

P.S.--Check your PM's.

 

[2EASYPilot]

As for the "first type" you are probably going to have to get on with a charter company, get promoted through the ranks, get your type and then get on with a corporate department. Right now, the number of people that need a job and fit the job discription of an opening are so great, you won't find a department that is willing to look at someone without a type in their aircraft.


While this may be true of some operators, we have not hired a pilot in the last 15 years that was typed in our equipment. We are looking at the individual and their overall experience level. If they had the type that would be a bonus. Your experience may vary....

 

[Kingairrick]

If you're a good guy, word will get out. If you're a d-bag, word will get out. It's an extremely small community.

+1
This is the most accurate statement ever made about Part 91 at the Fortune 500 level.
If you fall into the first category, we'll buy your type, overlook a thin logbook, etc...If you're in the second category, you'll never get near the interview.

 

[G4G5]

The best corporate jobs blow away any airline job the worst corporate jobs are like driving a Tuk Tuk in Mumbai on the night shift.

http://nsontag.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/tuk-tuk.jpg

I've had both...........

 

[semperfido]

So, I have pretty much ruled out flying with the airlines. And I am now wondering if I want to fly corporate or walk from aviation all together?

How many days a month are you away from home?
Will a company usually pay for your first type rating?
What are the pros and cons to the corporate lifestyle?
Do you like being a corporate pilot?

Answers to any of these questions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

You really won't find your answer here or anywhere else on the internet. It really does come from in you. It is more " Do I want to fly airplanes professionally?". When you know that, then you just go do it and let life lead you down the path, no matter which direction.

That being said. I have been mostly a Corporate type pilot and it has been very, very good. They have paid for all my ratings. Averaged 60 RON per year. Fly on Avg 12 days per month. Have to be flexible & adaptive. Having a flexible wife is highly desirable. You will miss birthdays, holidays and will fly weekends.

 

["v"]

Pilotusnow,

I have recently just made the jump into the corporate / 135 jet charter world myself and I love it. Making the move over from having a schedule and able to plan events birthdays etc took a little bit of getting used to but on the flip side you generally fly alot less than the airlines or scheduled 135. The QOL for me has improved tenfold and I see my family so much more than I did in my previous jobs, which makes it alot easier to go and fly when the phone rings at 1am and you have to pick up and go. Before I took the job I spelled it out to my wife all the dirty details of the job, the call-outs, ever changing schedule, missing birthdays, anniversaries etc.

I fly between 12-14 days a month with a mixture of day and multi-day trips. Personally the interaction with the passengers is what drew me towards corporate flying so if that is something you enjoy, you are charismatic and you don't mind taking on the additional duties apart from just flying you'll love corporate!

 

[siouxicide]

Having a flexible wife is highly desirable.

Can you explain this some more? In all seriousness...I'm in the same boat with Semperfido and V. We're fortunate, IMO. I've known several corporate pilots that get treated as sub-human. Talk to some of the corporate guys where you're looking to work. Not only will you be networking, but you can also get a feel for whether or not you fit that company. I've also seen where it's a great company, but your captain will make your life hell. Remember, you don't switch crews every trip. Talk to people.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

So, I have pretty much ruled out flying with the airlines. And I am now wondering if I want to fly corporate or walk from aviation all together?

How many days a month are you away from home?
Will a company usually pay for your first type rating?
What are the pros and cons to the corporate lifestyle?
Do you like being a corporate pilot?

Answers to any of these questions would be appreciated.

Thanks.

I work approx 8-10 days a month.

Never paid for a type rating (never will) Any place that brags that they pay for your type rating scares me. Its part of doing business, not a perk. Hire the person not the rating. The first rating or 2 can be hard to come by, but after a certain amount of experience look for the job that hires YOU, not the rating.

Pros are the TIME OFF. I'm home with my kids more than 99% of dads I know. I love being able to enjoy family/hobbies during the week when others are working. The money can be good for the amount of work also. I have friends at major airlines and they all work way harder than I ever have.

Cons are - an odd schedule. You will miss the occasional event/holiday. I have been lucky in this area, but expect to be away..sometimes FAR away. The better paying/more secure jobs are USUALLY on the long range planes.
Biggest Con IMHO - the challenge can wear off fairly early. It's not something I can see doing for 30+ years. Once you see the world and fly a few neat planes it sometimes becomes..well...just another F'n job (which is exactly what it is I guess?) The travel gets old, jetlag, headcolds, sleepless nights, etc are part of it.

Be known as a good guy, be predictable, and a be good pilot. Have a backbone and make rationale decisions. Nothing sells a guy better to me than someone saying "He's a real good guy/girl to travel with and I'd put my family in back with him/her on the worst winter night" etc....

The things to avoid? - avoid becoming the career Co-Pilot. Pass up that right seat gear yanking jet job and get some solid PIC time and build yourself. Also - avoid being a douc*ebag. lol. Nothing worse than being on a long trip with a judgemental, know it all, no hobby, social retard corporate pilot

Also - possibly the most important IMO - live where the jobs are!! It always amazes me how people are upset they cant find work when they live in Timbuktu. Play the percentages, its common sense...more planes, more jobs, more networking etc etc..in the best of times its tough to convince someone to move you - nearly impossible any other time.

To answer the last question - YES - I like being a corporate pilot for now. Mostly because it happens to be a great job while my kids are young and I can spend a lot of time with them (who would have thought?) However, I dont see it being the type of job I want to stay in and retire from. Who knows...

Good Luck to ya!