Why do you work Fractional

[GV-Ace]

Don't kill me for asking, but why do you work for a fractional?

I've met lots of fractional pilots in my travels, and have found that they either:
a. Don't want to live in an area that has good 91 (or 135) jobs available.
b. They just can't seem to get anything else.
c. They need a schedule of exactly which days they get off.
d. They like the perception of stability.

Correct me if I'm wrong, I just can't see any other reasons.

 

[m80drvr]

The majors are not hiring

Many places will not hire a pilot that is furloughed

Need a pay check (read Welfare check)

 

[integrale]

May I answer your question with a question? By your moniker you imply that you fly GV's, 90% of the corporate ads I see advertised require you to have a type rating in the aircraft they fly. I for one am not going to rush out and plunk down 50G's or whatever it takes to meet their minimum requirements. So how does go about getting experinece, without paying their dues?

 

[tubelcane]

GV,

Some of us don't have a choice but to work for a fractional. The schedule is kind of good. 7 days off every other week or so is very nice. The 8 on kind of sucks at the end. Nobody, I mean nobody would even talk to talk to me after I was furloughed. I was out of flying nearly 2 years. They were the first to give another flying job, so I took it. Not coming from the corporate world, it was very hard getting an in. I live where there is plenty of corp. aviation. The only job I could have had required me to resign my seniority and sign a 2 year training agreement. My friends who worked there bitched about it constantly. On call never knowing if you'd be off for the weekend let alone a week or 2 down the road. Believe me with all that's going on at Options I am looking, but it sure beats unemployment.

 

[Frac Daddy]

Don't kill me for asking, but why do you work for a fractional?

I've met lots of fractional pilots in my travels, and have found that they either:
a. Don't want to live in an area that has good 91 (or 135) jobs available.
b. They just can't seem to get anything else.
c. They need a schedule of exactly which days they get off.
d. They like the perception of stability.

Correct me if I'm wrong, I just can't see any other reasons.

Days off and live where I want (sort of, for now).

GV, I DO live in an area where there are a lot of 91 and 135 jobs. I have interviewed at some of these and came to the conclusion that none of them, so far, would be an improvement. That is when the entire package was taken into consideration; pay and QOL. There are good ones out there and I am patiently waiting.

 

[CapnVegetto]

May I answer your question with a question? By your moniker you imply that you fly GV's, 90% of the corporate ads I see advertised require you to have a type rating in the aircraft they fly. I for one am not going to rush out and plunk down 50G's or whatever it takes to meet their minimum requirements. So how does go about getting experinece, without paying their dues?

You don't. In the airlines, seniority is king.....in the corporate world, insurance is king. You get an interview based on your qualifications and whether or not you have the minimums that an insurance company requires. Most of the time, that is a type rating, and time in type. Once you get about 3000-4000 hours, and about 2000 ME Turbine, you have enough of the flight experience, now to make an insurance company happy, you need experience in type. If you've got 25,000 hours in a 747, it will do you no good in getting into the left seat of a Gulfstream. It'll get into the right seat, but only after you go to school and get typed, and you somehow have to convince an employer to spend $50K on you for that. The only way to do that is to start in the little jets, upgrade to prove that you can do it, worm your way into the right seat of a nice DA2000 or GV by getting a lot of PIC in smaller jets and getting some good contacts, then eventually you'll land that job and someone will type you. After spending some time in the right seat, you're on your way. But getting into the left seat for the first time requires a lot of patience, and taking a lot of $hitty jobs with low pay and crappy schedules (often 135) to get that much needed first type and upgrade. (I just got mine).

It's a long hard road, but it's worth it.

 

[integrale]

Thanks, I have to admit I am a bit niave with 14 years of air force stink on me.

 

[Stinkbug]

Don't kill me for asking, but why do you work for a fractional?

I've met lots of fractional pilots in my travels, and have found that they either:
a. Don't want to live in an area that has good 91 (or 135) jobs available.
b. They just can't seem to get anything else.
c. They need a schedule of exactly which days they get off.
d. They like the perception of stability.

Correct me if I'm wrong, I just can't see any other reasons.

In my case, I'm not willing to move somewhere for a corporate job. So (a) above applies. Also (c) applies in that 7/7 is pretty darn handy, IMO. Works for me anyway. Not sure what you meant by (d), seeing as nothing is a sure bet anymore, fractionals included. It's true that the one major airline I'm interested in has yet to call me after three years of updating, so I guess (b) is true also

I work fractional because I haven't found anything else that beats it, all things considered.

 

[Diesel]

Don't kill me for asking, but why do you work for a fractional?

I work here because i really enjoy the work. I like going to different destinations and constently challenging myself. Every day is different and to some people that can be a good or a bad thing.

I also like the ability to move around. I've never been stuck in one place and with the wife in the industry i'm able to be flexible if we need to be.

I also like the fact that my duties end when I get home. When I'm at work i'm working. When i get home I don't give a **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** if someone steals the plane. Not my problem.

The schedule is a major reason. I'm a more of a quality of life guy than a pay guy. If you offered me the cash vs the days off i'm all over the days off.

Stability is a major issue. We've just come out of a major downturn of the economy and i never once worried about my job. I like the guys i work with and that helps a lot. Plus if i don't like him we've only got to last together for a couple of days. I'll never see him again.

As my dad said to me. It's a great part time job.

 

[hyper]

How about reasons why I DON'T work corporate;

a. I can live almost anywhere I want, can you?
b. I could get on with a corporate, just want to fly more than a couple of hours a year (in comparison) and hate to be "on call".
c. Is there something wrong with knowing when you'll be home? Hey, I can plan my son's b-day or buy concert tickets and know I'll be there....can you?
d. If one of our pax companies falls on hard times and they have to bale, I still have a job. If your company falls on hard times, what do you think is going to be the first expendature cut?

Of course, I'm sure you'll reply with the only corporate gig in the world where you earn 6 figures, have a schedule, live where you want and the company is immune from any economic changes.........you hiring?

 

[satpak77]

Don't kill me for asking, but why do you work for a fractional?

I've met lots of fractional pilots in my travels, and have found that they either:
a. Don't want to live in an area that has good 91 (or 135) jobs available.
b. They just can't seem to get anything else.
c. They need a schedule of exactly which days they get off.
d. They like the perception of stability.

Correct me if I'm wrong, I just can't see any other reasons.

flame bait

this guy is stirring the pot and everyone jumped in

 

[say again]

I don't work for a fractional, but why do I fly????

It's the only thing I know how to do!!!

 

[semperfido]

this question strikes me as a bit idiotic. when i was un-employed i would have considered many options. it is easy to ask a question like this when you are happily ensconced in your cushy part 91 GV job---just wait til you get xcanned and you will know the answer to your question

 

[Gulfstream 200]

How about reasons why I DON'T work corporate;

a. I can live almost anywhere I want, can you?
b. I could get on with a corporate, just want to fly more than a couple of hours a year (in comparison) and hate to be "on call".
c. Is there something wrong with knowing when you'll be home? Hey, I can plan my son's b-day or buy concert tickets and know I'll be there....can you?
d. If one of our pax companies falls on hard times and they have to bale, I still have a job. If your company falls on hard times, what do you think is going to be the first expendature cut?

Of course, I'm sure you'll reply with the only corporate gig in the world where you earn 6 figures, have a schedule, live where you want and the company is immune from any economic changes.........you hiring?

in fact, many of them are....they are staffed with many Vietnam era pilots retiring soon. I wouldnt doubt 1/2 the Fortune 20 are hiring now or soon...

Now, you certainly cant live where you want...but many offer everything else.

Please dont tell me you believe in that "first expenditure cut" thing or the "on call 24/7" thing.....sounds like CHARTER, not CORPORATE..

 

[GV-Ace]

Thank you for all of your responses.

I really like what Diesel had to say. Those are great reasons to be at any job.

Some of you guys make it sound as if you fly fractional as a last resort, or because you can't get a good corporate gig. That's too bad.

To answer the question about if I have QOL at my job, I do. Time off, schedule, stability, etc, etc. But I'm there because it is a fit, not because 135 or Fractional is not a fit.

I really hope most of you have your job, whatever it is, because you love it, not because it is the lesser of the evils.

Again, Diesel, you sound happy and content. You make it sound really great to fly at your company.

 

[buttercup]

Thank you for all of your responses.

I really like what Diesel had to say. Those are great reasons to be at any job.

Some of you guys make it sound as if you fly fractional as a last resort, or because you can't get a good corporate gig. That's too bad.

To answer the question about if I have QOL at my job, I do. Time off, schedule, stability, etc, etc. But I'm there because it is a fit, not because 135 or Fractional is not a fit.

I really hope most of you have your job, whatever it is, because you love it, not because it is the lesser of the evils.

Again, Diesel, you sound happy and content. You make it sound really great to fly at your company.

Diesel has never flown for an airline!!

 

[cgmason1]

Diesel has never flown for an airline!!

How come your not back at an airline?(JetBlue, Airtran, SWA, Fedex)

as far as Diesel-to each his own-I know there were a few things with NJA I liked better than the airlines(biggest was no commute, crew food, hotel/airline points)
I do like the day to day ops better at an airline.

Fly Safe
Chuck

 

[buttercup]

How come your not back at an airline?(JetBlue, Airtran, SWA, Fedex)

as far as Diesel-to each his own-I know there were a few things with NJA I liked better than the airlines(biggest was no commute, crew food, hotel/airline points)
I do like the day to day ops better at an airline.

Fly Safe
Chuck

$$$$$$$.. on my days off that is..

 

[Diesel]

GV- Oh crap here comes the pain.

hey chuck shouldn't you be walking around with your wife?

I know this italian restaurant in the north end.

ps i don't need to fly for an airline to know i like it here.

 

[cgmason1]

I know this italian restaurant in the north end.
QUOTE]

There is a good eye-talian restaurant in the North End?
All I know of is this great Chinese Place.

Fly Safe
Chuck