Why we love to fly Corporate/ Private??

[cvoav8r]

Just wondering about...

What are the most popular corporate jets to fly (pilots perspective)??



Why is it that we don't all apply to SW airlines??



What makes our job better than an airline job??

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I cant say my job is BETTER than an airline job per say...but its better for me and my family (thats what matters)

Go to work for SW airlines??

Do 5 domestic legs a day between Texas and Florida in a 737? -(shoot me now) Sounds like hard, BORING work to me...I personally would be happy to never fly a domestic leg again. Others hate foreign travel..

To some SWA is their lifetime goal, hey...whatever does it for you!


Go for whichever path works for you, comparing the two is apples and oranges - completely different.

 

[Bandit60]

I like coporate aviation for a couple of reasons:

1. I know my passengers. I dont feel any safety threat from my passengers.

2. I like going different places and seeing different things. An airline pilot might go to a lot of cities but how many of them get to really experience the city for a day.

3 NO perdiem

4. I like the fact that I do all the flight prep. I like to do my own weather and my own planning. To me that is part of the flying experience.

5. And in my job (i can only speak about my job) Stability is great. Nothing is 100 percent but I would bet that most airlines fail before my corporate job fails.

6. Most of all I love my job and that makes it all worth it.

 

[Lead Sled]

I'm a corporate pilot by choice. Twenty years ago I ended up being hired by one of the majors. I wasn't there too long. It was pretty neat to have finally achieved a life-long goal, but after the "novelty" of flying a big airplane wore off I realized that it was a pretty sucky flying job. I found it to be pretty boring and without too much challenge. At that point I decided that I would leave the airlines and go back to corporate flying. Personally, I prefer the "hands on" aspect of corporate flying, not to mention the variety. I've been to all 50 States and nearly every continent many times. If I had to look forward to a 30 year SW career flying 737s on domestic routes I probably slit my wrists.

 

[cvoav8r]

I think the private sector is by far the current QOL winner(depending on your definition), and long term I think the right 91 gig is the way to go.

What I am really wondering what the most popular Corporate jets are to fly, and does anyone know what a 747 would be like compared to say a LR60, or DA50?

Is the LR60 a fun airplane?

thanks

 

[Bandit60]

I have alot of time in all types of lears but the lj60 is alot of fun. Its not the perfect airplane but it is a pilots airplane.

It is a Lear 55 on steroids.

It climbs like a rocket and can top most weather, however its wing is to small for the airplane. So at high altitudes(410 and above) it feels like you are on a needle.

 

[2000flyer]

I'd have to agree with the pro's listed above. Known passengers, great destinations, QOL. I went brain dead for a while and got the airline bug, was hired but came to my senses before accepting the job.

Once in my career I'd love to have a leg in a 747 or better yet a 777. However, talking with many pilot's who fly them, it's take-off, autopilot on, command climb, L-Nav, VNAV, Arm Approach and somewhere along the line, disengage autopilot and land. Oh yeah, and sit 8-14 hours between gear swings. At SWA, I could start my day in a 737NG and finish in a 30-year old 737-200. Several legs of rush to the runway, rush in flight, rush to the gate, rush to turn and do it all again. Nah, doens't sound like much fun to me.

I'll certainly never make the 20-year captain pay at a major, but I do quite well on my meager (by comparison) salary. Give me corporate anyday!

2000Flyer

 

[gordon24]

You guys hit the nail on the head. Corporate seems the way to go. I fly for a regional, but, have my sights set on a good corporate gig. The people I fly with look at me like I'm crazy when I say I don't want to go to SW or Jetblue. Let's see, rush to the gate...30 mins-hit McDonalds really quick...rush back, push back, wait 45min to take off, fly the same route back and forth...enough is enough. I envy you corporate guys.

 

[banned username 2]

I also agree with what has been listed above. Known passengers, great destinations, QoL, Family Atmosphere, in the loop on Flight Planning, Expense Account, Lots of time off (at home), good pay, excellent benefits, great equipment (very well maintained, modern, all glass), advancement on merit/hardwork, safety oriented, etc...

I have all the quals to go to any major (if they were hiring), 8,000 hours, 5,000+ jet time, several thousand of PIC Jet time, 4 year degree, yada, yada, yada... Never had any interest in the airlines... But that is just me...

When I was in college and the hope of being a Military Pilot fell through, my girlfriend (who is now my wife of 11 years) asked me if I was going to go work for the airlines instead, I told her "No, I'm gonna be a Corporate Pilot, the airlines don't appeal to me..." shes asked what a Corporate Pilot was... My answer was "I'm not 100% sure, but I'll let you know when I get there!" That was a couple weeks after I soloed... I had about 20 hours Total Time...

 

[SenorSpielbergo]

I agree with all of the above, plus the following:

1. Getting to spend time at some cool places (Cabo San Lucas, Las Vegas, Eagle, etc.) However, this can work against you when the trip is to Lickensack, NE or some such place.

2. Rental cars when at above mentioned places for more than one night.

3. Nice hotels.

4. No per diem, all meals expensed. Plus, crew meals provided when flying through a meal period.

 

[learflyer]

All you guys who love your corporate jobs must have some kind of schedule right? I mean I was tied down with a beeper when I was doing 91 stuff. This made me hate corporate flying. Ofcourse, I was home a lot more than I am now flying this fractional stuff. I'm starting to look around once again for a good corporate job. Too much darn flying at the fracs! I just want to be home more, 16 days away per month is criminal!

 

[Bandit60]

we dont have much of a schedule but it is extremely rare to be called out. I think i have been called out twice in four years.

I just cant imagine being on the road with the fracs doing seven on and seven off. Thats along time to be on the road.

Again nothing is perfect but this is as close as i could come to that

 

[gordon24]

For us wannabes, how about telling us how you broke into the business and landed your current job?

 

[Gulfstream 200]

YES, some sort of schedule is necessary. On call 24/7 (rat$hit charter) is worse than any airline job out there. I did that and it quickly drove me to a regional airline, which I couldn't afford to live off, so back to real corp for good.....

How to break into the biz?

Be near the jobs and have contacts. Best advice I can give.

 

[Bandit60]

I personally had worked hard for many years. Flight instructing, charter, and management flying. The ironic thing is that when I was looking for a Job I had 4 job offers in the same week.(Mid 90's) and was able to pick the job. At the time I had plenty of experience and lots of flight time, but I didnt have any contacts or know anyone at my current job. I found the job on the internet, and called the number on the add.

Just in the right place at the right time