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Your typical day as a corporate pilot
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banned username 2
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Archer,
No offense... but we have answered this (and all of your other questions) ad nauseum....
If you keep asking the same questions to the same people you will get the same answers....
There is no such thing as a "Typical Day" for a Corporate Pilot...
Last Monday I did a pickup on the East Coast... I had to get up at 3am but I was done working by 10am and home having lunch with my 3 year old daughter.... Thursday-Friday last week I was on the west coast for an easy overnight trip (and a fantastic dinner)... Today I don't even start working until 8pm and I won't be home until Tuesday after dinner... A couple weeks ago I spent the week in Spain and Italy... The week after my Spain/Italy trip I was off for 9 days straight...
There is no such thing as an "Typical Day"... every day is different, and personally that is one of the things I love about this job....
This job varies greatly from company to company.... At some smaller companies you are expected to do everything when you aren't flying (Jepps, schedule your own hotels, wash the plane, office duty, etc...) at larger companies such as mine we are not required to do any of those (except some Jepps charts)... We don't clean the planes or have to do any office duty... and we have 3 dispatchers who take care of all hotels, rental cars and other trip details (we do, however, do our own flight planning, which is good)...
I know you are looking for someone to say "Archer, this is the perfect job for you!" but you know what? Life just isn't that easy... There is inherent risk in everything you do... and you will never truely know whether you made the right decision or not until after the fact... maybe years after... You have to take your information (which many of us have supplied you with plenty) and evaluate it based on your desires and act on it.... Over-analyzation will not do you any good because you are looking at dynamic information... the longer you analyze it, the more it changes...
You strike me as a very indecisive person... This concerns me, because in an aircraft during critical situations you sometimes have to evaluate a situation rather quickly and act on it decisively or the situation will get much worse.... You seem to have trouble acting quickly and decisively... Not that this is a bad thing, but it might not be the best trait for someone who's "office" is going 575 mph at 41,000 ft.... My guess is you will stay your course as an engineering student and become an engineer where you can analyze data all day and take the time you need to act on it.... and you will fly on the side as a very happy recreational type pilot... Probably... in an Archer...
No offense... but we have answered this (and all of your other questions) ad nauseum....
If you keep asking the same questions to the same people you will get the same answers....
There is no such thing as a "Typical Day" for a Corporate Pilot...
Last Monday I did a pickup on the East Coast... I had to get up at 3am but I was done working by 10am and home having lunch with my 3 year old daughter.... Thursday-Friday last week I was on the west coast for an easy overnight trip (and a fantastic dinner)... Today I don't even start working until 8pm and I won't be home until Tuesday after dinner... A couple weeks ago I spent the week in Spain and Italy... The week after my Spain/Italy trip I was off for 9 days straight...
There is no such thing as an "Typical Day"... every day is different, and personally that is one of the things I love about this job....
This job varies greatly from company to company.... At some smaller companies you are expected to do everything when you aren't flying (Jepps, schedule your own hotels, wash the plane, office duty, etc...) at larger companies such as mine we are not required to do any of those (except some Jepps charts)... We don't clean the planes or have to do any office duty... and we have 3 dispatchers who take care of all hotels, rental cars and other trip details (we do, however, do our own flight planning, which is good)...
I know you are looking for someone to say "Archer, this is the perfect job for you!" but you know what? Life just isn't that easy... There is inherent risk in everything you do... and you will never truely know whether you made the right decision or not until after the fact... maybe years after... You have to take your information (which many of us have supplied you with plenty) and evaluate it based on your desires and act on it.... Over-analyzation will not do you any good because you are looking at dynamic information... the longer you analyze it, the more it changes...
You strike me as a very indecisive person... This concerns me, because in an aircraft during critical situations you sometimes have to evaluate a situation rather quickly and act on it decisively or the situation will get much worse.... You seem to have trouble acting quickly and decisively... Not that this is a bad thing, but it might not be the best trait for someone who's "office" is going 575 mph at 41,000 ft.... My guess is you will stay your course as an engineering student and become an engineer where you can analyze data all day and take the time you need to act on it.... and you will fly on the side as a very happy recreational type pilot... Probably... in an Archer...
Gulfstream 200
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Archer,
you going to be a pilot or what??
How come the same old questions all the time??
As hundreds of posts have answered your question before....
You wont make a ton of money, you will travel the back side of the clock a lot, and you will have a lot of responsibility.....but we still love doing it. I think that is what matters.
Typical month....well...JAN was busy.....from both coasts of the USA, to Eastern Europe, to Scotland, to China, and back.......longest stretch was out 6 days. So far FEB looks pretty quiet, which is good - because I am tired.
There are many easier ways to make money and many easier ways to make your parents happy......if thats still an issue.
Good Luck
P.S. --Jeps?? FALCON CAPT, you guys still doing paper charts??? c'mon man, get with the times! (haha)
you going to be a pilot or what??
How come the same old questions all the time??
As hundreds of posts have answered your question before....
You wont make a ton of money, you will travel the back side of the clock a lot, and you will have a lot of responsibility.....but we still love doing it. I think that is what matters.
Typical month....well...JAN was busy.....from both coasts of the USA, to Eastern Europe, to Scotland, to China, and back.......longest stretch was out 6 days. So far FEB looks pretty quiet, which is good - because I am tired.
There are many easier ways to make money and many easier ways to make your parents happy......if thats still an issue.
Good Luck
P.S. --Jeps?? FALCON CAPT, you guys still doing paper charts??? c'mon man, get with the times! (haha)
Last edited:
2000flyer
EASY FLYER
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2001
- Posts
- 1,586
Jepps???
You guys mean to tell me there is some other method out there than doing the revisions, page by page, yearly checklists, etc? You guys crack me up!!!
Of course I'm being a wise crack. We still do it the old fashioned way (see above). I'd just love to have Q service!!
Ours is one of those less "traditional" corporate departments. We have "office duty" on the days we don't fly. Yes, if we don't fly for five days, we're still in the office those five days. We don't punch a clock, nor do we do 9-5. I do usually put in 6-7 hours on a non-flight day. For example, last week I had three flight days, all 14+ hour duty days. Combined with my duty time on "office duty", my total duty time for the week was 51.5 hours.
We do everything, from flying, a/c washing, hangar/office cleaning, paperwork, etc. Given the fact we're required to work on non-flight days, this gives us something to do since we have to be there anyway.
I work for a good company and we're certainly not over worked. Given the current economic woes and watching so many flight departments go by the wayside, all things considered, this is a pretty decent job!
2000Flyer
PS - Sheez, next thing you'll tell me is they have Jepps where you just put a disc in a little screen and either print it or look at it on the flight deck.
You guys mean to tell me there is some other method out there than doing the revisions, page by page, yearly checklists, etc? You guys crack me up!!!
Of course I'm being a wise crack. We still do it the old fashioned way (see above). I'd just love to have Q service!!
Ours is one of those less "traditional" corporate departments. We have "office duty" on the days we don't fly. Yes, if we don't fly for five days, we're still in the office those five days. We don't punch a clock, nor do we do 9-5. I do usually put in 6-7 hours on a non-flight day. For example, last week I had three flight days, all 14+ hour duty days. Combined with my duty time on "office duty", my total duty time for the week was 51.5 hours.
We do everything, from flying, a/c washing, hangar/office cleaning, paperwork, etc. Given the fact we're required to work on non-flight days, this gives us something to do since we have to be there anyway.
I work for a good company and we're certainly not over worked. Given the current economic woes and watching so many flight departments go by the wayside, all things considered, this is a pretty decent job!
2000Flyer
PS - Sheez, next thing you'll tell me is they have Jepps where you just put a disc in a little screen and either print it or look at it on the flight deck.
banned username 2
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Gulfstream 200 said:
Yeah, Yeah... I know.... well we have Q-Service for a lot of the world, but there are still some places that we don't have Q for...
We have a new Department Manager... so we are trying to get the JeppView... but that may be a while yet.... I'd take a raise in place of JeppView!
Yes, I thought of getting such a response.
Falcon, you say I'm undecisive. If I look at myself, I can say for some things I am, and for others I'm not. I eat with my friends almsot every meal, and 2 out of 3 meals I will not know where we should eat. On the other hand, there have been occasions while I was in training flights, where I had to make quick aeronautical decisions, and my CFI told me that they were good decisions.
Of course, we are not all born professional pilots, we usually become professional pilots.
For example, on my last flight, my CFI pulled the throttle on me right when I was about to turn base, and I already had a notch of flaps in...ABC came to mind, best glide speed, and get the plane on the runway...what I didn't process fast enough, and had a momentary block on, was weather I should leave that notch of flaps, for flying under 80 knots (which is usually when you put first notch) as glide speed was 76 knots, to have that extra lift at slow slpeeds...or take the flaps out, for least drag...
my CFI had to help me by saying "You're not gonna make it with flaps extended, even one notch" or something like that...
but I learned from that, and now next time on an engine out, I won't put in any flaps at all, unless I have the field made.
Decison making skills come from experience, which is what the professional pilot hiring system is based on...number of hours of experience, and types of hours etc...
As for my indecision whether to become a pro pilot or engineer, I know that it seems like I might be eating your brains with my nth post, but I think you guys do not realize that this is going to be my biggest decision in life. And i mean, BIGGEST, MOST IMPORTANT decision in my life.
Why? If I become a pro pilot, I will probably not do a Masters degree, and spend those 40 grand on some 400 flight hours, getting, getting my ratings.
If I go fly for a couple of years, and decide I don't like it, it's extremly difficult getting back into Engineering, especially without a Masters degree and some work experience needed...people look at your age...and say, "what have you been doing son?"
While in aviation, it's different, you can start flying when you are 40.
I KNOW there is no typical day for a corporate pilot, and that's why I like it over Part 121 or 135, because of that irregularity, and because you fly smaller planes.
I am studying Aerospace Engineering. I'll know a heck of a lot about aircraft by the time I graduate. I'm probably going to have at least my PP/ASEL-IA, and have a chance to work up to CFI-II-MEI.
I speak English, and if I end up flying to Europe, I can speak French and Italian fluently. I have been to those countreis, lived in them, know them.
I've even been in the Middle East...
all of these seem like great things for a Corp pilot.
I love flying, even though I'm trying to discover whether corp. flying is for me...
I mean, I love flying at leisure, seeing new places, flying new and greater airplanes...love cockpits...would love to work with another pilot in multi-crew envirionment...and laugh about things in the cockpit...have fun, I love ATC talk, and airport environments.
You say, "why the hell do you not become a corp pilot" then?
I'm a year from graduating with one of the most difficult degrees, in one of the best universities. I love engineering too, designing planes and spacecraft...
see...i'ts just a big decision, and I can't make it in one day. That's why I am trying to get advice and help with you guys...
and I know there is a limit...but I'm trying to learn about your jobs as much as possible...
plus I'm not a Citizen...so it's going to be hard for me, more than for Americans...and corp flying in Europe would be much tougher and more expensive...as I would have to take all the JAA training courses...and they seem a lot tougher in some aspects...for example...they got some 14 exams for PP and IR...instead of 2
So, I'm sorry if I'm coming across as a pain in the arse, but this IS really the biggest decision in my life...
and I really need some info on corporate flying, to see if I should dedicate my life to it.
And don't give me that "if you love flying, you shouldn't have doubts about it"
I love airplanes, whether flying or designing them. I'm not considering going into Law or Medicine or Economics. I'm only trying to decide between "designing" and "flying" airplanes
Archer
Falcon, you say I'm undecisive. If I look at myself, I can say for some things I am, and for others I'm not. I eat with my friends almsot every meal, and 2 out of 3 meals I will not know where we should eat. On the other hand, there have been occasions while I was in training flights, where I had to make quick aeronautical decisions, and my CFI told me that they were good decisions.
Of course, we are not all born professional pilots, we usually become professional pilots.
For example, on my last flight, my CFI pulled the throttle on me right when I was about to turn base, and I already had a notch of flaps in...ABC came to mind, best glide speed, and get the plane on the runway...what I didn't process fast enough, and had a momentary block on, was weather I should leave that notch of flaps, for flying under 80 knots (which is usually when you put first notch) as glide speed was 76 knots, to have that extra lift at slow slpeeds...or take the flaps out, for least drag...
my CFI had to help me by saying "You're not gonna make it with flaps extended, even one notch" or something like that...
but I learned from that, and now next time on an engine out, I won't put in any flaps at all, unless I have the field made.
Decison making skills come from experience, which is what the professional pilot hiring system is based on...number of hours of experience, and types of hours etc...
As for my indecision whether to become a pro pilot or engineer, I know that it seems like I might be eating your brains with my nth post, but I think you guys do not realize that this is going to be my biggest decision in life. And i mean, BIGGEST, MOST IMPORTANT decision in my life.
Why? If I become a pro pilot, I will probably not do a Masters degree, and spend those 40 grand on some 400 flight hours, getting, getting my ratings.
If I go fly for a couple of years, and decide I don't like it, it's extremly difficult getting back into Engineering, especially without a Masters degree and some work experience needed...people look at your age...and say, "what have you been doing son?"
While in aviation, it's different, you can start flying when you are 40.
I KNOW there is no typical day for a corporate pilot, and that's why I like it over Part 121 or 135, because of that irregularity, and because you fly smaller planes.
I am studying Aerospace Engineering. I'll know a heck of a lot about aircraft by the time I graduate. I'm probably going to have at least my PP/ASEL-IA, and have a chance to work up to CFI-II-MEI.
I speak English, and if I end up flying to Europe, I can speak French and Italian fluently. I have been to those countreis, lived in them, know them.
I've even been in the Middle East...
all of these seem like great things for a Corp pilot.
I love flying, even though I'm trying to discover whether corp. flying is for me...
I mean, I love flying at leisure, seeing new places, flying new and greater airplanes...love cockpits...would love to work with another pilot in multi-crew envirionment...and laugh about things in the cockpit...have fun, I love ATC talk, and airport environments.
You say, "why the hell do you not become a corp pilot" then?
I'm a year from graduating with one of the most difficult degrees, in one of the best universities. I love engineering too, designing planes and spacecraft...
see...i'ts just a big decision, and I can't make it in one day. That's why I am trying to get advice and help with you guys...
and I know there is a limit...but I'm trying to learn about your jobs as much as possible...
plus I'm not a Citizen...so it's going to be hard for me, more than for Americans...and corp flying in Europe would be much tougher and more expensive...as I would have to take all the JAA training courses...and they seem a lot tougher in some aspects...for example...they got some 14 exams for PP and IR...instead of 2
So, I'm sorry if I'm coming across as a pain in the arse, but this IS really the biggest decision in my life...
and I really need some info on corporate flying, to see if I should dedicate my life to it.
And don't give me that "if you love flying, you shouldn't have doubts about it"
I love airplanes, whether flying or designing them. I'm not considering going into Law or Medicine or Economics. I'm only trying to decide between "designing" and "flying" airplanes
Archer
Flywrite
Well-known member
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- Jun 14, 2002
- Posts
- 770
Archer,
With all due respect your repetitive posts do get a bit tedious...
Having said that, I can respect the fact that you want a lot of information before making a big decision. Perhaps instead of just asking the opinions of others you should focus more on gathering facts to form your own opinions.
Do you subscribe to any industry publications? I dont just mean Flying or Private Pilot, I mean "non consumer" publications like Professional Pilot or Business and Commercial Aviation. they may help you form an opinion of the kind of flying available to professional pilots. You may also trying reading up a little on diferent aspects of a flying career. I know that you are pursuing the most difficult degree available and are a busy individual, but judging from the number of posts you put in here you should be able to find time.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is quit asking everyone what you should do. You say that this is the "most important decision" of your life. If so you should not be relying solely what you read on an internet message board.
Good Luck (again)
With all due respect your repetitive posts do get a bit tedious...
Having said that, I can respect the fact that you want a lot of information before making a big decision. Perhaps instead of just asking the opinions of others you should focus more on gathering facts to form your own opinions.
Do you subscribe to any industry publications? I dont just mean Flying or Private Pilot, I mean "non consumer" publications like Professional Pilot or Business and Commercial Aviation. they may help you form an opinion of the kind of flying available to professional pilots. You may also trying reading up a little on diferent aspects of a flying career. I know that you are pursuing the most difficult degree available and are a busy individual, but judging from the number of posts you put in here you should be able to find time.
I guess the point I'm trying to make is quit asking everyone what you should do. You say that this is the "most important decision" of your life. If so you should not be relying solely what you read on an internet message board.
Good Luck (again)
I do not rely only on people on an internet message board.
But where else could I find 50 corporate pilots that could tell my their experiences all in one place? an internet message board.
Plus, personal experiences are some of the most valuable...you get a feel for what the job is like...
articles analyising stuff could not give an accurate impression.
Well, thank you for your patience though. I understand.
I'm just waiting for someone to start loosing it and swearing away...
I hope it doesn't happen, and people actually THINK before they post...and understand where I'm coming from...
big decision, trying to get a lot of opinions. That's all
Archer
But where else could I find 50 corporate pilots that could tell my their experiences all in one place? an internet message board.
Plus, personal experiences are some of the most valuable...you get a feel for what the job is like...
articles analyising stuff could not give an accurate impression.
Well, thank you for your patience though. I understand.
I'm just waiting for someone to start loosing it and swearing away...
I hope it doesn't happen, and people actually THINK before they post...and understand where I'm coming from...
big decision, trying to get a lot of opinions. That's all
Archer
banned username 2
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Gulfstream 200
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Jeesh ARCHER,
When people ask me how I got into flying I really cant even answer it...I guess I just went to college in Florida because it was warm and I figured I could drink beer all the time and get laid every night and fly a little.....well, didn't really work that way all the time...but that was the plan...
but really, the flying just kind of grows on you, then once you are deep into it you realize its a simple way to make a mediocre salary and play with cool toys....
you just think too much into it. Its just a freakin job. Dont let it define your life......pilots aren't deep people. We simply do our job with pride, and value that time off that others (like engineers) spend sitting behind a computer in a cubicle.....slavin' to the man.
FALCON CAPT / 2000FLYER...
defintly go Jeppview!! update the world in 30 seconds!!! Does Europe still not have Q service?? **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**, I hated that....life in the 1980's.........
raise before Jeppview?? well....yeah...even though we all know they can afford both!!!...but one fight at a time
When people ask me how I got into flying I really cant even answer it...I guess I just went to college in Florida because it was warm and I figured I could drink beer all the time and get laid every night and fly a little.....well, didn't really work that way all the time...but that was the plan...
but really, the flying just kind of grows on you, then once you are deep into it you realize its a simple way to make a mediocre salary and play with cool toys....
you just think too much into it. Its just a freakin job. Dont let it define your life......pilots aren't deep people. We simply do our job with pride, and value that time off that others (like engineers) spend sitting behind a computer in a cubicle.....slavin' to the man.
FALCON CAPT / 2000FLYER...
defintly go Jeppview!! update the world in 30 seconds!!! Does Europe still not have Q service?? **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**, I hated that....life in the 1980's.........
raise before Jeppview?? well....yeah...even though we all know they can afford both!!!...but one fight at a time
starvingcfi
CpApAwM
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- Dec 12, 2001
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- 662
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But where else could I find 50 corporate pilots that could tell my their experiences all in one place? an internet message board.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
why don't you ride your bike over to lafayette aviation and hang out in the lounge? nice recliners and cable tv. there are always corporate and/or charter pilots in there. ask them a few questions. then, when the next guy comes in, ask him the same questions. then, when the third guy comes in, ask him the same questions. then the fourth. the fifth. the sixth. you get me. this way, you can still ask the same questions over and over...but each pilot will only hear them once. everyone will be happy right?
haha. seriously though, dude. if you wanna see the life, run over there and talk face to face. see what's up and ask them where they've been or where they're going today. just to get an idea. good luck man.
starvingcfi
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But where else could I find 50 corporate pilots that could tell my their experiences all in one place? an internet message board.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
why don't you ride your bike over to lafayette aviation and hang out in the lounge? nice recliners and cable tv. there are always corporate and/or charter pilots in there. ask them a few questions. then, when the next guy comes in, ask him the same questions. then, when the third guy comes in, ask him the same questions. then the fourth. the fifth. the sixth. you get me. this way, you can still ask the same questions over and over...but each pilot will only hear them once. everyone will be happy right?
haha. seriously though, dude. if you wanna see the life, run over there and talk face to face. see what's up and ask them where they've been or where they're going today. just to get an idea. good luck man.
starvingcfi
Most aviators become pilots and pursue a career because they have had a burning desire to fly airplanes ever since they were wee little boys and girls.
Many young pilots earining their ratings do not need testimonials on the lifestyle since the desire to fly is in their blood. Over the years, I have seen pilots sleep in the back of a Cessna 310 flying bull spirm for some crappy cargo operator. I have also seen pilots without much money spend thousands of dollars on a type rating in the unlikely hope that an airline would hire them.
If you have to think this hard, you are most likey not suited for an aviaition career.
Good Luck
Many young pilots earining their ratings do not need testimonials on the lifestyle since the desire to fly is in their blood. Over the years, I have seen pilots sleep in the back of a Cessna 310 flying bull spirm for some crappy cargo operator. I have also seen pilots without much money spend thousands of dollars on a type rating in the unlikely hope that an airline would hire them.
If you have to think this hard, you are most likey not suited for an aviaition career.
Good Luck
bigD
Well-known member
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Archer - were you planning on taking a year or two off between your undergraduate work and Master's degree? If not, you might want to consider doing so and just get a gist of what it's like being an engineer for a year or two. During that time you can fly as you'd like, and get a better feel for that path as well.
My old roommate was a EE, and he took some time after graduation to work before going back to school. He discovered that while he loved studying EE in school, he absolutely hated working as an engineer. He's now at Harvard Law working on a degree there.
My instict tells me that your calculated approach (as opposed to being driven by a passion) in this matter tends to indicate that you'll find it difficult being a professional pilot. However the mere fact that you're spending so much time on this board may indicate that you'll spend all your time as an engineer wonding whether or not you should have pursued aviation!
Because of this, you may want to give engineering a try and get your advanced ratings on the side. After a year or two of that, you'll either decide that you enjoy engineering and want to go back to grad school to puruse it further, or that you'd rather be flying, and instead use your newly acquired advanced ratings to instruct (or whatever else) and pursue aviation.
My old roommate was a EE, and he took some time after graduation to work before going back to school. He discovered that while he loved studying EE in school, he absolutely hated working as an engineer. He's now at Harvard Law working on a degree there.
My instict tells me that your calculated approach (as opposed to being driven by a passion) in this matter tends to indicate that you'll find it difficult being a professional pilot. However the mere fact that you're spending so much time on this board may indicate that you'll spend all your time as an engineer wonding whether or not you should have pursued aviation!
Because of this, you may want to give engineering a try and get your advanced ratings on the side. After a year or two of that, you'll either decide that you enjoy engineering and want to go back to grad school to puruse it further, or that you'd rather be flying, and instead use your newly acquired advanced ratings to instruct (or whatever else) and pursue aviation.
BigD and starvincfi, thank you for your advice, really appreciated.
I'll do that, I'll go hang out at LA, even though usually there AREN'T any corp pilots, unless there is a Purdue game...but now I'll know what to do before or after boiler games, or maybe even during...
about trying out engineering, and seeing if I like it out there in the real world, and then deciding whether to become a pilot or engineer...that's great advice too.
Thanx
now, if you feel like you still want to share corp job experiences...I'd like that still...
and about your ex-girlfriend...was that like 10 years ago BigD? LOL
Archer
I'll do that, I'll go hang out at LA, even though usually there AREN'T any corp pilots, unless there is a Purdue game...but now I'll know what to do before or after boiler games, or maybe even during...
about trying out engineering, and seeing if I like it out there in the real world, and then deciding whether to become a pilot or engineer...that's great advice too.
Thanx
now, if you feel like you still want to share corp job experiences...I'd like that still...
and about your ex-girlfriend...was that like 10 years ago BigD? LOL
Archer
Snakum
How's your marmott?
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ROFLMAO!
Minh
Archer ... I think most guys who make the big leagues in Aviation are usually so absolutely PUMPED from the very first Discovery Flight onward that they couldn't do anything else. I know I was.
That said, however, I won't make the big leagues due to my age and my work situation $$$. But I still have the kind of burning desire that will drive me as far as I can possibly go, and if that means retiring from a freight operation on Chieftans ... so be it.
If you have had to think about it this hard ... maybe just flying for fun is the way to go. There's alot of fun to be had in airplanes without starving for your dream (which some of us have been GLAD to do at times ... but we're kind of a strange lot anyway).
Minh
hobbsmeter
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captainv
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corporate flying
Archer,
One thing to consider is the difference between corporate flying and private owner flying. I consider corporate flying to be working in the flight department for a big company like Home Depot or Coca-Cola. they're run more like a mini-airline, with well-defined duties and schedules.
My experience was in private owner flying, which is probably far more common. (i think NBAA says the average flight department has 1-2 airplanes and 2-3 pilots). Most recently, I was co-captain on a Lear 25 for a businessman with his own small company. Some parts of it were great - we flew 2-3 times a week, and the only overnights we had were trips to Vegas every few months. On the down side, he was the typical business guy on the verge of "hitting it big." that is, the company rose and fell on the economy or the ever-elusive big deal that was just about to be signed. plus, you're on-call 24/7 and you handle everything related to the airplane and more. (one pilot i know was always picking up dry-cleaning or getting the new tires for the boss's car)
it's a great gig when times are good, but the airplane is always for sale when the economy goes south. our chief pilot also ran the fbo and the maintenance shop, so the airplane was always in good shape - it was the owners who kept changing. one of the problems with flying an entry-level airplane is that the owners are often new to aviation. typically they aren't aware of all the things they'll have to pay for, and it takes a while for them to see how things SHOULD be done. one prosective owner wanted a detailed estimate of all the unscheduled maintenance he would incur in the first year. well gee, sir, if i could predict the future like that i'd be out buying lotto tickets!
the best thing to do in private-owner flying is to find a good chief pilot. in a small flight department, he sets the tone. you will find lots of flexibility in this type of flying, you'll get to make a lot of your own decisions, and it'll be wildly unpredictable. when the phone rings, you may be going to the Big Apple, or central Kansas. maybe the boss signed a huge deal and he bought a Gulfstream. Or, you're out of a job. You just never know! but at least it's never boring.
captainv
Archer,
One thing to consider is the difference between corporate flying and private owner flying. I consider corporate flying to be working in the flight department for a big company like Home Depot or Coca-Cola. they're run more like a mini-airline, with well-defined duties and schedules.
My experience was in private owner flying, which is probably far more common. (i think NBAA says the average flight department has 1-2 airplanes and 2-3 pilots). Most recently, I was co-captain on a Lear 25 for a businessman with his own small company. Some parts of it were great - we flew 2-3 times a week, and the only overnights we had were trips to Vegas every few months. On the down side, he was the typical business guy on the verge of "hitting it big." that is, the company rose and fell on the economy or the ever-elusive big deal that was just about to be signed. plus, you're on-call 24/7 and you handle everything related to the airplane and more. (one pilot i know was always picking up dry-cleaning or getting the new tires for the boss's car)
it's a great gig when times are good, but the airplane is always for sale when the economy goes south. our chief pilot also ran the fbo and the maintenance shop, so the airplane was always in good shape - it was the owners who kept changing. one of the problems with flying an entry-level airplane is that the owners are often new to aviation. typically they aren't aware of all the things they'll have to pay for, and it takes a while for them to see how things SHOULD be done. one prosective owner wanted a detailed estimate of all the unscheduled maintenance he would incur in the first year. well gee, sir, if i could predict the future like that i'd be out buying lotto tickets!
the best thing to do in private-owner flying is to find a good chief pilot. in a small flight department, he sets the tone. you will find lots of flexibility in this type of flying, you'll get to make a lot of your own decisions, and it'll be wildly unpredictable. when the phone rings, you may be going to the Big Apple, or central Kansas. maybe the boss signed a huge deal and he bought a Gulfstream. Or, you're out of a job. You just never know! but at least it's never boring.
captainv
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captainv
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That is Charter... not Corporate....
Falcon Capt,
Flip is right. That is corporate for some of us out there. One pilot i know for years was the lone employee of a corporate flight department on a LR-31. all of his co-pilots were contract pilots (although they do have a full-time co-pilot now.) he flew an average of 90-100 hours per month - i'm not kidding - and spent every weekend on the road - although usually he was in NYC at a nice hotel.
they'd give him vacation every six months, which he got to spend at flightsafety. otherwise, the only guaranteed time off was when the president was out of the country or the airplane was down for scheduled maintenance, but he had to supervise that as well. He got paid great, great money for a LR-31, but to me the job wasn't worth the price in QOL. he's got a really nice house, but he might as well rent it out seeing as how he's never there...
As a contract pilot, though, it was great. Lots of flying, steady money, great equipment, i could pick my trips, though i rarely turned one down. On salary, though? No thanks...
Corporate does not mean Fortune 500, although it sure would be nice!
captainv
Falcon Capt,
Flip is right. That is corporate for some of us out there. One pilot i know for years was the lone employee of a corporate flight department on a LR-31. all of his co-pilots were contract pilots (although they do have a full-time co-pilot now.) he flew an average of 90-100 hours per month - i'm not kidding - and spent every weekend on the road - although usually he was in NYC at a nice hotel.
they'd give him vacation every six months, which he got to spend at flightsafety. otherwise, the only guaranteed time off was when the president was out of the country or the airplane was down for scheduled maintenance, but he had to supervise that as well. He got paid great, great money for a LR-31, but to me the job wasn't worth the price in QOL. he's got a really nice house, but he might as well rent it out seeing as how he's never there...
As a contract pilot, though, it was great. Lots of flying, steady money, great equipment, i could pick my trips, though i rarely turned one down. On salary, though? No thanks...
Corporate does not mean Fortune 500, although it sure would be nice!
captainv
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