Coporate vs. Airline

Rumpel

Rumpel

Well-Known Member
I realize this question has been asked before. I'm just looking for some fresh advice. I'm at a cross roads between two career paths. Corporate pilot or regional airline pilot? On one hand, I could start applying for SIC positions at FlightSafety centers, which I have heard are not that difficult to get and I have also heard that this is the best way to get a foot in the door for the corporate world. On the other hand, I could go for a regional airline job, assuming someone would take me with 1300 TT/ 32 ME. I need to decide soon, I've heard that there will be a lot of movement within the Regionals soon so now is the time to get in.

One thing that makes me lean toward the corporate world is the general mood of the pilots I speak with. Young airline FOs are still enthusiastic about their jobs and seem to enjoy them but the older guys very rarely have anything positive to say. The corporate guys seem to be pretty happy with their jobs (other than the fact that they fly less than 300 hours a year in many cases.)

If anyone would like to weigh in on this topic I would be very grateful.
 
There are plenty of grumpy old corporate pilots.

The other thing to consider is whether or not you can adapt to the "we're gonna do this my way" attitude that is sometimes prevalent in smaller corporate departments. You may not have an ops manual to dictate how you operate on a day to day basis. This can be a good or bad thing depending on who you share the cockpit with.

Unless you're with a well organized, well staffed operation, you may not be able to leave work at the airport like you can with the airlines. I'm constantly on the phone or answering emails dealing with various issues, even if there aren't trips on the calendar.

You MUST be a people person. You'll have direct, continuous interaction with the aircraft owner/CEO/passengers. Your level of success and longevity will likely be proportional to your ability to effectively communicate with people that may not know much about aviation, but will want to know why you're doing what you're doing or making the decisions that you're making.
 
No where never bitter about my time so far at the airlines. As Kingairer said, you will fly a lot on the regional airline level (I generally fly about 80-85 hours a month). I have looked into corporate though myself.
 
I plan to retire before I hit 10,000 hours, and am well on my way to that. If all you like is flying, go airline. If you like enjoying trips, and can deal with actually working to make trips happen, with interaction with pax, go corporate. This is an extreme oversimplification, but you get the drift. Mortgage companies do not take time in logbooks as payment, FYI.

Also, don't buy into the "now is the time, give me $10K for training and you will get hired." It is not that simple, and the market is still recovering. How many airlines are hiring right now? When does 1500 hour rule come in?

Who am I kidding, go get your MBA and run an airline, be home every day, and make bank...it's what I should have done, but could never do...
 
Stone Cold said:
I plan to retire before I hit 10,000 hours, and am well on my way to that.
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+1

I don't get the infatuation with flight time when it's more than 5,000 or so. Being continually employed and retiring with less than 10,000 hours is a helluva accomplishment in my opinion.
 
TFaudree_ERAU said:
+1

I don't get the infatuation with flight time when it's more than 5,000 or so. Being continually employed and retiring with less than 10,000 hours is a helluva accomplishment in my opinion.
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The OP has 1300TT. If he flies 200 hours a year in a corporate gig, itll take him a long time to be competitive for a career airline job, if thats the route he ultimatley wants. But to the OP, if youre long term goal is corporate, youd probably be better off staying corporate and building your resume and networking web that way.
 
So what is the best way into corporate? I know networking but what kind of flying are they looking for when it comes to entry level corporate jobs?
 
Kingairer said:
The OP has 1300TT. If he flies 200 hours a year in a corporate gig, itll take him a long time to be competitive for a career airline job, if thats the route he ultimatley wants
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I started with 1000 and zero jet time, have flown an average of 350 a year for the past 5 years, and acquired 3 type ratings. I thought I MIGHT want to go airline eventually, but I can't see myself doing that now that I've gotten to know corporate. As always, different strokes for different folks.
 
<- grumpy ol' corporate pilot.

Having done both jobs I can honestly say that there are pros and cons to both jobs with a slight edge to corporate flying. But that discussion could populate another entire thread!

Large corporate departments are every bit as standardized as major airlines. The onset of SMS and ISBAO certification requirements foster development of highly professional corporate departments.

I can't speak for other departments, but at ours most pilots hired over the last ten years have been prior 121 with better than 5000 TT. There were a handful who came from other corporate / charter operators, and at least one who was a CFI prior to being hired.

We average 350 hours per year and about 5 - 7 nights per month away from home. Pay is on par with most major airline first officers and junior captains (narrowbody). Additional benefits include substantial bonuses, stock awards, etc.
 
I agree with Zap. After seeing what's out there in the 91/135 world, I give the slight edge to corporate. Unless you HAVE to fly something massive, then corporate will probably never scratch that itch.:D

You'll get many opinions on the best path to corporate/majors.

Since both rely on networking, even more so with corporate, the side of the airport you chose will be more beneficial towards one or the other. If you want to do corporate, flight instructing and freight will give you the best opportunity to meet people in the part 91/135 world. With the major airlines, obviously working at the regionals will be best.

In general, it's just a networking issue when it comes to switching sides.
 
I had a friend that flew corporate and he eventually quit and went to the airlines because he got tired of people looking down on him (mostly his family and wife). Most people who don't know anything about aviation jobs think that a Lear jet pilot is training to work his way up to an airliner someday, lol.
 
Jet said:
I had a friend that flew corporate and he eventually quit and went to the airlines because he got tired of people looking down on him (mostly his family and wife). Most people who don't know anything about aviation jobs think that a Lear jet pilot is training to work his way up to an airliner someday, lol.
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Which is just silly. Quite the opposite in the literal sense. :D
 
mojo6911 said:
That, and pretty much guaranteed that they won't need to downsize any time soon.
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Oh, I would never say that. You're only one board vote, change in senior leadership, or public vilification of business jets away from downsizing or shut down. Nobody is immune.
 
Jet said:
he got tired of people looking down on him (mostly his family and wife). Most people who don't know anything about aviation jobs think that a Lear jet pilot is training to work his way up to an airliner someday, lol.
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If his self worth is tied up in what people think of the airplane he flies, he has bigger problems than a career choice.
 
No argument there. Their ability to afford the airplanes has no bearing on their intention to keep them. My company profits on razor thin margins but on a massive scale. Every penny is carefully watched and cost control is king. If they could satisfy their business travel needs safely and reliably but with less expense I have no doubt they would do so. It is not lost on me that we are also the largest corporate client for a number of airlines as well.
 
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