Corporate or airline

I grew up with my father in Corporate all the time, that's the only one I know, that's where all my contacts are, and I don't fancy the Airlines. I don't mid joining one, but it is not my priority. As long as It pays my bills, with good Job and family environments I consider myself pleased.
 
I appreciate all of the advice, thanks everyone! I'm still thinking hard about this but as of now my ultimate career goal is still a major airline. The idea of not having a hard day off is concerning to me. Also the girlfriend has become used to having flight benefits.
 
Ayork62493 said:
I'm still thinking hard about this but as of now my ultimate career goal is still a major airline. The idea of not having a hard day off is concerning to me.
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I think you answered your own dilemma.

Plus, the ability for me to decide "you know what, I don't want this trip at the end of the month" and *poof* it's gone, can't be beat.
 
JordanD said:
I think you answered your own dilemma.

Plus, the ability for me to decide "you know what, I don't want this trip at the end of the month" and *poof* it's gone, can't be beat.
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My airline doesn't allow trips to be dropped. You can trade it for another trip, or try to get another pilot to take it from you.. but straight drops aren't a thing here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
ZapBrannigan said:
My airline doesn't allow trips to be dropped. You can trade it for another trip, or try to get another pilot to take it from you.. but straight drops aren't a thing here.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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To be fair, I can never actually "drop" anything due to staffing, but if I post it someone generally picks it up within an hour. Money hungry FOs!
 
See if the airline will give you a leave of absence for a year. Go try it out. Don't like it, go back with your seniority number. I know a guy at Horizon who did just that. As I've said here a million times, as well as others. The best job and the worst job in aviation is part 91 corporate. Kind of like Autism. It's a spectrum, not really a black and white diagnosis. What works for some, completely sucks for others.
 
Ayork62493 said:
I'm quite young, 24 years old. Which is another reason I'm torn on this. I hate giving up the seniority I've earned in the airlines for what seems like a gamble. I suppose everything is life is a bit of a gamble. If anyone has any words of wisdom I am all ears.
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Sheesh, at 24 half of us here were in the military and sent to places we did not want to go. You have a far better start in a 121 career than 99% of us. Sounds like you will be a captain in a few years. Suck it up, pay your dues (commute) and stay where you are. You have a great and financially rewarding career ahead of you.
 
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I don't understand why people get their panties in a bunch over "Fortune 500". That doesn't mean they are going to be a good employer. All it means is # 499 can probably afford and justify an airplane...probably...And it doesn't speak what so ever to their reputation as an employer their longevity. Fortune 10, yeah, that's a company that is likely to be around after your dead and gone, but fortune 264? Complete crapshoot. Imagine if there were 500 airlines in the US? How many would be awful to work for?

OP- What type of aircraft, how many overnights per year, how many aircraft, how many pilots? Domestic? International flying?

Always on call is a red flag for me. Although pilots will justify their existence and ego by saying "it's not that bad", it just doesn't have to be that way. Always on call means the department is understaffed.

When you said there is food benefits...Do you know what good benefits are? I'm not being a jerk, I ask because I had no clue what good benefits were at 24. They are a heck of a lot more then good medical and a strong 401K match. Make sure they are offering short and long disability, loss of medical, accidental death, life insurance, FSA for childcare cost, etc...

And in my personal opinion, with a part 121 background and a path to the majors, unless it's a large cabin business jet, I would just stay put. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying being a part 121 regional FO entitles you or prepares you for large cabin business aviation - it doesn't in the slightest, it's just you have that 121 box checked and could easily be at american or delta by 30. Giving that up to fly a beechjet or citation excel isn't worth it. If you want to push $200k as a pilot in business aviation it isn't a rule, but it will most likely happen when flying a Global, gulfstream or large cabin falcon. Again it's not a rule, but if you can find yourself working for a multi large cabin operator, its the most likely place to also be appropriately staffed, have schedulers and dispatchers, a maintenance department etc.

I know I know I know, all of the above can be found with a citation x operator. As I said, it's not the rule, but if I lost my job I'd be a lot more comfortable with a large cabin type and international experience versus having flying a citation from teterboro to van nuys.

Goodluck!
 
As I said multiple times zapp, there are exceptions to the rule. Having spent the past decade in nothing but business aviation from small to large cabin jets in a global theatre, I would say my opinion means something.

You very well know $200k to fly a Learjet is one and a million and it's only because it's walmart. Lose that job and guess what? Your making 60-90 flying the same Lear, and odds are out aren't being considered for a large cabin based on a domestic small jet background. Sorry if you don't like it, but that is the truth.
 
Thanks again for the advice. What I was struggling with most was the fact that I would be able to achieve my short term goals with a higher level of compensation than what I have now. Definitely a grass is greener sort of thing. I know long term what my goal is, so I'm thinking I'll stick with the airlines and keep the blinders on as of now.
 
You can base your lifestyle on whatever income your make. I've been a CFI and my wife and I made under $30k combined yearly. And we've made a lot more than that. And everything in between. Go for what makes you happy and live your life how you wish.

Lots of people work crappy jobs for 30 years to retire. The way I see it, I'm already retired working my job.
 
wheelsup said:
You can base your lifestyle on whatever income your make. I've been a CFI and my wife and I made under $30k combined yearly. And we've made a lot more than that. And everything in between. Go for what makes you happy and live your life how you wish.

Lots of people work crappy jobs for 30 years to retire. The way I see it, I'm already retired working my job.
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This ^^^^|

I've have friends that fly mainline and hate it. Friends that fly corporate and hate it. And even one that has had an opportunity at both and don't like either!
 
MikeOH58 said:
I don't understand why people get their panties in a bunch over "Fortune 500". That doesn't mean they are going to be a good employer. All it means is # 499 can probably afford and justify an airplane...probably...And it doesn't speak what so ever to their reputation as an employer their longevity. Fortune 10, yeah, that's a company that is likely to be around after your dead and gone, but fortune 264? Complete crapshoot. Imagine if there were 500 airlines in the US? How many would be awful to work for?

OP- What type of aircraft, how many overnights per year, how many aircraft, how many pilots? Domestic? International flying?

Always on call is a red flag for me. Although pilots will justify their existence and ego by saying "it's not that bad", it just doesn't have to be that way. Always on call means the department is understaffed.

When you said there is food benefits...Do you know what good benefits are? I'm not being a jerk, I ask because I had no clue what good benefits were at 24. They are a heck of a lot more then good medical and a strong 401K match. Make sure they are offering short and long disability, loss of medical, accidental death, life insurance, FSA for childcare cost, etc...

And in my personal opinion, with a part 121 background and a path to the majors, unless it's a large cabin business jet, I would just stay put. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying being a part 121 regional FO entitles you or prepares you for large cabin business aviation - it doesn't in the slightest, it's just you have that 121 box checked and could easily be at american or delta by 30. Giving that up to fly a beechjet or citation excel isn't worth it. If you want to push $200k as a pilot in business aviation it isn't a rule, but it will most likely happen when flying a Global, gulfstream or large cabin falcon. Again it's not a rule, but if you can find yourself working for a multi large cabin operator, its the most likely place to also be appropriately staffed, have schedulers and dispatchers, a maintenance department etc.

I know I know I know, all of the above can be found with a citation x operator. As I said, it's not the rule, but if I lost my job I'd be a lot more comfortable with a large cabin type and international experience versus having flying a citation from teterboro to van nuys.

Goodluck!
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Solid wisdom for 121 pilots that went from instructing to the airlines and are considering this option.
 
You may have answered it already and looks like you made up your mind.. but curious to what airframe(s) this flight dept was.

I used to fly for a regional and hated life. Got on with a flight department that flys G550's- couldn't be happier.
 
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