Blackhawk
Well-Known Member
Kind of equipment to fly really is at the bottom of the list. I've seen great jobs flying piston airplanes and crappy jobs flying heavy iron.
The biggest difference (talking big generalization), is the predictability of life in one verses the other. In part 91 corporate flying you rarely have "seniority" based bidding on schedules or equipment. You rarely know in corporate flying from one day to the next where, or even if you will fly. On the down side of this I've seen crews siting around an FBO for days at a time away from home on the off chance the boss will decide he's had enough dove hunting and wants to head home. You are nothing more than a fancy, overpaid chauffeur who is expected to keep the airplane ready to go at a moments notice... to somewhere. Don't make plans for the week you are on duty or, in some cases, 24/7.
On the airline side you are nothing more than an overpaid bus driver on a set schedule. But you have some control over your life. You know when you can upgrade- it's all based upon seniority. You know your schedule each month and the trips you bid are based upon seniority. Personally I think the airlines are more conducive to a married life due to the "predictable" schedule (except when on reserve, when you are drafted or during cutbacks).
The jobs are what you make of them, what you want from life and how good a brass ring you grabbed on the merry go round of life. I've seen good regional airlines with pretty good pay. I've seen crappy regionals that were slave ships. I've seen great corporate gigs and I've seen corporate gigs where you work for a prima donna and don't have a life. I will say most of the better corporate gigs are never advertised.
Good luck with where you go.
The biggest difference (talking big generalization), is the predictability of life in one verses the other. In part 91 corporate flying you rarely have "seniority" based bidding on schedules or equipment. You rarely know in corporate flying from one day to the next where, or even if you will fly. On the down side of this I've seen crews siting around an FBO for days at a time away from home on the off chance the boss will decide he's had enough dove hunting and wants to head home. You are nothing more than a fancy, overpaid chauffeur who is expected to keep the airplane ready to go at a moments notice... to somewhere. Don't make plans for the week you are on duty or, in some cases, 24/7.
On the airline side you are nothing more than an overpaid bus driver on a set schedule. But you have some control over your life. You know when you can upgrade- it's all based upon seniority. You know your schedule each month and the trips you bid are based upon seniority. Personally I think the airlines are more conducive to a married life due to the "predictable" schedule (except when on reserve, when you are drafted or during cutbacks).
The jobs are what you make of them, what you want from life and how good a brass ring you grabbed on the merry go round of life. I've seen good regional airlines with pretty good pay. I've seen crappy regionals that were slave ships. I've seen great corporate gigs and I've seen corporate gigs where you work for a prima donna and don't have a life. I will say most of the better corporate gigs are never advertised.
Good luck with where you go.
