Careers in Aviation Sales

[exneophyte]

Wondering if there are any people working in the aircraft sales out there who'd be willing to talk about what they like and what they don't. I currently do technology project management, sales, and design.

Specifically, I'm wondering about these things:

* How does one get into this field?

* Let's say I wanted to be a regional sales director selling general aviation aircraft one day. I'm guessing I wouldn't start there so what kinds of job titles should I be looking at for a starting point that would have regional sales director on the career path.

* How is the pay, quality of life, growth potential? I'd assume compensation is commission based. Anyone have details on how this works?


From the sounds of it, it would be neat to do aircraft sales because you'd get to do demonstration flights, but as with everything there has to be a downside. Would anyone care to enlighten me?

 

[Gunnar971]

opcorn:

 

[Mtts422]

* How does one get into this field?

It varies drastically. Many start as OEM CFI's and if they fit the sales persona and develop good repour with customers and management alike they can step into a sales role when it comes available. More often than not it's like any other job in aviation...networking. If you hang around the airport(s) long enough you are going to meet demo pilot's and RSM's (Regional Sales Manager's) that could eventually point you in the right direction and open some door's. It's a very small niche community within aviation and everyone tends to know just about everyone.

Personally, I got lucky. Took a job with a start up fractional ownership program as a Marketing Manager right out of college, got trained on the equipment to do repositioning flights, etc. Couple of the sales guys moved on after I was with the company for about a year and I was asked to step into a RSM position doing demo flights and selling the program.

* Let's say I wanted to be a regional sales director selling general aviation aircraft one day. I'm guessing I wouldn't start there so what kinds of job titles should I be looking at for a starting point that would have regional sales director on the career path.

Really any job that involves GA can lead down the career path, as noted above more often than not it's the "who" not the "what" you know. A few generic job titles that come to mind - Aircraft Researcher, Market Analyst, Marketing Manager, etc...

* How is the pay, quality of life, growth potential? I'd assume compensation is commission based. Anyone have details on how this works?

Again, varies greatly depending on the specific company, broker or dealer. Based on my experiences over the past couple of years and in this economic climate it's a complete roller coaster, that applies to Pay, QOL and growth potential. You will find some positions that are strictly commission based, you can probably expect to take home anywhere from 15-25% of the net proceeds from the sale. Other positions will be a base plus commission with salary and percentage take home on the sale fairly negotiable, i.e. higher base less percentage or higher percentage and less base.

Hope that at least gets you pointed in the right direction, having been at this for only 5 years I'm still a greenhorn with a lot to learn. That said, I've learned enough to hopefully dull out a few words of wisdom and maybe supplement some of the more seasoned sales guys that come around here occasionally.