Corporate or airline

Ayork62493

Ayork62493

GBR
I know threads like this already exist but I'm looking for some insight for those of you who have been through this already.

To start things off, I've been a regional fo with my current company for a year and a half now. I moved to base, which is nice but it's getting crazy expensive. I miss my hometown where I went to college and such, it's much more affordable and I'm not sure I can commute with no end in sight. I commuted for a while and I have a great deal of respect for those who can handle it.

I don't have any family in this town and my girlfriend and I worry about the future with no support system aside from friends. Both of my parents also have health conditions and I worry about being around. I may have an opportunity to work for a reputable, Fortune 500 company that has had a corporate flight department for over 50 years. They operate under part 91. I used to always think I wanted to go the airline route but I'm bouncing back and fourth now. I know a number of guys at the coporate company and all seem quite happy. I certainly have my fears about the future of corporate aviation with expenses the way they are today.

It would allow me to head back home and have family to help us out, and also be able to afford my masters which I can't manage in my position today. 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.
 
There is no good advice to be given here. The stories on way or the other are going to be split down the middle.

Decide what is important in the short and long run and which side of the fence best fulfills those "whats".


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Dugie is basically right but people are going to respond regardless, so I might as well, too. The 121 box is now checked, so imho you can remove the "what if I want to go to a legacy" card from the deck.
 
Boris Badenov said:
Dugie is basically right but people are going to respond regardless, so I might as well, too. The 121 box is now checked, so imho you can remove the "what if I want to go to a legacy" card from the deck.
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Are you trying to get to a legacy carrier, or are you content flying corporate? (Not sure if you're 135 or 91) Honest question with no malice or subterfuge intended.
 
Cloud Surfer said:
What is the part 91 company offering in terms of QOL and compensation? You have the part 121 box checked if you decide to pull the trigger.
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It's considerably higher than that of a regional in terms of pay. Pilots are given stock in company, much higher 401K contribution. A more Monday through Friday schedule, not gone over most weekends or holidays. What is lost are the hard days off, the guys I spoke to said said it's Monday through Friday basically on call 9 to five. For the most part, they know of trips Atleast a week in advance and if you need certain days or nights home they will accommodate that. The on call stuff is frightening to me, and it's not quite as flexible as an airline in that I can't trade trips or days online. Although, I haven't been able to do that anyways.

I also worry about looking like I'm jumping jobs too soon and that it will look bad in the future in case I do have the opportunity to head back to 121.
 
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knot4u said:
Are you trying to get to a legacy carrier, or are you content flying corporate? (Not sure if you're 135 or 91) Honest question with no malice or subterfuge intended.
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I'm charter. Pretty happy with this job, but rationally, in terms of pay and retirement, I'm still (just) young enough that I'd be an idiot not to go if the the CORRECT 121 outfit called. Certainly UPS, FedEx, or Delta. Maybe AA or SWA. That hasn't happened yet. I see it as a glass half full situation. Either go have a great career or continue to enjoy a really fun job.
 
Live where you want. An easy commute isn't bad. Why live somewhere if you don't want to? I'd rather not commute but I'd rather live in my hometown more.
 
Like others have said, you have the 121 box checked for down the road if you need it....do whatever works best for your current life situation.
 
A 24 year old regional FO being offered a F500 job it says something about that dept. Absolutely no offense intended. This fork in the road is something we have all looked at. As others have stated you need to figure out where you want to be in the end. The quick fix never fixes.
 
My advice is.... Whatever situation makes you and your wife happier, go for it. Regardless you will be getting paid to fly airplanes, which will make you happy professionally. The airlines all seem to have high CoL bases and under compensate tremendously for the areas they have domiciles, especially regionals on the left coast. I told myself I would give the 121 side a chance for at least 1000 hours, then if I come across something better for my home life and a good area to be able to afford a decent living I would jump on that opportunity. Do you have 1000 121 yet?
 
AAPalmTree said:
A 24 year old regional FO being offered a F500 job it says something about that dept. Absolutely no offense intended. This fork in the road is something we have all looked at. As others have stated you need to figure out where you want to be in the end. The quick fix never fixes.
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I don't take offense, I've just known the chief since I've been a child. It's by no means a done deal, was just reaching out for more information
 
JDean3204 said:
My advice is.... Whatever situation makes you and your wife happier, go for it. Regardless you will be getting paid to fly airplanes, which will make you happy professionally. The airlines all seem to have high CoL bases and under compensate tremendously for the areas they have domiciles, especially regionals on the left coast. I told myself I would give the 121 side a chance for at least 1000 hours, then if I come across something better for my home life and a good area to be able to afford a decent living I would jump on that opportunity. Do you have 1000 121 yet?
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Not yet, but at this rate it shouldn't be more than two months until I do.
 
At your age, I'd stick with the airlines. I'd gladly trade the pain now for a very nice future assuming things in the industry stay constant.
 
Take the upgrade in DTW, move to Ann Arbor, see how you enjoy being a captain and the paycheck that comes with it.

At your age I was still flight instructing. When I was 26, I was on furlough.

You could be at a mainline carrier by then.

I wouldn't squander the opportunity.
 
AAPalmTree said:
A 24 year old regional FO being offered a F500 job it says something about that dept. Absolutely no offense intended. This fork in the road is something we have all looked at. As others have stated you need to figure out where you want to be in the end. The quick fix never fixes.
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That's not necessarily true. Lots of really good departments will hire very young guys if they see bright things in their future.

FWIW, I was a regional F/O for 4 years, then flew 91/135 for 4 years, and recently returned to the 121 side at a ULCC. The jobs are just different - in almost every aspect. The airlines offer more predictability and higher pay. Corporate offers generally more exciting flying, opportunities to be involved in much more than just flying planes, and could work out long term or might not.

It really depends on your personality and priorities. All corporate jobs are different. Some are awesome. Major airline jobs are much more of a known quantity in terms of schedules, pay, route structure, etc. when I flew corporate, there were things I missed about the airlines and flying for the airlines there are things I miss about corporate. I would just do what is best for your personal desires and goals. For me, I was willing to commute and sacrifice the fun and variety in corporate flying in order to pursue the higher pay and operating environment of a major airline.
 
Verses MOST corporate jobs, you can't beat the work/life balance of 121. If this is a unicorn job, then look at it, but otherwise I'd stay 121 unless there was severe stagnation where you are.
 
turbojet28 said:
That's not necessarily true. Lots of really good departments will hire very young guys if they see bright things in their future.

FWIW, I was a regional F/O for 4 years, then flew 91/135 for 4 years, and recently returned to the 121 side at a ULCC. The jobs are just different - in almost every aspect. The airlines offer more predictability and higher pay. Corporate offers generally more exciting flying, opportunities to be involved in much more than just flying planes, and could work out long term or might not.

It really depends on your personality and priorities. All corporate jobs are different. Some are awesome. Major airline jobs are much more of a known quantity in terms of schedules, pay, route structure, etc. when I flew corporate, there were things I missed about the airlines and flying for the airlines there are things I miss about corporate. I would just do what is best for your personal desires and goals. For me, I was willing to commute and sacrifice the fun and variety in corporate flying in order to pursue the higher pay and operating environment of a major airline.
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This^, 121 and 91 are so completely different it's tough to compare. And what is one person's unicorn 91 job is someone's else's nightmare. Same for the airlines. Making the switch could be great for yourself, and your family but the unpredictability of the schedule is by far the toughest part. However there will most likely be times you could sit at home for a week plus and then only fly a day trip and home for another week. But you are stuck with their schedule and chances of making changes to the schedule might be slim to none.

All jobs on the 91/135 side are different, so knowing what life will be life once there is very tough to predict before hand.
 
I'm in one of those unicorn 91 jobs right now and laugh at people who tell me to go 121. However, when this gig ends, and it will, I will reassess and be taking a hard look at 121. Reason being, most corporate or 135 jobs are nightmares for me. I'm just incredibly lucky to be in the situation I'm in now. Point is, know what you want and if you can get it, great. If not, you'll have to find the next best thing. There are no black and white answers to career decisions (mostly).
 
I've done both and airline suits me better. Just wish I had figured it out sooner!


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