getting into corporate aviation?

C

Chaz

New Member
I was wondering how a pilot gets into corporate aviation w/o military experience. Do companies send prospective applicants to Flightsafety or Simuflite for training? Is it possible to become a corporate pilot w/ private, commercial, and multiengine ratings with minimum experience before entering training? Any ideas on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Chuck
 
Usually it requires some good networking skills. Some corporations might send someone to flight safety, most others will hire someone who already is qualified through the military or through paying for their own training and instructing to build experience. Its really hard to say because every place had different ways at which they go about hiring pilots. About a year ago an instructor at my school got hired to fly Gulfstreams with about 700TT and less than 100ME. He was referred by someone who knew his dad, and it was a case of them needing a pilot, asking around, and found him.
 
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I was wondering how a pilot gets into corporate aviation w/o military experience. Do companies send prospective applicants to Flightsafety or Simuflite for training? Is it possible to become a corporate pilot w/ private, commercial, and multiengine ratings with minimum experience before entering training? Any ideas on this subject would be greatly appreciated.

Chuck

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Corporate, helps if you somebody, they do run ads, here is a website, that runs ads...
http://aviationemploymentboard.net/forum/

Sometimes you are required to purchase your own type ratings. If the owner buys a new aircraft, he will usually pay for the pilots to get their new type rating.

School of course depends on the type rating....
 
NETWORKING, NETWORKING, NETWORKING!!!

I met my current boss while he was doing his recurrent training at SimuFlite in Dallas. I was in the right seat program (which I'm sure you can find something about on here, if not, let me know). I got into the right seat program because of one of my friends recommended me. Now, I haven't been here long, so I'm probably not a good person to ask about getting into corporate aviation, but I've been out of college for just over 1 year and in the "aviation world" working, and I've seen how great networking is in this short period of time. I also do know that each flight department is different, so it's hard to say there is one particular thing to do to get in a corporate flight department.
 
I know networking is a key asset in the corporate world much more than the airlines. It just doesn't make sense if you have 200 hrs of dual or pic time in a piper or cessna or 1000 hours. The controls and systems are so different that more experience is a single or multi engine doesn't necessarily qaulify you for the job in a corporate jet. I really like the ab initio training compared to instructing or doing some other side job to build hours. Atleast you are guaranteed a job and get the training upfront. Any ideas for good networking techniques?
 
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Is it possible to become a corporate pilot w/ private, commercial, and multiengine ratings with minimum experience before entering training?

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Yes, if you have not yet finished your ratings, go to FlightSafety Academy and get your CFI, after that you can go to any of the FSI centers and get paid to train and fly in their sims with corporate pilots. You will get the same training and experience that someone that pays $30G for a type gets, free.

(not to mention you may even get a free type rating out of it.) And yes it comes down to making connections, so if you are flying with corporate pilot clients everyday, does that sound like good connections? Just one way to do it, but if you have low time its an excellent way.
Good luck either way you go.
 
You say go get your CFI, but why should I if I have no intention of instructing. Wouldn't CFI seem more likely to pilots trying to build time as flight instructors. Also, how do you get to fly with other corporate pilots through flightsafety for example?
 
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You say go get your CFI, but why should I if I have no intention of instructing.

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ok. Even though you have no intention of instructing, the CFI rating is excellent to have, it makes you more proficient, a better pilot, (it's fun) and the main reason I suggested that, is because it's the only way you will be able to participate in the program that I was describing. You have to get your CFI through FlightSafety before they allow you to go to one of their sim centers, so they can approve of your proficiency level. They will not just let anyone go and represent them, just like any job at any company wouldn't just let anyone go and represent them with their clients. You will have to pass a sim check after completion of your CFI, but by the time you earn your CFI there, you should have no trouble with that.
Your post was titled, "getting into corporate aviation," so I was just trying to do my best to help you out with the information that i have. FlightSafety is the industry leader in training corporate pilots, so if that is your goal, its a good place for you to start. If you have low time, not even a CFI yet, I would recommend calling them up and asking about this program, they will give you more information so you can better weigh your options. Again this was just my suggestion, good luck
 
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While I was instructing, I met a at least two students that had plans to buy a PC12 and a C421... they were also hinting to me that they would need an left seat pilot in the near future.... although those aren't Gulfstreams or Hawkers, its a good start.... CFI is one of the best ways to network
 
Well here is my situation and it looks pretty good. Now, I am only 14 so it really doesnt matter now, but in the near future...

My dad is VP of sales and marketing for a 3rd Party employee benifit administrator (sp?). We are in Columbus (home to may big companies. Wendy's, Abercrombie, Limited brands and a few others.) But anyways, him being VP he works with a lot of the execs, for some companies that are big. The biggest co. they have is Big Lots, and I belive they have some jets. So I can benifit and network from his job to benifit my job.

I think this is a good situatin, but let me know otherwise.

Is there a website where you can get information about companies and the jets the fly? I know Wendy's has a nice fleet, b/c their hanger is right next to my flight club.

Good Day
 
Start washing jets.

Its a good way to get to know the people that manage those corporate aircraft, who might end up needing a young guy like yourself 6 years down the road.
 
Fueling airplanes at the local FBO is also another good way to meet some people. Also, don't totally throw out the CFI idea either. One of my former students works for a company who now owns 1/2 of a charter company based in the Dallas area. Through a trip I got to go on with them (as a pax), I met the boss man and some of the others in the company. They were going to do their best to hook me up with a job (flying Learjets) until I came across my current job.

While instructing may not be an enjoyable job for you, you have the potential to meet a lot of people if you're in the right area. One more example... Another former student of mine owns a Cessna 172, Cessna 421, an incredibly nice FBO, and he knows A LOT of people...and not just in aviation.

So, having a CFI certificate is more than just a ticket to teach (and learn), but also a great way to meet people!
 
Do any of you how any information about CAE Simuflite in terms of their corporate training. By the way, how much does the corporate pilot training cost? Or is it paid for by the companies that want to hire you. I understand your argument about getting your CFI, but does simuflite have those same requirements?
 
It's almost 100% networking.

You could have type ratings in a Gulfstream, a Citation, a King Air and a BBJ but unless you've got the networking contacts, it doesn't matter a lot.
 
and that's where Network JC comes into play! why we offer it.. to give more of a person to person opportunity to network!
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Start washing jets.

Its a good way to get to know the people that manage those corporate aircraft, who might end up needing a young guy like yourself 6 years down the road.

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I am washing Cessna's! But across the service road is where Wendy's has their fleet of planes, so hopefull in a few years I can move over there!
 
all about the connections, most jobs available arn't listed and the ones that are have high mins. Try and get a job around corporate flight departments, fueler, dispatcher, ramper anything. A guy I know was driving a forklift loading planes one day and fllying right seat in a Ciation the next, all with low time. Of course being a hard workers and having a good attitude helps too. As co-pilot you'll get to do all the fun stuff like vacume the plane, restock the fridge, get ice, weight and balance, get clearances, work out SIDs etc etc heck you might even get to fly the plane from time to time lol
 
Yes, the company I am working for is a catering company that has done everything from Clinton's ignauration, to NASCAR, to horseracing here in Kentucky. He has connections with the government and is a politician and a private jet from what I hear. Everyone says I am a helluva worker and if he ever needed a pilot in a couple years, I might have a good chance since my dad knows him well. In other words, I would say the best way to get a job in corporate aviation is have the connections. Also, I have looked on Monster just for fun and they have corporate jobs posted. There are many ways.
 
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