How did you get started?

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Good guess FalconCapt.
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He's right! I love that airplane, however, I spend most of my time in a Hawker or a Lear 35. I know, I know,,,,a lot of airplanes to keep straight. I hear that all the time, although, I've pretty much studied just a little bit everyday for the past couple years to stay on top of things.

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Don't feel bad, when I was flying Charter, at one point I was PIC on all of the following concurrently:

Falcon 20 (C & F Model, fairly different) [Part 135]
Falcon 10 [Part 135]
Lear 35 (and 35a) [Part 135]
King Air 100 (and A100, again some differences) [Part 135]
Cessna C-414A [Part 135]
Cessna 310 [Part 91]

I think I spent more time taking checkrides than flying revenue trips! At the time I was averaging 700 flight hours per year...

I don't think my brain could handle that now! Oh to be young again!
 
falconcapt, that is pretty impressive keeping all those airplanes straight.

Did you have to review the systems of the airplane before a trip or did you just fly enough that it became second nature to you?

Sounds pretty fun to me.
 
I can't say I handled that many airplanes at one time but I was PIC / CPT. on 3 types at a time.
C550 corporate jet Prt. 91
BH222UT corprorate helicopter Prt. 91
C-12 ( BE 200 ) Military turbo prop
and SIC on the C650 corporate jet Prt. 91( very little )

I flew any combination of two aircraft the same day but not all 3 types. I would review some numbers prior to flight but after awhile it is instinctive ... bigger problem was not with the different airplanes it was with the different FMSs / GPSs. The clear differences in airframes made it "easy" when going from one type to another. I did atttend FSI 5 times in one year though ... that was a brain load.
 
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falconcapt, that is pretty impressive keeping all those airplanes straight.

Did you have to review the systems of the airplane before a trip or did you just fly enough that it became second nature to you?

Sounds pretty fun to me.

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I flew the jets and turbo-props regularly, the piston stuff was less frequent (the 310 was VERY rare)... I would just get in and switch my brain to the current airplane, once you were in the seat it was kind of instinctual...
 
What the hell am I?

I drive a P-Baron. I have two scheduled trips a week. I have one RON a month (Aspen, NOLA, etc). I'm in and out of everything from practically dirt strips to Intercontinental in Houston.

Monthly, I average about 3 popups- but they're embedded on the scheduled trip (one more destination before the leg home), and they may turn into a RON.

I'm the only one responsible for the plane. I maintain it, keep up the logs, clean it, and maintain it some more. I have carte blanche with the maintenance bills, and if I say it is too low to go, we don't go (we fly into the MS Delta a lot... enough said).

I have my own office- the size of a large prison cell, but it is a corner office with a view of downtown Fort Worth.

The owner is the primary passenger, except on the fun trips (again, Aspen and the party towns) when we take the wives (MINE and his).

I make 30K with this gig. Include the fun trips, and that goes up very fast (four nights in a ski-in, ski-out chalet with dinner and drinks on the boss each night?).

I have just over 1000TT, with 750 multi.

I don't give a rat's tuckus if I am or am not "corporate" by a strict definition of the word-

I am <font color="red">LUCKY </font> . Period. I love what I'm doing right now. This will eventually lead to some firebreathers across the ramp, but I'm really happy doing this.
 
Hi
Do you know if a degree ir required to get hired by a major?
Even after going to DCAs "jet direct" program? Or am I going to get "stuck" in a CRJ until I get my degree?

Thnx
 
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Hi
Do you know if a degree ir required to get hired by a major?
Even after going to DCAs "jet direct" program? Or am I going to get "stuck" in a CRJ until I get my degree?

Thnx

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I think you have your priorities messed up. Yes you will need a degree and don't say "stuck in a CRJ" like it is the worst thing in the world.
 
Yeah, I saw that came out all wrong! My bad!

So, are people usually finishing their degree before the actual flight traning, and is it more common to work something out while being in the instructer phase?

And, have you heard of the "Jet Direct" at DCA? How does it work?
 
I sure hope to be "stuck" in a CRJ someday!!!

Anyhow, to answer some of your questions....it varies. Some people finish the degree before flight training and others get the degree after the ratings. It really depends on your own situation. I wouldnt say there is a wrong or right way to go about it just as long as you have a plan to fall back on.

I'm not familiar with "jet direct" program but from the sounds of it it sounds like another marketing ploy to me. Don't believe the hype.
 
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You can "stick" me in a CRJ and I'll be as happy as a pig in.....
ummm....

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Ummm.......mud?
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&lt;How did you guys sneak a CRJ into the Corp/Frac/Charter forum, anyways? Sheesh
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&gt;
 
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What the hell am I?

I drive a P-Baron. I have two scheduled trips a week. I have one RON a month (Aspen, NOLA, etc). I'm in and out of everything from practically dirt strips to Intercontinental in Houston.

Monthly, I average about 3 popups- but they're embedded on the scheduled trip (one more destination before the leg home), and they may turn into a RON.

I'm the only one responsible for the plane. I maintain it, keep up the logs, clean it, and maintain it some more.
I have my own office- the size of a large prison cell, but it is a corner office with a view of downtown Fort Worth.

I make 30K with this gig.

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Seriously underpaid...



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Include the fun trips, and that goes up very fast (four nights in a ski-in, ski-out chalet with dinner and drinks on the boss each night?).

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Does you mortgage company (or landlord) accept ski trips and free drinks for payment??? Mine sure as hell doesn't! I'd take the cash...
 
Enough already! I bent over backwards and receive the punishment of my dumbass statement. I did say """"stuck""",
but didn't mean it like that.
And your right, again.. CRJ and -F don't seem to match up, do they.

I will pay attention to this forum, because of all the people here whom have so much expreience and know what they're talking about.

Thumbs Up!
 
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Seriously underpaid...


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Have you forgotten what a Baron is
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Seriously underpaid...


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Have you forgotten what a Baron is
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Not at all... lets take a minute and put his $30,000/year into perspective...

When I left Flight Instructing back in early 1994 (10 years ago) I was making $27,500 per year... That was TEN years ago! Now even at a paltry 2% inflation per year, in 2004 dollars that would equate to $33,500. This was as a Flight Instructor flying a C-172 and a Beechcraft Duchess... I was home every night and could basically make my own schedule...

That $30,000 flying, maintaining and managing a Baron doesn't sound like such a good deal anymore, does it??? But hey, he gets free drinks and skiing...
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You get paid what you think you are worth, if they really want someone they will pay what it takes to get/keep them...
 
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Wow, CFI's make that much?

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You get paid what your negotiate... If you think you are worth $10,000 a year as a CFI, thats what you will make...

No offense, but you young guys (with no mortgage, family, car payments, other bills) all think that as long as you are flying you don't care what you get paid... Well that may seem fine at first, but as that mentality drags down the pay scales and you get older and need/want more money, you will find it very hard to come by... and then it will be too late...

Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it...

BTW, that $27,500 was my ending salary (yes, I said Salary, not hourly)... I had 3 years experience as a CFI at that point... My FIRST year pay as a CFI (0 CFI experience) was $15,000/year salary. That was back in 1991... To put things in perspective, my Annual Bonus for last year was larger than my entire first year salary as a CFI... And that was a BONUS... i.e. "Extra Money"... As you get older you will want/need the money... you'd better hope it is there when that time comes...

Don't sell yourself short...
 
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And that was a BONUS... i.e. "Extra Money"... As you get older you will want/need the money... you'd better hope it is there when that time comes...

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Reading your posts always makes me happy. You get me more and more pumped to pursue a career in the corporate world.

I think you are right about people getting paid what they are worth. Now for people who read this, don't get mad at this. If you feel you are underpaid, you probably are, but you are the only one who can deal with that (barring your cirumstances).

Anyways, any advice for the guys/gals who want to pursue a career in aviation. I know I've asked you this before, but if you can think of anything else, please enlighten us all.
 
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