livinthedream89

Hi everyone,

I wanted to get a few opinions from more experienced pilots on the forum. I am currently a flight instructor around 1,000 TT and 400 multi. I have an opportunity to fly SIC part 91 in a VLJ in a couple of months for a person who only flies about 200 hours a year.

This job would provide an opportunity to make more money than I currently do which is important because we are currently expecting twins and could use the extra cash!

I really would like to get into corporate flying and think this might be a good way to get into it. However my concern is that at only 200 hours a year, I might be better off getting 800 hours of PIC time a year instructing than only 200 a year SIC. THEN with ATP minimums I could try and look for a corporate position.

I would like to just get some opinions on this. Since my ultimate goal is corporate and not the airlines, would it be best to take the job now or wait until I have more hours? This may seem like a no brainer for some but I just want to get some thoughts.

Thank you in advance!

FLY6584

Why can't you do both?

BPWI

With respect to corporate aviation there is little to no reason to sweat PIC time if you are currently beginning your career. I spent nearly 2yrs in the right seat of a sim starting out. For free no less. All that to advance my knowledge of systems and CRM so that when I was capable, I could move on. Your greatest asset in any corporate department is a positive attitutde and level of flexibility for the principal. The rest will fall into place. Best of luck and let us know what you decide-

mia389

I would follow the money in this case. Try to look ahead at least a year. Instructing might offer more hours but that is about it. You will learn a lot more doing corporate and get paid better. ATP mins will come with time. Im not saying you wouldnt learn anything as a flight instructor but sounds like you have already been instructing awhile.

You could also try to do both.

InvertedLoop

Is the VLJ a single pilot airplane? If it is and it is part 91 you will not be able to log any sic in it. 61.55 says to log sic the aircraft has to be type certificated for more than one pilot. I was flying right seat in a Kingair and logging it sic. When I went to get my ATP rating the guy doing my paperwork saw this time. I had to remove it all from my log book and fly an additional 44 hours in a 172 to meet the ATP mins. Here is the link to the FAA legal interpertation.

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...rpretation.pdf

Just trying to save you a headache down the road.

billythekid

I tend to think you should hang tight, maybe "contract" with the VLJ...especially since the time is questionable at best. If instructing, you are only six months or so from having an ATP, which then you can go be a 135 King Air/regional copilot and be at 2500 in two years and maybe logging PIC pretty quickly as well. There is going to be bigtime turnover as soon as Delta, JetBlue, United, Spirit, etc start hiring. 135/Regional pilots will be picked up and a quite a few 91 pilots as well, and if you wanted to go the airline route you'll have your pick of the regionals. I'd want to be in a situation where I could be an ATP once that churn starts and can step into a job flying 500-800+ a year, be a Captain shortly thereafter, then move onto greener pastures. I'd think 6 more months of financial pain will pay for itself fairly quickly over the next three years if you play your cards sensibly. I'd think a 1501 hour recip pilot would be much more valuable than a 1300 hour Eclipse gear puller......especially with new laws....
Odds are, you're next deal will be with a 135 outfit, so I'd point that direction. While I agree it's a step up, it's probably not a step you need to take.

Ewfflyer

How long is this gig? Is there a contract? Is the option to still instruct an option? This offers the flexibility that you can easily cancel students to do a trip for the new boss(make sure the students understand ahead if time the terms as well).

Only 200hrs a year, that's a lot of spare time to be exclusive to one individual, unless they have the above mentioned contract, and you need to be compensated accordingly.

Are you getting a type also? Once again, state this in an employment contract.

billythekid

This guys asking some good questions and I think is spot on.....except f0r the employment contract stuff.....which, for the most part, doesn't really exist or happen.

livinthedream89

Thanks for the comments everyone! I agree with both opinions- if I keep instructing then I will get to ATP mins faster but on the other hand it would be nice to follow the money.

I would like to ask one more question of the more experienced members of the forum. Say this job eventually falls through (ie the owner sells the plane), what is the process like to find another corporate job? I'm afraid if this were to happen, I'd miss this "hiring wave" at the regionals and miss my opportunity there. Any thoughts or suggestions?

To answer InvertedLoop...

I believe the other pilot is SIC limited on his type.So from what I gather from the link you posted, I would be a required crew member, and be able to log SIC.

USMCFLYR

I thought all of the VLJs were single piloted?
SIC requirement in a private P91 operation in a VLJ???