Corporate departments' take on 121 pilots?
08-20-2014, 05:41 PM
#1
Chopstick Grandmaster
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Corporate departments' take on 121 pilots?
Is there a predominant attitude towards part 121 airline pilots at the larger corporate flight departments? Or does it greatly vary? I was told by a pilot who had been at one particular FD for awhile that if I wanted to fly corporate, stay AWAY from part 121. He said corporate departments tended to prefer hiring from other corporate departments, whether Part 135 or 91. "Airline stink" was the name he gave to 121 pilots. Maybe it was something personal, I don't know. Anyway he said I should try and get my time at a 135 place, such as Ameriflight.
Then I have heard the exact opposite... that Part 121 time is usually well-respected at corporate FDs.
Can someone confirm and elaborate what the deal is here please?
Then I have heard the exact opposite... that Part 121 time is usually well-respected at corporate FDs.
Can someone confirm and elaborate what the deal is here please?
08-20-2014, 05:58 PM
#2
Furloughed Again?!
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
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I don't think that's true. I worked for a Fortune 500 department after flying 121 for a decade. There were a number of other former 121 pilots in that department. If that's what you want to do, network, network, network...
08-20-2014, 06:47 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Mar 2011
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I'm previous 121 and managed to get myself hired!
Standing by for NoSidNoStar to go nuts on this one!!
6 pages easily.
Standing by for NoSidNoStar to go nuts on this one!!
6 pages easily.
08-20-2014, 07:04 PM
#4
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I would say that the good 91 jobs are hard to get for airline guys simply because they don't have the same network that someone already in 91 or 135 might have. It's not that they aren't hired just because they have a 121 background. It's just that the cp already has a stack of resumes from buddies of guys already working for him, guys that may have chatted him up at an fbo, got to know him at a past training event, etc.....the good 91 jobs really are all about who you know.
08-20-2014, 07:11 PM
#5
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Originally Posted by RI830
Standing by for NoSidNoStar to go nuts on this one!! 6 pages easily.
08-20-2014, 07:18 PM
#6
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dspilot, thank you for that. Yeah, that makes a ton of sense. It seems like 121 folks would have the disadvantage of time, place, opportunity compared to their 135 counterparts. For the 121 guys that HAVE made the crossover, I'd be interested to know your story on how you did it.
08-20-2014, 08:27 PM
#7
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OK, I searched "corporate pilot vs airline pilot" and got hits to this very forum going back as far as 2007, and I can see that any disgruntled attitudes at the big 135 ops towards 121 people are indeed (and thankfully) isolated cases.
08-21-2014, 12:45 AM
#8
Furloughed Again?!
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Boeing 737
Posts: 4,795
Originally Posted by sealandair
. For the 121 guys that HAVE made the crossover, I'd be interested to know your story on how you did it.
Just a lot of networking here and in person. Right place, right time, yadda yadda.
Incidentally after almost a decade flying corporate 91 for a Fortune 500, I went back to the airlines. There are huge pros and cons to both career paths. I just realized that I was better suited to airline flying.
Sure do miss FBO cookies, clean restrooms, and keeping hotel points though!
08-21-2014, 12:45 AM
#9
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Position: F/O- G-V/550
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Ran into an ex-American guy at FSI SAV. He was there for G-V initial-training. No prior corporate-flying experience, no G-IV/G-V type ratings. He flew MD80s at AA. He got tired of commuting, didn't like the merger with US, and said Airlines weren't for him.
He's now at a Fortune 100 flt department. That flight department operates 4 pr 5 Gulfstreams.
He's now at a Fortune 100 flt department. That flight department operates 4 pr 5 Gulfstreams.
Last edited by UCLAbruins; 08-21-2014 at 01:25 AM.
08-21-2014, 03:44 AM
#10
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Joined APC: Mar 2011
Position: Left seat on a kite
Posts: 1,884
Originally Posted by sealandair
For the 121 guys that HAVE made the crossover, I'd be interested to know your story on how you did it.
I turned down that job and so did the other pilot that interviewed.
From that I was offered an interview as a demo pilot with Embraer. That fell through due to Embraer requiring all pilots to be ANAC certified.
From that I met another guy who offered me the current job I have.
Absolutely all about who you know and not what you know.
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