My background is flight instructing then 135. Been flying 135 for 10 years. King Air, westwind, now G200. I think 135 is bottom of the barrel right there with a regional job. Just like a regional it's a stepping stone. Some stick around and make a career of it and that's cool I'm not trying to belittle anyone.

The 3 135 companies I've worked for are management companies. They owned a couple of airplanes but their main service is managing individual or corporate aircraft for a fee and chartering it when the owner doesn't need it. This formula usually includes a lean pilot group because cost is a key factor. The norm seems to be 2 pilots per airplane. There is pressure on the pilots to fly all trips and are expected to take vacation when the airplane is down for MX. Very standard in the 135 (management company) world.

The benefits of working for this type of 135 company would be good quality of life on the road. Good food, nice hotels, nice destinations, interesting flying.

The negatives would be the fact that you are basically a glorified well treated and well paid slave and the schedule (ha) is ever changing. It can be difficult if you have family back home and can't guarantee when you will be home.

This can be a great way for a younger guy/gal to gain experience but I don't see it as a long term career for a family man.

Yes there are some great 91 jobs out there but the good jobs are held onto by dear life by the pilots so the reality is, if you want to enter the arena you will start at the bottom into a less desirable gig.

The lifer 135 guys that I've flown with have all been turned down by a legacy at some point. The consensus is, the best jobs in the industry are at the majors. I've had the opportunity to network in the corporate world and decided that rather than take a nice 91 job I'm heading to the airlines. I'm pretty sure I'm making the right decision.