Originally Posted by
C130
I only knew one retired Delta guy move to corporate, and it really didn't work out too well for him. I think that after 20+ years of having the union and the contract, for the most part, on his side, he tried to exercise his "rights" a little too much at the corporate outfit. I can't remember the details, but he was trying to tell them that he couldn't work this trip or that one because of having flown X many days (even though he was FAA legal to fly).
Long story short - he got fired after a year from his post-Delta retirement corporate gig. Not sure if that is the norm or just an outlier data point, but something to think about. My other good friend in corporate said you would be crazy to choose corporate over the majors, because most corporate outfits will fire you on a moments notice for asking too many questions, downsizing, or not kissing enough ass. And you have no protection and nothing to show for it after getting fired.
I realize there are "good" corporate gigs and crappy ones, but this one seems like a pretty good one (2 jets), and my friend, the chief pilot, still had those warnings and negative feelings towards it.
You nailed this one on the head. I really don't think some people realize how hard the 91/135 world can be. Just like you stated there are some good ones but I'd be willing to say that only 20% of them fall under the "good gig" category. The pay isn't so bad at those places - depending on ones definition of "not bad pay", but it is QOL that is so bad. My last 91/135 gig only had 5 days guaranteed off per month. Even then, they could take a day if something came up. On call 24 hrs a day as well. Some places have no days off - on call 24/7 365. Anyone that works 121 for long enough gets spoiled to what we have with our contracts.
I'm still a regional guy, but my biggest complaint about my regional place when I started was pay. Everything else was so much better than my 91/135 gig and the majority of the ones I saw out there.