Originally Posted by
flyingfalcon
Gotcha, thanks for all the replies it sounds like its not that great of a position for the qualifications required. I know its early to be thinking about the majors let alone a chief pilot but I can't help myself I was looking at job postings every day when I was a private pilot... plus the MBA and instructor stuff would be stuff to get done now if I still seriously wanted to pursue it, but it seems its not all that. Thanks again.
Admittedly, I had the advantages of being military which provided lots of opportunities for education in leadership and management (two different skills). I’d say prepare yourself, think about leaders or mentors you know, what’s good or bad in them.
I found being first an AF ops officer, staff work and finally a commander an awesome experience. I sent people to UPT that are now DL captains or wing commanders, very proud of that. Later, I was asked to be a chief pilot at a corporate flight department, by both the VP and my colleagues.
As the late Len Morgan said, being a good line pilot and being a good chief pilot have few overlaps, so chief pilots tend to be great or awful.