Goddard,

I left the airlines last year (involuntarily) for a job flying a Citation Encore with a part 91 flight department that flies for a subsidiary of a heavy equipment manufacturer. The flight department is small (very small in fact with only two of us working- I'm the junior guy).

The pay here is okay, and well above what the average resident for where I live (non-aviation), but it will never meet that of the majors. Benefits are good (between 75% and 125% 401kmatch on the first 6% contributed, depending on longevity, as well as profit sharing and some other perks.)

I'm treated well, and the QOL is very good. Flying is somewhat similar to what you have described, mostly day trips, some overnights, and we've logged about 200hrs in the 12 months since I came to the company.

Some months are slow (my slowest had 4.5 hrs of flying), others will kill ya (next month is projected at 23 flying days, 120hrs of flying in a 33 day period, and 12 overnights for same period).

If you don't think you won't get bored (there's a LOT of sitting around, both at home and on the road), don't mind the lower pay, and don't mind the smaller equipment or a few "non-pilot" administrative duties, then a good corporate gig will hands down beat ANY airline job IMHO.

Flew for the airlines for 5 years (Atlantic Coast Airlines then Independence Air), and can tell you that while I miss the people, I certainly don't miss the BS. I'd much rather be able to negotiate face to face based upon my merits, and I certainly enjoy the management/worker relationships at my current job much better than what the typical airline setup is like...)