Stuck in a so-so corporate job. What next?
11-28-2017, 04:30 AM
#1
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Stuck in a so-so corporate job. What next?
So I am contemplating all of my options here and need some advice (other than from my friends at the airlines).
Current job: 1 of 2 pilots flying a CJ3 single pilot and a Cirrus SR-22 in the NE. Part 91 flying for a nice family. It is around 400 hours of flying per year between the two planes. Supposed to be week on/week off, but because there are two planes and two pilots, it is week on/week on. While the family is nice, they would be late for their own funeral. There is no set schedule and pretty much every trip is a pop up. There have been occasions where one of us has launched for Airport X and on approach to Airport X the owner says oh, I needed to go to Airport Y.
Anyway, pay is so-so for living in the NE. Benefits are so-so (they pay for part of an Obamacare plan off the open market). No LTD and short term is terrible. My first year bonus was a box of grapefruit. I have to work a second job as a DO in order to make ends meet living outside NYC. (that's right, my SECOND job is as a DO for a 135 operator).
I am at a crossroads. I have missed every previous airline hiring boom either by timing or family health issues. Is it time for me to make the jump? I am sitting at 6500+ total hours but around 300 TPIC. Heading to a regional would be financial disaster. What options do I have? Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Michael
Current job: 1 of 2 pilots flying a CJ3 single pilot and a Cirrus SR-22 in the NE. Part 91 flying for a nice family. It is around 400 hours of flying per year between the two planes. Supposed to be week on/week off, but because there are two planes and two pilots, it is week on/week on. While the family is nice, they would be late for their own funeral. There is no set schedule and pretty much every trip is a pop up. There have been occasions where one of us has launched for Airport X and on approach to Airport X the owner says oh, I needed to go to Airport Y.
Anyway, pay is so-so for living in the NE. Benefits are so-so (they pay for part of an Obamacare plan off the open market). No LTD and short term is terrible. My first year bonus was a box of grapefruit. I have to work a second job as a DO in order to make ends meet living outside NYC. (that's right, my SECOND job is as a DO for a 135 operator).
I am at a crossroads. I have missed every previous airline hiring boom either by timing or family health issues. Is it time for me to make the jump? I am sitting at 6500+ total hours but around 300 TPIC. Heading to a regional would be financial disaster. What options do I have? Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Michael
11-28-2017, 06:02 AM
#2
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Joined APC: May 2010
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Check out the Jet Aviation and EJM careers websites—there are lots of good to great corporate jobs, should you want to stay corporate. Also, most of them would be better for your resume to go airline.
You should be well placed for a legacy career which will always be better as things look today.
GF
You should be well placed for a legacy career which will always be better as things look today.
GF
11-28-2017, 06:54 AM
#3
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
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Posts: 39,405
Get your apps out to every major you'd be willing to work for, keep them updated, and attend job fairs. Most of the majors will be better than what you've got now... waaay better. Consider another 91/135 job if that will get your PIC up.
Do your homework, regional pilots talk to enough people that they know the drill for major interviews, you might be oblivious to the nuances. If you have several thousand turbine hours, you might get called.
Do your homework, regional pilots talk to enough people that they know the drill for major interviews, you might be oblivious to the nuances. If you have several thousand turbine hours, you might get called.
12-02-2017, 03:57 AM
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Thanks for the input. I’ve already started on Legacy apps this week and will continue to stick it out where I’m at to keep building TPIC. Does flying single pilot count for anything (besides the thought that most other jet pilots think I’m nuts?)?
12-02-2017, 05:56 AM
#5
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Originally Posted by michael525Bdo
Thanks for the input. I’ve already started on Legacy apps this week and will continue to stick it out where I’m at to keep building TPIC. Does flying single pilot count for anything (besides the thought that most other jet pilots think I’m nuts?)?
Military tactical jets.
Mil Heavies
121 ME Glass Crew Jet
135 ME Glass Crew Jet
91 ME Glass Crew Jet
So single pilot still counts as long as it's ME jet, but obviously they prefer crew experience since they don't like dealing with folks who have trouble flying as a team in training (it happens, more often fighter pilots).
12-02-2017, 06:17 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Oct 2015
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Originally Posted by michael525Bdo
So I am contemplating all of my options here and need some advice (other than from my friends at the airlines).
Current job: 1 of 2 pilots flying a CJ3 single pilot and a Cirrus SR-22 in the NE. Part 91 flying for a nice family. It is around 400 hours of flying per year between the two planes. Supposed to be week on/week off, but because there are two planes and two pilots, it is week on/week on. While the family is nice, they would be late for their own funeral. There is no set schedule and pretty much every trip is a pop up. There have been occasions where one of us has launched for Airport X and on approach to Airport X the owner says oh, I needed to go to Airport Y.
Anyway, pay is so-so for living in the NE. Benefits are so-so (they pay for part of an Obamacare plan off the open market). No LTD and short term is terrible. My first year bonus was a box of grapefruit. I have to work a second job as a DO in order to make ends meet living outside NYC. (that's right, my SECOND job is as a DO for a 135 operator).
I am at a crossroads. I have missed every previous airline hiring boom either by timing or family health issues. Is it time for me to make the jump? I am sitting at 6500+ total hours but around 300 TPIC. Heading to a regional would be financial disaster. What options do I have? Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Michael
Current job: 1 of 2 pilots flying a CJ3 single pilot and a Cirrus SR-22 in the NE. Part 91 flying for a nice family. It is around 400 hours of flying per year between the two planes. Supposed to be week on/week off, but because there are two planes and two pilots, it is week on/week on. While the family is nice, they would be late for their own funeral. There is no set schedule and pretty much every trip is a pop up. There have been occasions where one of us has launched for Airport X and on approach to Airport X the owner says oh, I needed to go to Airport Y.
Anyway, pay is so-so for living in the NE. Benefits are so-so (they pay for part of an Obamacare plan off the open market). No LTD and short term is terrible. My first year bonus was a box of grapefruit. I have to work a second job as a DO in order to make ends meet living outside NYC. (that's right, my SECOND job is as a DO for a 135 operator).
I am at a crossroads. I have missed every previous airline hiring boom either by timing or family health issues. Is it time for me to make the jump? I am sitting at 6500+ total hours but around 300 TPIC. Heading to a regional would be financial disaster. What options do I have? Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Michael
Other options would be ACMIs like Kalitta.
Maybe you could keep your second job if needed until make enough at either to let it go, or get hired on by a tier one major.
12-02-2017, 06:43 AM
#7
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How much TPIC are you accumulating? in a non 121 small corporate jet? It doesn’t have the value that 121 TPIC, or 121 experience, has. The airlines have expressed a desire for that experience and the hiring shows it.
The avg civilian OTS has 3000-4000 hrs PIC. At your current job when would that occur? When would it occur at a regional, where you’d get a new type rating, 121 training and experience, as well as flying larger equipment?
The avg civilian OTS has 3000-4000 hrs PIC. At your current job when would that occur? When would it occur at a regional, where you’d get a new type rating, 121 training and experience, as well as flying larger equipment?
12-02-2017, 09:11 AM
#8
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Originally Posted by Otterbox
If your traditional regional options would be a financial disaster, checkout Endeavor and JetBlue. Endeavor passed a new TA that goes into effect next month so both of those would be your best bet living near NYC.
Other options would be ACMIs like Kalitta.
Maybe you could keep your second job if needed until make enough at either to let it go, or get hired on by a tier one major.
Other options would be ACMIs like Kalitta.
Maybe you could keep your second job if needed until make enough at either to let it go, or get hired on by a tier one major.
12-02-2017, 09:11 AM
#9
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Originally Posted by Sliceback
How much TPIC are you accumulating? in a non 121 small corporate jet? It doesn’t have the value that 121 TPIC, or 121 experience, has. The airlines have expressed a desire for that experience and the hiring shows it.
The avg civilian OTS has 3000-4000 hrs PIC. At your current job when would that occur? When would it occur at a regional, where you’d get a new type rating, 121 training and experience, as well as flying larger equipment?
The avg civilian OTS has 3000-4000 hrs PIC. At your current job when would that occur? When would it occur at a regional, where you’d get a new type rating, 121 training and experience, as well as flying larger equipment?
12-02-2017, 09:21 AM
#10
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Posts: 2,910
Originally Posted by michael525Bdo
Endeavor definitely looks appealing. Especially since I could live in base. JetBlue is even more appealing, but I’m not sure my non 121 background gets me in the door.
You won’t get on with anyone if you don’t apply. I would apply to all 121 majors with NYC bases and Endeavor if I was in your shoes, personally.
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