Here's the situation. I am deciding which route to take. Corporate vs .Majors. currently I am at XJT, probably FO for life there.

Age Late 20's
2100TT
1000turbine
0TPIC
Numerous volunteer activities

I know the one corporate job I wanted is coming up in a year from now. It is a heavy jet pay structure. With opportunity to advance into department manager eventually. 150-200 hours a year 11-14 flying days a month. Based in my home and I could bike to work to stay fit/enjoyment. It is not a large department, but I wouldnt imagine them going away anytime soon.

I am highly connected in Airline A. I really dont think they will last till I'm 65 though. I have done a lot of research and I want to go to Airline B. Even if it takes me a bit longer. Based on my contact at Airline A, he said I probably wont expect a call for another 1-2 years. So I'm guessing Airline B will be 6 years with little connections.

So the question is which one do I take? ROI will be higher at either airline, assuming no shutdown. But there is always that risk.

Also, should I leave XJT to build TPIC at Ameriflight to build my resume?

 

Why would you be an FO for life? Even with all the retirements coming up at the majors? Is there an underlying reason why you wont ever upgrade? (Health, dui, failed checkrides etc.)
Also, when you say "heavy jet pay structure" do you mean similar to a major carriers pay? Is this corporate department airline A or B that you mentioned? Or is A and B two other airlines besides XJT? Not enough details my man.

Do you value the QOL increase at the new corporate job? I personally as a single male in my early 20's would prefer to fly more than 200 hours a year, but if the pay is right and it was my home town id consider it. However, corporate departments can come and go as fast as regionals. However, finding a corporate job will be easier once you are corporate. I have flown corporate and it really is a small world. I made a few connections in just a few weeks at other major corporate departments. That is what its all about in the corporate world.

As for ameriflight, tpic might help, but its single pilot on steam gauges. High end jets, and airlines may value multi crew sic time more. It depends. But thats what i understand of the airlines. Single pilot although a skill in its own right, is nothing like flying glass as a crew. I would not leave XJT for any cargo outfit that A. Isnt part 121, B isnt a jet/turbofan multi engine/ multi crew operation.

Honestly from you first sentance or two, It soundslike you have had a few bad days or weeks at XJT and just want something new. Speaking from expeirence in making quick decisions that in hindsight I should not have made because they were emotionally fueled. Id say give XJT a bit more time, keep your chin up and wait for at least said "Airline A or B" to call in a year or two, or get some decent TPIC at XJT. You have decent time but nothing that will scream out to corporate departments for a capt spot on a jet. and like all airline and corporate pilots. NETWORK!

 

Thanks for the reply!

By FO for life, I mean no sight of upgrade in the distance before I get out of there. Moral is low if you talk to most people there. It has been more like a bad year, not week.

No health issues, no checkride failures/incidents.

The Corporate job is not an airline. This is for a Fortune 500 company. I know every single person in the department, which talking to them seems like an easy shoe in. But, I can think of a couple people that I might be competing against. Talking to them, I would be hired as FO. After a little time on type and 3500TT be promoted to captain. Aviation manager would take many many years though.

Heavy jet pay structure- For corporate operators this varies from 75k-90k for FOs. Then 95-160k for captains. The aviation manager pay is 120k-240k. Data is from ProPilot survey. This job is probably more on the low end of the spectrum considering the amount of hours flown.

QoL increase is huge to be at home. I know with the corporate schedule it would take me years at a major to get the same type of schedule. I know there a couple lucrative routes out there going international. Such as 9 days per month working. But again that would take probably 25 years on top of the 1-6 years to get hired.

As for the airline route, my contact is in hiring management at airline A. Again though, I don't believe they will last another 30 years. My network is only at the line pilot level. But I hope to continue my networking to help make that transition quicker.

So the main question. Which one do I choose?
Corporate job - 1 year
Airline B - 6 years maybe?
Airline A - 1-2 years

Thanks for info on Ameriflight more though. I was thinking the same, but the idea keeps popping in my head.