ccconnor92

I have read my fair share of threads, so I realize the industry is a 365/24/7 industry. However I am still trying to decide if I could possibly fit into it.

I am coming to the end of my undergraduate degree and looking at grad programs, and career opportunities. I have considered law school and a few other options, but the idea of pushing paper for the next 40 years sounds like my hell.

I have been looking into and have seriously been considering the aviation industry, my only draw back is time away from home. As is many new comers, or so I have read on these forums. I am well aware it takes time and sacrifice to get any desirable career in the industry, I am just putting my feelers out to see if anyone had any advise.

I have been checking into different career paths and trying to access which could be best for my future career goals, along with family goals. From what I've read fractional airlines are sounding rather appealing to me. Especially being from the Kansas City metro area.

My main questions are

1. What does the typical monthly schedule of a fractional pilot look line?

2. What range can a factional pilot expect to make?

3. What are the typical minimums requirements most fractional's look for in new hires?

4. And if anyone has any other career path ideas within the piloting industry that puts a pilot at home more nights than away?

Any advise would be awesome
Thanks!

rickair7777

Fractionals have some advantages compared to regionals, but the typical schedule is 7-on/7-off.

At most airlines you can do better than 50% home once you get some seniority, and if you have kids seven days is a long time to be gone.


Similar to major airlines, ie you'll need to work at a regional, 135, or bizav first.


Airline pilot bidding in the 30-50% seniority range (depends on airline and equipment). If you can bid locals you're home every night.

deftone

It all depends on you and your family. I work 28/28 and I have 3 kids. Yes its a lot of time to be away, but I get to spend more quality time in the 28days off than I would get if I was in a 9-5 job.

rickair7777

Almost anything is better than 9-5, especially when it turns into 7-7 with frequent travel and weekend work.

With older kids, you have more flexibility. But little ones don't understand, it seems that after more than four days you start seeing emotional pushback.

Also the longer the trips get, the harder it is to break the rhythm (or drop the trip) if you need to be home for a special event.

outerfix

At one point the Fractionals looked like a good alternative to the airlines but not any more. Netjets has 500 on furlough, CitationAir is Toast, DAC which is Flex and Options is a train wreck. If your going to go corporate I would set my sites on a fortune 100 company.

ccconnor92

Thank you all for the advice. I'm now looking more towards commercial airlines. Would you all say its best to gain seniority at a regional, or try to climb your way up at a major national airline?

rickair7777

Your choice is not regional or major.

You won't be able to get a major job without doing something else first. Military experience is most competitive, the regionals, with 135/91 last on the list.

mooneymite

If you want a career in aviation, go the military route. Preferably fly big, heavy aircraft.

You get the best training, will not enter the flying job market deeply in debt and you will be on most airlines' short list when the time comes.

It is not an easy road, no matter what route you choose; the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is not as big as it was in the past. The single pilot commercial cockpit is probably going to be a reality within your career span, so movement up the seniority list could be painfully slow.

If you don't like to be away from home, forget about flying. Flying, by its very nature, takes you away from home. Be a dentist. As far as fractional flying....forget it. You'll work harder and get paid less than if you work for a major.

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