Charter VS. Airline
 

So first off I'll say this. I work at an FBO and service private and chartered aircraft on a day to day basis.

I've always wanted to go airlines, but a lot of people tell me to consider charter aviation. Just from observation...I see the pilots waiting around for long periods of time and become fatigued. It looks some what boring to sit in an FBO all day. The QOL is better I hear though.

What do you think from exproence? Charter or Airline?
I'm young and have no wife or kids as I know that makes a difference.
Thanks for your thoughts.

Airlines if you want decent career progression. Charter if you like that customer service variety stuff. If you just want to fly the plane, go the airline route. If you want to be everything from a baggage handler to a flight attendant, go charter.

What are your times JL?

I struggle with this constantly since I'm at the point where I can go either direction, including medevac.

Things I'm considering: stable company, career progression, home basing (or a short commute on the west coast), 7/7 or 8/6 schedule and to "just fly the plane" as Quarryman mentioned. Imcan handle customer service type stuff, play FA and throw bags for the right gig. I'm not looking to get rich but six figs as a captain after 5-10 years would be ideal. Does this exist?

I worked 7 years at a well known company within the industry which paid good and offered excellent benefits but it wasn't fulfilling, became monotonous, and makes me never want to work a desk job again. Do any of you NOT know where your next trip will take you but you DO know when you'll be home and not feel overworked? Something that offers adventure such as new airports, new experiences, the ability to enjoy yourselves on longer overnights, yet job security and stability at the same time.

I have plenty of friends at all levels in the 121 world so I know what to expect there... but none on the 135/charter/medevac side which is why I remain curious.

I left 121 for a medevac gig, then returned back to 121.

I flew for one of the larger King Air medevac companies in the country. Schedule was amazing, 7/7 with 12 hr shifts. Basically would sit around in a company paid apartment next to the airport and wait for a call. Medical benefits were 2nd to none. Pay is basically what it is, started around 60k and after 5 years it might be 67k/yr.


But the flying is tough. You will fly through all kinds of weather, at all times in the day/night. The airports will be everything from the busiest in the nation to unimproved with no taxiways. You will be responsible for weather, flight planning, fuel, weight and balance, pulling the plane out of the hangar, to storing and cleaning it. We were all single pilot, so you're responsible for it all.

You most likely won't fly in nice weather, as that is when the helos will take all the flights. When the weather goes bad is when the fixed wing start flying. Expect around 250hrs a year, give or take.

If you look at the new Delta rates and factor in the retirement contribution, the airlines are the way to go.
Other jobs may be more fun or fulfilling, but in the end everything ends up being a job.

This right here.

I'm leaving the 135 world after over a decade and jumping to 121. Over the course of a career, the money to be made and the time off you'll have working for an airline vs. a charter/EMS operator doesn't even compare. Sure commuting sucks and the 1st year pay is a hit to the crotch, but you gotta look at it as "short term pain for long term gain."

Work to live, don't live to work.

Thanks for the input everyone. I think I'll give the 121 side a try and go from there. Maybe I'll stick with it for the rest of my career, maybe I'll do a bkey79 and leave 121 for something that sounds better just to realize I need to go back to 121 flying.

Pre-1500 rule I was all about the regional track. Then the 1500 hour rule made me consider 135/charter ops for a while. Now that I'm nearing 1500 with the majority of it being multi-turbine, and I'm qualified for both sides with the majority of each side hiring, it's made the decision process much harder than it was years ago.

Didn't mean to hijack this thread from the OP, but thanks for chiming in everyone.

Don't feel that you're the only one in those shoes, I been in the 135 Cargo&Pax/EMS industry for more that 15yrs and now I'm jumping into the 121 world. I fully appreciate this forum, It makes me realize the path to follow. I am tired of been EMS 24/5 and time goes on, I don't see my self doing life at EMS the rest of my career. Don't get me wrong, It's a very nice experience but "life goes on"... Hopefully 2017 @ 121 will bring extra QoL...

What's the QOL of NetJets and FlexJets pilots? What about JetSuite?
Those companies seem like good places to work.
Is there an hourly guarantee every month like airlines? Those companies have dispatchers to help with flight planning as far as I know. Hotels and rental cars are usually covered as well right?