Falcon900pilot

If you're talking SWA or United, I'd agree (for the most part - there are always exceptions). 91 departments are definitely having to step up their game on pay that is for sure.

Duesenflieger

I would have to agree with GalaxyFlyer's sentiment. I did part 135 charter in a Falcon and Lear for a year before coming to a regional. Corporate and part 135 charter flying is much more memorable than airline stuff. Airline routes are the same day in and out. I find myself dreaming of the random cross country destinations that we did in part 135 (KBUR - KCOS- KSEA - PANC in a single day) on my 45 minute airline trips of O'Hare to Green Bay, WI, twice per day. Ultimately I left because I wasn't flying enough at that part 135 gig. The pay was ridiculously low for part 135 as well.

galaxy flyer

Some memories--landing off SQ to meet a pilot I never saw before to fly from Hanoi to Saigon, two cities I never saw before. Finding him of the Arabic background learned to fly in the US, not far from a former fiancée. Or, departing on a max range flight from Petropavolovsk to Tahiti and Bora Bora. Never boring and I'm a tediophobe.

GF

PhotoFlyer

im in a similar boat. Almost 50, own a business with 2 kids, one is in college. Tempted to start with a regional but know I have a seniority ladder to climb before I can replace my business income. Long term pay, benefits, QOL sound good but I also wonder if I'm better off trying to find a local corporate gig. Maybe I can ease into it while still running my business part time.

galaxy flyer

50, one in college and one ready and you're thinking if becoming a pilot NOW?

GF

MarineFAC

Couple of more points for flying for a major airline/cargo company - when I am off, I am off! If my phone goes off with a call or a text asking me to come in and fly, it's for 1.5 or 2 times my normal pay rate. As for vacation (do corp guys get vacation?), I just turned two weeks of vacation into 4 weeks off with pay. How about retirement? My company will contribute 15% of annual earnings to a my 401(k) - I don't have to put a dime of my own money to get that either. How about profit sharing? Any of you corp. guys get profit sharing? This year was just under 20%. I work 18 days a month (14-15 hard scheduled days, pick up 2-4 days a month of overtime flying) clear 170K/yr in direct compensation and receive an additional 35% in retirement account contributions ($56K). And pay goes up twice a year - on my employment anniversary and the contract amendable date. Any of you corp pilots making that kind of cash? Maybe DJT's personal pilot, but I doubt anyone else out there is making this kind of money.

Flying for a major isn't as exciting as landing a G650 or BBJ in Innsbruck, but I will use my travel bennies and spend $200 for a business class seat to Vienna, get a cut rate rental BMW 750 and meet you there. Oh you can't have a beer at the bar because the boss might want to travel tomorrow? I'll drink it for you.

I don't mean to sound snarky, but at the end of the day a pilot at one of the 4 majors or FedEx/UPS is going to make a lot more $$$, have a better QOL and job protection. I miss a show time due to a flat tire/car trouble, accident or just plain over slept it's a talking to by the chief pilot and letter in my file and I still get paid for that trip. Loud party in the hotel room next door? Air conditioner didn't work? No hot water? A call to crew scheduling telling them you too tired/fatigued to fly, relieved from flying and still get paid. Try calling sick/tired as a Corp pilot and you are probably looking for a new job.

As for NAI or bad executive officer bringing down one of the majors - we're too big to fail. The demand for air travel these days is too great to not make money at it. It's almost as easy as selling whiskey and sex..almost.

One last thing - I don't have to put up with the boss's trophy wife and snotty kids.

galaxy flyer

MarineFAC,

How much corporate experience do you have? I agree that, by and large, the Big 3, WN, FDX, and UPS pay better and have better QOL most of the time. That said, the top corporate jobs ain't chopped liver. 200-225k plus 10%-20% bonus and 401k is pretty standard. I started collecting a DB retirement that exceeds my civil service one for working only 2/3rds as long. There are good ones and because they frequently are easier to break into and pay better to start, preferred for older pilots. I personally know 5 ex-major pilots (US, UA, and DL) who turned down recall. When you making 275k plus bomus and flying less than 100 days a year, it's a tough choice

GF

MarineFAC

There are some great paying corp flying jobs to be had, but they are the exception and come after years spent toiling away in small cabin jet/turbo prop aircraft. The pay and bennies you describe above are attainable for a 5 yr FO, willing work for it, at the any of the carriers you named as well. And for every former major carrier pilot that turned down recall, I can name three former corp guys at my carrier. If you are in this business for the long haul, flying for a major airline is going to be far more financially stable and beneficial for the average guy/gal.

As I said previously, corporate flying is far more interesting. But the 'fun factor' comes at the price of stability. CA's at my carrier are pulling down a lot more than 275/yr and they aren't on the road all that much more than 100 days.....and we don't sling bags, worry about rental cars or have minor heart attacks when we miss a call from dispatch/crew scheduling.

I spent just under a yr as a KA 350/Lear 60 pilot for a private owner...he was great. If he was going fishing, I got to go too. Drinking good scotch at the bar? Me too. The wife and college age daughter on the other hand.....I know why he went fishing...a lot.

ZapBrannigan

Jeez. When an airline pilot starts touting his airline's 'stability' I think "now here is a guy who wasn't flying for the airlines on 9/11. I went corporate after being furloughed post 9/11. Came back to 121 eight years later but not for 'stability' (makes me giggle) rather because I know the rules to the game. Having a CBA that codifies what scheduling is/is not allowed to do, and the order which must be followed in the event of another Furlough is priceless/


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got2fly

I get plenty of variety in the airline business. AKL, SYD, PER, MEL, BKK, HAN, PEK, PVG, ICN, NRT, MNL, HKT, KUL, CGK, DEL, BOM, DPS, CMB, JNB, CPT, LGG, LUX, LHR, FRA, AMS, BRU, MEX, LAX, MIA, EZE, GRU, JFK, ATL, IAH, IAD, DFW all in the last year. But the downside of the long haul world is not enough hand flying and landings. I really do miss that part. I also miss the more laid back relaxed atmosphere in the cockpit we had in the USA. Got to admit, I often dream of a bizjet job. The grass is always greener.