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Corporate vs airline / starting at age 50

Old 02-16-2017, 02:49 PM
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Default Corporate vs airline / starting at age 50

Corporate job at 130-150k, vs legacy airline, starting at age 50. Ready--------go!
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Old 02-16-2017, 02:57 PM
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Do you have a job offer?

Everyone's situation is different. If you're not planning on working past 65, a legacy is a no brainer from a pure $ standpoint. But there are a lot more variables that are unique for each person.
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Old 02-16-2017, 04:13 PM
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What's your resume look like, first. Then, do you have a corporate offer? If not, what are your career goals? What about logistics, quality of life situation? If it's a hometown corporate gig, you know the people, no move, family happy in town--could be a no brainer. If not, loads to discuss.


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Old 02-17-2017, 07:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Otterbox View Post
Do you have a job offer?

Everyone's situation is different. If you're not planning on working past 65, a legacy is a no brainer from a pure $ standpoint. But there are a lot more variables that are unique for each person.
Pure dollar standpoint? Absolutely not true. So many factors to consider. While all airlines publish their exact dollar amount, the amount of pay on reserve to line holder while factoring in quality of life can be quite large. Factor in several years to build up that dollar amount while being over age 50, ones time ends up being "potentially" short.

The corporate world is so varied in pay. Factor in stock options, restricted stock options and bonuses and you have a wide birth of opinions and answers.

I have done both the airlines and corporate in excess of ten years each. I had only one corporate job to use as a comparison. Other departments and the secrecy surrounding pay and benefits makes this a difficult subject to really define what is best. I also fit the over age 50 scenario being discussed. I have my own personal opinion on this but it only works with my specific life issues.

As you eluded to, if your going beyond age 65, that takes a completely different turn.
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Old 02-20-2017, 12:36 PM
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Default Same situation here

Looking at these same options. The devil you know vs. the one you don't.
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Old 02-22-2017, 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by cobalt650 View Post
Corporate job at 130-150k, vs legacy airline, starting at age 50. Ready--------go!
It's a risk vs security question. I was in the same place a 15 months ago; go fly a BBJ and Challenger in the Pacific Northwest or take the offer from major. With two kids to get through college I took job at a major.

My decision was somewhat validated by a guy in my new hire class. He was a retired USAF O-5 that finished his career flying G4/5's and was hired to be the chief pilot for a major retailer that operated the same equipment. Everything was fine until a new COO showed up and wanted his guy to be the chief pilot.

I am sure the flying at a corporate department/private owner is far more interesting/dynamic, but it is hard to beat the security of strong union and well run company. Best of luck to you.
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Old 02-24-2017, 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by MarineFAC View Post
It's a risk vs security question. I was in the same place a 15 months ago; go fly a BBJ and Challenger in the Pacific Northwest or take the offer from major. With two kids to get through college I took job at a major.

My decision was somewhat validated by a guy in my new hire class. He was a retired USAF O-5 that finished his career flying G4/5's and was hired to be the chief pilot for a major retailer that operated the same equipment. Everything was fine until a new COO showed up and wanted his guy to be the chief pilot.

I am sure the flying at a corporate department/private owner is far more interesting/dynamic, but it is hard to beat the security of strong union and well run company. Best of luck to you.
Great story to share, thank you. I'm fortunate to have a spot at a Major and an offer from a strong corporate, but both (NAI or new COO/CEO influence) are far from bulletproof. Guess I'm looking at it under the assumption that both would survive for 10-12 years.
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Old 02-24-2017, 05:07 PM
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I'm kind of in the same boat. I'm getting back into aviation after some years off. I'm going corporate. I've done the regionals once and once was more than enough for me.
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Old 02-25-2017, 06:47 AM
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Originally Posted by cobalt650 View Post
Corporate job at 130-150k, vs legacy airline, starting at age 50. Ready--------go!
What's your time? How does it break down? I've found corporate a lot more satisfying than flying airline. The guys here who are saying how stable and predictable airline flying is, are correct, but I found that kind of "flying" (which you really don't do much of -- more like systems management) excruciatingly boring.

Kind of like driving a bus imho. Just going from airport to airport and hotel to hotel. Repeat times (number of days on) rinse and repeat. Depending on the airframe you are on (small cabin / large cabin), corporate flying can be humdrum or pretty kick ass - all depends. Going to Conroe, TX is a whole lot different than going to Innsbruck, Austria...

I instruct full time and contact part-time. Pays the bills quite nicely and I pick and choose my trips when I get the itch to get out and fly.

Perfect for me (for now) and when that brass ring job rolls around, maybe I'll look at doing that. I like the flexibility I have for right now. Corporate isn't for everyone, it can be a pain in the ass depending on the department, but it can also be an extremely rewarding and lucrative job at the same time. When comes to the pure flying aspect of it, corporate wins hands down on the jet I fly (wide body/ international). Domestic on a Lear 35 may not be as fun.

Lot of variables there my friend...

Hope that helps.

Last edited by Falcon900pilot; 02-25-2017 at 06:59 AM.
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Old 02-25-2017, 07:01 AM
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Every corporate trip can be memorable, while none of my airline ones were. But, as a career, the airlines do offer more money for the boredom.

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