Making the Jump from Corporate to Airlines
10-28-2017, 10:16 AM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2017
Posts: 1
Making the Jump from Corporate to Airlines
I have been working for a Charter Company for 3 years now and wondering if I should make the jump to the airlines. The corporate pay is pretty good but the schedule sucks. Any recommendations on best way to get onto the airlines. My focus right now is UPS and FEDEX. I'm retired Marine after 27 years so I know I getting up on the age bracket and that is a concern for me. Any advice?
10-29-2017, 09:04 AM
#4
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2015
Position: B777 CA
Posts: 736
No disrespect to corporate pilots. I know there are plenty who love it and that is great for them. The legacies in my humble opionion are far better in terms of pay, retirement, quality of life (both at home and at work).
At United we have hired many new hires in their upper 50's and even some in early 60's. I'd definitely get your application in to those carriers your interested in working for.
Understanding the airlines are a very cyclical industry, I've been at my airline for almost 31 years and still have over 10 to go. So I've lived the industry ups and downs first hand.
In my opinion absent a 9/11 type of cataclysmic type of event. I truly believe the industry is facing unprecedented hiring for many years due to massive retirements and overall small continued growth.
While there is no pilot shortage today at the legacies, in five years that will not be the case. With massive pilot hiring in Asia and the Middle East, retirements, pattern bargaining with the Legacy & Major sized carriers (JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier etc) pay and benefits at the airlines are only going up.
In closing, I'll say I have flown with many double furloughed United pilots. Furloughed first after 9/11 then recalled in the 05/06 time frame to only be furloughed again in 07. Many of these pilots gave up not once but twice really top level corporate jobs to come back to United. Almost to a man woman they tell me how much better their life is today flying for United in terms of pay, retirement and quality of life. Especially under our current contract.
Best of luck to you!
At United we have hired many new hires in their upper 50's and even some in early 60's. I'd definitely get your application in to those carriers your interested in working for.
Understanding the airlines are a very cyclical industry, I've been at my airline for almost 31 years and still have over 10 to go. So I've lived the industry ups and downs first hand.
In my opinion absent a 9/11 type of cataclysmic type of event. I truly believe the industry is facing unprecedented hiring for many years due to massive retirements and overall small continued growth.
While there is no pilot shortage today at the legacies, in five years that will not be the case. With massive pilot hiring in Asia and the Middle East, retirements, pattern bargaining with the Legacy & Major sized carriers (JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier etc) pay and benefits at the airlines are only going up.
In closing, I'll say I have flown with many double furloughed United pilots. Furloughed first after 9/11 then recalled in the 05/06 time frame to only be furloughed again in 07. Many of these pilots gave up not once but twice really top level corporate jobs to come back to United. Almost to a man woman they tell me how much better their life is today flying for United in terms of pay, retirement and quality of life. Especially under our current contract.
Best of luck to you!
Last edited by Boeing Aviator; 10-29-2017 at 09:21 AM.
10-29-2017, 06:47 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2012
Posts: 174
There have been several threads recently on this subject in the corporate section. One pretty recent.
The answers for the airline portion become a set pattern. I say that in a good way because you can get a good feel for airline life to include living in a domicile vs commuting. If you talk to several pilots from airlines the answers for many questions are easy to find. Airline information is an open book.
The corporate community is far from an open book. I flew in a fortune 30 flight department. What you know about your situation vs other departments is very closely held. Then you branch off into a myriad of corporate situations, and the possibilities of what's great, mediocre or what you consider poor varies by each individual.
When it comes to corporate, part 135 operations seem to be somewhat hectic or undesirable. But before I post this someone will have a perfect situation for them in a 135 job. that's corporate flying. You will hear about the worst. But the best jobs out there for every persons personal situation will rarely be disclosed or talked about. I lived it for ten years and I speak from experience. My time at the airlines, ; everything is an open book which is great to gather all the info.
Good luck
The answers for the airline portion become a set pattern. I say that in a good way because you can get a good feel for airline life to include living in a domicile vs commuting. If you talk to several pilots from airlines the answers for many questions are easy to find. Airline information is an open book.
The corporate community is far from an open book. I flew in a fortune 30 flight department. What you know about your situation vs other departments is very closely held. Then you branch off into a myriad of corporate situations, and the possibilities of what's great, mediocre or what you consider poor varies by each individual.
When it comes to corporate, part 135 operations seem to be somewhat hectic or undesirable. But before I post this someone will have a perfect situation for them in a 135 job. that's corporate flying. You will hear about the worst. But the best jobs out there for every persons personal situation will rarely be disclosed or talked about. I lived it for ten years and I speak from experience. My time at the airlines, ; everything is an open book which is great to gather all the info.
Good luck
10-31-2017, 06:06 AM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 663
My advice: if you feel you are not at, or within reach of, your dream corporate job it’s time to put it in the rear view.
Very few 91/135 operators are improving while even regionals that used to be “bottom feeders” are improving pilots’ pay and QOL. Do people at your company seem optimistic about the future or do they look back fondly on the good ol’ days? Do they talk of rapid growth, improving staffing and pilot retention being a priority? Read between the lines and you’ll figure out what’s right.
As for UPS/FDX...apply immediately and think about attending one of the big three job fairs (WAI, NGPA, OBAP).
Very few 91/135 operators are improving while even regionals that used to be “bottom feeders” are improving pilots’ pay and QOL. Do people at your company seem optimistic about the future or do they look back fondly on the good ol’ days? Do they talk of rapid growth, improving staffing and pilot retention being a priority? Read between the lines and you’ll figure out what’s right.
As for UPS/FDX...apply immediately and think about attending one of the big three job fairs (WAI, NGPA, OBAP).
11-02-2017, 10:33 AM
#7
Done
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Posts: 189
My advice: if you feel you are not at, or within reach of, your dream corporate job it’s time to put it in the rear view.
Sage advice it is.
I know frustration comes in all forms in this profession. I'm at that point in my career. Eight years at the regionals, four years for a mom and pop 135 outfit, a sweet 91 job that i was laid off from recently and now I am back to 135. I thought you were supposed to move forward but I feel like I'm going backwards. I'm in my late 40's and thought I would be somewhere else. Maybe a shiny Gulfstream or a Falcon 2000? I'm beginning to accept the reality that no matter how much I have networked that the 91 job I'm looking for will never be mine to have. Negative? No, just reality. It's sort of a bitter pill to swallow. I know you shouldn't compare but seeing my aviation friends having moved along to bigger and better also makes it even tougher to take. I guess this is what the good Lord has for me right now. Until then, I'll keep on keeping' on.
Sage advice it is.
I know frustration comes in all forms in this profession. I'm at that point in my career. Eight years at the regionals, four years for a mom and pop 135 outfit, a sweet 91 job that i was laid off from recently and now I am back to 135. I thought you were supposed to move forward but I feel like I'm going backwards. I'm in my late 40's and thought I would be somewhere else. Maybe a shiny Gulfstream or a Falcon 2000? I'm beginning to accept the reality that no matter how much I have networked that the 91 job I'm looking for will never be mine to have. Negative? No, just reality. It's sort of a bitter pill to swallow. I know you shouldn't compare but seeing my aviation friends having moved along to bigger and better also makes it even tougher to take. I guess this is what the good Lord has for me right now. Until then, I'll keep on keeping' on.
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