Regional Captain to Corporate Captain
11-05-2017 | 07:14 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2016
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The biggest challenge is realizing that a Corporate Captain is responsible for everything including dispatch, weather, weight and balance, rental cars for the boss. It is a less structured environment typically including training. I trained many Airline to Corporate pilots and they had a hard time with realizing that certain training organizations will not provide you with mandated call outs. Your flying skills should serve you well because you are doing more flying then the average Corporate gig. If you go to a private organization get ready for politics and a little sucking up too, it's just part of the game.
11-05-2017 | 10:25 AM
#5
Pilot
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 733
Likes: 109
From: Airline Pilot
It all depends on where you get hired. Some places hire people as first officers, some people hire people directly as captains. But I would strongly suggest you stay at the regionals and try to get hired at a major. Unless you have really strong networking skills, and know the right people, it will be very hard to get a top tier corporate job.
11-05-2017 | 12:09 PM
#6
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,244
Likes: 2
From: Baja Vermont
It’s certainly possible, but probably unlikely. Not because of flying skills as much as all the attendant stuff—dealing with your own dispatching, handling bills at FBOs, making arrangements, and just learning how the operator operates. It’s not rocket science, but just like at your airline there is lots of procedures and customs to adopt.
Likely harder to go direct into an international operation from regionals—several more layers of stuff. And you will need good contacts. Pilots with good corporate contacts have a huge advantage, get the really good gigs effortlessly.
GF
Likely harder to go direct into an international operation from regionals—several more layers of stuff. And you will need good contacts. Pilots with good corporate contacts have a huge advantage, get the really good gigs effortlessly.
GF
11-05-2017 | 04:28 PM
#7
Gets EVERY weekend off
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
From: SIC
I took the "long" way round to the corporate pilot world. Regional FO -> Regional CA -> Left professional flying (6 years - did part time instructing) -> 135 SIC -> 135 PIC -> Corporate PIC
The 135 time was great for learning more about the charter and corporate environment. It's different than 121, but still not difficult just different.
I think going direct it'd be a difficult transition to make, unless you have some experience in that arena already. But passed that, just get used to cleaning and detailing planes. With the way salaries have gone in the regional world, financially it'd likely be a lateral...might make a little more corporate initially, but nothing compared to 121 major salaries...or 121 retirements (as they stand right now)
The 135 time was great for learning more about the charter and corporate environment. It's different than 121, but still not difficult just different.
I think going direct it'd be a difficult transition to make, unless you have some experience in that arena already. But passed that, just get used to cleaning and detailing planes. With the way salaries have gone in the regional world, financially it'd likely be a lateral...might make a little more corporate initially, but nothing compared to 121 major salaries...or 121 retirements (as they stand right now)
11-05-2017 | 04:43 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: CEO
The biggest challenge is realizing that a Corporate Captain is responsible for everything including dispatch, weather, weight and balance, rental cars for the boss. It is a less structured environment typically including training. I trained many Airline to Corporate pilots and they had a hard time with realizing that certain training organizations will not provide you with mandated call outs. Your flying skills should serve you well because you are doing more flying then the average Corporate gig. If you go to a private organization get ready for politics and a little sucking up too, it's just part of the game.
11-06-2017 | 10:55 AM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,244
Likes: 2
From: Baja Vermont
Lucky8888,
While your operation was much like mine; compared to an airline, the corporate captain is much more “on the spot” when things go ****-eyed. There’s no “reserve” pilot available; if there’s a last minute change, it’s the captain that has to make it happen. The airline dispatcher has a legal responsibility to monitor and make decisions with the crew. No such legal position in corporate.
GF
While your operation was much like mine; compared to an airline, the corporate captain is much more “on the spot” when things go ****-eyed. There’s no “reserve” pilot available; if there’s a last minute change, it’s the captain that has to make it happen. The airline dispatcher has a legal responsibility to monitor and make decisions with the crew. No such legal position in corporate.
GF
11-06-2017 | 04:34 PM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: CEO
Lucky8888,
While your operation was much like mine; compared to an airline, the corporate captain is much more “on the spot” when things go ****-eyed. There’s no “reserve” pilot available; if there’s a last minute change, it’s the captain that has to make it happen. The airline dispatcher has a legal responsibility to monitor and make decisions with the crew. No such legal position in corporate.
GF
While your operation was much like mine; compared to an airline, the corporate captain is much more “on the spot” when things go ****-eyed. There’s no “reserve” pilot available; if there’s a last minute change, it’s the captain that has to make it happen. The airline dispatcher has a legal responsibility to monitor and make decisions with the crew. No such legal position in corporate.
GF
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