Corporate Flight Department Longevity
 

Hey all, I'm a military pilot still a few years away from entering civil professional flying. The location I want to retire has a decent sized corporate flight department that I would like to end up with until I'm done working altogether.

Are any of you (and should I be) concerned that corporate flight departments may be downsizing or going away in the next 15-20 years due to worldwide hiring trends?

Longevity really depends on the industry that said corporate flight department is a part of. Bristol-Myers Squib was a charter member of NBAA and they no longer have a corporate flight department. New CEO's like to come in and "leave their mark" on the company and will shutter a department in order to manipulate an earnings statement to get performance bonuses. On the flip side, certain economic segments i.e. food, utilities, govt contractors tend to have more staying power.

Thanks for the reply and that makes sense.

Owens-Illinois has had a department for decades in KTOL , through two asbestos-driven bankruptcies. It’s been smaller and bigger, flown all sizes of planes. The director has been in place much of those years and done quite well. Department longevity is dependent on lots of things-mgt support, how it’s businesses are located and why, is the department leadership good at managing it (produce value for expenses; and “selling” to management or the owner.

True private jets (HNWIs, usually) last as long as the money. The owner and principals value the plane as a means to conduct business and get back home/office. For these people, the plane is just like their limo-irreplaceable and not expensive. Every operation is unique.

GF

I'm at a utility company flight dept. Department has been around more than 30yrs when I came 10 years ago it felt more secure than a government job. Just today all the pilots were talking about concerns that the department doesn't feel secure right now due to some changing circumstances out of our control. If the business model changes the need for the department may change.

I think there is always a possibility for things to change quickly at a corporate dept and you need to be ready for the next move. If they are not in the business of flying airplanes, the expense has to be justified all the time. There you are a little at the mercy of the flight department manager as to whether or not he is good explaining all the tangible and non-tangible benefits of the department to the decision makers.

TS @ Owens is one of the nicest guys you can meet in this business. I hear he's approaching his 40th anniversary this year. Couldn't happen to a better guy.

We’ve had a flight department since WWII. One of our pilots has been here 30 years, and another 43 years. It’s not common, but occasionally it does happen.

I just completed my 13th year (or about 100 in corporate pilot years) with a 91 department in what would be considered a growth industry. There's simply no way in predicting what will happen down the road, you just have to hope for the best or, if things appear shaky, chances are your gut is right and it's time for a change. Guys that had 30 or 40 years with the same department have found themselves SOL just as they were about to cross the finish line. Bizav is littered with established departments that ended up shutting down for a myriad of reasons. I don't think corporate aviation will go away anytime soon, but the companies who do decide to go that route are more and more cautious once they get in. Good luck.

A friend awhile back joined a company whose department had a roller coaster history. I’ve know two prior chief pilots who opened and closed it. I asked, “do you know the history.” His reply was priceless, “I do, I’m waiting for the buyout.” Which he recently received.

GF

TS is a great dude but works at Owens Corning not Owens Illinois...