What to do
09-11-2019, 12:26 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Baja Vermont
Posts: 5,177
That was exactly the advice I worked with at about the same time— landed me at a “legacy” —Eastern Airlines. See how that worked out. Then, went the ART route because I was getting married and airlines weren’t hiring. 15 years ago when I was retiring from the reserves, I made two phone calls and had job offers from contacts in bizav in two days. Seemless transition.
Past performance is no guarantee for the future and predictions about the future are always in question.
I know young guys who either were burned out at regionals or saw corporates as better way, post-9/11. They started in aviation during the beginning of the lost decade and are now knocking down good money flying bizjets. It’s another path.
I’d agree on legacy jobs being the ideal, majors, maybe, maybe not. It depends. Everyone’s career path is different in this business—dependent on luck, contacts, the economy and personal circumstance.
Past performance is no guarantee for the future and predictions about the future are always in question.
I know young guys who either were burned out at regionals or saw corporates as better way, post-9/11. They started in aviation during the beginning of the lost decade and are now knocking down good money flying bizjets. It’s another path.
I’d agree on legacy jobs being the ideal, majors, maybe, maybe not. It depends. Everyone’s career path is different in this business—dependent on luck, contacts, the economy and personal circumstance.
09-11-2019, 01:47 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Position: A350 Captain (RET)
Posts: 149
Originally Posted by galaxy flyer
I’d agree on legacy jobs being the ideal, majors, maybe, maybe not. It depends. Everyone’s career path is different in this business—dependent on luck, contacts, the economy and personal circumstance.
For me, mainline was my choice and I am glad I suffered through the furlough letter, the pay cuts, the strike and the frozen pension. For others.. maybe not the best route.
The industry has changed!
I wish them all tailwinds!!
OC
09-11-2019, 02:16 PM
#13
New Hire
Joined APC: Mar 2015
Posts: 6
What is your ultimate goal? If it is the major airlines, get in the 121 world as soon as possible.
Your corporate job progression mentioned sounds extremely aggressive along with the salary increases. Is this the company version of a recruiting tool or have previous pilots before you followed the path and timeline. Is it 91 or 135? Be very careful with 135 operator promises. They will claim the flying is down, the owner moved or sold his plane etc as an excuse.
I did major 121 for 20 years, fortunate to be a young captain to the end. I moved to 91 Chief Pilot 15 years ago for QOL, pay and the challenge. I have never looked back. I am home more, make more than any 121 Captain and the challenge is there everyday.
In this career, you get out what you put in. If you are willing to do the extra work, this career can be very rewarding. If you just want to fly aircraft, go 121. The pay and progression are as good as ever.
Don’t let anyone tell you cannot do it and stay positive throughout!
Your corporate job progression mentioned sounds extremely aggressive along with the salary increases. Is this the company version of a recruiting tool or have previous pilots before you followed the path and timeline. Is it 91 or 135? Be very careful with 135 operator promises. They will claim the flying is down, the owner moved or sold his plane etc as an excuse.
I did major 121 for 20 years, fortunate to be a young captain to the end. I moved to 91 Chief Pilot 15 years ago for QOL, pay and the challenge. I have never looked back. I am home more, make more than any 121 Captain and the challenge is there everyday.
In this career, you get out what you put in. If you are willing to do the extra work, this career can be very rewarding. If you just want to fly aircraft, go 121. The pay and progression are as good as ever.
Don’t let anyone tell you cannot do it and stay positive throughout!
09-11-2019, 03:23 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Position: A350 Captain (RET)
Posts: 149
Originally Posted by dayzoff
make more than any 121 Captain and the challenge is there everyday.
Fly safe,
OC
09-11-2019, 05:37 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2017
Position: 175 CA
Posts: 1,285
Originally Posted by OceanCrosser
Yes, those jobs do exist however they are rare and probably near a large metropolis with a higher cost of living. A junior Captain at Delta makes that kind of income with the option to live where they want. When I "park the brake", I never thought about my airline job until coming back to work for my next rotation. I didn't worry about catering, I never worried about landing fees nor did I worry about maintenance.
Please don't misunderstand me. There are good jobs in the corporate world and I appreciate those that do them. I spent my early professional life flying for a great family and corporation. When I started there we operated a King Aire 90 and a Cessna 182. Today they are a HUGE telecommunications company with a half dozens jets and a nationwide presence. (Hint.. you can see their name on some sporting arenas)
If I had to do it all over again.. I would follow the same path. Get to a major as fast as I can.. seniority is everything!
Fly safe,
OC
Please don't misunderstand me. There are good jobs in the corporate world and I appreciate those that do them. I spent my early professional life flying for a great family and corporation. When I started there we operated a King Aire 90 and a Cessna 182. Today they are a HUGE telecommunications company with a half dozens jets and a nationwide presence. (Hint.. you can see their name on some sporting arenas)
If I had to do it all over again.. I would follow the same path. Get to a major as fast as I can.. seniority is everything!
Fly safe,
OC
09-11-2019, 05:38 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2017
Position: 175 CA
Posts: 1,285
Originally Posted by OceanCrosser
I truly don't want this to be a "johnson measuring contest" and I really hope you are doing that well, but unless you passing the 500K/yr you are not matching the the A350 captains at DAL. They are easily exceeding that number.
Fly safe,
OC
Fly safe,
OC
09-11-2019, 06:43 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2013
Position: A350 Captain (RET)
Posts: 149
Originally Posted by pilot147
Actually????
....but the A350 was a special case. Due to a number of reasons, many qualified pilots were training displaced for their entire bid month. This allowed them to "double dip" by being eligible for a "premium pay" (green slip) which pays 2X regular rate. So... if you wanted to fly, trips were usually available. Many pilots would have over 200 hrs of credit (pay) for the month.
Fly safe,
OC
09-11-2019, 08:12 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B-737NG preferably in first class with a glass of champagne and caviar
Posts: 5,909
Living in base with a major is great. Commuting can be a hassle... especially when there’s a family in the mix, and ya gotta get home.
Living within the airport flying corporate is generally required. but on the other hand less disruption with the family unit.
Living within the airport flying corporate is generally required. but on the other hand less disruption with the family unit.
09-12-2019, 10:28 AM
#20
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2018
Posts: 62
Originally Posted by pilot147
So I was offered a job with a charter/corporate type operator. They fly Cirrus, all sorts of light jets, turbo-props, and some medium sized corporate jets. The timeline they gave me was, start at 40k in the cirrus, progress to the PC-12(60k) in about 6-12 months, then light jets after about a year(90k), then bigger stuff at the 2 year mark(180k+). Was looking for some opinions on whether or not this would be a good idea to do now in the current industry or if I should have my eyes pointed towards the airline industry during this massive shortage/wave of retirees. I also was thinking that this job might not have the best security in times of economic downturn(which we are forecasted to have soon). Can any corporate guys maybe give their views or advice on how they keep job security in the tough times? Also, would it be unrealistic to ask the company for written guarantees on aircraft/pay progression? I don't wanna be stuck flying light GA aircraft my whole life. Are these the right questions I need to be asking myself?
My advise is to pick which path you want, don't focus on if it is possible to switch paths later. Therefore, if you want to end up in the corporate world, all the things you can learn by progressing through different aircraft and learning about meeting the customer needs, will help you develop the knowledge and talents you need to be seen as indispensable/desirable if changes happen. If you want to end up at the airlines, comfortably on a seniority list, go to the regional airlines and get the 121 time that allows you more options of moving up, or direct entry captain somewhere else if your job goes away.
It's not that you can't switch later, it's that the future is unknown so you need to make your best guess of which segment of aviation you will enjoy the most and get on that path as soon as possible. Don't plan on switching, it might work it might not. Rather, pick the future you want and take the obvious path today to get to that future. If it turns out you picked wrong, so be it, you can deal with that when the day comes.
