michael525Bdo

The biggest difference is schedule. I know some corporate flight departments that send their pilots on 60 day around the world trips. Or on call every day. That’s no way to live. Until corporate starts paying like the airlines (salary, benefits, and retirement) and providing better schedules, from the outside looking in, 121 seems to have a far better QOL.

Of course you are going to the same places all of the time.

You wouldn’t be able to enjoy GFK, RRT, or BDE in the winter or P33, TUS, and SDL in the summer. 😂

USMCFLYR

You may be talking about the 'top tier' airlines when you are speaking of the
'...like the airlines (salary, benefits, and retirement) and providing better schedules, from the outside looking in, 121 seems to have a far better QOL' and not including the MANY P121 companies out there that don't have good XYZ.

RJSAviator76

Take up a hobby or a charitable cause. Buy an airplane. Depending on what you buy, you can volunteer to help various causes in it and deduct expenses. You'll get to again enjoy the cookies and popcorn at various FBO's, wait for people, deal with payments, tip the line crew, etc. Veterans Airlift Command and Angel Flight come to mind. This will keep you busy, but it won't make you lose something you clearly don't value right now.

rickair7777

Right now most of the pax majors are pretty good gigs. Almost all have gotten recent contract revisions, including the LCC's. Generally going to be better and more secure than most available corporate gigs. There are a few niche jobs (ex allegiant) which will work great under specific circumstances, but not so great otherwise.

Pursuing a major job is a more reliable path right now than shooting for a corporate unicorn.

USMCFLYR

point being you can’t just say P121 is better.
There are good and bad P121 jobs just as there are good and bad P91 jobs.
it is hard (harder at certain times) to get the best jobs in either industry.

Brett Hull

I left a phenomenal Fortune 500 job (2 G550’s & 2 Falcon 900’s) with a 70 year old flight department to go to an airline. And a month after I left the guys were called in and told by the end of the year they wouldn’t have jobs there any longer. The department closed last month. I saw it coming since we were being bought, gritted my teeth, and made a move to the airlines. I got tired of telling my wife and kid every 5ish years that I was losing my job and we were going to have to move for the next one.

I absolutely understand what you’re feeling. Airline flying is mind-numbingly boring. I loved my last corporate job and all the guys and gals I worked with; I’d kill for one of the 2 week trips to Edinburgh we used to do a couple times a year. If it still existed and there was a guarantee it would survive for the next 21 years I’d go back without thinking twice. That, or a severance plan that guarantees they’d pay me what I’d earn until I reach 65 (then they could close the doors the next day - that would be awesome). But barring that, I’m going to close on 6 acres Monday and build a house on it knowing that’ll be my family’s house until we retire. Not just until a flight department goes away.

I’ll end with this: I’m not sure if he’s on here, but a few years ago a guy posted a similar question to yours. He was thinking of leaving American for a sports apparel manufacturer who’s known for sponsoring a certain kneeling unemployed quarterback. He did end up leaving AA for the job, but I’m not sure if he made it a whole year there before he realized the job wasn’t what it was sold to him as, and quit. Just because it’s a big named company with nice shiny airplanes doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a great job.

michael525Bdo

☝️

This right here! Same boat. I see the writing on the wall. Time for 121!

Armyguy

Thanks for taking the time to respond with this. I appreciate it. I will stay where I am at. Maybe I just hit a bad streak but the slam clickers dont bother me at this this job but there are some seriously introverted guys out there who might mumble a 1 word response to a personal question. 3 days with someone like that is horrible. I got stuck with a few strange ones recently and then got this corp job call. Thats not it either, just driving 15 minutes to work vs getting on the airplane to go to work would be very nice. Thanks for all the responses.

USMCFLYR

Airlines are very strong right now.
But for these instances of corporate flight departments closing up (true) there are also stories of airlines folding, merging, furloughs for YEARS AND YEARS.
Aviation is a fickle business.
Today's follies are tomorrow's gold mines and vice versa.

I agree with the posters who are saying get your 'fun' flying somewhere else.
I'm reminded of a story that I've shared on the forum before, but I'll share with you again.

A squadron mate of mine and I were sitting in the ready room on detachment one night waiting for the last flights to get on deck. He was at the duty desk on the phone and I heard him working and working to drop trips, trade trips, cancel trips, anything to not fly. I asked him after he got off why he didn't want to fly. His respose to me was telling. He didn't like the job, he found not excitement in it, and all he wanted to do was to make as much money as he possibly ould with doing as little work (actual flying) as possible. I asked him why would he take a flying job if he didn't like the flying job. He said 'don't ever think I took this airline job for the flying. That is why I'm still in the Reserves and coming on Set with you guys. This is where I scratch my flying itch. That job is about nothing more than money and time off'

Sounds like a sad situation to me, but it was working for him and I'm sure it works for many others.

That is the beauty of aviation.
That situation wouldn't work for me.
There are jobs out there for plenty in the differences areas of aviation.
If the job means something to you beyond the paycheck then there is probably something out there to fit what you are looking for in the short term or long run.

Shepherd9

Different strokes and all... If the "boring flying" is that big of an issue then go for it.

I'm in the group that would say it's crazy to leave. I'm willing to give up a substantial corporate gig to go to the airlines. Boring flying is my dream! After twenty years of working towards a successful leadership role in the Pt 91 world I've realized the price of admission is too high.