galaxy flyer

Well, if they go outside the US, the operation has to have most of the elements of IS-BAO--Ops Manual, SMS Plan, etc. It is not becoming the international standard because it's nonsense.

It certainly could be a first-class operation w/o being IS-BAO, but it does mean they have met some standard and been audited. Yes, I've heard of lots of variation of the quality of the auditors. But, if there is an SMS and a Flight Ops Manual that is complete, abided by and complete, it's way ahead of many.

I've seen the good, the bad and the ugly, too.

GF

NowCorporate

THIS.

If we didn't travel much outside the US I wouldn't bother with the ISBAO crap either. Dont believe that "they will impound your aircraft" garbage for a second....pure hype from the clowns selling audits.

Some of the worst departments I know have awesome looking SMS/FOM's - means nothing if the place is run by spineless clowns. The weakest "YES" man in the department willing to do office work and avoid confrontation often gets the Chief Pilot/Director job passed on to him. No, not always, but often enough.

Is ISBAO a good thing to do? sure. It ties together/reviews many of your department policies etc, checks the box in case anyone asks etc...but it says NOTHING about QOL, PAY, etc - the things that matter to me.

I will take a comfy schedule, a well staffed plane, good people, and a big paycheck over a pile of beautiful bull$hit pilot busywork manuals anyday.

Have it all? even better...and somewhat rare!

BeezerJg34

Interesting stuff to hear about IS-BAO, etc but back to my original question...any additional thoughts on what a "typical" QOL/schedule is like for someone coming from pt135 to pt91 corporate? What can someone expect for pay on a challenger 300?

NowCorporate

There is no "typical" in any part of this business. Not sure what you are looking for...

I bet CL300 jobs pay anywhere from 50K-250K...I bet schedules go from 3 days/month to 34 days a month...etc etc.

What do you want to hear? Have you ASKED about pay and schedule at this outfit during the job interview? (BTW its very appropriate to ask) No interview yet? well then why worry about it? All you will lose is the $25 for dry cleaning a suit to get the real answers.

"Typical" corporate job.....thats a good one!

BeezerJg34

What I am looking for is just what people have experienced in their corporate job in relation to QOL or schedule. I havent interviewed just yet so I havent had the chance to ask any of these questions, I'm just looking at getting as much info as I can before I go. Don't worry...I know there is no "typical" corporate job (nothing is that way in on-demand 135 either), but I just wanted to see if I could gain insight through what others have seen in their corporate careers.

BoilerUP

Here's an example:

My department has 2 pilots and two airplanes (one CJ2+, one Cirrus). We operate the jet as a crew, but are typed/insured single pilot and OCCASIONALLY operate SP on a situational basis. We use contract pilots as necessary for pre-scheduled PDOs, sick calls, or both airplanes needing to fly. The Cirrus is the personal airplane of the HMFIC though we do use it for staff travel, and we don't force anybody to use it and its only reliable 8 months of the year due to icing.

We normally end up working 15 fly/RON days each month; add another 3-5 for days in the office or hangar taking care of stuff. We also normally work 14-16 total weekend days per year...which I'm thankful isn't higher (our plane is 90%+ company business). We've worked as many as 12 days in a row, and other times gone 2+ weeks between trips...it really just depends on what the travel needs of company personnel are.

We aren't "on call" on non-flying days though we do get a couple pop-up (<4hr notice) trips per year; we've never had a problem making a trip happen but when we answer we're always asked "Are you in the middle of anything? Can you do a trip to ________ today?"

Principals allow our spouses to come along on trips, space permitting. We don't have our expenses poured over and micromanaged, but we try to be reasonable.

We are allowed personal use of the Cirrus with the permission of the HMFIC; this is unlimited but I try not to take advantage of it and I pay for fuel (though a couple times, he objected to it).

If the plane is going to sit for 3+ days, the HMFIC will give us the option of repo'ing home empty vs. sit on the road...even if it costs more than airlining or us staying put. VERY nice perk for a guy like me with an infant in the household.

Pay is okay for the area & aircraft but could always be better; same for benefits.

All in all, I'm VERY happy.

BeezerJg34

Boiler -Thanks! That's the kind of information that I'm looking for and I appreciate the info!

galaxy flyer

At the opposite end if the scale, we operate 3 Globals and a CL300, 30% domestic, 70% international.

About Pro Pilot average pay; bonus program, 7 HO Days per month; up to 3 days, post-trip off. If you have an additional duty, about 2-3 office days, otherwise off. Little standby, but I've done 3 pop-ups in 6 years. International means INTERNATIONAL--65 countries in my 6 years.

Hiring, but apps closed now.

GF

sddo

Just to throw my two cents in. I am one of the spineless yes men referred to in a previous post. I do the pilot hiring and I do look for time in type and a type rating if required. All pilots are required to have an ATP even if they do not fly an aircraft that requires a type rating. This is to meet professional standards dictated by some of our customers. Pilots that are current in the aircraft we fly are given greater consideration than non current pilots and being we are 135 we look for 135 experience. Airline time under 121 is a red flag that puts applicants to the bottom of the pile. Our experience is they take to long to train, aren’t flexible, and once they understand how much there is to do such as: all paper work, clean aircraft, make slot reservations, set up international stuff, get your own hotel and transportation, set up catering, tow aircraft, clean the potty, cater to passengers, constant schedule changes, and the list goes on, they go back to the airlines.

My advice is to get what you can as soon as you can. This may mean part time stuff to show that you are committed to the little airplane stuff, understand it and can handle it.

On another note I know people who have great corporate jobs, job security and love what they are doing.

I know more corporate pilots who hate their schedules (under part 91 there are no required days off), hate their demanding bosses and have little security as the airplane disappears when the profits start taking a hit.

I have found part 135 work rewarding and stable (others will disagree), at least 135 does require scheduled days off (some operators work around this).

Best of luck

galaxy flyer

NowCorporate

Would you like to bet your boss' airplane on that?

GF