Corporate job or UPS Interview?
 

I consider myself very luck to have a difficult decision to make. This week I have been offered a Part 91 Beechjet Captain position with a bank. It pays $60,000 a year salary, medical benefits, 2% defined contribution retirement and 5% 401k match. The bank will help pay for my move to their location. The company flys 3-4 day out and backs (during banker's hours of course ;) ) with only 8-9 overnight trips a year. So the schedule is great, but the salary will not increase with time other than cost of living increases.

I also got called by UPS for an interview in 2 weeks. The Beechjet job I would have to start immediately, so I have to pick one or the other.

So my dilemma is do I take a guaranteed job that has a great schedule, but not much chance of a substantial salary increase in time and all the uncertainties of being in a bank's flight department, or do I give that up for the chance at UPS.

Any advice from those that have been around a while would be greatly appreciated.

Goddard,

I left the airlines last year (involuntarily) for a job flying a Citation Encore with a part 91 flight department that flies for a subsidiary of a heavy equipment manufacturer. The flight department is small (very small in fact with only two of us working- I'm the junior guy).

The pay here is okay, and well above what the average resident for where I live (non-aviation), but it will never meet that of the majors. Benefits are good (between 75% and 125% 401kmatch on the first 6% contributed, depending on longevity, as well as profit sharing and some other perks.)

I'm treated well, and the QOL is very good. Flying is somewhat similar to what you have described, mostly day trips, some overnights, and we've logged about 200hrs in the 12 months since I came to the company.

Some months are slow (my slowest had 4.5 hrs of flying), others will kill ya (next month is projected at 23 flying days, 120hrs of flying in a 33 day period, and 12 overnights for same period).

If you don't think you won't get bored (there's a LOT of sitting around, both at home and on the road), don't mind the lower pay, and don't mind the smaller equipment or a few "non-pilot" administrative duties, then a good corporate gig will hands down beat ANY airline job IMHO.

Flew for the airlines for 5 years (Atlantic Coast Airlines then Independence Air), and can tell you that while I miss the people, I certainly don't miss the BS. I'd much rather be able to negotiate face to face based upon my merits, and I certainly enjoy the management/worker relationships at my current job much better than what the typical airline setup is like...)

wannabe corporate pilot...
 

Dear all,

Not sure if I'm in the right forum, but I'll give it a try...

Since 1 year I'm flying B73-8 for an European charter and to make long stories short; I'm not happy!... I think I'm not the right person for the airline business. What I miss in my daily airline routine is an atmosphere where I can add something from myself. Relating to my previous work experience I think it would give me more satisfaction if I could combine flying with virtually everything what’s necessary to keep "my aircraft" in business.

Therefore I believe that working in a corporate environment will fit me better. I'm looking for a company with a small team of obsessed pilots with an "my little store" mentality, rather then flying 2 legs, go home and turn off your cell phone.

Any leads? >: [email protected]

Thanks in advance!

dimiair

Rem:
jaa fr. ATPL + faa cpl/mel-ir
400 jet time/ 700TT
current on B737 300-900
email me for CV details

Hey Goddard,
Is it for a bank in the south that already has a king air 350?

Yep, that's the one. Any advice?

Get what you can on the front end. They do work alot, and the days are long-but you are home almost every night. If I had the chance I would go on the UPS interview anyway. It would not hurt-and you might be better off in the end. If you grew up in Mississippi, it would be a hard job to turn down if you wanted to stay though. All of the guys there are great. And the president is a decent guy to work for, I have heard. Either way I don't think you would make a bad decision.

It just depends on what kind of lifestyle you want right now. Keep in mind that banks do come and go. The cargo industry is not going to go anywhere. Just think about how many of those little $12-$15 enveolpes that they can stuff on an airplane, they will not have a problem with higher gas prices. If they raise the price on those envelopes .30 cents, they can more than make up for the cost-whereas the passenger carriers only have a certain number of seats-and a limited amount of revenue that they can gain from those seats.
If air travel does become more expensive and limits trips, I believe that air cargo will become utilized more.

Like I said, either way you can't go wrong. It just depends on what you want right now.

Are you in Columbus right now Goddard?

Yep, I'm in Columbus right now. Have I met you before?

No, but maybe we will if you take the bank job.

WHat Bank is it? Just curious when I get to that level