The in between
06-25-2011, 10:19 AM
#21
On Reserve
Joined APC: Jun 2011
Position: King Air Left
Posts: 16
Originally Posted by QuietSpike
I went from a major (legacy) to corporate.
More money, more time off, better QOL... but more responsibilites-- you can fly your owner 1000 times safely at over 40k feet and 600mph, but forgetting a box of kleenex will get you fired... an unfortunate reality for a corp pilot.
More money, more time off, better QOL... but more responsibilites-- you can fly your owner 1000 times safely at over 40k feet and 600mph, but forgetting a box of kleenex will get you fired... an unfortunate reality for a corp pilot.
06-26-2011, 03:02 PM
#22
done, gone skiing
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Rocking chair
Posts: 1,601
Originally Posted by QuietSpike
Just like AA73 said and some others said--- it really depends on the individual and the individual job itself. I was going to make 30k first year at a legacy carrier working 20 days a month on reserve... left that for never less than 6 figures and never less than 15 days off a month. For *me* it works.
06-26-2011, 03:51 PM
#23
The NeverEnding Story
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,512
Originally Posted by dckozak
Can you clarify when you knew you'd have those 15 days off?? Its one thing to plan the time off you know you will have (in the future) and quite another to look back on a day you didn't work (and in hindsight) call it a day off.
06-26-2011, 04:20 PM
#24
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2008
Posts: 423
Originally Posted by dckozak
Can you clarify when you knew you'd have those 15 days off?? Its one thing to plan the time off you know you will have (in the future) and quite another to look back on a day you didn't work (and in hindsight) call it a day off.
I can clarify about 6 months out when I will have 15 days off a month (at least)....more than a few corporate gigs have schedules. Its rather easy once you are staffed well.
We take our schedule, then everyone picks when they want hard days off and the other guys cover the plane.
Life in corporate takes on an entire new meaning with an appropriate # of pilots on staff. 2 pilots running an airplane? often very challenging and tiresome after a short while....I cringe when I hear people who have to plan any (if any) vacation around mx on the airplane, not being able to plan weekends away here and there, etc...but 3-4 pilots per airplane? life can be very good.
06-27-2011, 05:05 PM
#25
done, gone skiing
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Rocking chair
Posts: 1,601
Well its good you have known time off. Life's too short to always be standing ready. I think the most galling thing is to be on call 24/7 and than have (some) boss/owner/bean counter point to the day(s) you didn't fly and talk up your time off/easy schedule.
Your equipment's top notch, your QOL may be great, or not, or may change from one to another and back depending on things out of your control. The same can be said for airline ops for sure, but I find comfort in have 80% of my mates junior to me and working conditions that are predicable. Best of luck and see you in the bar on some layover.
Your equipment's top notch, your QOL may be great, or not, or may change from one to another and back depending on things out of your control. The same can be said for airline ops for sure, but I find comfort in have 80% of my mates junior to me and working conditions that are predicable. Best of luck and see you in the bar on some layover.
06-28-2011, 07:45 AM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2010
Position: Not on this message board.
Posts: 159
Originally Posted by dckozak
Can you clarify when you knew you'd have those 15 days off?? Its one thing to plan the time off you know you will have (in the future) and quite another to look back on a day you didn't work (and in hindsight) call it a day off.
My current job we have a monthly schedule, and I can look at the month and have a *really* good idea of what my month will be like-- some trips may change a day here or there because of wx,etc (my pax are nervous fliers), but I know my next month the month in advance.
Vacation is taken when needed as well-- and usually the owners schedule the maintenance around when WE want vacation!! (rare!!)
Also-- I averaged 21 days off a month in 2010-- so what is better? Flying 4-5 days a week and KNOW your schedule and only be home 2-3 days a week, or have a more fluid schedule and have 4-5 days at home with your kids/wife/gf/bf/etc every week???
Not to mention, at my legacy job, I *still* would not be over 6 figures and holding a crap line... but hey, at least I would KNOW my schedule!
Everything is a trade off...
06-28-2011, 01:33 PM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: DAL 737 FO
Posts: 295
Had 17 hard weeks off last year (1 out of 3)....and will again this year. Plus the days we didn't fly while I was on call. Not all corporate jobs consist of staying within 20 minutes of the airport.
Last edited by The dude; 06-28-2011 at 01:45 PM.
06-28-2011, 10:00 PM
#28
done, gone skiing
Joined APC: May 2005
Position: Rocking chair
Posts: 1,601
It nice when you can get back to back posts on this BB with guys/gals boasting about how good their job is. That is refreshing. There is plenty about what you do I would be envious of, but the biggest would (probably) be the hours you fly. I fly way too many in the dark and sometimes more out of sync with my body clock even when it is light out. If I could change anything it would be that.
06-29-2011, 04:51 AM
#29
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2010
Posts: 27
Hey QuietSpike,
I'm curious how you work out your schedule. How many pilots per aircraft, how many aircraft, who gets what, pop-up trips? We run a small corporate department with 3 pilots (1 jet, 1 helo all cross trained), and would like to have a more modern "fluid" schedule.
DcKozak, the corporate flying is really nice. Job security is always somewhat on the horizon, but the equipment, people, pay, and lifestyle are very good here. You though get to fly that MD-11 around which from where I sit seems totally awesome!!
JB
I'm curious how you work out your schedule. How many pilots per aircraft, how many aircraft, who gets what, pop-up trips? We run a small corporate department with 3 pilots (1 jet, 1 helo all cross trained), and would like to have a more modern "fluid" schedule.
DcKozak, the corporate flying is really nice. Job security is always somewhat on the horizon, but the equipment, people, pay, and lifestyle are very good here. You though get to fly that MD-11 around which from where I sit seems totally awesome!!
JB
06-29-2011, 05:15 AM
#30
New Hire
Joined APC: Nov 2010
Position: CL605 Capt.
Posts: 7
Originally Posted by QuietSpike
My current job we have a monthly schedule, and I can look at the month and have a *really* good idea of what my month will be like-- some trips may change a day here or there because of wx,etc (my pax are nervous fliers), but I know my next month the month in advance.
Vacation is taken when needed as well-- and usually the owners schedule the maintenance around when WE want vacation!! (rare!!)
Also-- I averaged 21 days off a month in 2010-- so what is better? Flying 4-5 days a week and KNOW your schedule and only be home 2-3 days a week, or have a more fluid schedule and have 4-5 days at home with your kids/wife/gf/bf/etc every week???
Not to mention, at my legacy job, I *still* would not be over 6 figures and holding a crap line... but hey, at least I would KNOW my schedule!
Everything is a trade off...
Vacation is taken when needed as well-- and usually the owners schedule the maintenance around when WE want vacation!! (rare!!)
Also-- I averaged 21 days off a month in 2010-- so what is better? Flying 4-5 days a week and KNOW your schedule and only be home 2-3 days a week, or have a more fluid schedule and have 4-5 days at home with your kids/wife/gf/bf/etc every week???
Not to mention, at my legacy job, I *still* would not be over 6 figures and holding a crap line... but hey, at least I would KNOW my schedule!
Everything is a trade off...
