FlyingBulldog

Is anyone familiar with some companies in the MEM area that have corporate aircraft? I'm still a ways away from working in that capacity, but I feel that it's never too early to do some research, have a plan, and maybe get to know some people.

Thanks

fisherpilot

Good bit of Corp stuff but the good ones are tough to crack. Best Corp job on the field is international paper. Almost impossible to get on with. Fedex Corp is a little easier but still very difficult. Both career type places. I flew Corp for 3 yrs out of Memphis

FlyingBulldog

Thanks for the info. I didn't even think about IP. Dad's a FE pilot, not corporate though. From talking to him and a pilot friend, corporate seems to be a "who you know" kind of gig. Although if I could somehow get to know some of these guys a couple years before I'm qualified for that job, maybe it will give me an advantage. From what I've heard, it seems much more preferable than flying for a regional, so it would be my ideal job before hopefully moving on to a major (FedEx being the end goal for me).

The dude

I don't mean this in a rude way, but you probably won't end up paying your dues flying a G550 on your way to FedEx. Any good corporate job will be career type jobs and they won't be looking for people who want to use them as a stepping stone for the majors.

galaxy flyer

FDX is a very good department. And you can move over to the cargo side after a "waiting" period; I think around 3 years, but a large group have stayed at the corporate side. My impression is they hire pilots who are NOT passing thru to the majors or even FDX mainline. I've been there, but didn't and don't work there. All CL-300s plus a Global. A lot were ex-military, but that will probably change.

GF

Edit on "The Dude"'s comment: very true! Good corporates anywhere want career pilots, they pay and schedule professionally; have serious training, standards and safety programs.

FlyingBulldog

I did hear that many corporate pilots stay there, but was hoping to use it as a stepping stone if possible. I need to build multi-turbine time any way possible. From some of the sample hiring mins I saw for corporate, it looks like some wouldn't require much more than the majors. I can't remember where I saw those, possibly on another thread here. However, if I could fly FDX corporate and like it enough, I could make a career out of it. I just won't be able to make the decision whether to go mainline or stay until I'm actually there.

The Dude, thanks for letting me know. Y'all feel free to set me straight on any of this, I'm pretty unfamiliar with corporate jobs.

bertengineer

Send a resume to [email protected]

Ab jets in Kmem. They fly Lear 31a, 55 and 60

billythekid

I'd say you need to realize than working at Fedex Corporate (or somewhere similar) is a career goal for 95% of corporate pilots---just like being a Fedex 777 Captain is a career goal for 95% of airline pilots.
Fedex corporate takes a a few thousand hours, probably some PIC time, probably a bizjet type rating, and probably a recommendation from 1 of their 50 (?) pilots. Cargo side takes a few thousand, PIC time, and a few recommendations (which you can get in about 10 minutes with your dad's connections and a little time at a regional airline/military base).
Corporate probably does not care about your dad's 30 years of service or his MD11 experience.
If you're going to be in the military guard, corporate jobs and even charter jobs will be trickier than you'd think.
Like GalaxyFlyer said, there is a back door from the corporate to cargo side, but not many have went through it (corporates pretty good in other words). There's a similar backdoor between the Fedex sim instructors and the cargo side.
I'd focus on getting to the left seat of a jet so and once at 1000 PIC, you can fill out the cargo app.

dspilot

FDX Corporate Aviation Dept. mins are the same as the line now. No flow-through after three years any more either. You are eligible to interview as an internal after a three year commitment in corporate, but no guarantees or special treatment. Its a top notch outfit flying perfectly cleaned and maintained aircraft with a firm schedule of 16 duty days each month (extra flying is available and paid accordingly). Its about a 50/50 mix of military and civilian, and about the same ratio of guys that stay to those that go to the main line. The first of the most recently hired bunch are coming up on their three year mark. Time will tell how the new process will be and how many will stay vs. go mainline.

As of July 2013, fleet will consist of 7 Challenger 300s, 2 Global Expresses and a Challenger 601. There are 39 pilots including management. Crew bases are KMEM, KPIT, and KHRO (Harrison, AR). Really the best way in is to know someone here already. A sponsor that flies mainline can help too, but doesn't carry nearly as much weight as someone already working here.

Good luck to you OP. Best advice I have for you is network a lot and never ever ever burn a bridge. Aviation is a very small world.

deadpixel

Awesome info. I'll be moving to MEM to intern for FedEx Express for the next year and this is some good stuff to know about the area to try and network with all these companies. I remember the gentlemen who interviewed me briefly talked about FedEx's corporate flight department but not as much info as dspilot mentioned.