Your experience going from 121 to 91...please
 

I'd like to hear from some of you who have left the airlines behind in hopes of finding greener pastures in corporate aviation.

In particular, what are some things worth noting to those thinking of making the switch that perhaps may not be so obvious.

Many thanks.

I made the switch in 09 after 5+ years at the regionals. Best move I ever made.
There is no way I could ever go back to the airline life now.
Every guy will have his pros and cons, and every corporate job is different as well.
The basic premise of corporate is that the boss can treat you as a tool or a part of the family. Hopefully you receive the latter.

For me....
Pros
- no more airline Managment
- no more whiney paxs
- no more less than deserved pay
- I eat well
- better destinations
- fly for one family/business and you know your paxs
- great fellow pilots and cabin attendants.
- NO UNION!!!
- maintenance is great. Plane always in 100% working order.
- fuel, hotel and airline rewards points
- at training, you are a paying customer vs a willing victim.

Cons
- no set Sked (although we work together to secure days off)
- no non-rev bennies (although your pay should compensate for that)
- some corporate gigs are 24/7 on call.
- load bags, clean and stock airplane (some guys whine about this, IMHO, that's why you get paid more and part if corporate)


Hope this helps! Would be the best move you could ever make

I went from 121 regional FO to a small two pilot Part 91 Citation II Co-Captain, and was promoted to Chief Pilot after 3.5 months due to then-CP's departure.

I love my job - LOVE MY JOB - but there are pros and cons to both sides of the industry and I could be happy if I went back to 121. Do NOT fall into a "Grass is greener" trap...many people do.

The biggest pro I see is that I feel like I actually contribute positively to the company's success, where at the regional I felt like nothing more than a liability on a balance sheet. The biggest con is that 91 jobs run the gamut - be it a large multinational corporation or small mom & pop company, the job might be good or it might be crap...Fortune 500 is not a guarantee a job is "good".

I work for a small private company (50ish employees) with a president/CEO/owner/founder/HMFIC that is fiercely defensive of the aircraft and doesn't hesitate to use them. He treats his two pilots very well, no micromanagement, complete trust with the operation. The downside to that is I don't know how long I'd keep my job if God forbid he got hit by a bus tomorrow...but I suppose the same could be said of a public company having a terrible quarter or two and needing to satiate shareholders.

I love my job - LOVE MY JOB - and believe it is more personally fulfilling than most 121 jobs would be. That said, I could be happy if I ever went back to 121 because I wouldn't have to answer my phone when I was "off duty", wouldn't have to think about how my absence for any reason would impact the operation, wouldn't fret as much about the company's financial situation, etc etc.

A job is a means to paying your bills, supporting your family, buying toys and saving for retirement. Find something you can enjoy (or at least tolerate) and do it...

I left a regional for a start-up corporate department. Single plane (King Air 200 at the time) and single pilot. It's still single pilot, but we've grown into a CJ2. Great plane that works exceedingly well for us. I don't ever see us needing anything bigger and have no aspirations to fly anything bigger.

I'd pretty much quote RI380's post word for word for the positives. I typically know my schedule several weeks to a month in advance, sometimes further out. I fly and manage the aircraft and all aspects of the flight department and am compensated accordingly. I stay where I want, have a rental car everywhere I go, and put all my expenses on the company card. I'm family to the aircraft owners and the aircraft is a source of pride for the company.

I've never looked back and wouldn't leave if SWA called tomorrow.

Airlines: you fly airplane from point a to point b. You have dispatchers, schedulers, gate agents, flight attendants, and many others doing a lot of the work for you. Yes, you are PIC and have the final authority but the support you have is huge.
Corporate: you are all of the above. Every detail is riding on you, expectations for perfection are all on you. The guy in the back is not just a nameless paying passenger. He (or she) is not riding on an airliner because he can afford not to.
Airlines: you know your schedule, play by the rules, remain anonymous if you want.
Corporate, schedule varies wildly, rules change, and the boss knows you. But the benefits of the corporate lifestyle.....oh boy, ain't never had nothing so good like that at the airlines!
I've been doing this for nearly 30 years, loved the airlines but very glad I'm experiencing the other side.

121 pax to 121 Cargo.

90% of your problems are with the SLF. Cargo rocks. No uniforms, no TSA, no SLF, no crew. No worries.

Well said!

91 jobs can be excellent, and they could be a nightmare too.

Here are some samples of a bad 91 job:

"How soon can you be at an airport? We need to go in one hour, and we'll be gone for 2 weeks." This should be the exception, not the rule. Sadly, this is the norm at some places.

"You'll have to share the hotel room with your copilot." Believe it or not...

"I must be at XYZ at noon. I don't care what you have to do, but if you don't get me there at noon, start looking for another job..." while XYZ is below landing minima.

You get the point. When you interview for a 91 job, remember, you're also interviewing them. Some gigs may not be worth making the switch. Others would make legacy 121 captain jobs subpar in comparison. Some are hidden gems, some are known rotating doors. The key is to pay close attention, do your own due diligence and then make your decision.

Ex-121 guy here.... Commuter airline, then to a major where i got furloughed, now at Netjets

I like Netjets better. I got bored at the airlines

Many thanks for taking the time to respond. All good stuff.

After being furloughed from World I went out on a limb and paid to get BE200 current knowing that there were lots of 200 opportunities near me. I flew as a contract pilot for a little over a year and although I liked it, the schedule was a pain. And the money was only ok. I kept looking for a new airline gig. But, after being contracted by a guy that owns a car dealership a few times, he decided he wanted me to be his guy. Now I make ridiculous money and don't work more than 8 to 10 days a month. My boss is the most laid back guy ever. I'm basically part of the family now. When I have to stay in his town, I just stay at his house now. I'm included on family vacations if I want to join. And when it's just he and I in the plane, he sits up front to visit cause he feels weird sitting in back like I'm just his driver. And any time there are open seats, I can bring whoever I want. I typically bring my wife but sometimes I'll take friends looking for experience. Also, the uniform? I wear shorts and a polo in summer and jeans or cargos in winter. I always joke with my boss and say I can wear the full uniform if he wants and he said that I better not after laughing at a BE90 pilot in full airline uniform including the hat.

I have a great deal but I know it's not the norm. Now I don't have any apps out there and wouldn't leave for almost anything.

Good luck to anyone trying to make the switch. Being furloughed was the greatest thing to ever happen to me.

Family is in the will, you're not family.

:)

No, I'm part of the family now. They include me in the hollidays, and not just out of guilt about taking me away from home; they've included my family during hollidays when we're at home too.

As for being in the will: I signed on to fly the man's jet. That's all I want from him, and it's the best job I've had by far, and I had a good airline job! People who've always had wealth have also always had people trying to carve out their own little piece of their wealth. You earn their trust by proving to them that you aren't just another shyster. And then you only have one chance to lose that trust. I just want to fly the man's jet, he knows that, and he pays me well enough to do that.

Most importantly, I've earned their trust, in many ways, not just professionally; the job is about a lot more than just flying, and I don't mean being a servant. When I flew for an airline, the job was about days off and money. When you walked away from the airplane at the end of the trip, you didn't look back, or even think about it until show time for the next trip. If that's all you want from the job, stay in the airlines. Now I work harder than I ever have, but it's all fun work. We fly a lot, but that's good, it's job security, and besides, we really only fly to cool places, and there seems to be no end to the variety.

Every day between trips seems to involve some kind of management duty: arranging to get an MEL cleared, projecting out our likely flying load to plan the next inspection, and trying to fit the next inspection into when I think they won't need the plane, cleaning up the plane, restocking, record keeping, accounting, planning for the next trip. The boss wants us to take ownership of the plane (figuratively), and we have. We take a lot of pride in that fine machine, and when he sends a text with details about another trip, it feels a lot more like getting to use my talent to do a favor for a friend, than the frustration of being junior assigned.

I loved my airline job. I was never going to leave (locked out- Midwest Airlines), but it was a job. Flying is like a paid hobby now. I work hard, but I'm enjoying it more than ever. I've had to learn a lot since leaving the airline world, but I'm also a much more complete pilot for it. There are certainly some not so good corporate gigs out there, but a good one still beats an airline job in my opinion, and all I ever wanted to be was an airline pilot. I'm not going back to the airlines unless my boss sells the airplane or fires me, and I've told him as much. And he still gave me a big pay raise after telling him that.

Good luck!

Getting the job is the hard part. You need to somehow get plugged into the local contract scene. I did it through contract flying. I was flying with as many people as I could, networking. Figured I'd have a fighting chance at a new plane to show up. That's how I got my job.

Totally agree. Leaving behind 121 passenger flying was a great decision for me. No TSA, no uniforms and the boxes don't complain.

I know you're just across the river, but if its a great gig, why apply to UPS?

The same reasons any pilot in my position, happy in a job flying a light jet for a heavily owner-centric small business, would be interested in a given position for a large Fortune 500 flight department or a legacy/major/cargo airline.

Enhanced career longevity
Upside in earning potential
Career advancement
etc. etc.

**update**
 

Since having started this post however long ago, I left the airlines after more than a decade in favor of a great corporate gig. I won't go into the specifics, but if any major called today to offer a class tomorrow I would respectfully pass (and in fact I did).

For those so fortunate, life doesn't get any better... And for those who would like to join the ranks, it's not as complicated as some make it out to be. Network, smile, be humbled and open to learning and lose the 121 "holier-than-thou" stench.

Good luck.

This thread should have been called: " Your experience going from REGIONALS to 91..." Big difference with the original title.

None of the people in here left a major spontaneously.

The question for the those who got furloughed or their airline shut down, and had to find a corporate employment, is the following:
If you could change history, and make it that you were still in your major today, would you still say that you are better off where you are right now?

Now, of course, someone will recur to personal attacks, like it always happens here when you dare to express an opinion that is not in line with the main stream. Or when you don't write obvious things like "you can be happy anywhere, to each his own". Despicable.
Funny thing is that if I answer back, these guys go cry to a moderator.

Actually NoSid, I know a guy who voluntarily left American to fly corporate... pretty senior too. He's got a great gig now...

Same here.

Do you mean he took an early retirement option?
There are plenty more people that do the opposite, your buddy could just be the exception that confirm the rule.

Of course you do, he is probably the same guy.
Same as above.

And of course, as expected, name calling and personal attacks.
Back to you, but the saddest thing you will never know you are one.
That is to be considered pathetic.

So what major did you leave?
Your friends took a volunteer early retirement plan?
What were the circumstances? You know you are omitting something, just let it out.
You want to say that you and your two buddies just left a legacy, during the hiring spree, being senior, to go fly corporate without any other factor to be considered but the crave for better hotels and better meals?
Did you accumulate enough wealth flying a legacy heavy, that you now are content with an hobby-job? Well that is a legacy benefit.
And you should just let the corporate job to some young guy that needs to built his future, instead of hogging on any possible way of income. Not to me, I left a good 91 and will never look back.
If you left for no forcing reason, again you are the exceptions the confirm the rule, which is the opposite of the real tendency. And you should be evaluated psychologically.

You think it feels good to be a gangster? You should try...

Wait, I got it, you are ex Comair and then ABX Cargo...

Hahahahahahahahahahahaha

No wonder you are so bitter with 121
My rhetorical question was for ex major airlines pilots.
You don't qualify. Not even by far. Sure you are entitle to an opinion, but you are no expert in the matter. Nice try.

Next!!!

Just stop lying saying that people would voluntarily leave a legacy to go corporate, without any forcing event, or special incentive coming form the legacy itself. It is just pathetic.

Didn't leave anything out. Not that I have to answer to the troll... (yeah, not name-calling... calling it like it is.... you're a troll****).

I was 30 when I left Continental. Not bitter about it at all... loved it, but wanted more. I'd love to tell you what I am doing now, but you would spin it in your sick little mind.

First friend (DAL 75/76) had been there 8 years, he was 39.

Second friend left United A320 when he was early 40s, had been there about 8 years as well.

All left for better pay, better QOL, better personal challenges. No early retirement, no bonuses... just personal decisions. I love how you know everything about everyone.

Can you go away now troll? Your cave is getting cold.

Seriously... are we adults here?

This site is for professionals, not trolls.... sport.

Considering he was around 40 when he left, I kind of doubt he was eligible for an early retirement. But I'm sure you will find some way to tell me I am wrong.

While I respect the fact that each is entitled to their own opinion, I find it laughable that so many think a major 121 gig is so fundamentally different than a regional gig. The similarities faaarrr outweigh the differences. And for some us, those differences aren't enticing enough. Not by a long shot. Some guys eat up the hub/spoke, uniform, flight attendants, big airplane, etc... Just not for me when given the choice in my particular situation.

At the end of the day, we all value things differently. And that's okay.

People see it depending on their priorities. For me, the bottom line is what my W2 and 401(k) looks like at the end of the year, how many days I need to be away from my home to make that happen, and finally my ability to move my schedule around to better serve that time at home.

So coming from that perspective, there's a pretty big difference between my legacy and a regional carrier.

I think your odds may be better to find a job at a major than say a Top 5% corporate gig, but I assure you the benefits are nowhere near the same. Congrats to the OP btw, best wishes to starting your new career path-

I flew three corporate jobs before getting a job with a 121 carrier. The corporate thing never pays enough $$$, I don't care who you work for, they are all cheap assess trying to get you to do "extras" for them as if you were their lackey ...... If you don't mind carrying someones bags, driving the Boss's wife to go on a shopping spree, having to hang around at the Boss's house because he "likes you there" .............. There are some really nice corporate jobs out there where you don't have to deal directly with the Boss, you show up for work, do your stuff, go home ............. almost like an airline job, but not quite. The airlines are a pain in the ass, but you have your days off guaranteed, you know that only Seniority will allow you to gain certain aspects of the job that being junior would not allow for. There is NO PERFECT flying job .......... I don't care who you fly for, there is something that is bugging you .............

I have gone from 91,135, fractional to 121. I prefer the 121. I know my schedule, I can bid to fly more or less if i want. Im not gone over half of my life. I go to work fly and go home!! NO BS.

I have friends at NetJets and Delta. Everyone complains. I have friends are garbage outfits and they love it. you cant make everyone happy all the time.

Thank you.........

And if you compare the top5% pay and benefit in a legacy or major, to those corporate gigs you mentioned, I assure you the benefits and pay! and QOL are nowhere near the same neither, largely in favor of the 121 side again. Apples to apples.

Thank you. And what might not be clear to who is outside, that in 121 your schedule changes as you gain seniority, while in a corporate it stays the wait it is for the duration of the employment.

True, human beings are impossible to satisfy.
But who experienced both, is happier in a major.
Few exceptions, usually related to atypical personal circumstances.

So you don't know for a fact? Wasn't he a friend of yours?