Corporate Regrets?
 

I'm not looking to start a 91 vs 121 discussion. Currently a regional pilot :eek:. I know the difference and I am prepared for it. I also am very familiar with what the lifestyle will be as a very good friend is the one getting me in and one of their few pilots. In any case I am slightly concerned about long term "happiness". I am worried I will get bored, assuming I'm flying one aircraft to mostly the same 50 or so cities across US. Also, the money will never be there like it will be in the 121 world. In reality though the pay will be comfortable, job stable, and I'll be based where I currently live. With a family at home, those seems like priorities and outweigh career aspirations at this point but I don't know if later on down the road I will regret the move. I am also sick of the constant battles in the 121 world with management and labor, ie: scope, union issues, scheduling, hotels, etc. Things are great now for the airlines, but who is to say it'll be that way forever. It's a cyclical industry.

I realize I can move back to the 121 if it really becomes necessary but they are looking to hire for the long term. They are important people to me so I do not want to let them down when they are sticking their necks out.

Anyone else have these same thoughts before the move and how do you feel now?

Sorry for the ramble but I feel like I am making a turn at the "Y" in the road. One end is where I always hoped to be, the other is reality, a good job, and an even more rare opportunity.

If you've already got 121 time and there is no upgrade in your future any time soon, it might be nice to try out corporate for a while, especially if you have a chance at getting some TPIC.

Just remember, it is a whole different ballgame. You will be the one cleaning up their mess in the back of the airplane. You will be the one responsible for making sure Mr. Big has his favorite drink on board. You will be checking the weather, doing weight and balance, and having to explain why showing up with 3 extra pax 10 minutes before departure is putting him in an unsafe situation. You will be the one explaining why you had to divert to an airport that's 10 minutes away.

Corporate Regrets?
 

Just came out of 4 years of corporate to 121 about a year ago. You couldn't pay me enough to go back. 121 is the couch life. Not sure why you'd lose all your seniority to go scrub bugs, do accounting, mxx, mxx tracking, clean ****ters, make drinks, load bags, flight planning. You do get to go to some neat places and do some neat things but your qol is pretty low outside of your job especially since you could be on call most of the time. Plus flying with the same capt (which most in my experience in corporate are not very good with pretty dry personality) gets old fast.

Best of luck,
Droops

Corporate regrets? Are you kidding me? In 2000 Jack Henry, based in Monet MO, said thanks but no thanks. I count my blessings everyday. I'm fo on a 777 making well over 300k this year. I did corporate up until my current 121 gig. If I still had my previous 91 job I would rather work at Home Depot. That's all I have to say about that.

Cheers

I did nearly 7 years Part 91 prior to getting my current job.

I have absolutely ZERO regrets.

Elaboration in a VERY similar thread posted just a little bit ago:
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/1776708-post2.html

You know the money won't be there like in 121? Wow! Where I work guys start 85-90K as a F/O and our senior captains break 200K. I know several guys who do 250K. For crying out loud, AAL's top B777 capt is only $202 an hour.

TransMach

it all depends on what you want to do

for me, if I'm a regional pilot and a fortune 20 company offers me a Gulfstream and/or Global pilot position and UA/AA/DL/SW called, I'd go with the corporate job, hands down

If Walmart offers me a Lear Jet position in Little Rock, and a major called, I'd go to a major

many many scenarios

I'd leave Netjets for one of 2 fligt-departments in a New York minute

Hahahaha.

Nice try.

Maybe AAL's is but Delta, United, FedEx all top out around the mid $200s. On top of that they can pick up work, 150-200% premium credit trips. 250K is no sweat at most majors. Most corporate gigs, this one included, are salary. Top pay at this company is about 150K. I've seen the charts. They get compensated at industry average. Not nearly as much as top pay at the majors.

How so? I know exactly what I am getting into at the corporate job. I have a close friend who has been there for a long time and runs the department. I just wondered if there were indeed corporate pilots out there who actually enjoyed it and don't have any interest in returning to the 121 world. It's something I hadn't considered until recently and I am trying to make a career altering decision.