MOGuy

Hi,

I might have the opportunity to interview with a 500 company flight department. I have worked a wide variety of flying jobs and I'd like to get some input on this.
I have flown part 91/135 for a small ma and pa operation where I was always on call, pay and benefits sucked and could rarely get anytime off. I now work for a large on demand charter where we have a set schedule and benefits are decent. What I'd like to get intel on are signs I should be looking for to tell if this would be a good place to work or a horrible place. I've never worked for a strictly 91 operation for such a large company. I'm aware that there will mostly like be some on call and a few thing different but I really would like some input on the red flags I should look for. I these days with the industry as is it could be a selling of the job to the applicant that it's all peaches and cream. So if you work or have worked for a great/bad place I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks in advance.

SrfNFly227

I would definitely ask what the pilot rotation is. It is not normal for large departments to just leave the crews on call all the time, so there should be some sort of schedule.

Office time can be another big indicator. Good departments may have you come in occasionally, but never M-F.

How old are the airplanes and do they have any firm orders for new ones? How many pilots per plane? Is everyone PIC typed and considered a Captain, or do they have First Officers?

Those questions are a good start. They'll give you an idea of QOL as well as health of the department.

Bucknut

I would try to find out if the pilots hang out together or know each other. Is it strictly civilian background of pilots or is it strictly former military. Corporate can be extremely cliquish. I did some contract work and asked if the pilots ever go out and do things together. The answer was no, After three days of flying with the director of training I could see why. What other duties are required and how long the flight department has been around. Are you going to be flying the owner around or executives? Owners can be very demanding and may not care about your personal life. Some owners are known to pressure pilots into doing trips that they may not be comfortable with. Executives tend to have to answer to an HR department which helps keep them from being too demanding.

MOGuy

Great information so far! If I get an interview I will definitely take these questions as a foundation.

Quick edit: I know they have 3 airplanes. 2-2009 G450 and a G280 (unsure year).

What would be a good pilot ratio for that amount of metal?

Falcondrivr

I'll add: What is the pilot turnover? A great department will have very little turnover. We just went 10 years with 0 people leaving. Broke the streak when our most junior person went to United (33 years old, who wouldn't?)
If pilots are staying for long carreers, there's a good indicator of the overall QOL.

Lucky8888

Same here. We started our flight ops 5 years ago and have had only 1 person leave (went to American) that was also our most "junior" person (35 years old). We knew he was going to leave at some time when we hired him so he left with our blessing and best wishes.

TapRack

Wow, that's awesome.

I've got to wear a jacket at work because of the draft from the revolving door.

MOGuy

I'll put it out there too. I'm 34 and everyone is telling my I'm dumb for even considering a corporate over a legacy. I know there's a lot of money to be made at a legacy but if the corporate offer 6 figure pay, a flexible schedule, vacation and no commuting why is that bad of a career path? In my 15 years of flying the 121 has not appeared anymore stable than 91, actually less...

galaxy flyer

Depends on what you like, how money you need and how much your wife (or you ) spend.

I'm a tediophobe, boredom and being trapped by seniority doesn't fit well. The money is good enough, too. Last trip, airline to Lisbon, spend a day on the town, operate back to the US with a delightful couple; position to Cancun, fly pax to SFO, then home-- not normal flying.

GF

Mink

In my short time (7 years) in corporate aviation (former mil, a little time at the majors), it seems to me the breakdown goes a bit like this: 10% of the jobs are like winning the lottery with great pay, great schedules, great people. Another 15% are pretty good in that there's good pay but maybe the schedule sucks (or vice versa), or there's some other factor that falls into "if we could only fix XYZ this place would be perfect..." category. And the other 75% of corporate jobs are cr@p - nothing more than a stepping stone to something (hopefully) better.

I'd say the best gauge to determine what kind of job it is you're pursuing is to ask around about the culture in the flight department (corp aviation is a small world), and look at the turnover rate. Especially now, when pilot employment opportunities are growing, there's no need to stick it out at a $hit job. If a flight department you're interested in has a hard time keeping people I'd say that's your #1 sign that maybe you ought to look elsewhere for that dream job.

Good luck.