Question about Corporate Pilots
07-26-2009, 01:18 PM
#1
New Hire
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Joined APC: Mar 2008
Posts: 1
Question about Corporate Pilots
Hi everyone! I may have an opprotunity to work for a future aircraft manufacturing company that will be opening in the next 2 years. They will be producing a small jet like the Cessna Citation. The opprotunity may be to become one of a couple pilots for the company. They will be providing flight school for their employees. What are the steps to become a corporate pilot and the time frame, I currently hold no licensure. Is a corporate license considered a private license or is it an airline.....?
Thanks
Thanks
07-26-2009, 04:43 PM
#2
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,377
The initial training path for all US pilots is the same:
Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-engine. This would allow you to legally get trained on a jet.
But the reality is different...nobody is likely to insure a jet pilot who has less than 1000 hours and maybe 100+ in the exact type of aircraft. Most pilots also have to get airplane, instrument, and multi-engine instructor licenses and then work as instructors to build experience first.
It's theoretically possible that your company would provide the needed flight experience...but economic and insurance realities dictate they will probably just hire a professional pilot when the time comes.
It is remotely possible that they could allow to fly a plane while traveling on company business...that could be done with a private pilot license and a type rating, but again the insurance is not going to allow it without more experience. Note that this would NOT allow to act as a corporate pilot and fly other folks on demand...you would only be allowed to fly to a business event that your job required you to go to anyone (you can also take others). If your primary job is pilot, you will need all the usual professional training and experience.
Note that the insurance people are not being arbitrary or unreasonable. A low time private pilot in a jet would be very likely to die...sooner rather than later. One of my airline buddies got into the regionals after his employer let him go...the employer decided he could fly his own citation. We were still in new-hire training at the airline when the ex-employer die in a fiery accident.
Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi-engine. This would allow you to legally get trained on a jet.
But the reality is different...nobody is likely to insure a jet pilot who has less than 1000 hours and maybe 100+ in the exact type of aircraft. Most pilots also have to get airplane, instrument, and multi-engine instructor licenses and then work as instructors to build experience first.
It's theoretically possible that your company would provide the needed flight experience...but economic and insurance realities dictate they will probably just hire a professional pilot when the time comes.
It is remotely possible that they could allow to fly a plane while traveling on company business...that could be done with a private pilot license and a type rating, but again the insurance is not going to allow it without more experience. Note that this would NOT allow to act as a corporate pilot and fly other folks on demand...you would only be allowed to fly to a business event that your job required you to go to anyone (you can also take others). If your primary job is pilot, you will need all the usual professional training and experience.
Note that the insurance people are not being arbitrary or unreasonable. A low time private pilot in a jet would be very likely to die...sooner rather than later. One of my airline buddies got into the regionals after his employer let him go...the employer decided he could fly his own citation. We were still in new-hire training at the airline when the ex-employer die in a fiery accident.
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