That means that I fly the occasional King Air flight. I didn't say anything about it being for free. I work at the flight school that is partnered with the charter company so when they have multiple pilots at training or one of the 135 FOs can't do a flight then I usually get the call. Pay is $20 per flight hour plus expenses and per diem. Usual day is about 4 to 6 hours, over nights are usually 3 to 4 star hotels, personal rental car, all food paid for, plus an extra $50 per day. Not stellar pay but it is a nice change of pace from time to time.

 

And you did this why?

 

What is the name of that company?

 

Just for giggles I've been invited to interview at a place which had just started operations in 1983 in the same city and region where I was flying that same year, both in the same general type of airplanes. At the time this company was thought of as good or maybe better than where I worked. Now, 30 years later, my old company is not around but the "new" one still is. When adjusted for inflation this company pays 61% less than what I made at the time. And may have substantially less benefits. The planes are more sophisticated now too. So there you go, progress in America!

 

I made $42K right seat LR31a in 2006 and $50K right seat LR45 in 2007. Company paid type, per diem, etc. Those were different times and economies though. No idea what today is paying.

 

Best guess is that its still hanging around the 40-50'ish line (Pt. 135). Dependant on experience, i've seen some FO's in the 45 making low 60's. Of course you also have the s*itbag operations too, Lord only knows what they are offering.

 

I'm curious to know how many hours some of you guys have been hired on with this 135 operations.

Id rather aim to go for charter as well, the way youre treated at the airlines are just rediculous. My uncle flew for horizon for 2 years and was was treated like ******. Now hes over at netjets. been there for 8 years Captain of a G200

 

Charter can be not all great with respect to how you are treated as well. Some 135 outfits are awesome, while I heard some are not so great to work out. Being denied days off, flying 25 days a month, shotty mx, etc. I had a buddy call me a little while ago who works at Talon Air flying a Legacy and hates it. Big airplane, crap QOL. Was getting in contact with everyone he knew looking for another job. Said they would always switch his days off, always getting denied vacay, crappy attitude from the higher ups. I really think 135 companies are hit or miss. Its almost like you have to waste some valuable time and work for one of them to really find out how good or bad it is.

Btw, I had just under ATP mins when I got hired a couple years ago at my company.

 

I was hired on with about 2300 hours. Light jet F/O making $45K, typed at FSI. Upgraded in about 6 months. This was 7 years ago. Not a bad operator, but like most small time 135 outfits with one crew per airframe, it was difficult to get vacation and a truly set schedule.

QOL and pay for 135 is all over the map. Margins are thin and competition is cutthroat. It takes an incredibly well managed company to do things right and make any money - at least in the business jet saturated market I was familiar with. Most end up cutting corners. Crappy pay, making people pay for types - that sort of thing. The shadier ones were skimping on MX, having pilots falsify flight logs to make rest or duty time work, and so on. Do your homework and ask around. The shadiest places sometimes have the nicest websites - you've got to dig a little to get the real story.

Of course we're our own worst enemy. I remember one young guy creaming himself over his $35K G-III job. Makes it hard for anyone to make a good living when plenty of others are willing to work for nothing.

 

I fly right seat in Lears and make 36k base, plus 150 a day flight pay, per diem etc.