Regional VS Corporate
03-15-2008 | 01:29 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
From: 757/767
FlyHappy said most of what I wanted to say....
I left Air Wisconsin after just under 2 years in the right seat of the RJ for a pure 91 job as a co-captain on a 24 year old Citation II. I got to move back to the EXACT location my wife and I wanted to live in and my compensation was equal to if I had stayed at AWAC and upgraded. Most importantly to me, my QOL is outstanding...something even living in domicile at AWAC couldn't provide me.
Normally it is VERY difficult to make a jump from 121, especially a regional, to a corporate job. Why? One word-networking. The only reason I got my job was because I had strong recommendations from two friends (one current and one former pilot for them) to the owner. Its kinda hard to network for a corporate job by sitting in a crewroom in PHL, ATL or ORD, and its not as simple as walking into a Million Air somewhere and handing out resumes.
Ever heard the term "airline stink"? Corp operators often are biased against airline folks because their old airline habits die hard, and they lack the required customer service abilities (think concierge) to succeed in the job. Driving the airplane is easy....but most everything else (being your own dispatch/scheduling/mx control) is foreign. That bias isn't always fair, but its out there. Going from a regional to a 135 operator or a fractional for a year or two, as previously mentioned, is a great way to "wash" away the "stink".
90% of the time, the only way you are even considered for a F500 job (definitely a F100 job) is by having networked extensively AND having a strong resume. You may have the first part, but coming straight out of flight school odds are strong you'll substantially lack on the second part. A regional can serve a means to that end by quickly providing quality multi-turbine time, but you've got to develop and maintain the relationships you've made in 91/135 while working at a regional for it to be of any real benefit to you.
A corporate job does not automatically mean you'll be satisfied with your career. There are lots of crappy corporate jobs, many decent/good ones, but very few GREAT ones. I'm REALLY happy in my position and will only leave voluntarily for that great "brass ring" job...
I left Air Wisconsin after just under 2 years in the right seat of the RJ for a pure 91 job as a co-captain on a 24 year old Citation II. I got to move back to the EXACT location my wife and I wanted to live in and my compensation was equal to if I had stayed at AWAC and upgraded. Most importantly to me, my QOL is outstanding...something even living in domicile at AWAC couldn't provide me.
Normally it is VERY difficult to make a jump from 121, especially a regional, to a corporate job. Why? One word-networking. The only reason I got my job was because I had strong recommendations from two friends (one current and one former pilot for them) to the owner. Its kinda hard to network for a corporate job by sitting in a crewroom in PHL, ATL or ORD, and its not as simple as walking into a Million Air somewhere and handing out resumes.
Ever heard the term "airline stink"? Corp operators often are biased against airline folks because their old airline habits die hard, and they lack the required customer service abilities (think concierge) to succeed in the job. Driving the airplane is easy....but most everything else (being your own dispatch/scheduling/mx control) is foreign. That bias isn't always fair, but its out there. Going from a regional to a 135 operator or a fractional for a year or two, as previously mentioned, is a great way to "wash" away the "stink".
90% of the time, the only way you are even considered for a F500 job (definitely a F100 job) is by having networked extensively AND having a strong resume. You may have the first part, but coming straight out of flight school odds are strong you'll substantially lack on the second part. A regional can serve a means to that end by quickly providing quality multi-turbine time, but you've got to develop and maintain the relationships you've made in 91/135 while working at a regional for it to be of any real benefit to you.
A corporate job does not automatically mean you'll be satisfied with your career. There are lots of crappy corporate jobs, many decent/good ones, but very few GREAT ones. I'm REALLY happy in my position and will only leave voluntarily for that great "brass ring" job...
03-15-2008 | 02:45 PM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,163
Likes: 0
From: F/O- G-V/550
If you land a corporate gig, it won't be flying a jet, most likely a Prop (king air, PC 12, Avanti, etc). You'll make more $$$ flying corporate than at the regionals, but its going to take you an eternity to build your time. My advice, go to a regional, there you'll get 1000 turbine hrs a year, as oppose to 300 flying corp. Working at a regional sucks, and you won't be happy, but unfortunately its the quickest way to a career job. I did the regional thing for 4 years, and I was actually thinking about leaving aviation when Airtran and Netjets hired me. I took the NJ job. Right now I can't think of a place I would leave NJ for.
03-15-2008 | 03:21 PM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: What do you have?
This is my opinion only, I think a good middle ground is a 135/management outfit. Its where I started I had more than one opportunity to go to a straight 91 outfit with great QOL and pay, stay in 135 long enough and your competitive at the majors, and probably even more competitive at the fractionals since its essentially the same thing, and the regionals for the time being at least are always hiring and it dosent take much to be competetive there. Now QOL usually is not to great at places like this but it makes a good stepping stone.
03-15-2008 | 03:28 PM
#14
Doing One Pilot's Job
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,889
Likes: 123
I'm REAL happy in my current gig...
03-15-2008 | 03:49 PM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,357
Likes: 0
From: UPS 757/767 Capt ONT
"It all my years in the business I have never met a major airline pilot that came straight from 135 only."
UPS, before the ANC domicle, would hire from a wide variety of backgrounds, to include corporate and 135 turbine. I think those guys had as good a chance as a 121 freight guy. Things changed with the ANC domicle, though, and they started really favoring over water as ANC is a junior base.
I don't see why a 135 guy years of G4 experience wouldn't equal a 121 RJ Capt with the same.
UPS, before the ANC domicle, would hire from a wide variety of backgrounds, to include corporate and 135 turbine. I think those guys had as good a chance as a 121 freight guy. Things changed with the ANC domicle, though, and they started really favoring over water as ANC is a junior base.
I don't see why a 135 guy years of G4 experience wouldn't equal a 121 RJ Capt with the same.
03-15-2008 | 04:05 PM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
From: 757/767
"It all my years in the business I have never met a major airline pilot that came straight from 135 only."
UPS, before the ANC domicle, would hire from a wide variety of backgrounds, to include corporate and 135 turbine. I think those guys had as good a chance as a 121 freight guy. Things changed with the ANC domicle, though, and they started really favoring over water as ANC is a junior base.
I don't see why a 135 guy years of G4 experience wouldn't equal a 121 RJ Capt with the same.
UPS, before the ANC domicle, would hire from a wide variety of backgrounds, to include corporate and 135 turbine. I think those guys had as good a chance as a 121 freight guy. Things changed with the ANC domicle, though, and they started really favoring over water as ANC is a junior base.
I don't see why a 135 guy years of G4 experience wouldn't equal a 121 RJ Capt with the same.
03-15-2008 | 04:09 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
"It all my years in the business I have never met a major airline pilot that came straight from 135 only."
UPS, before the ANC domicle, would hire from a wide variety of backgrounds, to include corporate and 135 turbine. I think those guys had as good a chance as a 121 freight guy. Things changed with the ANC domicle, though, and they started really favoring over water as ANC is a junior base.
I don't see why a 135 guy years of G4 experience wouldn't equal a 121 RJ Capt with the same.
UPS, before the ANC domicle, would hire from a wide variety of backgrounds, to include corporate and 135 turbine. I think those guys had as good a chance as a 121 freight guy. Things changed with the ANC domicle, though, and they started really favoring over water as ANC is a junior base.
I don't see why a 135 guy years of G4 experience wouldn't equal a 121 RJ Capt with the same.
03-15-2008 | 04:13 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: What do you have?
"It all my years in the business I have never met a major airline pilot that came straight from 135 only."
UPS, before the ANC domicle, would hire from a wide variety of backgrounds, to include corporate and 135 turbine. I think those guys had as good a chance as a 121 freight guy. Things changed with the ANC domicle, though, and they started really favoring over water as ANC is a junior base.
I don't see why a 135 guy years of G4 experience wouldn't equal a 121 RJ Capt with the same.
UPS, before the ANC domicle, would hire from a wide variety of backgrounds, to include corporate and 135 turbine. I think those guys had as good a chance as a 121 freight guy. Things changed with the ANC domicle, though, and they started really favoring over water as ANC is a junior base.
I don't see why a 135 guy years of G4 experience wouldn't equal a 121 RJ Capt with the same.
Last edited by FlyHappy; 03-15-2008 at 04:19 PM.
03-16-2011 | 02:29 PM
#19
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 490
Likes: 0
So i understand the importance of choosing the regionals vs corporate carefully, and how it can give you airline "stink", according to some, if you try to go back to corporate from the regionals. As a soon to be graduate, no one will argue that the decision i'm facing is a tough one. (at least from my perspective) I have the option to apply at a few regionals right now, or to stay at a local flight school. The school pays well (as well if not better than a regional) and also has 2 piston aircraft it uses for 135 ops...no turbine though. My ultimate goal is to be on the corporate side of the house. Do fractional or better known 135 companies perceive the "airline stink" like some F500 companies or private owners might? Would it hurt me to go to the regionals to build some turbine time, PIC if i stay long enough, and then go to a fractional/135?
03-16-2011 | 03:15 PM
#20
Doing One Pilot's Job
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,889
Likes: 123
Networking will help you FAR more to get a business aviation job than having "airline stink" will hurt you.
If you're graduating in 2 months with an eye on business aviation, don't hesitate to take a regional airline job where you can quickly build quality time that will bolster your experience and increase your insurability...but definitely continue to build your network and maintain existing relationships while working there.
If you're graduating in 2 months with an eye on business aviation, don't hesitate to take a regional airline job where you can quickly build quality time that will bolster your experience and increase your insurability...but definitely continue to build your network and maintain existing relationships while working there.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
