Quote:
Originally Posted by soldierboy
All,
1. Does anyone know if you would make more money and be able to work more hours/week flying for a corporate company, rather than work for a regional airline?
2. Can an aviator get a good paying corporate pilot job straight out of flight school with a fortune 100 company or one that pays alot more than regional airline companies?
3. Are there any aviators that have worked for corporate companies AND regional airlines on this forum to give me some info?
Thanks
Since you said corporate and not fractional, I'll give my best answers for corporate flying since the two are very different animals.
1. Make more money -- maybe, depends on the flight department. However, keep in mind even if you start out at higher pay in a corporate flight department, there are fewer raises or opportunities for advancement than in 121/91k. Fly more hours -- in almost all cases, not likely. Corporate operators tend to fly significantly less than 121/135/91k. In fact, there's several corporate outfits that fly only around 120 hours/year. In these cases, the owner(s) have big $$$ and like the idea of their own personal jet even if it doesn't make the most sense economically.
2. Almost certainly not, unless you want to go with one of the very low end 135 business jet outfits -- and in my opinion with almost everyone of those, you'd be better off going to the regionals even if you objective was to end up eventually in corporate flying. You'd receive much better treatment, pay, benefits at the regionals and be in a good position to go to the fractionals from there to begin moving into corporate flying it that is your desire than going with one of the low end 135 places that might hire a CFI as an SIC. I don't know of any reputable corporate operation that would even touch a pilot right out of flight school. You have to understand in the corporate world min hours and ratings are all driven by the insurance companies. As a minimum, most corporate operations won't touch pilots who do not already have a type rating on that operator's airplane, several thousand hours TT, some time on type, and commensurate MEL time just to hit the high points.
3. Haven't worked for regionals, but know many people who have. Have worked for fractionals and now pure corporate. Biggest advice I'd have is not to get totally focused on $$$, but to instead take a look at QOL. 121/135/91k/corporate are all completely different types of flying with very different pros and cons. Some people love 121 and hate 91k and corporate when they try it. On the other hand, some people love the business jet side of flying and would never consider trading places with a major airline captain. It all comes down to what you enjoy and what fits best for what you want out of your career. The worst thing too many people seem to do is focus only on the $$$. For example, if you're making good money, but flying with owners and other pilots you can't stand, hate being on call 24/7, being an a-- kisser, then you'd probably be miserable in a corporate flight department. On the flip side, you may make less money than 121, but be flying for an awesome owner and working with great guys and having a great QOL schedule. Despite what some people seem to think, there's more to flying than just money.
Good luck!