Corporate vs. Airline

windshear · Post by **windshear** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 5:45 am

Hello

Like to hear from any airline pilots, past or present, that made the transition from corporate flying to the airlines. Was it what you thought it would be or did you have any regrets. Any comments would be welcome.

cheers

3Green · Post by **3Green** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 6:43 am

I enjoy it alot more than I thought I would. I thought I would really miss going to all the different FBO's, seeing different cities every trip, and eating in different restaurants. I enjoy having a predictable "set" schedule, thoughtless paperwork, and the comfort of knowing all the little quirks about the airports you frequent. Flying is flying...it's all fun.

windshear · Post by **windshear** » Thu Sep 15, 2005 7:40 am

Thanks for the response. I quite enjoy my job now. We fly domestically mostly but head overseas to Europe and the Far east a few times a year. I feel if given the opportunity the airlines might be a better move in the long run. But with any job there are pros and cons.

Just curious do you fly for a domestic airline or international.

NovaBoy · Post by **NovaBoy** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 6:59 am

I think it all depends on what flight department you work for, I know a few guys leaving Westjet to go back to corporate, and I'm leaving WJ at the end of the month for the corporate world too. If you want to make any real money flying, corporate is where it's at now. Go to AC and start at $37K, $40K at WJ, compared to $100K plus in the corporate world.

dangerous · Post by **dangerous** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 8:04 am

How is job security in corporate vs. airline flying? I guess it obviously depends on the corporation or airline, but in general?

windshear · Post by **windshear** » Sat Sep 17, 2005 11:03 am

In general corporate flying is not bad for job security. If the flight dept. you work for has only one plane and the company decides to sell it, then you are out of luck. However, if you get on with an aircraft management company that handles several aircraft, they will try and keep you around if the plane you are flying is sold. Flight Departments know its hard to find qualified pilots that have corporate experience and since there is quite alot of movement in this industry they more than likely will have a spot for you sooner than later. IMO.

Hi Novaboy. It wouldn't be money that would prompt me to go to the airlines, its more the waiting around the FBO's or hotels that I'm getting a little tired of. Its not too bad now, but I don't want to be in my 40's sitting on my a$$ waiting to go home all the time. I also realize that the job I have now may not be same job I have in a few years depending on who I'm flying for at the time.

Just curious are you a captain at wetsjet?

cheers

NovaBoy · Post by **NovaBoy** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 4:51 am

No F/O at WJ, I can see your point windshear, the corporate life isn't cutout for everyone. The place I'm going has great job security, and they treat their pilots really well. It's a private company worth many billions, and have had a flight department for 70 years. For me it's not about the money so much, but the location and job security.

windshear · Post by **windshear** » Sun Sep 18, 2005 5:25 am

Good luck at your new job Novaboy, it sounds like a good setup.

How many RONs did you typically have in a month with WJ? Has the upgrade time slowed dramtically?

cheers

FL_CH · Post by **FL_CH** » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:27 pm

I'm wondering,

what are the typical entry-level experience requirements for the corporate? I assume such a position would typically be in the right seat of a Citation/Learjet.

Also, how hard is it, generally, to get a job once you meet the req'nts? I'm guessing they don't exactly post job offers on workopolis, so is it all about who you know?

neophyte · Post by **neophyte** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 11:05 am

"Go to AC and start at $37K, $40K at WJ, compared to $100K plus in the corporate world."

I don't know too many of my colleagues that start at $100k, I know I didn't. AC may start you lower but you finish much, much higher. You may make about 50k more than an airline guy for the first 4 years or so but after that, the pendulum swings the other way (and for more than 4 or 5 years!)

Just my take on it.

neo

3Green · Post by **3Green** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 7:00 pm

If NovaBoy is going to the company I think he's going to, the pay is apparently the same across the board...100G's plus or minus a buck or two. Kaay Seee?

Obbie · Post by **Obbie** » Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:31 pm

I was wondering who beat me out for that job at Irving. Congrats Novaboy, I take it this is a move back to the home land for you.

NovaBoy · Post by **NovaBoy** » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:48 pm

The pay is the same for all the pilots $100K plus, and yes it is a move back to my wife's homeland, and very close to mine.

therubberjungle · Post by **therubberjungle** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 9:56 pm

Hey windshear,

I've never flown corporate. However, I've had the priveledge of flying with several folks who have. Perhaps their views are biased: all of them left corporate for bigger iron, but they lived the life and they've shared the good and bad. I also know a few folks who continue to fly corporate aircraft, they like it so it can't be too bad...

Good: Little flying (most times), many days off in Tropical Locales, winters spent visiting warm places (extended stays meant the wife and kids were flown out to meet you), no set schedule of flying into the same airports time after time.

Bad: Life on the pager/cell. Time away from home means time spent away from family (variable, depends on your situation). GDOs may exist, probably not - depends on the company.

My view (for what it's worth): Do what makes you happy. If your lifestyle is congruent with the company then go for it - it doesn't matter what you fly or where you fly it, make the job work for you. The people I work with are PLENTY satisfied, as are the few I know who still fly corporate.

Cheers

NovaBoy · Post by **NovaBoy** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 5:44 am

well put Rubberjungle

windshear · Post by **windshear** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 6:13 pm

Thats good advice Rubberjungle. I am quite content with the job I have now. However, it appears that the airlines may be in a hiring boom for the next couple of years and if I don't throw my name in the hat now I may lose out on the opportunity to see which job better suits my lifestyle.

cheers

hercdriver · Post by **hercdriver** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 8:00 am

I know the US has many opportunities for corporate aviation. Seems Canada is somewhat lacking in that field. Are there any major corporate aviation employers in Canada other than Irving?

NovaBoy · Post by **NovaBoy** » Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:34 am

There's Sobey's, and Clearwater Seafood in Halifax, Shaw cable, Agrium, and other oil companies in Calgary, not sure what else is out there.

hercdriver · Post by **hercdriver** » Mon Oct 03, 2005 11:11 am

Anyone know much about corporate flying with Execaire? Jobs avail? pay?

Thanks

tanker pilot · Post by **tanker pilot** » Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:22 pm

NovaBoy wrote:I think it all depends on what flight department you work for, I know a few guys leaving Westjet to go back to corporate, and I'm leaving WJ at the end of the month for the corporate world too. If you want to make any real money flying, corporate is where it's at now. Go to AC and start at $37K, $40K at WJ, compared to $100K plus in the corporate world.

Can you tell me what flight Department pays 100k a year I want to apply.
I fly for one of the biggest companys in this country and I don't get paid no 100k

NovaBoy · Post by **NovaBoy** » Mon Nov 07, 2005 4:25 pm

Well I'm not going to tell you where I work, but you can guess, it's in New Brunswick, and it's Canada's oldest flight department with 2 Citation Encores, a Falcon 50EX, Hawker 800XP and a Twin Otter. I also know that Agrium in Calgary also pay more than $100K a year.

55+ · Post by **55+** » Tue Nov 08, 2005 7:32 pm

Does Mr. Irving give you a discount on gass....

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