The corporate life...

[sky Rookie]

Can some guys who have made their careers in the corporate world share a little bit about their job (company not needed). As I climb the ladder I am deciding whats next. but i dont know much about the corporate side of things at all.
Can you shine some light on what to expect at the citation, falcon, challenger levels
pay?
schedules?
where and who and how much do you fly?

any input is appreciated

[Roar]

I fly a corporate jet that would be in the large category. I am very happy with the job, really a dream come true.
To answer some of your questions.
1) Pay= Good
2) Schedule= The mandatory days off 36 hrs in 7 days, 3 days every 17 days. I Usually get the holidays I request and if I can give a couple weeks notice if I need a day off I always get it. Other than that you are at the whim of the owner which means they will probably want to go somewhere on most weekends or holidays and if you have something like a birthday or party to attend Murphy's Law tends to ensure you will have a pop up trip that day. On the other hand it's not like you fly every day so there is plenty of time at home.
3) Where= I fly all over the place, the general rule is the bigger the jet the bigger your luggage needs to be (ie. The longer you will be away on a trip.)
4) How much= Most corporate jobs average about 400hrs a year.

Some of the pros of corporate are: Good pay, travel to great locales, fly the best equipment. Some of the Cons: A lot of time spent waiting, no defined schedule.

There are of course exceptions to what I have stated but I think most would be this way.

[kmf.kenif]

I fly a corporate jet that would be in the large category. I am very happy with the job, really a dream come true.
To answer some of your questions.
1) Pay= Good
2) Schedule= The mandatory days off 36 hrs in 7 days, 3 days every 17 days. I Usually get the holidays I request and if I can give a couple weeks notice if I need a day off I always get it. Other than that you are at the whim of the owner which means they will probably want to go somewhere on most weekends or holidays and if you have something like a birthday or party to attend Murphy's Law tends to ensure you will have a pop up trip that day. On the other hand it's not like you fly every day so there is plenty of time at home.
3) Where= I fly all over the place, the general rule is the bigger the jet the bigger your luggage needs to be (ie. The longer you will be away on a trip.)
4) How much= Most corporate jobs average about 400hrs a year.

Some of the pros of corporate are: Good pay, travel to great locales, fly the best equipment. Some of the Cons: A lot of time spent waiting, no defined schedule.

There are of course exceptions to what I have stated but I think most would be this way.

How did you come about this job you have now? Through someone you know or an application through a company?

[Roar]

As I am sure you are aware finding a job in aviation is all about contacts and to an even greater extent in the corporate world it's all about who you know or more importantly who knows you.

[learcapt]

Hello, ROAR's points are very similar to job in the corporate sector.

I fly a large jet as well and the only point I would make is the importance of being assigned to an aircraft that has at least three pilots dedicated to it. It will certainly make life easier.

I have been in corporate aviation for almost 20 years and would not change my decision to stay here at all. Great pay and nice interaction with most passengers.

[wallypilot]

+1 to ROAR's comments.

Jobs really do vary in the corporate sector, and it's best to find a combination of job qualities that suits you: mission profile/schedule/pay/fanciest-biggest-shiniest iron/private ops vs mix of private and charter ops, etc. In my company we fly very new aircraft with an awesome schedule (days off are usually very well respected), great job security and a real variety in destinations. The only drawback in my operation is a little below average pay for the corporate sector. Still decent pay, though, no doubt. It's rare that you can have everything you want, but you can usually get 90% of what you want and be pretty happy.

Also consider the amount of autonomy you have on the road. Can you choose your own hotels? How reliable are the passengers? Do they say one thing, then end up doing something completely different? That may be fine for you, or maybe not. Some of this stuff is also impossible to know before getting the job.

One consideration, as ROAR pointed out, is the more fuel it can carry, the longer the trips are. So, if you go on a global express for example, plan on being away for much longer trips than on a Learjet.

As for getting that coveted position, you really need to know someone. The smaller the flight department, the more important this fact becomes. I actually got my start in corporate a bit randomly, but in the interview, it turned out that the DFO and I had a common acquaintance and the first thing he did when he saw my resume was to call that reference that he knew. So, even though I knew no one at the company I was applying to, one of my references proved to be vital to getting the job.

[JohnnyHotRocks]

Please close this thread....corporate aviation is the best kept secret in the business....lets keep it that way!

[Hawkerflyer]

indeed. Though guys always want more. lol

[hawker driver]

Have you considered Fractional flying.

It is well established in the US and is slowing getting established here in Canada. The max pay may not be as much as the airlines but you go to different places rather than the same 8 or 10 city pairs. It also beats the corporate charter jet job since you have a schedule and can have some sort of life away from the company cell phone.

[co-joe]

I fly a corporate jet ...
2) Schedule= The mandatory days off 36 hrs in 7 days, 3 days every 17 days. ...

When a guy has to quote the CARs when asked what his schedule is that's not a good sign. To me anyway.

[Roar]

I fly a corporate jet ...
2) Schedule= The mandatory days off 36 hrs in 7 days, 3 days every 17 days. ...

When a guy has to quote the CARs when asked what his schedule is that's not a good sign. To me anyway.

Not at all Co-Joe, some months are busy and and we run into the limits others are not and have plenty of time off.

I know the old joke says pilots aren't happy unless they are complaining, but I really have nothing to complain about, it's a great place to work.