Chief Pilot 421 operation

[Lost Lake]

WTF! CP position 24k plus flight days. Not 604 but still. This sounds more like they want a low time pilot to fill in the position of pilot. Unless they are flying commercial no need for a CP. Salary please! $60k min.

[Canadian Skyhawk]

Lost Lake,

This is a corporate flying position for a large company for whom aviation is simply a means of getting their main business done. In this case, the company sells crane and heavy lift services to the oil and gas industry in Western Canada and the central US. You are probably correct that they don't even operate with a 604 POC - they don't need one.

In this world of pilots blindly chasing big iron, single airplane corporate gigs are highly underrated and can provide the best in pilot lifestyle. No pressure (YOU are the CP - and oftentimes the only pilot - so YOU decide what's safe), easy hours, an airplane the way you want it (you manage all maintenance, upgrades, etc. - it's your airplane), flying company owners and associates who know you on a first name basis, usually very few weekend or night flights (as they want to be at home with their families) and you run the whole show. It's almost like flying friends and family on your own private aircraft. In my experience, the owners even invite you to family BBQ's because the company pilot becomes like a distant family member and knows everyone on a first name basis. Hmmmm, sounds better than being number 2,385 on the AC seniority list to me. And there's no way in hell you're getting invited to Rovinescu's BBQ party either.

As for pay, well let's see: 24K base plus $400 per flying day. If you fly two days a week (and those are probably under 3 flying hours per day, because your passengers don't like being cooped up in a C421 for any longer than that), that comes to 64K per annum. If you fly three days a week, that becomes 84K per year.

That's why a lot of guys spend their entire careers flying small corporate gigs. It's relaxing, enjoyable and it still pays. Safe Flying, everyone!

[just curious]

Beat me too it. Work half the year, fly people who know your name... 100K a year!
Hmmm...

[tired of the ground]

That's why a lot of guys spend their entire careers flying small corporate gigs. It's relaxing, enjoyable and it still pays.

Shhhhh, don't let the secret out. In reality at the end of your career you will make the same money and work half as much. Your passengers will value your opinion and experience. At the end of the day your kids know who you are, not some stranger who sleeps in the house every few weeks.

I know we see it a lot but it never seems to sink in. An airplane (and the corresponding job) will never love you back. Chase lifestyle, not metal.

[Doc]

Chase lifestyle, not metal.

Truer words have never been spoken! Trouble is, so few GET it till it's too late.

[Lost Lake]

I don't disagree with any points written. I just find it strange that they put a low base pay for the job. If it's such a warm and fuzzy relationship, why not pay a decent salary based on past history. What happens when the plane gets grounded for an extensive length of time, or some other glitch. You get sick, etc. It seems to me that they are putting some kind of self protection clause in there. For that base pay, I'm sure a lot of pilots will just show up, fly the plane and leave. Maybe that's all they want. A salaried employee with a decent wage would certainly be more prepared to go the extra distance with the company.

What about the pressure for the pilot to make their mortgage payment at the end of the month deciding to possibly fly in other than ideal conditions. I'm not saying I wouldn't apply, and then find out what the job description was. If I had written the ad, I wouldn't of put the pay in that particular ad. Kind of like putting an accident (not your fault) on your resume. Just my 2 cents.

[flyinggirl]

maybe they have a min guarantee of flight days for the year....I would be looking for that in the contract.