Guys, it seems the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence... Believe me, Business / Executive / Corporate aviation is by far (!!) the best way to go!
I had a job on a business jet, best time of my life!
OK, granted, I was lucky as many trips would go something like this:
(hope this will make all "doomers" re-think giving up on aviation all together)
- wake up
- drive to your local coffee shop (wait for it to open)
- have a freshly baked croissant and a steamy cup of coffee
- drive to the airport, park the car
- stroll to the private jet, open the door to let it air
- check the flight information (min fuel required, etc)
- order fuel if required
- make some more coffee
- watch the sunrise
- print latest wx, notams, etc
- do the preflight check
- check flight plan is in the system
- accept delivery of the VIP catering
- try the catering (very important!) this is about when the captain magically appears!
- load the remaining catering, newspapers, magazines and gifts
- start APU and condition the cabin
- greet the passenger(s)
- taxi out and FLY!!!
- talk about your weekend with your cockpit buddy
- land the plane at the luxury destination your passengers had to go to
- kindly thank the passenger for the large euro bills he sticks in your hand
- eat the catering the passengers haven't even touched
- fuel (or don't)
- pay the landing, handling, whatever..
- order the catering for the return flight
- grab the taxi to the hotel at the beach
- check in
- hang out at the pool and spend your per diems on cocktails
- text your friends "how awesome the weather is where your at"
- next day, enjoy breakfast, life in the sun, dinner, the works
(spend some of your "tip" on your wife, kids, etc)
- next day, get ready to fly back home
- check out of the hotel
- taxi back to the airport
- greet the handling agent who will take you to the plane
- open the door to let it air
- recheck the flight information (min fuel required, etc)
- order fuel if required
- have a coffee
- handling agent will provide you with: flight plan, latest wx, notams, etc
- do the preflight check
- accept delivery of the VIP catering
- try the catering - and there is the captain again! It's magic...
- load the remaining catering, newspapers, magazines and gifts
- start APU and condition the cabin
- greet the passenger(s)
- taxi out and FLY!!!
- talk about your trip with your cockpit buddy
- land the plane
- taxi to the private terminal
- accept another generous donation
- pay the bills
- secure the aircraft + restock the champagne (yes it's all gone, again)
- drive home
- distribute the presents
enjoy the rest of the day, it's only 14:00
Sure, I didn't make as much as my Easy Jet, Netjet, whatever jet friends, but I guarantee you I had a lot more fun!
Ofcourse, I also had problems:
- small company, so you have no union: you could have long days (18 hours duty) with a less than minimum rest period, followed by another 18 hours duty (for example) -> you don't like it? Well, you can leave if you want to...
- finally get home after 5 days of heavy duty (multi sectors - business people) busting all sorts of regulations, but now you have 3 days off scheduled! Or not, you walk in the door and are called, sms-ed, emailed, etc to come back to the plane asap for another duty period!
If you prefer to go on that short trip you had planned with your family, well you can leave if you want to....
Anyway you get the point...
So, I finally got fed up with the situation and decided to give it all up for a chance to fly bigger jets... but as I mentioned, the grass always LOOKS greaner... Different company, different rules, schedules, still busting minimum rest, no consecutive off days, no tips, no nice hotels, no, no, no ....
The PERFECT job DOESN'T EXIST!!! If you get a job where more than 75% of the days you are enjoying yourself A LOT, then stick with it!!
The grass is always greener, so forget about that IT job! (unless you have to)
Hope you all feel better?
