From Biz Jets to airlines

[MikeComm]

After finishing my cpl I have been offered a job in business aviation on aircraft below 20t.
Is it a good option to start flying career?
Would you take it as a first job or rather wait and apply for the airlines?

I have heard that it might be difficult to apply for the airline job afterwards, because flying hours (under 20t) are not considered.

Thanks for any kind of insight!

[EatMyShorts!]

It depends. If they ask you to pay the type-rating: forget it! Otherwise it might be a nice way to start your career, depending on the roster and general treatment of employees at your potential employer. The requirements of airlines change with the market: when there are lots of qualified pilots and few jobs, they will rather not pick guys from GA-jobs. But in the current climate airlines are again falling short to recruit qualified pilots. If you want to wait for the airlines, do it. But do not wait too long, the window of opportunity may not be open for too long anymore.

[Klimax]

Don't pay for it, accept two year bond if required. Go fly, get the best out of it, and leave at you're convienience, unless of course you feel obligated to stay (due to the client etc.). You'll be fine with the airlines later on, as in maybe not after 15 years of flying GA around the skies, as long as you maintain you're professional attitude. Good luck.

[MikeComm]

Thanks for the replies. The learjet is sponsored by the company but the bond is 3-4 years depending on the circumstances. The roster is rather stable and includes 3 weeks on/ 1 week off. Expected flying hours 400 p.y.

[Proline21]

Which Learjet is it? Learjet is FAR25 which is good and your hours count towards unfrozen ATPL and you may even unfreeze it as a Copilot after reaching 1500 hrs total time. 3-4 Years for a bond sounds quite alot and 3 weeks on/1 week off is also a very demanding schedule (is it standby at home or away for an owner at some base which is not at home?). Salary ok? Many questions to answer but from my feeling I would rather take it then wait for something better to come up. Try Ryanair too because they now pay the rating with a bond and offer professional training, as well as good career options (quick command, base in Portugal or Spain). Good luck!

[what next]

Learjet is FAR25 which is good and your hours count towards unfrozen ATPL ...

This is a thing of the past (partially). All hours count towards the ATPL which are required to be flown with two pilots, either because of the manufacturer (part 25). Or because of the autority, which in case of EASA does not permit single-pilot commercial operation of multi-turbine aircraft (with some exceptions). So flying an Eclipse or a Metroliner under an AOC will also count towards unfreezing your ATPL.
And that 20t (or any other arbitrary company limit) limit still applies with some carriers. But right now, most are happy enough if you have flown anything heavier than a parasail long enough to get your license signed.

[SanHor]

This is a thing of the past (partially). All hours count towards the ATPL which are required to be flown with two pilots, either because of the manufacturer (part 25). Or because of the autority, which in case of EASA does not permit single-pilot commercial operation of multi-turbine aircraft (with some exceptions). So flying an Eclipse or a Metroliner under an AOC will also count towards unfreezing your ATPL.
And that 20t (or any other arbitrary company limit) limit still applies with some carriers. But right now, most are happy enough if you have flown anything heavier than a parasail long enough to get your license signed.

Dutch authorities will not accept the Metroliner hours to "unfreeze" your ATPL since it is certified under FAR23 regulation. Certified as single-pilot aircraft and there for it does not qualify, even if you operate it under AOC and Multipilot OPS.
Same for the German and Spanish authorities...I have to admit, last time I check was a year ago, did something change in the meantime?

[His dudeness]

To the best of my knowledge that has not changed.

Especially charming if you fly a C551 commercially and your buddy does the same on a C550. Same aircraft, just a different AFM and he can use his hours, whilst you can't. "Authorities".....

[excrab]

Take the job... any jet hours will help you get an airline job later, and chances are the pay rise to fly for a decent airline would make it worth paying off the bond early, and you might even enjoy it more than being worked to the bone flying 800 hours a year in 737 or an Airbus

[what next]

Dutch authorities will not accept the Metroliner hours to "unfreeze" your ATPL since it is certified under FAR23 regulation. Certified as single-pilot aircraft and there for it does not qualify, even if you operate it under AOC and Multipilot OPS.
Same for the German and Spanish authorities...

Under German regulations more than 10 years ago (then still JAR) my own Metroliner hours did count towards the ATPL. Same as the CJ (part 23) hours of many colleagues. Under JAR and now under EASA. I wonder why this should be handled differently by different EASA member states.