CORPORATE AVIATION - how to get in!
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CORPORATE AVIATION - how to get in!
For some time now it has baffled me with regards to how one goes about securing a position as a co pilot in Corporate aviation specifically on November registered aircraft based in the UK. I am a British national with an FAA CPL/IR and SIC rating on the Citation Bravo, so my main approach would be to Part 91 operators in the UK. There are a lot of November, Cayman, Bermuda and Manx registered aircraft operators scattered all over the UK who could validate a US licence to fly their aircraft. However the biggest problem Ive encountered whilst searching for a job has been getting in touch with the owner or operator of the various aircraft. I realise that a lot of hiring for these positions are done via word of mouth especially in this segment of aviation, as I guess the Owners or Captains of these aircraft need to feel comfortable with their new hires, therefore a recommendation is preferential as a method to screen out potentially problematic characters. Nevertheless I have tried various ways to find the contact details of these operators via LAAS and other random Google searches. However after months of searching I have only managed to get through to a handful. A lot of the operators dont advertise their details for obvious reasons, therefore hunting for a job or knowing about a job is made that much harder. The days of just turning up at an airfield to chat to crews is almost impossible due to heightened security. I however remain confident that I will obtain a position some day as I never give up in the face of adversity 
. You are more than welcome to PM me with suggestions or advice on this matter.
Cheers.
. You are more than welcome to PM me with suggestions or advice on this matter. Cheers.
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The problems you iterate are subject to any pilot these days, no matter what license you hold. I guess it is a lot about personal connections i.e. who you know or don't know etc pp.
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I believe you're right, but I still got to give it a shot and was just trying to get some feedback from others in a similar situation who have managed to make it work. I think advice and suggestions are a powerful tools to help along the way.
Step One. Write an attractive CV, get a suit
Step Two. Visit every airport in the vicinity you are interested in, visit each chief pilot.
Step Three. Repeat Step Two, as necessary
Every chief pilot has been where you are at sometime in their career, all but the nastiest will give you 10 minutes to introduce yourself and give a pitch. One CP told me pf his efforts at getting a job and said, "i told myself, if I am ever in a position of hiring, everyone gets a cup of coffee and 15 minutes, whether I'm hiring or not". Do this long enough and you will have a network built up and just might get an interview. Don't forget, handlers, line techs and FBO types are your friends and usually have good intell on what is happening locally-- that is, who's hiring, leaving or getting a new plane. I have done this for three decades and each of three jobs, all jet, came from this kind of networking. Build a reputation for being knowledgable, hard working and punctual, too. It takes time.
GF
Step Two. Visit every airport in the vicinity you are interested in, visit each chief pilot.
Step Three. Repeat Step Two, as necessary
Every chief pilot has been where you are at sometime in their career, all but the nastiest will give you 10 minutes to introduce yourself and give a pitch. One CP told me pf his efforts at getting a job and said, "i told myself, if I am ever in a position of hiring, everyone gets a cup of coffee and 15 minutes, whether I'm hiring or not". Do this long enough and you will have a network built up and just might get an interview. Don't forget, handlers, line techs and FBO types are your friends and usually have good intell on what is happening locally-- that is, who's hiring, leaving or getting a new plane. I have done this for three decades and each of three jobs, all jet, came from this kind of networking. Build a reputation for being knowledgable, hard working and punctual, too. It takes time.
GF
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Learn to play golf, date the daughter of a guy that owns a jet...get a job at a company with a plane...THEN tell them that your a pilot....pump gas at the airport and befriend the owner of the plane....
These are tried and true methods that you can use to bypass all the qualified pilots who should get the job....it works.....
These are tried and true methods that you can use to bypass all the qualified pilots who should get the job....it works.....
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Step One. Write an attractive CV, get a suit
Step Two. Visit every airport in the vicinity you are interested in, visit each chief pilot.
Step Three. Repeat Step Two, as necessary
Step Two. Visit every airport in the vicinity you are interested in, visit each chief pilot.
Step Three. Repeat Step Two, as necessary
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The main problem I've found is that with the abundance of experienced crew out of work, whenever a job does become available, the companies are only interested in folk who already have the ratings. (And I'm not having a rant, I fully understand why they do this.)
I know the big companies, the likes of NetJets et al will employ non rated bods (if/when they do recruit again), but the vast majority will not give you a second glance (my own experience).
Got a lot of scheduled experience, and been trying for years to get into corporate/charter work, but not had any luck, keep hoping for this upturn some people seem to think is just around the corner.
I know the big companies, the likes of NetJets et al will employ non rated bods (if/when they do recruit again), but the vast majority will not give you a second glance (my own experience).
Got a lot of scheduled experience, and been trying for years to get into corporate/charter work, but not had any luck, keep hoping for this upturn some people seem to think is just around the corner.
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Well cloud chaser, being "Chief Pilot" myself for a 2 man coorperate flight department (I just love the title... :-) ), I can tell you that we had 1 bloke leaving and his replacement had his rating paid for. After 6 months on the airplane this guy still did not master several things, e.g. memory items and was asked to improve or leave. He left. Replacement was rated. Boss not amused. Company was doing bad in 2009. Order: GET SOMEONE RATED. No grey areas in that one.
So my hands would be tied if we needed someone right now. (I will try hard to change that back to paid ratings...but for the time being there is no position vacant)
What the other guys wrote is the best advice one could get. What sets you apart from 100 unasked for applications? If the impression you make is a positive one, that might give you a real advantage.
So my hands would be tied if we needed someone right now. (I will try hard to change that back to paid ratings...but for the time being there is no position vacant)
What the other guys wrote is the best advice one could get. What sets you apart from 100 unasked for applications? If the impression you make is a positive one, that might give you a real advantage.
Last edited by His dudeness; 27th Oct 2010 at 12:38.
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I am able to pay for a TR if required, but I need to speak with a company and establish the package first etc.. and that's my first problem, finding out the contact details of these operators to speak with. I will not go and just do a rating then knock on doors, it's just too high a risk, then it's also the question of what type.
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the companies are only interested in folk who already have the ratings
Guess we are unique
Davjet, with your limited hours, you will have a hard time in this present economic environment..
Mutt
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Hi Mutt
I realise that there must be hundreds maybe thousands of Pilots with high hours and ratings pouring out of their ears, and who are also finding it hard to obtain a position in this current economic climate. I can't comment on their circumstances, but in my case I qualfied as a Pilot quite a few years ago, and even when there was a reasonably good economy I still found it difficult to land a job. Quite a few Pilots hold both a JAR licence and FAA licence, I only hold the FAA licence due to the CAA's ridiculous policy on medicals, so my options to begin with have been limited. This however has never held me back in trying to secure a job, the only reflection of this is my hours. In some cases I don't see that my hours would be a major factor in the hiring process - so far I've sucessfully completed 2 type ratings on complex jets. I believe if you have the aptitude and drive anyone can do a good job regardless of how many hours one has, after all you do see Airlines hiring chaps with literally 250 hours and going straight onto a B737 or Airbus types. As I mentioned somewhere in this thread, I would consider doing another rating on condition of an offer after completing training. The problem I'm encountering and the reason I posted, was to gain advice or suggestions in how to go about getting in contact with the operators of these aircraft specifically on November, Bermuda, Cayman and Manx. I have tried nearly every way imaginable but only managed to obtain a few, mainly due to most private operators choice of remaining anonymous and therefore their hiring process is via recommendation from persons familiar to them.
I realise that there must be hundreds maybe thousands of Pilots with high hours and ratings pouring out of their ears, and who are also finding it hard to obtain a position in this current economic climate. I can't comment on their circumstances, but in my case I qualfied as a Pilot quite a few years ago, and even when there was a reasonably good economy I still found it difficult to land a job. Quite a few Pilots hold both a JAR licence and FAA licence, I only hold the FAA licence due to the CAA's ridiculous policy on medicals, so my options to begin with have been limited. This however has never held me back in trying to secure a job, the only reflection of this is my hours. In some cases I don't see that my hours would be a major factor in the hiring process - so far I've sucessfully completed 2 type ratings on complex jets. I believe if you have the aptitude and drive anyone can do a good job regardless of how many hours one has, after all you do see Airlines hiring chaps with literally 250 hours and going straight onto a B737 or Airbus types. As I mentioned somewhere in this thread, I would consider doing another rating on condition of an offer after completing training. The problem I'm encountering and the reason I posted, was to gain advice or suggestions in how to go about getting in contact with the operators of these aircraft specifically on November, Bermuda, Cayman and Manx. I have tried nearly every way imaginable but only managed to obtain a few, mainly due to most private operators choice of remaining anonymous and therefore their hiring process is via recommendation from persons familiar to them.
