From airline to corporate jet pilot
Join Date: Jan 2002
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agreed, wrong assumption.
Average sector for me is about 2.5 hours in an aircraft capable of over 12. I am just a taxi driver and thats fine - I'm paid well and am home half the year. I like sorting the fuel and the catering and the permits and the flightplans and unblocking the sink and fannying about doing updates and not having a clue where I am going next and arguing with someone with gold braid as to whether I needed a visa before I entered his country and finding sneaky ways to circumvent a slot and haggling over parking costs and all the other aspects of corporate flying that make it interesting.
Have a think about why you want to go corporate. Its a funny old world with some very strange characters and some truly excellent colleagues and you meet very interesting passengers and have a lot of fun. I have passed through over 500 airports and stayed in countless cities which I constantly seem to find dodgy bars in and I think the variety is what keeps corporate pilots interested in the job. Most corporate jobs are shaky and easy to lose on the whim of an owners decision or the marginal economics of a small company but I can't imagine thats all that different to the airlines nowadays.
Come on over to the dark side...
Average sector for me is about 2.5 hours in an aircraft capable of over 12. I am just a taxi driver and thats fine - I'm paid well and am home half the year. I like sorting the fuel and the catering and the permits and the flightplans and unblocking the sink and fannying about doing updates and not having a clue where I am going next and arguing with someone with gold braid as to whether I needed a visa before I entered his country and finding sneaky ways to circumvent a slot and haggling over parking costs and all the other aspects of corporate flying that make it interesting.
Have a think about why you want to go corporate. Its a funny old world with some very strange characters and some truly excellent colleagues and you meet very interesting passengers and have a lot of fun. I have passed through over 500 airports and stayed in countless cities which I constantly seem to find dodgy bars in and I think the variety is what keeps corporate pilots interested in the job. Most corporate jobs are shaky and easy to lose on the whim of an owners decision or the marginal economics of a small company but I can't imagine thats all that different to the airlines nowadays.
Come on over to the dark side...
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: schermoney and left front seat
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Corporations and individual aircraft owners employ chauffers whose vehicles happen to be airplanes ....
which are used mostly to gratify the egos of CEOs and owners.
Last year we did a 9 day trip that would have lasted 13 days using airlines.
So, our aircraft is a time saving tool, nothing more, nothing less. BTW the only options they bought was the smallest airshow, a coffeemashine and a satphone, otherwise our cabin is just seats and tables.
Life's too short for ironing
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Now about the chauffer stuff ..... I don't mean to disparage chauffers; a good one is worth his weight in gold, especially if you own a Rolls. It's just that I prefer to be a pilot.
Corporate pilot = airborne chauffeur
Part 135/charter pilot = airborne taxi driver
Airline pilot = airborne bus driver
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Good descriptions ferny...
At least with the bus drivers they get concessions with the bus company to travel, where we have to pay in full for the bus!
Also bus companies tend to go out of business less often than private chauffeur companies.
Comes down to personal preference.
At least with the bus drivers they get concessions with the bus company to travel, where we have to pay in full for the bus!
Also bus companies tend to go out of business less often than private chauffeur companies.
Comes down to personal preference.
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I spent much of the day trying to get the drain working from our cool storage unit and getting as much of the mould out as possible without making the cabin stink before a possible flight at the weekend. A bottle of beer seems to have burst at some point and the heat and the moisture made for a smelly afternoon.
if you don't fancy getting the marigolds out and going home smelling like a sewer, it may not be for you..
if you don't fancy getting the marigolds out and going home smelling like a sewer, it may not be for you..
Join Date: Jun 2013
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Been in both seats
I started my career in the airlines (regional, f/o), then went on large business aircraft (private, f/o then cpt.) and now going back in the airlines (legacy, f/o).
I would put it this way - it depends on what kind of airline it is and what type of bizjet job it is.
In my view, a large bizjet job is usually better than low-cost or regional airline but would struggle to beat a good legacy carrier job (if you are young enough to make it up the sniority ladder).
It also down to your own personality - some people find it hard to work in a large organization and some people struggle to work one-on-one with the customer/owner.
Another thing - even if you find your dream corporate/private job, it will probably not last for the rest of your career, so at some point you will be looking for a job again and would take whatever is available and your lifestyle/pay might change for the worse.
On the other hand - once cpt. on a large bizjet, you would usually land a job as cpt. again, something that would never happen in a major airline.
I made my move, I believe I can always reverse it if unhappy.
Good luck.
I would put it this way - it depends on what kind of airline it is and what type of bizjet job it is.
In my view, a large bizjet job is usually better than low-cost or regional airline but would struggle to beat a good legacy carrier job (if you are young enough to make it up the sniority ladder).
It also down to your own personality - some people find it hard to work in a large organization and some people struggle to work one-on-one with the customer/owner.
Another thing - even if you find your dream corporate/private job, it will probably not last for the rest of your career, so at some point you will be looking for a job again and would take whatever is available and your lifestyle/pay might change for the worse.
On the other hand - once cpt. on a large bizjet, you would usually land a job as cpt. again, something that would never happen in a major airline.
I made my move, I believe I can always reverse it if unhappy.
Good luck.
I'm one in the heaven job.
Private owner - when he flies, I fly, when he doesn't, I don't.
About 200 hrs per year.
Regularly up to 3 months at home, no flying.
A weeks notice is short notice for us.
I do everything - all trip planning, etc. But hey, I have the time.
Great trips - maybe twice round the planet each year, other trips to nice resorts.
Treated well.
No holidays - they say we get enough time at home.
Yep - a rare job indeed.
Private corporate is definitely the way to go if you can.
Private owner - when he flies, I fly, when he doesn't, I don't.
About 200 hrs per year.
Regularly up to 3 months at home, no flying.
A weeks notice is short notice for us.
I do everything - all trip planning, etc. But hey, I have the time.
Great trips - maybe twice round the planet each year, other trips to nice resorts.
Treated well.
No holidays - they say we get enough time at home.
Yep - a rare job indeed.
Private corporate is definitely the way to go if you can.
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Funny you should use the analogy of chauffeurs to describe corporate pilots. I use this analogy to explain to non-aviation folks what the main sections of commercial flying are.
Corporate pilot = airborne chauffeur
Part 135/charter pilot = airborne taxi driver
Airline pilot = airborne bus driver
Corporate pilot = airborne chauffeur
Part 135/charter pilot = airborne taxi driver
Airline pilot = airborne bus driver
Part 135/charter pilot = taxi driver
Fractional pilot = Limo driver
Corporate/owner pilot: Small bizjet = chauffer; Large bizjet = butler @ Downton Abbey.
Cargo pilot = Commercial Truck/Lorry driver
Regional/LCC airline pilot = abused bus driver
Real (legacy) airline pilot = airborne professional
BA, AF, LH, DAL (or equivalent) Captain = Nobility
International (legacy) airline captain = SKY GOD
Last edited by surplus1; 25th Nov 2013 at 04:54.
Join Date: Oct 2000
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vice verca
@ 60N
I almost agree. I did exactly the same way you did.
BUT, going back to corporate is almost impossible unless you have the suitable T/R. The companies are "hiring typeratings at the moment, not pilots".. at least in Europe
I almost agree. I did exactly the same way you did.
BUT, going back to corporate is almost impossible unless you have the suitable T/R. The companies are "hiring typeratings at the moment, not pilots".. at least in Europe
Join Date: May 2009
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Loads of good info on this thread.
My advice would be to either go to an outfit where you already know somebody and they can recommend the company as being a good place to be. Or, do as much research as you can on the company you're interested in and certainly talk to at least one or two of the pilots.
I reckon the hours can vary between 200 - 600 a year.
For me personally, I like the variety of flying in my current corporate job, working closely with a small crew for 2 weeks at a time and having a steady roster. Though I have been with outfits where 'roster' didnt really feature in the dictionary !
ND
My advice would be to either go to an outfit where you already know somebody and they can recommend the company as being a good place to be. Or, do as much research as you can on the company you're interested in and certainly talk to at least one or two of the pilots.
I reckon the hours can vary between 200 - 600 a year.
For me personally, I like the variety of flying in my current corporate job, working closely with a small crew for 2 weeks at a time and having a steady roster. Though I have been with outfits where 'roster' didnt really feature in the dictionary !
ND
