Corporate to Airine
 

Hello

This is my first post and i'm looking for some advice. Perhaps there are here some collueges who recognize the situation.

I'm 35 years old (or young) and having 2400 TT ofwhich 1900h on lj31. And to be honest, i'm really fed up with corporate flying, and not just a bit. Always the :mad: managment with their tricks to save money, always having to be available and the few flights one do. Even poor career perspectives. It makes me sick. I have discussed with a lot of other corporate pilots and in other GA companies it is not different.

So i came to the conclusion i want to join an airliner. Yes, for others airline stuff might sound boring (even flyingwise) but i desire for just a routine pilot life. Fixed schedule, just a few standby days, not doing other jobs like updating jeppcharts and waiting hours in the maintenance facility waiting for your aircraft to be fixed. All the typical GA stuff.

The problem: i'm afraid with my 35 years i'm too old to join an airliner. I've send a lot of letters but not the slightest interest. Are there people around here who also did the change from GA to airline? What can you advice me? Do you think i'm too old? Any help is welcome. I have no idea what to do. Thank you.

235 views and nobody has this experience??:rolleyes:

I don't believe you are too old to make the change. Even with the relevant training (if necessary, you failed to mention your license) and type rating, and of course presuming you get an airline job quickly, you'll still be breaking into the airline world before you hit 40, so with at least 20 years to go as long as you stay healthy.

On the other hand, I think you should seriously consider your motives for this change. What you are saying about GA, and what you have heard about GA from other pilots in other companies are what you will hear from many airline pilots if you speak with them as well. Or just spend an hour or so each day reading posts on Pprune written by active airline pilots. Just because you stop flying corporate and take the step to a (probably) bigger bird doesn't mean you leave corporate behind. If anything, in my experience there is even more of that bull**** in the airlines.

Fixed schedule, standby days, not doing odd jobs or waiting for maintenance to deem that the bird is ready to fly sounds good on paper but many airline pilots will tell you that especially in your first years and even more depending on the airline you will see a lot of the things that you want to leave GA for. Don't forget: the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence.

I'm just saying look at both sides of the story, and don't take the leap until you have.

It can be different, you just need to find the right company, have a look at websites (cant name them) for Learjet positions that may take you out from your own country, you might find that you enjoy it.

Unfortunately you dont have the experience for airlines such as Emirates and Qatar, nor do you have the hours for DEC, so you are left seeking a right seat, thanks to the "wonderful" world of P2F, you are fighting against people who are generally younger than you and are willing to pay a stupid amount of money to pursue "their dream"....

Good Luck.

Very well put Mutt... but I like to use "their goal" as opposed to "their dream"... :rolleyes:

I'm guessing that's why you had it in quotes.

It puts it in a better perspective for everyone else...

Sorry to be unhelpful here but I just have a question.

I always fancied doing both airliners and one day GA in nice biz jets. Is it really that hard to change? I thought as long as you have the hours it should be relatively easy. Is it a lot more harder than I thought?

The difficulty i experience is not having the typerating.

Where do you live? Would you consider relocating to the East German wilderness?

Hey Deltahotel

Relocating is not a problem. The airline is for me a way to go. Seen enough in GA.

DHLAir uk? Do some PPrune searching - there's plenty of stuff on this site about it.

do you have t/ rating and 500 or 1000h, and flown airbus in the last 3 months??, if not, forget about it....

I am considering to give up my jar, and stay with my FAA(I can save lot of money for a nice life in the USA). really fed up of europe and its unemplyment..
no job, nothing really interesting. pay corrupt managers, this is all they have to offer to us.

Deltahotel: dhl air uk would be a perfect outfit for me. But i gues they are not waiting for a 35 guy with only lear time.

Winggreencard: no i dont have any of those fancy ratings. Only lear time. Operators must be laughing when i apply. Tried even with QR 6month ago, but not even a reaction. Then i tried wizz,( im even prepared to fund typerating), but like usual no reaction.

Stick. All sorts of entry levels here - you may be surprised!

Deltahotel: got an email of them saying that i need 500 multcrew on aircraft over 40T, although i was interested in East Germany.

Guess i have to look further, but thanks anyway.

Hi

Just a question: i applied in december with qatar airways but did not get a single reply, however i see guys applying after me and getting an interview. Is this because i have only corporate experience and not being interested in my skills? Somebody have the same experience?

Hello there!

Tried easyJet Switzerland? They hire pilots from different background like former military, bizjet drivers, cadets and from major airlines. I think is one of the few companies still interested in expeience as well and not just cheap staff to fill the right seat.

I did this move in 2006, trading my shiny Savannah built jet for a stable airline job. I admit, sometimes I still miss it, but in general I think it was my best decision ever!

Good luck!

I doubt if you can get on the fast track without making some type of investment, that type of experience on the Lear is great, something that most FO's can only dream about.

I'd suggest you get a A320 type rating and get registered with some contract agencies, good luck.

Dream Land
 

Dream Land,

You say: "I'd suggest you get a A320 type rating and get registered with some contract agencies, good luck."

I say: "Do no such thing".

A type rating on the A320 without hours on type is dead money. There are very, very few jobs out there unless you have at least 300-500 hours on type AS A MINIMUM.

Your profile has your location as Planet Earth. I'm not so sure.:eek:

I know how you feel. I was in corporate aviation for About 2 years and that was definitely enough, I went to an airline, and would not choose to ever go back to corporate flying.

Toga10

Easyjet Switzerland would be great for me. But how to apply? I guess it is via ctc. From what i've heard is that they only consider youngsters???

Or does easy switzerland have their own selection process? If i google i always come on the website of easy uk.

Tx