�Q. I think that flying a business jet for a solid company would offer more variety and much more personal satisfaction than the airlines. Can you share some thoughts about breaking into the business?
�A. Corporate flying can vary dramatically. You could have a developer who can pony up the cash for a Beechcraft Baron or Cessna Citation and recruit a small staff of pilots. One of the pilots may be crowned the chief pilot, and that person not only flies but manages the airplane, training, and scheduling. The crew may fly the owner’s daughter to college or transport the boss to a business meeting. These pilots are more like personal chauffeurs.
Then there is the large corporation that uses a Gulfstream G-IV as a business tool to transport executives around the globe. No personal junkets; all flights are business-related. These operations generally have a flight department under the direction of an aviation manager.
A trend now is for corporations to hire an outside jet management company to oversee the operation, including maintenance and pilot recruitment and training. These airplanes are placed on an air taxi/charter (FAR Part 135) certificate. The management company, which also holds a Part 135 certificate, can sell and schedule flights to the public, generating revenue for both the owner and the management company. The owner—whether a corporation or an individual—may recommend that its pilots be used for the air taxi service. Those pilots then become contractors to the management company/135 operator while flying air taxi flights.
The largest enterprises pay well and will generally schedule pilots with guaranteed duty times and days off. Smaller corporate operators have been known to abuse their pilots by calling on the spur of the moment to fly the boss and some pals to a football game—plus carry and load the bags. And, when business turns sour, the company airplane is often the first to go.
Life as a corporate pilot can be heaven or a bit of hell, depending on who pulls the strings. Do your homework.
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