Questions about Part 91 Corporate
07-02-2010, 06:42 PM
#11
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Joined APC: Oct 2008
Posts: 43
Thanks for all the quick replies and for the salary numbers Boiler. Floyd, all of things you mention are precisely the reason I want to move toward 91 flying. I don't wanna have a conference with dispatch over which route to file because of weather. And I don't wanna rot away on a seniority list that never moves and deal whiny whimpy union leaders who are all bark and no bite. I just wanna have some responsibility and take a little pride in my job. I'm sick of being treated like an air car carrier's liability. The closer I get to Part 91 flying, the more I actually like to fly again. I was beginning to hate it with a passion at the airlines.
07-03-2010, 07:46 AM
#12
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2007
Position: DAL 737 FO
Posts: 295
Thanks for all the quick replies and for the salary numbers Boiler. Floyd, all of things you mention are precisely the reason I want to move toward 91 flying. I don't wanna have a conference with dispatch over which route to file because of weather. And I don't wanna rot away on a seniority list that never moves and deal whiny whimpy union leaders who are all bark and no bite. I just wanna have some responsibility and take a little pride in my job. I'm sick of being treated like an air car carrier's liability. The closer I get to Part 91 flying, the more I actually like to fly again. I was beginning to hate it with a passion at the airlines.
07-03-2010, 03:33 PM
#13
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Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: Corporate Captain
Posts: 164
Great inputs here from some of the regulars, but I'd like to add two important notes:
1.) Approach this interview with the mindset on how you can make a contribution to the department/company. They know you can fly, what else can you do? How are you going to contribute to controlling expenses, safety, efficiency, justification, evaluating new aircraft, CRM, maintenance, I/T, etc. This is a service industry, and corporate employees are your customers.
2.) Do not complain about your old job or any facets of your 121 experience that may not have been positive. Highlight the professional aspects/training that you received during your 121 stint. You will be bringing quality training and standardization with you to the flight deck.
Good luck!
1.) Approach this interview with the mindset on how you can make a contribution to the department/company. They know you can fly, what else can you do? How are you going to contribute to controlling expenses, safety, efficiency, justification, evaluating new aircraft, CRM, maintenance, I/T, etc. This is a service industry, and corporate employees are your customers.
2.) Do not complain about your old job or any facets of your 121 experience that may not have been positive. Highlight the professional aspects/training that you received during your 121 stint. You will be bringing quality training and standardization with you to the flight deck.
Good luck!
07-06-2010, 06:25 PM
#14
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Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 945
Good info here; my experience very much the same. 21 years military flying with a short stop at AA in there somewhere, now corporate (all Part 91). Did 5 Part 121 interviews back in the day. My corporate interview was 100% "get to know you". I guess they thought I could fly from my resume - now they wanted to see if I would treat the pax well, and was a decent guy to be on the road with.
Guess I fooled 'em. Been here about 18 months and like it very much.
Good luck with your interview.
Guess I fooled 'em. Been here about 18 months and like it very much.
Good luck with your interview.
07-06-2010, 08:52 PM
#15
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Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: B-737
Posts: 727
my corporate interview was also almost all " are you going to fit in with the operation that we do"?. "are we going to get along?". it is true you will spend your life on the road literally married to the other pilot. most of the the pilots getting interviews on lear 45"s or 55"s know how to fly so that isn't a big question. the schedules are much better than the regionals, which it looks like you are coming from. just be yourself in the interview. if you like it and they offer you the job take it. it will be an experience you can live and learn from.
07-13-2010, 07:06 PM
#16
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Joined APC: Dec 2007
Position: A320
Posts: 132
Some very good insight posted so far, and mine is similar. Like Boiler, I was a 121 regional FO when I landed my 91/135 gig. I kept bugging the CP's at my local airport for years and it finally paid off - one night I sent an updated resume to a CP who said he knew someone else that was looking for a pilot on their G-III. I thought, "sure, like I'll have a chance at that." But I called him the next day and we talked for about 5 minutes. I'd met him the year prior but he was skeptical in me wanting to leave my "airline" job (obviously he never flew for a regional, LOL). Anyway, I met him at his office later that day, and on our way to lunch I could tell I already had the job. He said he didn't normally like airline guys...the ones he previously interviewed felt like they were entitled to the job and seemed too cocky. He offered me the job about 10 minutes into lunch. I couldn't believe it -he said he had at least 100 resumes in his desk.
There were absolutely no A/C questions whatsoever, just some friendly banter and laughing. He obviously needed to make sure I was someone he wanted in the cockpit with him every time. I went to F/S 3 weeks later to get my type rating.
This job is wonderful, a million times better IMO than the 121 stuff. But you have to be very dedicated. We do everything, I mean EVERYTHING that needs to be done with running a flight department. The flying is just a perk. I'm in the office almost every weekday doing paperwork, helping clean and stock the plane, ice, papers, coffee, quoting and selling charter to ********* brokers, flightplans, hotels, rental cars, more paperwork, even doing catering myself when able. How many of your airline buddies would be game for that? It's definitely not a "show up and fly" job. My F/S instructor put it best; he said "they already assume you know how to fly, its your ability to meet the every waiting demand of the owner that they see in you."
But hey - this year alone I've already spent paid weeks in Nassau and Cabo and 80% of our 91 flying is to SoCal. It is a demanding but very rewarding job.
One more thing - there's none of this "600 ft, autopilot on" bs. We hand-fly to and from cruise, and as a result I am 1000X the pilot I was at my old job.
Good luck, I hope it works out for ya.
There were absolutely no A/C questions whatsoever, just some friendly banter and laughing. He obviously needed to make sure I was someone he wanted in the cockpit with him every time. I went to F/S 3 weeks later to get my type rating.
This job is wonderful, a million times better IMO than the 121 stuff. But you have to be very dedicated. We do everything, I mean EVERYTHING that needs to be done with running a flight department. The flying is just a perk. I'm in the office almost every weekday doing paperwork, helping clean and stock the plane, ice, papers, coffee, quoting and selling charter to ********* brokers, flightplans, hotels, rental cars, more paperwork, even doing catering myself when able. How many of your airline buddies would be game for that? It's definitely not a "show up and fly" job. My F/S instructor put it best; he said "they already assume you know how to fly, its your ability to meet the every waiting demand of the owner that they see in you."
But hey - this year alone I've already spent paid weeks in Nassau and Cabo and 80% of our 91 flying is to SoCal. It is a demanding but very rewarding job.
One more thing - there's none of this "600 ft, autopilot on" bs. We hand-fly to and from cruise, and as a result I am 1000X the pilot I was at my old job.
Good luck, I hope it works out for ya.
07-14-2010, 09:03 AM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 450
Re: Part 91 interviews...
They're easy! I'm reminded of the line in the beginning of Crimson Tide where Gene Hackman is talking to Denzel Washington and he says "I can't stand save-asses and I won't abide kiss-asses."
How true!
Be polite, be pleasant, be yourself.......don't be a kiss-ass. They'll see right through it.
Good luck!!
-mini
They're easy! I'm reminded of the line in the beginning of Crimson Tide where Gene Hackman is talking to Denzel Washington and he says "I can't stand save-asses and I won't abide kiss-asses."
How true!
Be polite, be pleasant, be yourself.......don't be a kiss-ass. They'll see right through it.
Good luck!!
-mini
Last edited by minitour; 07-14-2010 at 09:20 AM. Reason: Thanks Boiler
07-14-2010, 09:14 AM
#18
The NeverEnding Story
Joined APC: Sep 2005
Posts: 7,618
Uh mini........Gene Hackman & Denzel Washington is Crimson Tide, not Hunt for Red October. 
Movie reference FAIL!
"This business will get out of control! It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it!"
(occasionally an apt quote for a Part 91 interview)
Movie reference FAIL!
"This business will get out of control! It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it!"
(occasionally an apt quote for a Part 91 interview)
07-14-2010, 09:19 AM
#19
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Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 450
"We musht give thish American a wide berth!"
"Hey that sounded like a torpedo!"
But yes, Crimson Tide...and I still think the quote is appli...app....I still think it works for a Pt 91 interview.
-mini
07-14-2010, 09:27 AM
#20
Nice lookin' tree, there!
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Position: Tool-Box, old man
Posts: 2,205
90-95% of a corporate interview is personality related. Are you a good fit for the company and the operation? Can you present yourself in a professional manner in all sorts of settings? Do you have the business etiquette skills necessary for the job? Etc.
Remember to treat EVERYBODY you come across professionally. And remember that the interview begins when you get within the realm of the potential employer and ends when you are out of the area. For instance, I know of an employer that during the hiring process invited candidates to come in the evening before, stay at a hotel, then interview in the AM the next day. The process is completed several hours later with an informal afternoon tour of the hangar and dinner with all of the candidates.
Not only did the candidates get evaluated in the interview, but also during the rest of the time they were in town. The company (which was a major employer in the small town and had quite a bit of influence) even went so far as to have one of their employees hanging around the hotel lobby when they checked in to see how they interacted with the hotel staff.
A few years back, I offered to provide some guidance/assistance to a fellow that wanted to get on with a company for which I worked. I told him that I would be happy to meet him for lunch to talk about the job and the company. I even mentioned that I might be able to get another employee to come out. The day of the lunch, I was able to get the assistant chief pilot to join me for lunch, which could have been really big for the candidate... except that he showed up in athletic shorts, flip flops and a faded tee shirt.
Just be yourself and don't try to answer questions the way you think they want them answered. Most companies are looking for somebody that is professional, but also somebody that will fit well into the corporate culture as well as somebody that they can share a cockpit with for extended periods and even month after month after month.
Remember to treat EVERYBODY you come across professionally. And remember that the interview begins when you get within the realm of the potential employer and ends when you are out of the area. For instance, I know of an employer that during the hiring process invited candidates to come in the evening before, stay at a hotel, then interview in the AM the next day. The process is completed several hours later with an informal afternoon tour of the hangar and dinner with all of the candidates.
Not only did the candidates get evaluated in the interview, but also during the rest of the time they were in town. The company (which was a major employer in the small town and had quite a bit of influence) even went so far as to have one of their employees hanging around the hotel lobby when they checked in to see how they interacted with the hotel staff.
A few years back, I offered to provide some guidance/assistance to a fellow that wanted to get on with a company for which I worked. I told him that I would be happy to meet him for lunch to talk about the job and the company. I even mentioned that I might be able to get another employee to come out. The day of the lunch, I was able to get the assistant chief pilot to join me for lunch, which could have been really big for the candidate... except that he showed up in athletic shorts, flip flops and a faded tee shirt.
Just be yourself and don't try to answer questions the way you think they want them answered. Most companies are looking for somebody that is professional, but also somebody that will fit well into the corporate culture as well as somebody that they can share a cockpit with for extended periods and even month after month after month.
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