Hello all. This is my first post here and sounds like I'm a little older than most on this subject. I have been flying since 1987. I have friends who fly commercially for UPS, American, SW, corporate, even Canyon runners. I've done my share of smaller comm gigs too. So here goes my 2 cents. If you have a PPL you should go to a 41 school for your Instrument, Comm and CFI. When you take your Instrument written turn right around and take the CFII written (same test). Save your money now and don't get the multi unless it's in the package. After this, get a CFI gig. Remember, most schools will not allow you to instruct in Mult until you have 250 hours of instructing; due to liability insurance. Once you get in the neighborhood 750 hours then get your Multi CFI. Now you can spend money on multi time if you're not getting enough with CFI thing. When you end up with 1000 hours then you will be in the hiring zone for corporate aircraft (you'll need about 125 hours multi so anything over 750 with the 125 multi will be close). You will waste alot of money on so called hiring preferences with the big schools if your goal is corporate. The reason I say CFI route is corporate aviation is 90% who you know and being in the right place at the right time. My best friend flew Lear 45's, upgraded to G-200 then the G-IV with his company. His co-pilots were hired exclusively from word of mouth, friends and friends of friends-pretty standard practice unless your wanting huge companies like 3m etc... I hope this helps. Good luck. Now here is the counterpoint to corporate. First the positives: The equipment is without equal, it's ever changing with your destinations (airline is very standard and can be boring flying the same route for 90 days or as long as you bid that route...), pay is pretty good when you are a captain; 70-100 Lear, Citation, etc.., 100-170 for G-IV, Global express, etc... Now the negative: To put it bluntly, you are the "help." No matter how you slice it you are their "bitch." Sorry to put it that way but there it is. How blatant is largely who you work for. My buddy works for a great guy who expects him to have the jet ready at a moments notice; catering, rental cars, etc... but isn't too "upity." He has worked for other however that get out of the car and walk to the jet without even so much as a hello; expects his bags to be placed in the jet and when he is situated with his seat expects them (captain or co-pilot to ask, 'what would you like to drink?" before start up). You are also at their whim. Remember, its their airplane so when the Boss wants to go to Aspen for Christmas and you are the pilot guess where you get to go? My buddy's boss will pay for him to fly back commercially if his trips are for holidays... Goood luck.
