Category Archives: Corporate Pilot

Airline Pilot, Aviation Maintenance Technician, Business Aviation, Career Change, College, Color Blindness, Corporate Pilot, Financial Aid, Flight Instructing, Part Time Aviation Career, Pilot Shortage, Podcast, Questions Answered

ACP041 – “Don’t Let The Effort Keep You From Your Goal” Listener Mail With Eric Crump

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RedBirdSimulator
Eric Crump the Aerospace Program Director at Polk State College  is an experienced pilot and has had years of experience helping people achieve success in their aviation career.

Eric and I discuss the following listener mail:

  • An aviation maintenance student wants to know job prospects for pilots and mechanics.
  • A 38 year with a family wants to know if age is a factor in choosing a career as a pilot and what his financing options are.
  • A private pilot wants to know if color blindness will keep him from becoming an airline pilot and what opportunities are available for those that are color blind.
  • Anissa has some advice for young pilots: “Don’t let the effort dissuade you from your goal!”
  • A  43 year old private pilot asks if a particular type of flying companies like to see in a pilot’s logbook?
  • Do I need to fund my own multi-engine rating to be considered for corporate or charter flying or are there opportunities for single engine pilots out there?
  • Will a  special issuance medical hurt my chances at an aviation career?
  • What is  your opinion on the future of civil aviation regarding pilotless aircraft. In the last half decade there have been huge advances in UAV technology and do you think that in say the next 30-50 years we will see the cockpit be reduced to 1 person just monitoring systems or possibly no-one?
  • Should take a semester off, and go to flight school and while instructing finish my associates online?  

 

Links Mentioned In This Podcast: 

Polk State Approved to Offer Bachelor’s Degree in Aerospace Sciences

Red Bird Flight Simulators

Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook

Episode 006 – Career Prospects Are Good for Both A Pilots And Mechanics, A Panel Discussion with Guests From National Aviation Academy. 

AOPA Article: Answers for Pilots: Color vision

AOPA Article: Color Vision Restriction Removal

Air Surgeon’s Medical Bulletin January 2012

PlaneSense – fractional operator of single engine aircraft.

The UAV Digest
UAVDigest

The Golden Age of Unmanned Flight


Business Aviation, Corporate Pilot, Podcast

Flying The World As A Corporate Pilot With Chris Thren – ACP033

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IMAG0161Welcome to Episode 33. This is  the podcast where we give you an inside look at aviation careers and motivate you to achieve your career goals!  I am really excited to be bringing you this episode because my guest today is a friend and fellow aviator who is passionate about flying and he will help you understand what it is like to fly the world as a corporate pilot.

Before we begin I want to say thank you for listening and also thanks to all those who have sent me feedback. I also want to thank those who have offered to financially support to the podcast through donations I don’t take donations but,  one of the best ways to help support this podcast is to visit AviationCareersPodcast.com and click one of our sponsors listed in the right column of the website. I also am working on another solution where I you can sponsor this program while giving to a great cause. More details will follow but I am very excited about this opportunity because it involves helping our WWII veterans.

Another way to show your support for this show is to put a five star review in iTunes. This not only helps others find my show, but the reviews truly help me stay motivated. since it shows I am actually helping others through this podcast.

I encourage you to sign up for e-mail updates because periodically I will be sending out career opportunities, reviews, and announcements concerning my new book “Aviation Careers: An Inside View”.

I am truly excited about this episode because I get to talk to a friend and fellow aviator who is going to help me reply to a listener e-mail. Today I have with me Chris Thren, a corporate pilot who worked his way up from the kid watching planes at a grass strip to flying jets around the world.

Today’s episode was inspired by an email from Garrett:

Hey Carl,

Just wanted to drop you a note and say great job on Aviation Careers Podcast.   I recently found the podcast and have listened to every episode in the last few days..   Pretty much 24/7. My favorite one that you did was comparing Business “Corporate” flying and The Airlines in Episode 14.  You did a great job in describing the difference in the two and  the jobs available in the corporate world. I was wondering if you could do ANOTHER episode and really expand on the corporate end of it.

Could you do a podcast discussing the routes into the Corporate world?Specifically from people that moved through the ranks on their own grassroots style, not the ones who went through a flight school or anything like that.  I would like to hear from people that went the “Pay as you GO” route as I put it. Somebody that didn’t go take out the 80k loan and do a fast track program. I know these people are out there because I have run into them a few times at FBO’s

Is 38 too old to enter this industry?

One thing that really has me worried is this new HR5900 Rule. Its killing all of us LOW time Pilots.

What advice do you have on that area?

How do you see this effecting the pilot Pool and the way the industry will change in the next few years?

Do you think the SIC rule will change?

I Appreciate all you do for us pilots out here,

Garrett 

Thanks again for the e-mail and the incredible story Garrett. Since you took the time to write me with such a wonderful and interesting story I decided to try and find someone who could help answer some of your corporate aviation questions in depth. Today I have with me Chris Thren who like you got the bug for aviation but at a very young age. To help us understand what it is really like to fly the world as in international corporate pilot I thought Chris would be perfect since he has flown a Falcon 900 and many other planes around the world.  Chris has worked as a check airman and has many years experience flying to some of the most remote parts of the world.

 

ChrisThren30WToday Chris and I discuss:

  • Highlights of his corporate job.

  • How he developed his passion for aviation.

  • His career path from grass roots aviator to check airman flying a corporate jet around the world.

  • What it is like to land in some of these far corners of the world.

  • His favorite aspects of business aviation and who he would recommend this job to.

  • Organizations that help corporate pilots throughout their career.

  • The challenges of being a corporate pilot.

  • Specific detailed examples of the day in the life of flying as a corporate pilot both domestic and international.

  • Where Chris is now in his career.

  • Advice for those looking at a career in business aviation. 

ChrisThrenCockpitThanks for being on the show Chris and if any of you have questions or feedback for either Chris or myself please go to AviationCareersPodcast.com and click on the contact page.  If your question is for Chris I will forward it to him and we will answer you directly and possibly share it in an upcoming episode. Remember your privacy is important to us so we will only share your story and not your personal information. If you leave us a voicemail at 347-MY-WINGS please leave your personal contact information in the beginning so I can edit it out if we use your voicemail on the show.

I hope you have enjoyed this episode and if you did please rate us on iTunes. Also if you want updates please sign up for e-mail updates at AviationCareersPodcast.com

As you can tell by our interview with Chris today the path towards your aviation career goal is varied. Remember to keep looking forward and accept the many challenges as learning and growth opportunities. I know you will reach your career goal if you simply persist and persevere.

Talk to you next episode and safe flying.

 Links Mentioned In This Podcast:

 Aviation Careers Podcast Episode 14 – What Is Business And Private Aviation?, Interview with Corporate Pilot Tom Wachowski

NBAA – National Business Aviation Association

AOPA – Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association

Jet Professionals Inc.

Executive Jet Management

Flight Safety International

SimuFlight 

Airline Captain, Airline Pilot, Business Aviation, Charter Pilot, Corporate Pilot, Flight Instructing, Flight Instructor, Part 135, Podcast, Private Pilot, Questions Answered

ACP014 – What Is Business And Private Aviation?, Interview with Corporate Pilot Tom Wachowski

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Welcome aboard Episode 14. I am excited you are joining me today on a journey through the world of Business and Private Aviation. Most use the term corporate aviation to describe this type of flying because corporations and individuals that own corporations utilize business aircraft.

Some Examples of Business Aviation Usage from the NBAA.org website:

  • Transportation of employees.
  • Transportation of customers.
  • Transportation of cargo, parts and mail.
  • Medical and emergency transport.
  • Mapping and surveying.
  • Aerial photography.
  • Agricultural applications.
  • Game tracking and control.
  • Security and law enforcement.
  • News gathering.
  • Airborne research and development.
  • Pipeline and utility monitoring.
  • Weather monitoring and reporting.
  • Humanitarian missions.

To help us discover the unique and diverse aviation career path of a corporate pilot I have a special guest with me today. Tom Wachowski flies a Challenger 604 and Falcon 2000 for a Fortune 500 company. He has been flying professionally since 1999 and has done everything from flight instructing, flying as an airline Captain, and as a charter pilot.

Tom and I discuss:

  • His journey from airline pilot to corporate pilot.
  • His experience flying for the airlines.
  • Why the airline shutting down was the best thing for his aviation career.
  • The job opportunities flying for businesses and private individuals.
  • Opportunities in flying other than the airlines.
  • The many career opportunities in Business and Private aviation.
  • His advice for someone looking towards a career in business aviation.
  • Tom’s interests other than flying and how it ties into his current career.
  • Tom and I answer Listener e-mail.

Listener Question From Patrick:

First, I think this podcast is a great idea. You truly hit the nail on the head when you said that you were looking to fill an unmet need with this. Thank you!

At the age of 40 I received my Private Pilot ticket. Now 41, I am working on Instrument rating with just over 110 hrs. TFT.

Question 1:

Currently I am in sales and cover multiple states and would like to approach my employer about flying to accounts. I would need to rent (which I’m doing currently or would consider a flying club as an option.) I would like to hear from others in a similar situation and how they introduced it to their company, pros/cons (for both me and company), pitfalls, cost analysis, etc.

Question 2:

I like how you discuss having a career contingency plan (which makes perfect sense in this day and age). I have a few rental properties a significant distance (by car) from where I live. This is part of my contingency plan. I am considering another rental property or a plane (and lease back to the local rental company) as a next venture. There are 2 questions here: a. How does someone own and fly in support of their personal LLC business (pros, cons, financial implications). b. Is a lease back financially profitable/break even, contractual considerations with rental company (a glass 172 is the plane in mind). An accountant perspective would be great!

Question 3:

I’m married with 2 kids 6 and 3. My wife works (is the breadwinner) and together we make low 6 figure incomes annually. Ultimately I would love to fly for a living. At age 41 with a Private and 110 hrs TFT, is a career as a pilot (likely Regionals at best with such a long road ahead) feasible? What would be the best course of action? What timeframe and financial burden can I expect?

Thanks for the interesting questions Patrick. I really enjoy receiving these questions and answering them so that all of our listeners can benefit. If you have questions concerning aviation careers and would like to hear them answered on this podcast please submitt them by going to the contact page at AviationCareersPodcast.com/Contact. You can also send me a question via Twitter, Facebook, or e-mail.

I enjoy helping all of you achieve your aviation career goal. If you have any questions or suggestions for guest you would like to hear interviewed on this podcast please let me know by contacting me. I have a line up of many guests who are in various fields in aviation and I think you will really enjoy hearing from them in upcoming episodes. Your questions will be edited for privacy and accuracy.

Tom Wachowski has had a varied and interesting career in aviation. We look forward to speaking with him on upcoming episodes. Please send us any questions you may have about business or private aviation to AviationCareersPodcast.com/Contact.

Links Mentioned in this podcast:

Tom Wachowski’s website Consider It Brands.

NBAA TravelSense: tool which demonstrates the value of business aviation can provide your company

AOPA – Aircraft Owners And Pilots Association

Suggested Reading:

Thanks for listening and safe flying.