How to Become a Corporate / Business Aviation Pilot
Fly executives, owners, and charter clients on business jets — typically Part 91 (private) or Part 135 (charter) ops in the US.
Salary by Career Stage
Entry
$70,000-$110,000 (SIC light jet)
Mid-Career
$130,000-$200,000 (Captain mid-size jet)
Senior
$220,000-$400,000 (Captain G650/Global 7500/BBJ)
NetJets / Flexjet senior captains with stock comp can reach $500k. International contract Gulfstream PIC roles go higher.
Requirements
Licenses & Ratings
- • CPL minimum, ATPL preferred for PIC
- • Multi-Engine + Instrument Rating
- • Type Rating per aircraft (Citation, Falcon, Gulfstream, etc.)
Flight Hours
1,200-2,500 hours typical for Part 135 PIC; SIC roles from 500-1,000 hours
Medical
Class 1
Min Age
23
Additional Certifications
- • International procedures (RVSM, NAT-HLA, RNP)
- • FlightSafety / CAE recurrent training
Pros
- + Better quality of life than airlines for some roles (8/6, 7/7 schedules)
- + Personalized work environment — small crews, often same passengers
- + Faster captain upgrades than airlines
- + Often nicer aircraft and amenities
Cons
- − On-call schedules at smaller flight departments
- − Weaker union protection vs majors
- − Career ladder less defined
- − Single-employer risk if flight dept shuts down
Top Employers
A Day in the Life
Either fixed schedules (fractional ops like NetJets — typically 7 on / 7 off) or on-call. Pre-flight catering and customer service is part of the job. Often more international flying with extended layovers in destinations like Europe, Caribbean, or Asia.
Training Path
- 1PPL → IR → CPL → CFI/CFII to build hours
- 2Time-build to 1,000-1,500 hours
- 3Apply to Part 135 charter or fractional (NetJets has the most accessible entry)
- 4Earn first jet type rating, build PIC time
- 5Move to flag-ship flight department or global ops
Key Traits for Success
Frequently Asked Questions
Is corporate flying better than airlines?
Different — corporate trades the size of the paycheck ceiling (lower) for better schedule control, smaller crews, and nicer aircraft on average. Best for pilots who value lifestyle over peak earnings.
Do I need an ATP for corporate?
For Part 91 SIC, no. For Part 135 PIC and most fractional captain seats, yes. ATP-CTP is now an FAA prerequisite for the ATP Knowledge Test.
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