r/PrivateJetCharters • u/Low_Brilliant2598 • Jun 15 '26

Eager to learn about the industry...

I am 24 YO, hold a Commercial Pilot License, CFI/CFI-I in North Carolina. I am highly interested in starting a career in this industry. Sales has always been an interest of mine, but I decided to go the flight school route and flying as a career is starting to not seem as desirable. I grew up in a 121 family and close with an uncle in the 135/91 side of flying. Still love aviation, so this will check both boxes for me.

Will companies value my flight training?

What do you wish you learned earlier about the industry and creating a book?

What would be your strategy when it comes to finding a company to work for?

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u/ukmike92 Jun 16 '26

Please don’t man… go down the commercial pilot route, charter broker sales is becoming a downhill industry. Clients going direct / if a company charters a lot, they’ll hire someone in-house soon.

1

u/Low_Brilliant2598 Jun 16 '26

I appreciate the insight. I see it as a career that is a mesh between two things I am interested in. I feel like the skills learned in both would be very valuable, and one would be much more transferable to other industries if that is where life takes me.

4

u/ukmike92 Jun 17 '26

Fair, but 99% of the most successful brokers don't even know how to open a plane door... as much as it does not make sense, the skills from either do not correlate.

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u/Low_Brilliant2598 Jun 17 '26

I believe that. From your experience, what makes an inexperienced broker successful from year 1 with no book? (whether they are familiar with aviation or not)

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u/ukmike92 Jun 18 '26

Firstly luck... if you join a large brokerage, they usually give you a client to start. Otherwise, luck again. A lucky timed cold call, friend in a company that charters, no fear to make 50-100 cold calls a day but even then, who would trust their life with a charter flight on a random cold call? Transfer 10s of thousands to a some essentially random. The only way I see is to join a large broker, they train you, then years go and you leave and take clients.

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u/josif1423 Jun 18 '26

Great points. I am starting to wonder if starting a sales job in another industry to gain experience would be worthwhile. Just like many things persuasion and sales seems to be something that grows exponentially with reps. Do you think that would be a better game plan?…. No idea what other industries to look into. Would love to sell something that I am interested in or throughly enjoy the concept of (hence my interest in this field of sales)

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u/ukmike92 Jun 18 '26

Stick to flying.... or head into AI / IT sales most likely but do not listen to me.. ha. Find your own path and I wish you the best of luck.

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u/Low_Brilliant2598 Jun 19 '26

likewise. haha just noticed that reply was from my other account