Pros
As a pilot, I have flown part 135 charter for about 8 years now, and have seen a lot of lip service to safety and maintenance until something actually effects the bottom line. But at Desert Jet I have not experienced these issues. The owner is a pilot and understands the job the pilots have, and supports those functions in the same way the owner would want to have flying the line, even when it means taking a financial hit to 'do the right thing'. Leadership has fixed maintenance issues for me on the road, and flights canceled or reassigned due to me flying late the night before. The owners are engaging with their employees and socialize with company parties and grill outs.
The pay is industry leading for the light jet categories, and the benefits are well rounded, with things like 6% matching 401k and fully paid insurance for the employee.
Pilots are eligible for bonuses for busy months, which, when things get busy, makes my absence an easier pill to swallow for my significant other.
Overall I'm happy to be a pilot here, and is a great experience as far as part 135 work goes!
Kontras
Right now the fleet is limited to small cabin aircraft, which doesn't provide long term career advancement for the pilot group. But pay is very good for what the equipment is, and there is a culture of promoting from within, so there are career advancement opportunities for those pilots who want management experience.
