How many fly as a "secondary" career?

Pietrantonio

Pietrantonio

Well-Known Member
I'm just curious as to how many JC'ers on here have a primary career outside the cockpit, but maybe instruct and or fly professionally as a secondary career?

I graduate in May 2011 with my degree in Respiratory Therapy. I plan to work as an RRT for my primary career and then pick back up where I left off flight training.

Just wondering what's out there. Maybe insight on both helicopters and fixed wing as I am not fully decided where I want to start training again.

Thanks all! Appreciate it!
 
I currently have a full-time job that is far away from aviation. Basically I instruct on nights and weekends. Right now, it is rather slow, but picking up. Part of that is people don't want to fly in the winter up here. Since I have started instructing in 2007, I have always had at least one student. For the most part I have had at two. But this winter has been slower than the previous years. Meaning I have had one student since mid January.

It works for me since I am single and have no family to look after.

For the record, I am on the fixed wing side of the equation.
 
Well I'm not close to my CFI/II/MEI at all but when the times comes, yes I will have a flying gig as a second means of income. I'm an RT (Radiologic Technologist) so on a similar track as yourself. Healthcare is a good career and has helped me further my education and aviation goals.
 
SIUav8er said:
i think its sad that flying is becoming a "secondary" occupation for many people.
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Not sad at all - I fly on the weekends, it is way less stress, and I don't worry about it being something to pay the bills. The type of flying I'm doing is not stealing a job from anyone, so it is cool with me.

I do hear "wow, you have the best job on earth" a lot. I always mention to them what I'm getting paid...
 
SIUav8er said:
i think its sad that flying is becoming a "secondary" occupation for many people.
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Especially with flight instructing, it may be a very good thing. CFIs who teach part time as a second career tend to be doing it for love, not money. It certainly doesn't guarantee a good instructor but it tends to leave out those who don't see it as something they gotta do until the get a "real" flying job.

I'm a part time CFI (barely) as a "second career." Right now, my biggest problem is that I'm extremely busy in my first career and don't have the time to teach as much as I like. But someday...
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
Especially with flight instructing, it may be a very good thing. CFIs who teach part time as a second career tend to be doing it for love, not money. It certainly doesn't guarantee a good instructor but it tends to leave out those who don't see it as something they gotta do until the get a "real" flying job.

I'm a part time CFI (barely) as a "second career." Right now, my biggest problem is that I'm extremely busy in my first career and don't have the time to teach as much as I like. But someday...
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I had initially planned on transitioning to aviation, but as with most things in life, it hasn't worked out that way. My other career is also in healthcare; I'm an RN, and I was fortunate that I fell into a fairly stable IT applications job right when the music stopped. I had been working only the minimum 24hrs a week to keep health insurance, and flying on my off days.
Now I'm also flying evenings and weekends. I agree with Mark that I think I'm a better CFI now, in part because I'm glad to be out of a cube, away from the psychotic catfights, and up in the air again. I've missed out on some small temporary opportunities like flying overnight or multi-day trips, and I find myself having to rent to keep up proficiency, but with a family, stability takes precedence.
 
I'm not sure what is sad about it. I got into aviation with the intention of flight instructing as a side job. It allows me to do the type of flying that I want and I dont have to worry about paying my bills flying. For me I think flying for a living would take the fun out of it.
 
Inverted25 said:
I'm not sure what is sad about it. I got into aviation with the intention of flight instructing as a side job. It allows me to do the type of flying that I want and I dont have to worry about paying my bills flying.
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Nothing wrong with that. That's all I've ever wanted to do as well, though I've ended up doing other types of flying - life is funny that way.
 
Although I am currently laid off, my default career is in information technology. I'd be more than happy to CFI full time, but I just don't see how I would be able to maintain a fraction of the lifestyle I could have in working a desk job. My goal is to CFI on nights and weekends, and on "sick" days, once I get working again.
 
I thought all I would do is fly, but commuting to my company was just about impossible so I left and didn't want to go back to the bottom of a regional at the time. I found a career in LE with the ability to fly as "secondary" I work 3 days a week, I have anywhere from 14-17 days off a month normally. I have instructed, contracted, and ferry aircraft. I am trying to find a 91/135 place for me near home with this kind of time off.
 
I am making Sleep Science my career after being furloughed from my cargo job. With a three day work week at the hospital I will be towing gliders/banners, instructing, and aerial application in my days off. Should keep me busy and make some additional dough.
 
Right now since I've been furloughed. I've been thinking about making web design as my primary career with flying as my second career. It seems even if I'm in an airline sitting reserve or flying to and from different cities, I can bring my laptop and design websites. It has the potential to make more money than flying and if that breaking point ever comes where it would make more sense to be a full time designer, then I might just quit flying all together. I recently made a website called http://www.crewpass.org to help crew members and family of crew members find flights for free. It's like passrider but way better. Is anyone else in the web design business and fly at the same time?
 
Be flexible and pursue all options is the best advice I can give.

At the moment my thoughts are getting based back home and working as little as I can while I pursue my photography and some other entrepreneurial ideas. My dream at the moment is to work as little as possible at the airline and pursue additional revenue streams whilst enjoying some quality at home.

For you, I think you have a good plan of getting established in a full time job and then seeing where it goes. Keep networking and making contacts -and- most of all don't rack up huge bills flight training. Take it slow & steady :pirate:
 
Great replies. I enjoyed reading all your stories and future goals. Very inspirational at the least.

It's comforting to know that other JC'ers are doing the same thing with successful results.

Considering the situations I've faced, I feel I have made a very good choice. I will be able to perform two tasks that I am passionate about - Respiratory Therapy and Flying.

I learned a lot from everyone on this site. I was at a point where I wanted nothing but aviation (degree and all). But there is so much truth in getting an education or skill in a field completely unrelated to aviation just in case things turn sour. It wasn't easy because when you've been passionate about aviation your life, reverting to your second option is tough. But I've managed (with the help of your posts and the advice of my wife) to see the positive in my decisions.

I think it will all work out in the end. Thanks for all your support and your stories. Like I said, it's nice to know others who are in the same situation. :)
 
Making web design a career seems like it would be hard. I mean I took a bunch of web design, java, etc classes in college just because I needed to fill credits and it seemed interesting. I can write websites with xhtml using css and implementing java fairly easy and its not something i do for a job at all. My teacher in college always said good web designers are a dime a dozen and there really is no career in it because its so easy to do.
 
Inverted25 said:
Making web design a career seems like it would be hard. I mean I took a bunch of web design, java, etc classes in college just because I needed to fill credits and it seemed interesting. I can write websites with xhtml using css and implementing java fairly easy and its not something i do for a job at all. My teacher in college always said good web designers are a dime a dozen and there really is no career in it because its so easy to do.
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It may be true for just web designing but when you're developing with serverside scripting, php, asp plus keeping up with new technology and what not. Look at craigslist, there are tons of jobs out there for designers/developers (despite this economy) Typical starting pay for these jobs are at least 50k. Maybe it's harder in different regions but I live in the San Jose/San Francisco Bay Area where you have a lot of internet companies based here. I think pilots are a dime a dozen and there really is no career in it because it's easy to do. =)
 
Pietrantonio said:
I'm just curious as to how many JC'ers on here have a primary career outside the cockpit, but maybe instruct and or fly professionally as a secondary career?

I graduate in May 2011 with my degree in Respiratory Therapy. I plan to work as an RRT for my primary career and then pick back up where I left off flight training.

Just wondering what's out there. Maybe insight on both helicopters and fixed wing as I am not fully decided where I want to start training again.

Thanks all! Appreciate it!
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This isn't a 'side job' to many of us. Unless you're doing a job NOBODY else wants, I kindly suggest you just DON'T.
 
Firebird2XC said:
This isn't a 'side job' to many of us. Unless you're doing a job NOBODY else wants, I kindly suggest you just DON'T.
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And why not? As long as someone earns a respectable wage, doesn't buy said job and is professional through and through, there are certain sectors within this industry that could easily be 'side' jobs. I would argue that they would be less burned out and enjoy it more.

If I play my cards right, even my 121 gig will become my 'side' job :) Lawd knows it isn't worth much else these days.
 
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