Different Pilot Jobs
- Thread starter Gmata
- Start date
avi8tor1983
Well-Known Member
I never wanted to fly for the airlines. If you look around on here you will find there are a lot of opportunities. I fly charter and ambulance single pilot for a part 135 company. I flew single pilot freight part 135 and flight instructed before that. There is: freight, charter, air ambulance, crop dusting, corporate, just to name a few. In short you don't have to choose airline. There are other avenues in aviation.
KSCessnaDriver
Well-Known Member
I fly a blimp, just to point out the other areas that pilots can work in.
SurferLucas
Southern Gentleman
SurferLucas
Southern Gentleman
Def MUCH more to aviation than airlines. I've instructed for 2+ years, flew a season of aerial survey, and now I'm about to start a new full time gig that isn't airline. I've never wanted to fly for the airlines, and I'm doing just that! Don't let the SJS get ya!!!
PSM or PDK???
SIUav8er
Narcosis
heres a start: dont get a degree in aviation. read some of the perspectives on the jetcareers.com homepage. There is more to flying than the airlines, but... the Major airline jobs are still the best flying jobs out there in terms of stability and pay.
Gmata
Well-Known Member
Thank you for the advice, but it is not all about stability and pay, for me is also about flying i don't belive flying an airliner for the rest of of your life is the most exiting flying out there.
Regarding the degree in aviation, i am using the post 911 GI Bill so it is the easiest way for me to get my flying paid for.
Bernoulli Fan
Controller
There's always career flight instruction. Students will make for some exciting flying.
Gmata
Well-Known Member
That sounds pretty cool, i did a lot of flying over Bagram, Kandahar and Kabul
Sol Rosenburg
Well-Known Member
Started with survey now on freight, exciting flying in both respects. Way better flying than a fms flying you around on 30 mile finals.
Crockrocket94
Well-Known Member
Also there is more to aviation than just flying. Always think "What can I do if I lose my medical?".
Simulator jobs, administration, etc. Keep in the game any way you can.
Simulator jobs, administration, etc. Keep in the game any way you can.
Boris Badenov
Fortis Leader
*shrug*. Flying is cool. Life is better. There are lots of ways to be employed as a pilot. There are very few in which you're paid adequately and still have a life outside your job. Majors are one of those. There are others, but from my limited experience, the jobs that are "cool" are essentially dead ends when it comes to being a real living, breathing Adult Human Being. YMMV, etc.
drunkenbeagle
Gang Member
OTOH, flying on the side is "cool.". You don't have to go if you don't feel like it. You fly where you want to. You get there fast. The view is great.
There are other "jobs" out there, many of them that will let you enjoy aviation on your own time, more than it being a "job."
When people ask what you do, and you say you're a pilot.. their next questions is invariably "Oh, what airline do you fly for?"
I explain there's other things to do besides airline flying but they generally get a blank look and I give up.
Are there any statistics, though?
Of the people in this country with pilot's licenses, how many fly for a living?
And more importantly, of those who earn their pay from flying, what percentage fly for the airlines?? I'm betting it's incredibly small, the percentage.
I explain there's other things to do besides airline flying but they generally get a blank look and I give up.
Are there any statistics, though?
Of the people in this country with pilot's licenses, how many fly for a living?
And more importantly, of those who earn their pay from flying, what percentage fly for the airlines?? I'm betting it's incredibly small, the percentage.
Stop telling them you're a pilot, and you won't get the questions afterward. I just go with the standard "jackhammer operator on Interstate 10" answer.
jynxyjoe
Queso King
Airlines are a difficult choice, there are many ways to be paid to fly. I would suggest getting in touch, by private message, with Zapbrannigan early on. He's done it all.
Personally, I wanted the airlines, I worked 135 (briefly) and did about 2 years of CFI'ing part time and full time. I do regret going to my first airline, the airline I'm at now I like a lot, and I get about half the month off to pursue my side business. Most of the real dream jobs in aviation, are in the part 91 sector where you fly once every other month, no beeper, and making 6 figures. Those jobs haven't been stable from my experience (not that I had the job, but friends), whereas spending 30 years at the same airline is a possibility. Crop dusters do VERY well by the way, there are times I wish I had gone that way.