Making money with my CPL

A

Airmann

Well-Known Member
I am very close to earning my CPL. As of right now, I do not have plans to be a flight instructor. I do however want to find some interesting ways in which I can make money with my Commercial License. I hope that those with experience in the form can help answer some of my questions. Can I rent myself out as a pilot and have the client rent an airplane from an FBO and have me as the pilot to take a family on a sight seeing flight around the area or the State? Can Joe Businessman rent an airplane from a local FBO and pay me to fly him from A to B? ( I am thinking this as a way not to have to buy an airplane and all the costs associated with having my own 135 operation). Do any of pilots in the forum that have CPL's know if there are FBO's that allow you as CPL rent one of their planes in which to take paying clients for sight seeing or photo flights etc? I hope to come up with some money making ideas to use my CPL, without instructing or working for an Airline? I would love to hear some of the ways any of the JC CPL members have been able to make money in an unorthodox way?
 
I think they may go over this with you in your commercial oral...

Pretty much the only things you CAN do:
-sightseeing flight nonstop 25 NM radius
-banner towing
-aerial photography
-pipeline patrol
-parachute jumping
-crop dusting
-aerial firefighting

That renting an airplane and flying people places for compensation sounds like a 135 operation.
 
Yeah you need to read up on the rules a bit more if you are about to get your COM so you really understand what you can and cannot legally do. That's part of being a a professional.

One misunderstanding is that yes you can fly scenic flights BUT that's just to act as the pilot. You cannot just take anybody up in any airplane for a scenic flight for hire, no just running down to the FBO to rent their Skyhawk and charge people. The operation is regulated and must be approved by the FAA, with an approved aircraft, approved drug screening program, etc. There's a difference between being a pilot and being an operator.

In short, there is verrrrrry little you can do with just a wet commercial ticket. Most operations will require at least 500 hours for things like pipeline, skydiving, etc. Cropdusting is a very much "who you know" and how hard are you willing to pay your dues before you'll be flying.

This is the point in the conversation where everyone says... time to re-think that whole "not planning to become an instructor" part. It's excellent experience and at the right location you can build a lot of quality time.
 
I appreciate those that have already replied to my initial question. However, I must not have been clear enough in the wording of my question. I did not ask if it were ok if I went to my local FBO and rented an plane and charged others for sight seeing flights. My question is, Can Anyone, a family, a businessman or woman, or a company, can they hire me to be their pilot and fly them from point A to B and to do so in either a plane that they own or a plane that THEY HAVE RENTED from the FBO? Would that be legal as long as I made the flight VFR until I have the required 1200 for IFR? Is it not ok for someone to own or rent an aircraft and hire me as long as I have a Commercial License and fly the aircraft to the place designated by the owner or renter of the aircraft? To rframe; you state that I can fly scenic flights, but just as the pilot and that is what I am asking, to be paid as the pilot and flying the airplane of the client or the airplane that the client rents from whomever. I would only be a hired pilot.
 
Airmann said:
Is it not ok for someone to own or rent an aircraft and hire me as long as I have a Commercial License and fly the aircraft to the place designated by the owner or renter of the aircraft? To rframe; you state that I can fly scenic flights, but just as the pilot and that is what I am asking, to be paid as the pilot and flying the airplane of the client or the airplane that the client rents from whomever. I would only be a hired pilot.
Click to expand...


If they own the airplane and/or have "operational control" in a lease meaning they are responsible for the airplane's maintenance and finances (there are details surrounding this notion of "operational control" in a lease from the FAA), then yes it's legal for them to hire you to be the pilot as it's a part 91 operation. That's what many smaller corporate flight departments and private entrepreneurs and business people do.

They cannot go to an FBO and just rent an airplane and then hire you to fly it, as they do not have operational control. People have tried that in the past and the FAA sees through it.
 
aviatorx43 said:
Pretty much the only things you CAN do:
Click to expand...


Also:
  • tow gliders
  • ferry planes (no pax)
  • traffic watch
  • volunteer for Angel Flight or similar non-profit (they don't pay but fuel is often free)
And yes with less than 500 TT and no flight instructor certificate the reality is that your commercial ticket is pretty much equivalent to your private.
 
Thank you very much for your help. Ahh, let me see; RFRAME; is this the spot where I insert " it may be time to rethink the thought of being a CFI?"

I probably should have looked at previous months or years posts about this topic and I could have just started out by asking where is a good place to get my CFI after I have earned my CPL?
 
I absolutely recommend you get the CFI, much easier to build time! You can take those people on scenics etc... And give them introductory types of flight lessons as you are a CFI at that point. It bypasses some of the limitations of just being a CPL.
 
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I can't imagine that the market is faring too well right now for wet commercial pilots, but if you're young, and you have a bachelor's degree AND good grades, you could also try your hand at military flying if the typical civilian route doesn't interest you.
 
You might be able to find a skydiving operation somewhere that will take less than 500TT. That's what I did.
 
Sounds like Holding out. You might want to read up on common carraige and private carraige. I think there is a AC for that, check the FAA website.
 
I think we can all agree that the OP still has a LOT to learn before attempting to make any money with a commercial CERTIFICATE, not to mention the correct information needed to pass the checkride oral.
 
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