Anyone need a job?

[Andy95W]

Then you pay to fly again.

Damn. I hadn't thought about that.

[lliun]

This job offer sounds great, I live in Goodyear, AZ. and have a little over 100 hours with the plans of having my commercial by the end of this year; in other words, I will have 250ish hours at that point. So that brings me to a few questions, is this a part time job and do you think there will be positions open later this year? I ask because I am currently in the Air Force, so a full time job is not an option right now. Let me know, because this sounds like a great startup time builder that I would be interested in, and besides it would give me an excuse to fly up to Page every once and a while.

[cliffy]

It's a full time deal. They want someone living in town all the time as some of the trips (even the Pt 91 ones) are sudden pop ups. They will always probably be looking as they expand so check back later in the summer with them and see what they might have available.

There is another option that might be available here. One of the lake tour operators (American Aviation) flies C 207s and might work out a part time deal with you. They fly around the lake on 1/2 hr tours. Maybe 4 to 8 a day per pilot. They have I think 8 207s. They are always looking for pilots as it is a seasonal thing and a time builder so most don't stay around more than a year or two. Give then a call. You might ask for Bob Logan.

BTW, thank you for serving our country!

[ryoder]

Wow. What a fun job, flying people around on a lake tour.

[DrBill]

My younger son is now flying for Piedmont (AA sub ) flying Dash 8s.  He got his ratings and 4 year degree from Embry Riddle in Daytona.   He got the Piedmont job right out of ER before the ATP requirement and was right seat for a few years.  Last year he got his ATP and Captain.  He figures 2 more years and he'll be moved up to the mainline. So far he's been there 4 years and I'd guess he's up to 50-60k/yr. So I think he's got 4-5 more to get to 100K. But he's doing what he really loves.

 Bill

[Guitarmaster]

How long would it take to go from private pilot to making at least 100K?

I am one of the few that has cleared that hurdle. I am also one of the VERY few that made it to a major airline. This is my fourth (and final) airline.

I started flying at 15 and I am 44 now. I cleared that target about six years ago. I guess about 24 years.

The road is long and hard. I didn't have the benefit of a mentor in the airlines. I just poked along in the dark trying to figure out the key.

My experience has been, if you are not military, minority or female, your chances at a major are slim. This is based on years of observation in the business. Without the above qualifications, you will need 5x the amount of time.

To do it all over, I would STAY AWAY from the big schools. They are a waste of time and money. NO airline gives a crap where you went to school. They care about hours, ratings, experience and education. Education being the last thing. Military would be my first choice. Anything but helicopters. Barring that, I would buy an airplane, probably a good IFR 172, and fly everyday. While out flying, talk to people and make contacts. This business is ALL ABOUT who you know, not what you know. At the same time, get the easiest, cheapest four-year degree possible. It doesn't matter what in as long as you can check that box.

If you want to make 100k+ in this business, you have to LOVE aviation. Nearly all who do this "for the money" quit early on.

Finally, there will never be a "pilot shortage." There may be a shortage of pilots willing to work for poverty wages, but the majors will NEVER run short of highly qualified candidates. I don't care what FAPA says.

All that being said, if you do make it, it is a great thing to get paid well for doing what you love. It is also very easy to get mired down in airline/union garbage and forget why you got into this business. It took going to Airventure and taking a ride in a powered parachute five years ago to rekindle my first love. Now I have an aluminum mistress that can be moody, is expensive and an absolute joy every time we spend time together.

30 years of flying, 18 years in the airlines and I still have no money...

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[Guitarmaster]

Sorry cliffy, I may have hijacked your post....

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[Marauder]

30 years of flying, 18 years in the airlines and I still have no money...

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Of course you have no money! You bought an airplane!

[kmyfm20s]

The title of this thread keeps making me think of a line in a Steve Martin movie.

[AndyFromCB]

 Military would be my first choice. Anything but helicopters. 

 

Funny you say that. I never hear helicopter pilots complaining about lack of jobs or salaries. There always seems to be shortage of guys with 1500TT in turbines.

[Guitarmaster]

If you want to helis then that's fine. For airlines, heli doesn't count for anything.

If I remember right, the average heli pilot salary is around $60ish

Although helis are way fun to fly! And good for blowing rocks off the runway!

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[RobertoTohme]

Although helis are way fun to fly! And good for blowing rocks off the runway!

 

And Cirruses too!! 

[bonal]

If I could go back in time I would do what ever is required and get a flying job with Cal Fire.

[gsxrpilot]

If I could go back in time I would do what ever is required and get a flying job with Cal Fire.

I couldn't agree more! Top of the list.

[bonal]

Yep without a doubt

[HRM]

All that being said, if you do make it, it is a great thing to get paid well for doing what you love. 

 

I love to fly and I love to dive, but I have often said that if I had to do either as an occupation I would grow to loathe them in short order.

[bonal]

A friend who was a warrant officer flew UH1's and eventually Blackhawks and then airlines between being sent back to serve active duty. He also flew tour and news Helicopters over the years. I know he made a decent living and loved his work but when asked about how cool it was to fly and his reply was after so many hours it can become like driving a bus with lots of gauges. Well I'm too old to ever find out and I can't imagine flying fire suppression missions being old hat or boring.

[Guitarmaster]

An airliner is a paycheck. A cool way to make a paycheck, but a paycheck nonetheless.

That's why I own a Mooney!!

To do it all over again, I think I would be a pimp or crack dealer and own a Gulfstream.