General Aviation Careers

[MachFly]

If you want to make money it's in uav's right now. That is my goal. Down side is it's all point and click waypoint flying. I'm working toward cfi. As I would rather teach than fly them.

Thankfully the only place in the continental US where you can fly them is in a restricted area.

What makes you think that it's the way to make money? Is there even a single civilian company that has UAVs?

[flight17]

Thankfully the only place in the continental US where you can fly them is in a restricted area.

What makes you think that it's the way to make money? Is there even a single civilian company that has UAVs?

No quite true. I know at our airport, we can fly them up to 400ft agl on airport property. I dont know if thats a general number, or just for us however.

I know that because my college is starting a professional drone program this summer. The drones will  have a 30ft wingspan and weight 300lbs and are legit D.O.D drones (tarzan 2). sicne we would be doing manuvers, they had to go out and find a restricted area to use them up to 14,000ft.

Yes, there are a lot of civilian drone users. A lot of police departments use them and realestate agencies. It pays a very large sum too. I have heard of real estate drones costing multiple hundreds of dollars per hour.

I dont want to fly drones, but i am hoping to be a part of the initial checkout of the drone program beacuse they may be running it for free and i would get a second associates degree for drone operations

As for airline pay, regionals can do quite well even though the initial pay is horrible. I have heard of regional captains making almost 100k a year in the US.

[Wolfala]

Well you sort of didn't referencing the Korean Air flight but that's obviously it's own tangent in another thread.

And when (not if, as it's much more likely to fail than succeed) your flight school goes bankrupt for dozens of reasons it doesn't pay as much as being a CFI for a different solvent business.

The very last thing I'd do is start a school to provide basic flight instruction. I didn't even do that back when I actively instructed since the demand just isn't there in most municipalities. Getting into more specialized instruction can be somewhat more lucrative and establishing your own network of good clients (think Wolfala) is extremely beneficial but it's not going to make you a fortune.  It's poor advice and I think you'll find those who have done it (and I'm not suggesting I'm the beacon of experience in the matter) would agree.

Been dealing with 2 broke ribs from my aforementioned activities:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-LNT0GzRT0

As Golfer mentioned, there are opportunities around for highly specialized instruction which have a much higher pay grade then the typical CFI. If you have yr own aircraft to travel to the clients also helps keep the clients satisfied. Much of the training revolves around the newer avionics and autopilot incarnations, but to a larger extent - power plant management. Owners also are wanting to have a more mechanical background with their equipment so be able to better troubleshoot issues before they become AOG problems. Very rarely do I spent 1 or 2 hours with a client unless they are local because I end up wasting my day for a 1 or 2 hour session - but more often then not end up billing out on a daily rate with clients that travel in, or I fly out to.

Side opportunities present themselves in the ways of being a buyers representative if you have deep systems knowledge of the specific aircraft a client is looking to purchase which can be lucrative in their own regard even if you are not using the 6% of the sale price as a benchmark.

Point is, flying for the sake of flying is a means to an end - which is usually being broke. If you are proficient in many areas related to flying, then the flying becomes complementary to those other skills and are sought after.

[Tupac]

Ouch Wolf, didn't know you broke your ribs. Best wishes for a speedy and painless recovery.

[Selino631]

oh about Jet Blue. my buddy's dad is a Federal Flight Deck officer (armed pilot) and flys for them, his family is doing VERY good money wise.

[B4Buster]

If you don't want to fly big commercial aircraft, you are not going to make 80-90K a year, sorry. Even if you did fly for a large carrier, you wouldn't make that kind of money for a long time. I guess you don't realize it, but $80,000/yr is a lot of money...

There are small companies out there (Cape Air comes to mind) that you can get in flying smaller aircraft. As a Captain, you can potentially make 40-50K a year.

If you are looking for close to 6-digit salaries...start working towards your helicopter rating. You won't be raising any families, though.

[flight17]

If you don't want to fly big commercial aircraft, you are not going to make 80-90K a year, sorry. Even if you did fly for a large carrier, you wouldn't make that kind of money for a long time. I guess you don't realize it, but $80,000/yr is a lot of money...

it can be done, just have to find the right employer. I don't know exactl what they are making, but IIRC, net jets pays pretty good especially if you are overseas.

Also, having one job is not the only wy it can be done. One of the flight instructors where I fly instructs as his main job time wise. But he also flies a king air maybe once or twice a month for the king airs owner and he is paid a nice salary for it.

[RTR]

I don't instruct, never wanted to. I have no inclination to spend my day sitting beside someone whose sole mission that day is to kill me.

Quickest way to take the joy out of aviation is to fly for a living. It turns the passion into work. Although....when you get that perfect day and the flying is spectacular it seems to make all the negatives go away, just enough to keep you doing it. Dammit.

Best piece of advice I can give you is if you want to be in aviation do it because you love it, not for the money. There is no money.

32+ years now in aviation and don't really regret any of it, but I am poor as dirt.

RTR

[B4Buster]

it can be done, just have to find the right employer. I don't know exactl what they are making, but IIRC, net jets pays pretty good especially if you are overseas.

Also, having one job is not the only wy it can be done. One of the flight instructors where I fly instructs as his main job time wise. But he also flies a king air maybe once or twice a month for the king airs owner and he is paid a nice salary for it.

I have talked to a bunch of Net Jet pilots. That isn't a job you want if you plan on raising a family, or so it seems to me. Those guys don't know where they're going to be tomorrow, and often times get stuck just anywhere for hours, even days in between flights.

NetJets is a fractional, meaning people pay a fee each year, and are allotted flight time (kind of like how a timeshare works). I think it would be exciting as a young single fellow. Not so much for a married father. Just my opinion, of course.

[Sonicblu]

Thankfully the only place in the continental US where you can fly them is in a restricted area.

And?

That is getting ready to change. Congress has mandated the FAA integrate drone, uav's by 2015.

What makes you think that it's the way to make money? Is there even a single civilian company that has UAVs?

First off it's "A" way to make money, never said it was "the" way.

What is a civilian company? And? What does it have to do with the price of tea. I think GE would qualify.

 

   

[MachFly]

And?

That is getting ready to change. Congress has mandated the FAA integrate drone, uav's by 2015.

No way? Maybe FAA will integrate them but I still don't seem them flying with manned aircraft in the near future

First off it's "A" way to make money, never said it was "the" way.

What is a civilian company? And? What does it have to do with the price of tea. I think GE would qualify.

I mean how would you use one for civilian reasons?

[MachFly]

Yes, there are a lot of civilian drone users. A lot of police departments use them and realestate agencies. It pays a very large sum too. I have heard of real estate drones costing multiple hundreds of dollars per hour.

Police don't really use anything for civilian reasons.

Why would a realestate agency need a drone? All they need is an office and a desk.

[Selino631]

In response to the UAV argument..... you could get a job flying for Animal Rights activists!   LOL


http://thetandd.com/animal-rights-group-says-drone-shot-down/article_017a720a-56ce-11e1-afc4-001871e3ce6c.html

[flight17]

No way? Maybe FAA will integrate them but I still don't seem them flying with manned aircraft in the near future

Well you better get used to the idea because it IS MANDATED for 2015 for an integration with Nextgen for drones and Aircraft to fly together in the same exact location.

Police don't really use anything for civilian reasons.

Its mostly civilians flying the drones under contract for the police departments.

Why would a realestate agency need a drone? All they need is an office and a desk.

Obviously you don't watch to many RC videos on youtube...

What is the best way to showcase something? show it at every possible view. They are sending up helicopters with video cameras and video taping the house and surrounding areas.

[MachFly]

Well you better get used to the idea because it IS MANDATED for 2015 for an integration with Nextgen for drones and Aircraft to fly together in the same exact location.

What is your source?

Its mostly civilians flying the drones under contract for the police departments.

That's still not for civilian reasons. That's like calling a mercenary a civilian because he is not a part of the military.

Obviously you don't watch to many RC videos on youtube...

What is the best way to showcase something? show it at every possible view. They are sending up helicopters with video cameras and video taping the house and surrounding areas.

I don't know about that. I'd much rather see it from the ground as I would be a lot closer and would be able to inspect the house. From the air that's just looking at the area around the house, you can do that from satellite, no need to fly over it, especially send a drone.
I'm not really sure what RV videos on youtube have to do with it.


The only reason why you would want a drone is if there is a possibility of being shot down. There is no reason to use it over US.