Hi all.

[Wingtipvortex]

This is a great site. Nothing like the simple information base provided here for a soon to be private pilot student like me.

Ok, so my engagement ended after 4 years, but where many people might spend the foreseable weekends ahead in bars making friends with similarly miserable souls, I remembered a calling from childhood that I'd forgotten for the last two decades; the call of the sky!!

I'm going to end up loving my sweetheart for making me single again

So here I am, I bought my textbooks ahead of time in preparation for my ground school which starts May 1. I am so excited and yet I'm making sure I do the book work before I start flying. I've been out of school for a few years and want to keep a realistic check on my entheusiasm. As in, can I still study?

I do have a request for people's input;

Not that I am planning to change my career, but while I was browsing (mostly for fun) and looking at the flying jobs out there, I noticed that it's mostly airline jobs. I guess that's what's most available and what most people want, but it brought up questions.

When people buy planes from dealers, who flys them to their new homes? I don't think the new owners always want to come pick them up.

What about all the miles of wire and piplines that run through remote areas? I heard planes fly over these on a regular basis for maintainance.

What about planes that service people in remote areas? Alaskan bush pilots might be famous, but what about other places on the continent or around the world?

What about people who tow sailplanes, or take up skydivers?

What about aerial sightseeing?

Aerial photography?

Surveying?

I'm wondering if anyone here has heard of or have done themselves, interesting flying jobs that's not usually posted on the average pilot job forums.

I would love to hear some stories.

Maybe I'll see you in the sky. (Not too close I hope)

[Denny of Oakland]

Let’s take your questions one at a time.

When people buy planes from dealers, who flies them to their new homes? I don't think the new owners always want to come pick them up.

Answer: Most pilots go and pick up their aircraft or the company will have ferry pilot on staff in most cases. No money here.

What about all the miles of wire and pipelines that run through remote areas? I heard planes fly over these on a regular basis for maintenance.
Answer: Yep companies use aircraft all the time and have their own and pilots, hard to break into.


What about planes that service people in remote areas? Alaskan bush pilots might be famous, but what about other places on the continent or around the world?
Answer: This is where the money is during the summer season. Of course everyone in Alaska has an aircraft like we have trucks. During the off season not much money and companies usually catch up on maintenance during this period. So they want their pilots to have A&P’s as well.

What about people who tow sailplanes, or take up skydivers?
Answer: Can’t make a full time living here. It is a part time job.

What about aerial sightseeing?
Answer: This requires a part 135 certificate most are single pilot no manual type of operation. Can only make money in certain part of the world, expect low pay and lots of down time in most cases.

Aerial photography?
Answer: Same as above.

Surveying?
Answer: Usually the pilot owns the aircraft and start up is very expensive.

I would suggest you go and talk with people working in these areas to get a good feel for it. I wouldn’t want to sugar coat anything, but making money in aviation is very hard.

[Wingtipvortex]

I guess I am doomed to be "plane-poor".

Well around here where I live I see a lot of people who are horse-poor. They seem happy enough!

In anycase, I'm just trying to get my PPL. I can decide to fly once a year or once a week after that. I'm sure I won't regret it.

Thanks for the info.

[Denny of Oakland]

Aviation is a dream come true for me. I started out aviation poor and made money then lossed money, but thats life. Those of us who live for aviation love what we do no matter how little money we make. Mostly we complain about the low wages, but are rewarded in other ways. If you want to be in aviation just do it. Whats life without some fun! Some of the best friends I have are still chasing the avaition dream like me.

[Duster Dave]

I believe that young people can look forward to great opportunities in the airline and corp jet business in the years to come, as my age group, baby boomers, retire. I wish I would have had the opportunities that exist today. I have not flown for a living for 20 years my last job was flying commuter airlines. I left because I did not see a future that paid the bills. I actually have been offered the opportunity to interview just recently, un-solicited with an international carrier. They are getting desperate at the small airlines to fill seats. I think at some point the airlines may be training all their own new hires as the foreign airlines do now. It is still going to be tough and expensive to get the necessary experience but if I were young I would do it again. Dave

[Wingtipvortex]

Lots of aviation career opportunities out there, the more I look into it.

It does not suprise me though, that there is not always much money in this career path. For example, some of the dedicated CFI's I am getting to know have devoted great portions of their lives to aviation with only meager financial returns. Yet they don't seem to want to do anything other than be a flight instructor.

For which I am greatful for.

Well for now I enjoy my day job and I get my aviation fix by thinking about the day I will get my PPL.

[navyretread]

This quandry is far from unique to aviation careers. You're young, you want to fly or find a career with some spice to it that maybe lets you fly, right? You're at a crossroads and don't know for sure if you're heading in the right direction, right?

If the answer is yes, WHAT ABOUT THE MILITARY? Before you reject that notion out of hand, do a little window shopping down at the Armed Forces Recruiting Station. It won't cost you more than a couple of hours and just might be your answer. Or, maybe not.

[Wingtipvortex]

I am not exactly young. I am 34, so a complete career change is a little daunting.

However I have looked into the military. I am single, so that much is on my side, as far as making such a decision is concerned. From what I've researched so far, I am too old for just about any flying in any branch of the military except to fly logistics (C-130's etc) in the Army. For that I have until 35 to make my decision.

My plan is to keep that idea on the backburner and get some flight lessons in the meantime. I turn 35 in April next year. I will make my decision around March, and if I decide to give it a try, whatever actual flight experience I have by then (hopefully I might have done my first solo by then) will certainly help.

If you have knowledge about the military route and have any advice for me I would certainly appreciate it.

[navyretread]

There must be about a million ex-military pilots out there and I would be reluctant to set myself up as an expert or as an example. I went to college on a Navy scholarship and chose aviation as my career path on graduation. While in Pensacola, I homogenized with guys who came through a myraid of other officer pipelines that were available at that time, and realized how varied the options were.

I also knew quite a few AF Academy grads and had a fraternity brother going through the Army helicopter program at the same time. All pilots share a common bond and it was great to interact with them during my own training and see how a completely different program worked for them. The bottom line is make sure you talk to the experts down an the recruiters office. Don't forget the Coast Guard, Marines and Army.

Now, a quick word about C-130s; I had an uncle and a fraternity brother who flew them. I've watched them practice landings into a close perimeter field and I think that is some great flying. There was even a Navy test pilot who landed one on an aircraft carrier without arresting gear. TINS. It's one hell of a bird and one hell of a challenging mission to fly one.

Bottom line to me is I can't think of anywhere that you can get the kind of life devoted to as many aviation challenges as the military offers. Glad to hear you're considering it.

Let us know how you're decision comes together.

[Wingtipvortex]

I will keep you posted.

In the meantime I did my third flight today. It was a hell of a ride!