Airline Pilot Forums

"Leaving the career" .... Sounds kinda like you chose to...
How many of you have started your own business after being furloughed, downsized etc.? Sky has posted much about his experiences, but how about others in the same boat?
Personally, I have tickets that would allow me to dispatch, flight instruct, maintain aircraft, inspect a/c (IA) and also to fly 121. Ironically, I use none of these currently in working for a government contractor. Although thankful for a job, it is not my choice of work.
I have considered different areas of self employment including lawn mowing :o. How many of you have started your own business???? How many of you would leave that business if aviation called you back????

I left on my own accord with a business plan and concept that would allow some measure of success in the short term. The plan is to try to set up a business that will allow you to find a pilot job that is a great second job. After all the effort to get to both a good 121 and 91 I just couldnt see the next 25 years sitting in the seat letting others control my own destiny and not taking my own shot. If your going to be a busienss man then be one that will go big or go home and dont think like a pilot. Their is a pilot in our area who is 121 heavy capt. but it pales in comparison to his real estate co. Pretty amazing acuatlly.. Most pilots are bad business folks and get themselves in trouble. But I watched for years how to create and duplicate the simplicty of success. Hard work, dedication, thrift, and being better and smarter than you ever think you can be. Its been 10 months since I left and I do miss the seat but that would be an easy out compared to my life now. Your never leaving the career just making it what you want it to be. The pilot industry has made a wrench out of pilots with little reward. As a pilot quality of life OR $ can suffer but not both..but that is the sad truth of most flying jobs today. I will go back but it will be with a different life and career oulook and $.

Thanks for the reply...
I have considered many ways of making a living, some avenues are associated with aviation,,, some are not. Interestingly, my wife thinks that anything not associated with aircraft would be a waste for me. This is from a woman who has been with me for years and also enjoyed the furloughs, 121 bankruptcies and sell outs. Anyway... thanks again.

I started my business before I ever went airline. It paid for meals on the road and rent, and continues to make the rent paid. 10 years of effort and still working hard.

Well come on guys, let us know what you're doing for a side job. I can assure you that most people aren't going to be your competitors (unless you live in central Connecticut). So don't just keep tantalizing us with your success, give us some details.

how much simpler can I make it:SELL ANYHING just do it better,smarter,and work your tail off. you never heard the saying: "your 1 vocation away from being a millionaire" now give me $29.95 cause I just gave you every book in the "just do it" section of B&N.. LOL the first part I meant..

It seems to me that the best business idea is the one that is usually right under your nose. We had a guy in my home town who recognized one day that there were no irrigation supply stores in our agricultural town so he opened one up. A few years later he had three stores and sold them for several million and now at 30 lives next to a ski resort.

Another guy I know bought a failing store from its alcoholic owner and turned it around. Now at 28 he just bought himself a Mooney.

Find a need and fill it. Usually the least interesting sounding business is the one that makes the biggest cash.

Skyhigh

Skyhigh is correct. Just fill the need. Long ago someone said to me..."People will buy sh*t from you if you sell it right. Ever heard of fertilizer? :)

I read the article below from USA Today about starting a business and thought it was interesting.


Recession, layoffs fuel many to start small businesses - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/startup/week1-exploring-small-business-options.htm?csp=YahooModule_Money)

Skyhigh

I have my own flight instruction business, if you want to call it that. I also have a freelance drafting business, but right now what is paying the bills is working for the cable company. A 45 mile commute each way, every day. I gotta do what I gotta do.

Everyday I sit and think about how I can make the big money (or at least the moderate money lol), but I'm just not an ideas type guy.

I read the article below from USA Today about starting a business and thought it was interesting.


Recession, layoffs fuel many to start small businesses - USATODAY.com (http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/startup/week1-exploring-small-business-options.htm?csp=YahooModule_Money)

Skyhigh

Interesting article.... Why does being unemployed spur a person to action? I'll answer my own question.. I believe many have the desire to start their own business but debt and the comfort a job prevents action. Being furloughed, laid-off provides the initiative.
The average person has the inner drive to work,,, it's in our nature. Although very tough, working for your self can reap generous rewards, such as controlling your own income and being responsible for your own fate rather than to an employer that could care less about you regardless of how many years your toil for them.

The number of NW guys that own Subways is unbelievable. Haha.

Bleedair... your Wilson face paint looks too fresh. How is he these days?

Interesting article.... Why does being unemployed spur a person to action? I'll answer my own question.. I believe many have the desire to start their own business but debt and the comfort a job prevents action. Being furloughed, laid-off provides the initiative.
The average person has the inner drive to work,,, it's in our nature. Although very tough, working for your self can reap generous rewards, such as controlling your own income and being responsible for your own fate rather than to an employer that could care less about you regardless of how many years your toil for them.

Necessity is the mother of invention. Hard times push people to new heights. I think that once this financial crisis is over we all will be much stronger for it. Our nations biggest export is not manufactured goods but innovation.

Skyhigh

Bleedair... your Wilson face paint looks too fresh. How is he these days?

I self inflected a wound over 4a2b and repainted him a month or so ago.

Purple Promised? :(

I have a type rating in one of these. I did not start the business, it is a one man show that my father started 25 years ago. On my spare time I operate the truck to give him some much needed time off. I will eventually hire an operator for when I am on the road for when my father retires and run the scheduling through a blackberry for side money.
http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h235/scmercer/photo5.jpg

I've thought that would be an excellent investment, a pump truck. Of course I thought that a couple of years ago when building was booming. Just curious, what does one of those dudes cost? Gotta be a few hundred K.....

I self inflected a wound over 4a2b and repainted him a month or so ago.

Purple Promised? :(

I am not Purple, but the MD11 is a longtime friend of mine. Although not a great airframe, it fed my family for many years.

I've thought that would be an excellent investment, a pump truck. Of course I thought that a couple of years ago when building was booming. Just curious, what does one of those dudes cost? Gotta be a few hundred K.....

This particular one was close to 300K although with the current economy alot of used ones in similar condition to this are going for the low to mid 100s. Used Concrete Pumps (http://www.concretepumpingdepot.com/)

For a long time business was good and for a short time business was phenomenal (that 4-5 year stretch a few years back) and profits were close to 200K per year. The last few years you are lucky to squeeze 30-45K out of a year. I think of it as real estate, you sell a pricey home and get a check for thirty thousand you may not sell another house for months so you take that money and make it work for you and put it in the bank. You can not think of it as having 5, 200K years and 3, 30k years you have to think of it as having averaged 136K per year and live accordingly. People get into trouble when they live like rockstars when life is good and then during the downturns they lose everything including their business.

Thanks for the info.