athenssoest

I want to be a pilot, and was wondering if there was an aviation career alternative (more stable maybe) than working for an airline

IC ALL

Well, there are things more stable but they tend to not pay as well. Nothing is really 100% stable, but, as always, there are those government jobs that about as stable as anything. You got your customs patrol, wildlife patrol, nav aid checking, and just your regular FSDO guy type jobs. There are jobs outside the airlines. They aren't always "stable", but they can have advantages over the airline lifestyle. That would be 135 freight, corporate, air ambulance, or the fracs. All have plusses and minuses but can fit the bill depending on your personal circumstances.

rickair7777

Law enforcement is most stable, because government almost never shrinks and even if the flying gets reduced you probably still have a cop job.

Military is next, as long you stay very competitive to avoid to avoid being booted out when they get overmanned (they go by performance, not seniority).

135/91 stuff is very cyclical with the economy but has an advantage in that your experience is portable...if you switch jobs, you usually stay in the same compensation range. At the airlines, you start all over at the bottom if you switch.