Zach

I was curious how many of you pilots worked in line service at an FBO before you started getting paid to fly?

I work in Line Service at Executive Beechcraft at SUS, and I think its a good job for an aspiring professional pilot. I have been able to meet and talk to a lot of pilots. We also have a charter department so I would think me working in line service will help me get my foot in the door if I wanted to go that route. I won't be here much longer though hopefully. I should have my CFI in about a month and Im hoping the place I have done my training at from day 1 will hire me.

GauleyPilot

I worked on the line pumping fuel and washing/towing airplanes before and after I flew for a living. I think all pilots should be required to do a tour on the ramp in all seasons.

ERJ135

I washed airplanes and interiors

UConnQB14

my best advice to young pilots.. work for an FBO with a flight school.. try to work a deal where you fly for a discount.. it saved me around 2 grand when all was said and done... secondly, you meet a lottttt of people.. you never know when someone may need an extra guy

FlyerJosh

I worked the line for the university when I was in college. You certainly learn how to tow/push an aircraft when there's 120 of them that need hangared every day!

navyman_tx

I've
1. towed
2. fueled
3. washed
4. oiled
5. drained shi$%ers
6. serviced hydraulics
7. changed brakes
8. changed tires
9. loaded and unloaded
10. preflighted and done inspections
All has been a great learning experience. i have alot of respect for planes, I also have alot of respect for the people who have to service them.

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Somebody shoot me

ryane946

I worked line service when I was 18 during the summer. It was an awesome job that paid very well for me at the time. It was fun work. I got to meet a lot of people, and I learned a lot of interesting stuff that I am and will continue to apply in my flying career.

I agree that all pilots should have to do a "tour of duty" as a lineman (1-3 months). It is a great learning experience. Especially for corporate pilots. I could always tell which pilots had worked the line becuase of how they'd treat us. Even if a problem came up, as long as we explained it, they seemed to understand. Others were just jerks.
Net Jets pilots were always the best to us.
Citation shares pilots always had big egos.

I have never worked line service in the cold/rainy winter, so I feel for those guys.

Crashman

I'm just a private pilot but I worked the line for an FBO at LRD for a year after college. Hung out at the airport all day and got paid for it! A great way to learn what serious aviation is all about - plus the fringe benefits. After the pilots got to know and trust me, I got all kinds of rides and checkouts in cool airplanes - Hansa Jet, Vari-Eze, Maule, all the bizjets and heavy twins... and OLD airplanes: DC-3, Twin Beech, DC-6, F4U Corsair. I'd wash airplanes for hours. My favorite job was firing up the monster Curtiss C-46 Commando on our ramp once a week to keep the oil flowing. I wasn't just a lineboy with a private ticket then - I was flying the Hump!

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iflyjets4food

I worked line service for a year and a half, and it helped land me in the charter department where I am. BTW, we fly into SUS a couple times a year and we go to Executive Beechcraft.

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"Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self..."

Ottopilot

I worked at a half-dozen FBO's in the SFO Bay Area. Got at least four jobs that way. Traffic watch, CFI, and corporate jobs. If you want to be in aviation, get in aviation. Network!

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-Otto Pilot.