Taildragger79

I'm 35 with two small children and a wife. I have 7500 hrs total 1500 multi (piston) 3000 tailwheel flying turbine airtractors. 2000 in 802's. I'm a CFI, CFII, Mei, commercial pilot. I plan to get my atp this fall. I do have the cash to get my 737 type at a school. I've flown 135 in 414's and corporate in a Navajo and a mirage. I have business degree also. I'm looking to get out of dusting for awhile if not long term. I realize I can land a job flying an 802 but I'm wanting to do something different. I enjoyed my old corporate job but the $$ wasn't there. I'm not tied down to my hometown so to say. I'd like to stay closer if possible and not move all across the map. I'm close to memphis, St. Louis, little rock, Nashville area. Where do you think I would fit in at? I'm not sure the airlines would be a good fit for me but I'm keeping my mind open to anything, from flying to management. I just want to stay involved in aviation. I love it. I have a decent job now managing a flying business but would like to have some benefits and more room to grow professionally as well. I am just feeling out what opurtunities are out there and maybe possibilities I haven't thought of yet. Heck I may stay where I'm at but I don't want to just keep doing what I'm doing if the job doesn't end up growing or goes away for some unforeseen circumstances.

rickair7777

I would venture you're not competitive for the majors without 1000 Turbine ME, although any regional would be happy to have you.

You probably need to decide if you're more interested in corporate vs. airlines...cuz given your flight experience the obvious best path for the airline route will be a regional. But that of course will be a big pay and QOL cut, hopefully to be more than made up for when you get to a major.

Taildragger79

I agree getting on the majors would be a long shot. My gut says flying corporate probably fits me better or flying freight possibly. I do have the opportunity to do pilot service on the side with my current job especially through our slow times, so I'm not opposed to building my twin turbine time landing a few King Air gigs locally either as a back up pilot seevice pilot either. I'd like to have a decent qol and make in that 70-100k range with benefits. The big time 200k jobs are always intriguing but not necessarily or not a long time goal for me. I am involved in another type of business as well (not aviation related) that I can make a lot of that income difference up as it grows.

Cubdriver

Sounds like you've been around the block a little while. I am in the same boat- tried airlines and didn't fit in, in retrospect I am glad that I didn't because they are such a bad scene. Sounds like you may wish to look at corporate/charter/135 ME-turbine jobs. For the latter you are short on ME turbine time, they want 500 ME turbine for insurance. So you will have to pay some dues to become competitive, and that's about a year of flying a twin engine turbine somewhere. Jobs that take low timers are of course low paying but once you have it the door is open. You could actually do that time at a regional, but I wouldn't plan on making a career out of it.

Taildragger79

That's what I'm thinking is flying a couple King airs locally, not a big pilot pool around here especially with experience. My old corporate gig I did now has a king air and they do pilot service for their aircraft. They operate a Barron as well now. Im not real picky as far as having to fly a jet so to say, I'm the type of person if you pay me enough and treat me right I'll fly a 152 as long as it's safe.

Taildragger79

I haven't signed up for those services but I will look into them. I agree my 802 time is good for flying an 802 and that's about it.