Thank you all for the replies!

I guess I am overthinking all of this. Ill probably do both, just be a little more modest with my "extracurricular activities".
Thanks again, and stay safe out there,

PiperDriver

 

Hey guys I've been away for a bit, and been thinking...here's a video (not me--but very similar) of what I'd be doing to promote my products. Its pretty nutty for sure. Do you guys really think it would be OK? Just wanted to shed some light on what it really is.

https://youtu.be/1uXL_d5V9VA

Thank you all again,
PiperDriver

 

Think about it this way, having already arrived this far in the thread: do you think that would be how you'd like an employer to see you, or would you use that video as your resume?

An employer, betting his company, reputation, millions, duty and liability, and the safety and security of his airline, passengers, crew, stocks and legal standing, is looking for a pilot who does not stand out, who does not buck the norm, who follows FAA regulation and company rules and policies, and who acts conservatively.

The company is looking for someone who can make an emergency into a routine event because it's handled in a standardized crew-coordinated manner, and who does not create emergencies. Boring is good. Uneventful is best.

Put that video as the centerpiece for your resume. Say "this is what I do and what I bring to the table." Do you feel that will get you a seat in an interview? Probably not. The first time the employer sees the guy sailing off the skateboard in a turn or running head to head with a car and you say "this is what I do," the employer will see that what you do is exactly the opposite of what the employer wants in a pilot.

If your intent in referring the video is to convince others that what you do is compatible with a flying career, that may not work in your interest.

Flying is about judgement. Often times that's not how to go about doing something, but whether one should do it at all.

 

Plenty of airline pilots participate in extreme sports. IMO that probably makes them better pilots in a pinch, as opposed to say a career-changing accountant who's never had to perform while fearing for his own life and limb.

But this sort of activity may not be something you would want to highlight or dwell on at an interview. If this is a private business activity, well they don't ask about that on applications. They only ask about previous W2 employers, although for any period where you were not in school or employed with a W2 they will want some verification of self employment, or whatever activity you doing at the time.

Sounds like you'll probably need to explain it as a period of self-employment.

If it comes up at an interview I think you could gloss it over by going immediately into the BUSINESS aspects of what you're doing, with details about marketing, ROI, those kinds of things. Make their eyes glaze over, don't make their eyes go wide with shock. They have no problem hiring self-employed go-getters who are responsible enough to develop and run a legal business.

Now if they goggle your name and find a bunch of videos...you had better hope that your demeanor and language in the videos is fairly respectable.

I think you'll be fine at almost any regional, and would eventually be able to get hired at a majors...after the tickets are ancient history. Also might want to consider a regional which has flow to AA, that would hopefully bypass the major airline interview process.

It is important in your circumstances that you keep your nose very clean from here on out.

 

This post is worth a million bucks to me. Thank you sir. I feel a lot better about the situation. Time to keep studying and try not to mess up my checkride.
Happy Flying,
PiperDriver