Part Time Gigs?
10-26-2018, 06:28 AM
#12
Banned
Joined APC: Feb 2017
Posts: 2,275
The only viable option you have is to be your own boss. Your other job nor you will tolerate a real job in aviation. Aviation simply isn't a 9-5, 5 days a week gig. If that's the only reality you know, stop wasting your time thinking about it. Volunteer with one of the many groups that fly patients or relief.
11-11-2018, 08:40 AM
#13
New Hire
Joined APC: Aug 2016
Posts: 4
Seems like quite a bit of pessimism in the responses here.
The truth is, there are plenty of part-time flying gigs out there. I know, because I did some of them for years. It is not uncommon for corporate or charter operators to hire part-time pilots to help fill-in for full time pilots. It allows the operator to minimize the number of full-time pilots they have to maintain to run their schedules, while providing a way to fill in for the full-time pilots while they are out on vacation or training.
The trick is that these part-time positions are rarely advertised - they're often word of mouth, and there's not typically much turnover with them. They typically use folks who they already know, so it's difficult to even find out about them unless you happen to know someone who works there who will recommend you.
On the plus side, they can be some of the most flexible positions, as they typically call down their list of part-time contractors when they have some time to fill. If you're not available, they simply call up the next person on the list. Downsides are that there typically won't be a guarantee on how much you fly, and you definitely have to have a large amount of flexibility in your availability for them to justify keeping you current. Oftentimes the flying time they are trying to cover is vacations or holidays when most folks prefer to be off. Every place will be different.
Your best bet in finding something along these lines is network, network, network. Go out of your way to talk to working pilots everywhere you stop. Visit the local airports and talk with folks. Be casual, personable and flexible - they're looking for someone who's easy to work with on sometimes complex scheduling issues, as well as being a good pilot. It's pretty hit or miss, but you just may get lucky. In today's pilot job market, your chances of finding something like this are probably lots higher than when I did it.
Nitpicky, but speaking of being open-minded- you addressed your message to "Gents". The contact who opened the doors for my first part-time gig was a female. Hint, hint.
Oh, and you'll definitely want to have your commercial before you start networking, if you're serious. When places have a need for this kind of position, they likely want someone "right now" on short notice. Good luck with your search.
The truth is, there are plenty of part-time flying gigs out there. I know, because I did some of them for years. It is not uncommon for corporate or charter operators to hire part-time pilots to help fill-in for full time pilots. It allows the operator to minimize the number of full-time pilots they have to maintain to run their schedules, while providing a way to fill in for the full-time pilots while they are out on vacation or training.
The trick is that these part-time positions are rarely advertised - they're often word of mouth, and there's not typically much turnover with them. They typically use folks who they already know, so it's difficult to even find out about them unless you happen to know someone who works there who will recommend you.
On the plus side, they can be some of the most flexible positions, as they typically call down their list of part-time contractors when they have some time to fill. If you're not available, they simply call up the next person on the list. Downsides are that there typically won't be a guarantee on how much you fly, and you definitely have to have a large amount of flexibility in your availability for them to justify keeping you current. Oftentimes the flying time they are trying to cover is vacations or holidays when most folks prefer to be off. Every place will be different.
Your best bet in finding something along these lines is network, network, network. Go out of your way to talk to working pilots everywhere you stop. Visit the local airports and talk with folks. Be casual, personable and flexible - they're looking for someone who's easy to work with on sometimes complex scheduling issues, as well as being a good pilot. It's pretty hit or miss, but you just may get lucky. In today's pilot job market, your chances of finding something like this are probably lots higher than when I did it.
Nitpicky, but speaking of being open-minded- you addressed your message to "Gents". The contact who opened the doors for my first part-time gig was a female. Hint, hint.
Oh, and you'll definitely want to have your commercial before you start networking, if you're serious. When places have a need for this kind of position, they likely want someone "right now" on short notice. Good luck with your search.
Last edited by ajAK; 11-11-2018 at 09:09 AM.
11-11-2018, 02:08 PM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2015
Position: Guppy Gear Slinger
Posts: 1,852
Originally Posted by ajAK
Seems like quite a bit of pessimism in the responses here.
The truth is, there are plenty of part-time flying gigs out there. I know, because I did some of them for years. It is not uncommon for corporate or charter operators to hire part-time pilots to help fill-in for full time pilots. It allows the operator to minimize the number of full-time pilots they have to maintain to run their schedules, while providing a way to fill in for the full-time pilots while they are out on vacation or training.
The trick is that these part-time positions are rarely advertised - they're often word of mouth, and there's not typically much turnover with them. They typically use folks who they already know, so it's difficult to even find out about them unless you happen to know someone who works there who will recommend you.
On the plus side, they can be some of the most flexible positions, as they typically call down their list of part-time contractors when they have some time to fill. If you're not available, they simply call up the next person on the list. Downsides are that there typically won't be a guarantee on how much you fly, and you definitely have to have a large amount of flexibility in your availability for them to justify keeping you current. Oftentimes the flying time they are trying to cover is vacations or holidays when most folks prefer to be off. Every place will be different.
Your best bet in finding something along these lines is network, network, network. Go out of your way to talk to working pilots everywhere you stop. Visit the local airports and talk with folks. Be casual, personable and flexible - they're looking for someone who's easy to work with on sometimes complex scheduling issues, as well as being a good pilot. It's pretty hit or miss, but you just may get lucky. In today's pilot job market, your chances of finding something like this are probably lots higher than when I did it.
Nitpicky, but speaking of being open-minded- you addressed your message to "Gents". The contact who opened the doors for my first part-time gig was a female. Hint, hint.
Oh, and you'll definitely want to have your commercial before you start networking, if you're serious. When places have a need for this kind of position, they likely want someone "right now" on short notice. Good luck with your search.
The truth is, there are plenty of part-time flying gigs out there. I know, because I did some of them for years. It is not uncommon for corporate or charter operators to hire part-time pilots to help fill-in for full time pilots. It allows the operator to minimize the number of full-time pilots they have to maintain to run their schedules, while providing a way to fill in for the full-time pilots while they are out on vacation or training.
The trick is that these part-time positions are rarely advertised - they're often word of mouth, and there's not typically much turnover with them. They typically use folks who they already know, so it's difficult to even find out about them unless you happen to know someone who works there who will recommend you.
On the plus side, they can be some of the most flexible positions, as they typically call down their list of part-time contractors when they have some time to fill. If you're not available, they simply call up the next person on the list. Downsides are that there typically won't be a guarantee on how much you fly, and you definitely have to have a large amount of flexibility in your availability for them to justify keeping you current. Oftentimes the flying time they are trying to cover is vacations or holidays when most folks prefer to be off. Every place will be different.
Your best bet in finding something along these lines is network, network, network. Go out of your way to talk to working pilots everywhere you stop. Visit the local airports and talk with folks. Be casual, personable and flexible - they're looking for someone who's easy to work with on sometimes complex scheduling issues, as well as being a good pilot. It's pretty hit or miss, but you just may get lucky. In today's pilot job market, your chances of finding something like this are probably lots higher than when I did it.
Nitpicky, but speaking of being open-minded- you addressed your message to "Gents". The contact who opened the doors for my first part-time gig was a female. Hint, hint.
Oh, and you'll definitely want to have your commercial before you start networking, if you're serious. When places have a need for this kind of position, they likely want someone "right now" on short notice. Good luck with your search.
Although, to be honest, if you get your 1500 hours, get hired at a 121 carrier, and get senior enough as an FO, it can practically be a part-time gig. It's not impossible to fly just 9-10 days a month, and since most people bid-avoid weekends, it's possible to literally be a weekend 121 aviator. Realistically, you could fly 10 days/month if all of the following are true:
1. You've been at your airline long enough to be in the top 10-20% in your seat and base. The time to get there varies, of course. It could easily take 5+ years, and during those years you will generally be flying a great deal more than 10 days/month.
2. You're able to bid and hold high-credit trips on the days you want them (ie. Saturdays and Sundays.)
3. Your airline actually has locals and 2-day trips in your base and equipment, and you can hold them.
Again, you have to get from where you are now, to this theoretical situation. To do so, you'll need to build your 1,500 hours, apply to a 121 carrier, get hired, and then go to training -- which is more than a fulltime commitment for about 3 months. Then you'll be on reserve for a while (in which case it is impossible to hold a regular 9-5 job, unless said job is OK with you regularly disappearing on 2 hours' notice. Then you'll hold a line, but you'll be a junior lineholder with a schedule not too different from a reserve guy (or gal.)
Bottom line: Yes, it's possible in the 121 world, but there is a lot of sacrifice required to get there.
As others have said, part-time contract gigs in the part 91 and 135 world do exist. They are hard to find, and you must be :
1. Typed and current in the aircraft. Given that a decent type rating costs anywhere from $30K to $80K for the G-V or Globals, this is not a trivial investment. Also, don't pay for your type — it's just not a smart thing to do, nor will it get you much beyond some ink on your certificate.
2. Note the 'current' part. Nobody will hire you with just a type rating and 0 time in type. Unless, that is, you're lucky enough to find an operation that will hire you and pay for your type rating. But then they're gonna want you to be available when they need you.
Bottom line: the part-time gigs in the 91 and 135 world usually go to guys (or gals) who've been there, done that, made lots of connections, and want to scale back their flying somewhat.
The best thing you can do at this point, really, is get your CFI/I/MEI and start teaching. You'll make all kinds of contacts that way. Of the three people I know who are part-time bizjet FOs, they all got those gigs through the networks they'd built as CFIs.
Also, get your commercial multi as a bare minimum, and ideally your ATP. Getting to that level shows that you're serious. With just a basic commercial-ASEL ticket, nobody will talk to you...and with a comm-AMEL ticket, you might get a few nibbles. But go out and build up your resume and ratings, and network like crazy, and good things can happen.
11-12-2018, 05:12 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2009
Posts: 2,230
Originally Posted by usafltg
Well...
That was relatively unhelpful. I asked specifically about part-time gigs. I know they exist. I’d like to get paid / augment and maybe someday I’ll transition fully, but right now that’s not really of interest to me. I don’t view it as a hobby, if I I fly somewhere, I fly for a purpose today not as a hobby. I would like to use my skills for something useful. Yes angel flights is fine... but realistically that requires a decent airplane like a 421C.
I would rather find something part time for a while and I would think a cargo route would be the way to go and fit a scheduled.
That was relatively unhelpful. I asked specifically about part-time gigs. I know they exist. I’d like to get paid / augment and maybe someday I’ll transition fully, but right now that’s not really of interest to me. I don’t view it as a hobby, if I I fly somewhere, I fly for a purpose today not as a hobby. I would like to use my skills for something useful. Yes angel flights is fine... but realistically that requires a decent airplane like a 421C.
I would rather find something part time for a while and I would think a cargo route would be the way to go and fit a scheduled.
11-12-2018, 05:45 PM
#18
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2006
Position: Left, right & center
Posts: 772
Originally Posted by trip
You might have better luck sitting in the right seat for some rich dude or corporate operator, **these stints often come with questionable operations.
11-12-2018, 06:18 PM
#19
New Hire
Joined APC: Oct 2018
Posts: 3
What you are looking for exists, but requires some “paying your dues” and effort on your part. I recommend getting your CFI, and look to be hired at a smaller FBO that has a 135 charter operation. Flight instructing will open doors and let you become a known quantity within the company. The business I work for has never posted a want ad for a pilot, because they hire from within from the CFI ranks. I suspect many good operators work that way too. It helps if your current job is flexible or will allow you to be off some weekdays too. You need enough availability to financially benefit the company, as training and 135 checkrides cost real money, even at the lowest piston twin level. Lastly, with regards to being a CFI, you will also find aircraft owners who lack the confidence to fly their airplanes in any sort of instrument conditions, and will hire you to do it for them.
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