Originally Posted by TravisUK

Some food for thought about buying a plane and renting it out...There is a 141 school that if you have the credit and $$$, you buy a brand new Cessna and do what they call a lease back. You lease it to the flight school, they manage it and cover the insurance for the students and supposedly you get enough money that covers all of the payments and maint. costs. Oh, you get to fly it whenever you want too. I don't know how well these programs work but but im sure someone on the boards has dealt with or heard about these.

Originally Posted by TravisUK

Some food for thought about buying a plane and renting it out...There is a 141 school that if you have the credit and $$$, you buy a brand new Cessna and do what they call a lease back. You lease it to the flight school, they manage it and cover the insurance for the students and supposedly you get enough money that covers all of the payments and maint. costs. Oh, you get to fly it whenever you want too. I don't know how well these programs work but but im sure someone on the boards has dealt with or heard about these.

Originally Posted by fireman653

Let me start with a little background. I am currently an aircraft rescue firefighter at DFW International Airport. The "port" takes care of me pretty well. I make a little over $60K a year as a basic firefighter. If I promote, I can make roughly $85k a year... eventually. I only have to work nine to ten days a month. The typical firefighter schedule.... one day on and then two days off. And I love my job.

I am married with kids. I have a very small mortgage (because I got lucky) and we are free of debt... besides the usual small expenses. My wife supports me (probably because she is tired of hearing about it).

Having said this, I also have a fixation with flying. My father worked for the airlines for 36 years and retired (not as a pilot, though). I worked for the airlines for a couple of years as a ramp rat. I loved it. Since this time, I have always wanted to fly. Friends have taken me up with them and we have putted around. I loved it.

I have been considering getting all of my licenses this summer and start instructing. (I really don't know how taking a loan for $35k in order to make $16/hour can be justified though.) I think that I would like to instruct for a few years (both single and multi) and then move on to something a little more sophisticated.

My question is: After instructing for a few years, what kind of options could be suggested for someone in my situation since I would really like to keep my day job?

Also, do the majors ever hire flight instructors with tons of hours... both single and multi? I bet those days are gone.

What do you guys/girls think?

I would appreciate the help.