Need some advice!
 

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.

Crazy
 

Man just push this flying nonsense right out of your head !! Not even with the sunniest predictions would you ever come even close to what you have now as a pilot. We can't have everything in life. Buy a Cessna 150 and Forget about it.

SkyHigh

You don't think I should flight instruct as a part-time "fun" job? I would rather get paid a LITTLE to fly than just spend money. The flight instruction money will pay for the money that was spent on the licenses. Maybe you're right. I'll have to give it some thought and study it out a little more. Thanks for your reply.

Cfi ??
 

Being a CFI takes some time. Perhaps you could work towards that over a decade or so. After you have a nice retierment from the fire department you could consider a full time career.

I was a county firefighter ten years ago. I was in town to interview for a pilot job and saw an open ad for fire fighters. A book I had just read suggested going to as many interviews as possible inorder to brush up on my skills I already had a suit on so I went in to fill out an application. The cheif saw me in the suit and asked me back to his office for a brief meeting. I had never considered being a firefighter and was shocked to make it through all the testing. I worked the job for almost a year and was well liked by management and my peers. It was by far the best job I ever had or ever would have and left to take a flying job and have never regretted it. Had I stayed I would be half way to retirement by now.

SkyHigh

SkyHigh

Fireman,

First off, know that skyhigh is one end of the aviation spectrum... a pilot who jumped in with expectations that apparently weren't met, became bitter and no longer flies.

I will say that getting your certificates and ratings is a long and expensive process if you want to fly for a living. It does sound like you have a good job right now that is also tied into aviation.

Rather than start out with the goal of flying for a living, why don't you go and take a few lessons to start, with the goal of flying for fun. I'll be the first to admit that flying for work is just that- work. It's good, but it's still my job. I'd much rather be taking the family on a quick hop for lunch or dinner.

Go get your private pilot license and then perhaps your instrument rating. Once you do that, then you can make the ultimate decision about whether or not you want to pursue a career in flying.

Don't just set your sight on a Major Airline flying job...Look at other avenues also...Corporate and Supplemental jobs are also out there. I worked Lineservice at an airport in South Florida, so it was a quicker way into a jet at the time. I got very lucky and didn't need to be a CFI to build my time. Your going to need flexability with your time if you want to keep your Firefighting job and fly too. If your setting your sight on a major job think of this...How many guys flying RJ's around that want those jobs too?...Bigger plan...Bigger suitcase...Good luck

Josh
 

Please excuse Josh. He is a lucky kid from the upper middle class who is trying to avoid getting a real job. His opinions are rose colored since he hasn't faced any real difficulties in his career yet. I would consider your source here if I were you.

SkyHigh

How old are you? 30 or below? Go for it but your options will decrease. If you are over 30 then forget about it. It's not fair to your family, you don't want to go through 1000/ month with a wife and kids. You can still fly general aviation. You can fly commercial at any age it's just that if you have a family then your options will decrease.

If you're gonna take out a loan for 35K, use 20K of it to buy a 150 to get your ratings in. Then, you can use it to instruct in later. Teach your fire fighter buddies, ect. The plane will pay for itself and you can sell it for what you paid for it down the road.

I'm sorry! Maybe I wasn't too clear. I have no intentions of leaving my firefighter job. It is the best of all worlds to me. I just have 20 to 21 days off a month and get tired of sitting around the house. I have also enjoyed flying in the past with licensed friends and thought that I might flight instruct on the side for fun. I would rather do that than mow lawns, move people, or build fences. I wouldn't leave my job now for a regional... especially after reading the posts here. I am really looking for other alternatives that would allow me fly more sophisticated equipment in the future (possibly after a few years of instructing) without leaving my current job. I have heard of contract pilots, etc. I am just looking at all of my options. I do like the idea of buying a 152. I see a few possibilities there. Do you think I could find people to rent time from me? I would probably do it for cost just to have a "free" airplane.

I would have to have the perfect situation with the perfect job offer in order to leave my ultra stable job that I have now. My question about the flight instructor to the major was mostly out of curiousity. I remember seeing that in the past but I can't say that I have seen it recently. That would probably be the only way that I would leave my job and I don't ever expect that to happen. That's fine with me.

Thanks for your time and help. It's nice to talk to people who have been there, are there, and know answers to such things.

Fireman

Be very careful about renting your personal airplane...The FAA has requirements for this, but I would be more concerned with liability insurance. Food for thought...Cheers

Thanks... I am just throwing around thoughts. I don't know the rules and regs yet. I appreciate the advice.

Fireman

The regs are no big deal. Basically, you have to do an annual inspection every hundred hours. The insurance is a nightmare, way more expensive than it's worth. At the same time, if you can develop a following and keep the airplane busy, say 10 hours a week, I think you'd do okay.

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.

Leasebacks
 

Beware! That's a clear violation of the "if it flies, floats, etc." rule. The only guy I know who did that gained big headaches and lost big money. :(

A link for all that is interested about leasebacks....The article was written in '98 so the figures have changed im sure.

http://www.avweb.com/news/usedacft/182799-1.html

Leasebacks can work in some cases. The benefit is usually related to depreciating an asset at tax time and not really a reliable source of cashflow. I'd discuss the idea with a (good) CPA.

One thing that you need to ask is: "If the airplane can be purchased on credit, and the thing will be cashflow positive....why does flight school need you?"

Well, I love the thought and the idea of it. The truth is you'd probably get payed more at the majors when you reach in seniority (by far). However, training takes time and age is also a consideration that the airlines look at. Most usually have a cut-off age where they dont want to consider hiring you. Lets think about it: Each hiring that an airline does cost them money. The younger the better and lots of time to grow with the company. Note: This is just a time frame because of training and such, because I do not know your age. If you decide to take that route of getting all your liscenses while continuing your career as a firefighter. Best OF Luck! Seems like you've already gotten far in life. It wouldnt hurt to pursue your dreams to a futher extent. I'm behind you 100%