airlines vs. corprate vs.cargo vs. "bush"
 

I'm looking for some seasoned opinion's about a career path but I'll listen to anyone with a serious answer. I LOVE to fly airplanes. I won't be happy doing anything else, I realise that now at 39 with a wife and 2 boys(10,12). I went and got my comm./ multi/ instr. just before 9/11. and have been a reluctant penguin ever since. flight instuctor pay is for single guys shacking up together, eating ramen noodles and riding a bike to work. I'm sitting at 270 TT 60 ME and really can't afford to make a move in the wrong direction in this new wave of opertunity so, pilots, I want to know what the pro's and con's you've seen in each career path. Lately, flying a twin otter in the Carabean or Alaska has cought my attention. Anyonrein here doing that? If you KNOW someone in these jobs for the more hardy pilot not so concerned with the pay, feeel free to put me in touch with them. thanks, Andrew

Just out of curiosity what does your wife do for a living? If she makes decent money you should be able to support yourself and your family (From what I'm told). Also, it helps if the kids are in school. And I also don't know if flying in the Caribean would be ideal for a family. If I'm not mistaken the cost of living down there might be a bit high :)

Again, this is all from what I've heard from pilots both on this forum and in real life.

She is a Domestic Tech (homeschools our boys) but is willing to work P/T.
I was too narrow when I said "Caribean". I meant any remote flying job (ie. Alaska, islands, atolls, foriegn or domestic. We're low maintenance folks.

You might want to look at instructing at a 141 school like ALL ATPs. I know guys that are starting day 1 with ZERO flight hours. They send them through Private, Commercial, Multi, INST, and all the way through Single and Multi CFI and CFII. They have Letters of Agreement (LOAs) with regionals, so guys are getting hired with 300 hours or so. Therefore, if they allow you to teach, you could possibly interview within 6 months or so. From there, it just means getting time with a regional and getting the PIC time once you become a captain to qualify for a major. Once your on with a regional, you can usually jumpseat anywhere in the country for free, so commuting wouldn't be cost prohibitive. Your wife will have to work to supplement your income for around 2 years in this case. I would say you could be with a major in 5 years with the way the pilot shortage is approaching. In fact, if you are willing to move, countries like China are hiring everyone that knows which way is up and has a heartbeat. Your kids will be close to college, so it would be you and your wife moving at that point. Anyway, you will sacrifice but it is getting close to too late if you don't start soon.

Good Luck.

I forgot to add that Angel Flight is a way to build some time for a little cheaper. I am a pilot at FedEx now, but I have been flying Angel Flights for around 7 years or so. You already exceed the minimums to qualify, and your costs are tax deductible. We rent for each flight because we don't own an airplane, but it is much cheaper if you own. Also, if you know of someone else needing some flight time, you can share costs and logged hours.

Here is an email I received today from them. The link should get you more information.


Good news for flight instructors:

Tremendous hiring at the regional airlines has ATP instructors getting jobs faster than ever. Thanks to the faster airline hiring, ATP is offering new incentives to flight instructors who want to work with ATP:

- $500 start bonus
- Free Regional Jet Standards Certification Program ($5,995 value)
- Free Housing in Jacksonville during orientation
- $2,000 per month pay for instructors working in scheduling
- Option to go direct to any of 21 training centers nationwide, without working in Jacksonville

These are just some of the new changes that make instructing at ATP better than anywhere else. You get more multi-engine time faster and airline placement assistance.

Check out the web site for full details at:
<http://www.atpflightschool.com/employment/cfi_jobs.html>

If this email doesn't apply to you, please accept our apologies. We would appreciate it if you would forward this information to anyone you know who might be interested.

Sincerely,

ATP / 800-ALL-ATPS

I just recieved a post card from Embry-Riddle in Prescott. CFI's Wanted!

Bachelors / Masters degree tuition free.
Health insurance.
Paid personal leave.
Holiday pay.
Retirement plans.
Airfare and Hotel for interview paid.
$15.77 to $ 22.05/hr.

Do you have your CFI/II? You need to get your time up and this is the traditional way to do it.

i never knew penguins were reluctant

Oh, they are. Something to do with wearing a tux all the time.

Be careful doing that fun flying you are talking about. Once you start you may not be able to stop. Life is more drab when you are landing on pavement from an autopilot-flown approach.

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/sh...ad.php?t=14072

twin otters, low time, touristy destination

PenAir in Alaska is getting ready to interview for the September ground school. part 135 and part 121 certificates. Fly a Cherokee six, Caravan or a Navajo in the bush or fly out of Anchorage in a Saab 340 or Metro and still be home every night.

Just a thought.

Is there a lot going on up there after Sept. in AK?

For every company advertising for CFI's, write to them and offer your services for...say...$40/hr. What do you have to lose? The CFI position is fast becoming a high value position.

My dad was an employer. He used to say, "Women get paid less than men because they will work for less." My point is, know what you are worth. Demand it. When you get the job. Earn it.

All things equal, I came back to Alaska and wondered why I had left? I had family obligations to attend to, but after that was satisfied I came back. I left behind an empty captain seat at a regional.

Do what makes you happy. If you need structure, planned out future and a ritual, find your way into an airline. I like to FEEL the flying I do, and do it myself... sans autopilot. I also love being outdoors in nature. Alaska was a no brainer, once I recovered from shiny jet fever and the promise of 2.4 kids in suburbia, I came back.

I say this even now, as a recovery mission is going on to pull a local plane out of a nearby lake. The pilot and passengers were lost, and they were doing the same kind of flying I do, day after day. Life is not garaunteed, you must follow what makes you happy.

Good luck,

Ronin

P.s. Flying the Grand Canyon can be done with few hours for a number of operators. That's how I built up my multi PIC time to go up north. There's a lot to learn in the ditch, and it's fun.

There's always a lot going on flying out of Anchorage. The bush ops. that I know of are short on people right now. Flying does slow down some in the winters in the bush, but the operators are still needing people. If you aren't sure about working in the bush, you can get on with PenAir or Frontier Flying and work out of the big city and fly to the hubs in the bush, and make your decision from there. Both of those companys have 135 ops in the bush as well, making for an easy transition. Those Frontier PA-31 drivers make a pretty penny too. Roughly 300 a day, depending on where you're based.

Navy,

I'm up in the great north and for the most part I'm enjoying it.

Frontier is hiring off and on all year long. The normal upgrade is 1900 SIC, to Navajo PIC, to 1900 PIC. Expect a year to a year and a half at each stop. I hear they just had a class start, so next one will probably be in a few month, depending on attrition and upgrades to the 'jo.

If you are really serious, stop by the hangar in FAI and ask to speak to the chief pilot. Sending a resume works, with frequent updating of course. Its about timing, basically, they realize they are short and fill the need.

And yes, you can make in the 45K range flying the 'jo in the bush (Aniak, Kotzebue, Nome, and Barrow). Most of the operators out there pay very well.

Feel free to contact me if you are allowed.

Checko

Ronin, who hires the low time guys around the Grand Canyon?
Who did you fly for and how many hrs were you hired with?
i'm at 275TT/ 60 MEL

Checko, yes, I'm serious. two questions.
whats FAI?
will they hire me at 275TT, 60 MEL ?

FAI = Fairbanks

You meet the mins. It depends on who else applies.

They'll probably have a class in Octoberish, me thinks.

The fax number and contact info is on their website. Currently they are advertising for a Navajo Captain, but the contact info is the same for the 1900 position.

Too bad we can't PM each other on this site, I'd be able to help you out a bit more that way.

Go here and look me up, would be my best suggestion. Its well worth it and the pilots are very helpful, especially for someone in your position.

Checko

I'd take a look at Scenic Airways.

www.scenicops.com

Checko

Thanks Checko, I'll get up with you soon when I get my login. I might be able to catch a MAC flight to FAI. i'd have to take leave but if showing my face there is really that important I'd do it. I need to get my bi-annual first though. Haven't flown in a while...money.