What kind of flying job can I find? I am 40 years old. A CFI/II and I have 900 hours and 61 multi. I currently Instruct part time and make about $400 a month. cant really live off of that. So what is out there for someone like me where I can actually live off of?

 

Sadly, there isnt that much out there right now espically for someone who doesn't have 135 mins. Can you teach fulltime or is that not an option? I think Riddle is hiring fulltime instructors right now. Otherwise try and network with everyone you meet. You might get lucky and find someone who needs a body in the right seat and will pay you to get some experience in a turbine engine aircraft. There are some SIC programs out there but just make sure they are paid positions, not sure who is hiring but some of the night cargo should be.

 

Thanks.nah would prefer not to leave the state. I have military obligations. I fligjht instruct now and make around $400 a month. Its a club as opposed to a school and I have to get my own students.

 

I don't do much better flight instructing. You just can't make a decent living off of it. Too many uncontrollable factors involved.

 

I really dont want to dash your hopes for sure, but there are guys out there right now with much more time than that still looking. The industry is in turmoil. The good news if there is any is when it comes back, most of the complainers, and whiners, and people who just plain feel their entitled will probably be out of the industry, which should allow the core group of professionals who stick it out, because they cant live without flying (as opposed to those playing pilot because they think it makes them look cool) to get back to what they truly love.. The day will come when things are better, the word of the year 2009 is "PATIENCE". I know it seems dismal right now, believe me I know, im driving a truck to feed my family, but thank God I have that to tide me over.

 

How much is enough "to live off." Depending on that number, it could be a few years of not making "enough" before being qualified to apply for a job that does.
Just to give you an idea of what to expect, here are the numbers from my first three low timer jobs.

Flight Instructor/Manager: $27-30k ($15k salary + flight pay)
Aerial Photo/Survey Pilot: $31k ($36k after becoming chief pilot, ha!)
Pipeline Patrol/Inspection: $26k (without an hourly raise, would've been impossible to make more)

Only the aerial photo gig gave me benefits after 90 days. Was able to get medical and dental for about $50/mo. and paid vacation.

If you have any management experience, and don't mind the instructing world, try looking at local flight schools. A managing position can usually pay enough, but be sure you can still do some flying. Might take longer to build up the hours, but at least it can be enough to keep from eating Ramen every night.

Good Luck!

 

I did Pipeline Patrol for 2 years. Pay was pretty good. Made about 35k the second year. No benefits though.

 

If you have a job now, keep it! Looking for work is the toughest thing to be doing right now. I've got 135 mins, but there's a ton of other guys out there that are just as qualified as I am that are looking at the same job. Good luck!

 

I wish I had 135 mins...no wife...no kids...fresh outa school...

1270+TT, 350+ Turbine, 53 ME

the kicker...

Less than 500 xcountry!

135.243...the reg I hate most

 

Take another look at 14CFR61.1(b)(3) and how you logged the cross country time. For part 135, it does NOT have to be over 50nm like it does to meet requirements for PVT, IRA, CAX, or ATP. If you landed at an airport other than the one you departed from, it is cross country. I have a coputerized logbook, and I made separate columns for "cross country" and "50nm xc".