andycfi

Hi everyone-

I got out of the business shortly after college (2004) due to family illness and the associated financial constraints. I've done a little flying since but have wanted to get back to it. 8 years later, I'm sitting at 1000TT and 50ME. I am looking to find some way to get back into professional flying in some way, shape, or form. I have done fairly well for myself in the IT industry but would like to be back in aviation eventually.

After spending some years away from pursuing this goal, I can't seem to "scratch the itch" doing this as a hobby. It is not where I wanted to be. I am an active CFI and plan to continue that. I would like to attain something beyond that though. I don't really care about going to the airlines - it just isn't important to me anymore. I've thought about Part 135, corporate, air ambulance, and similar niches. Can any of these be done part time? If not, are there any of the typically low paying positions that I could do part time until I could achieve a decent paying full time slot?

I am open to suggestions outside the box. I've known instructors that were "at the right place, at the right time" and snagged a corporate gig at sub 1000TT. I've also known guys and gals with outstanding business / it / etc skills that worked in their primary field and also flew in the company's flight department from time to time. I am not picky - I'm just looking to attain my goal in some way, at some point.

To sum it up - I am married, very debt averse, and working full-time for less than 35k is not an option. Save the flames - I realize I must climb the ladder as everyone else has. I just can't leave IT unless I can support myself. I'm 30, my ratings are paid off, and I have no debt. At a certain point in your life, you can't turn back to an 18k salary living off credit cards.

I'm open to just about anything - I appreciate the help!

Cubdriver

I am in a similar situation with an engineering background, but I decided I simply must go to airlines for at least a few years to break into heavy aircraft. What threw me over the edge was seeing how my piston engineer pals sit around for decades without breaking into it, their anchors being homes, kids, wife, cushy jobs, easy hours. Some of them have been tied down for decades in this way. If you ask them they would undoubtedly defend the choice not to go, but not one would claim "oh, I have no interest in flying turbines". So, if you are somewhat free to move, have your finances in order, willing to make nothing for a while, then airlines offer a viable way to turbine time unparalleled outside of the military. There really is no other way unless you are able to throw money at the problem. And who knows, maybe airline life is not that bad, I have some friends who would definitely tell me so.

andycfi

I can totally understand your position. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do if it is important enough to you.

I do not have a house or kids at this time, but I'm unwilling to relocate or to take a job with the regionals or any other full-time with low pay. I've had the "almost-opportunities" come my way more than once (part 91 right seat stuff) and nothing ever panned out. I just can't gamble all the good things I've achieved for a maybe. I might be too risk averse, but I'm realistic enough to accept the fact that my goals may never come true since there are changes I'm unwilling to make.

I am just hoping for something outside the box that might be somewhere between the goals I had when I was 18 and where I'm at now. I'd be thrilled flying a Commander, Cheyenne, or King Air a few hundred hours a year. I don't expect it to happen tomorrow either - I'm just looking for a path.

Cubdriver

If all you are after is a part time 135 gig they are around, just few and far between. There is a retired airline guy in this neck of the woods who bought a 135 certificate and a Seneca and as we speak is setting up operations hauling medical boxes in the southeast. He hired a part time pilot and was going to put me on the ticket as a hobby pilot, when I decided to bail for the airlines. Short of that, I would say look into setting up your own Part 135 operation, you may have to hire a pilot and it will definitely be a huge expense/ pain in the butt getting it going, but after it settles you will have exactly what you want. I can put you in touch with this guy if you want to ask him how he did his.

andycfi

Thanks for the info, please PM! I am not quite sure I want to start a business - it's a lot of risk, especially in aviation. I would like to hear how he got started though - maybe he had a good niche that needed to be filled.