I have always thought of opening a go go dance club :-D

 

Here is another tip. FOs with families can qualify for government assistance. WIC is pretty easy to get. Food stamps depend on the state. My income was always too high. Some areas also provide assistance for heating bills. You might also be able to get medicare for your kids. To get much more than that, you'll have to cash out any savings and investments first.

Be sure to wear your uniform to the office when you apply.

 

You want details: Go start a business. This is America, you can do anything you want. The bookstore or library is a good place to build some knowledge outside of aviation, you might even be able to use it. jeez

 

My current goal is to save up as much money as I can now, while I'm a CFI. I'm working two jobs and moving home (which is closer to both jobs). While there I'm going to try my best to put all of the money from the second job (about $1000 per month) into the bank. I'm making enough now to pay the bills, but after I pick up more students, I'm going to start putting the excess in the bank as well. I'd like to have about 15-20k saved up in the next two years so I can live in something nicer than a crashpad, start my retirement investments, and still have a few thousand as "just in case" money.

Oh, I also drive an old car that's been paid for for 5 years and costs next to nothing to insure. I'm also going to live like I'm making less than I really am so I don't exceed my means.

 

pilotpip,

i'd recommend you put that $1000 a month (at least the lion's share 70%) into a balanced fund or S&P500 index fund. Vanguard has good funds ( I have money in their VFINX and an IRA with them...)

You should be maxing out your IRA. I recommed a ROTH IRA if you don't already have one. You can certainly afford to taking home an extra 1K per month...

Also, for part time jobs Starbucks can't be beat. You get medical / 401K with match. After 6 months you can buy company stock at a discount. After 1 year they give you company stock every quarter...Check them out...

-LA

 

there is this thing calll the RLA that is set up to prevent unions in the transportation industry from keeping management in line. there is also an anti labor president sitting in the white house who appoints extremely anti labor federal judges and an antilabor house of reps.
without legal system integrity , presidential integrity , congresional and senatorial integrity and with a corrupt and outdated antilabor law (RLA), the "union", as you call them ( and by the way, the ""union" is every member, not some obscure entity) are barely able to stay afloat.

when "the union" figures something out, better paid lawyers get some corrupt judge to issue injuctions, restraining orders and stiff penalties to the "union", or they get some lobbyist have some corrup polititian introduce some castrating legislation. the "powers that be" do not want any "union" to exist or even provide a nice middle class income for their members, since that cuts into their dividend checks,share price increase and management profit sharing bonus.

next time you vote, be smart, like management is, and vote with your wallet. you will not loose your guns and goverment spending won't increase more than it already has.

 

Some of the FOs I've flown with recently have side jobs processing loans, running websites, and throwing bags for Fed Ex.

If you're not flying 100 hours (or 120 hours if able) a month, you're not doing everything you can at your first job to maximize earnings. Blocking nearly 100hours a month at SkyWest would have your credit up around 110. If you time out in December you should get the monthly guarantee without having to work. I've known plenty of 2nd year FOs that work the system and make 50K+.

I recently applied at Southwest and one of the questions on the app was "how many hours flown in the past 36 months?". Since they ask the question I figure it must be important to them. I've heard that they look for people who like to fly alot (hence will be more productive). A number around 3000 is probably alot more favorable than 2000 etc.

I did 1150hrs of pay last year and only picked up an average of 1 extra day a month. One of the guys I worked with had 1450 hours of credit. Become a friend of scheduling, get work in the training department, etc. When it comes time to move on it will make things even easier.

Start putting money into the 401K plan immediately, and as much as you can.

 

tHERE YOU HAVE IT.... Follow UTAH "advice". turn into a company HO and screw your co-workers by making your own deals with crew squed and working on your days off as much as you can. that way, when your contract negotiators try to obtain QOL improvements , the company can get back at them with : "40% of your union memebers work 24 days a month, why do you need 15 days off for? that's not a safety or fatigue related issue".

Nice going dude, set us back another 10 years.

 

How do you turn into the company HO when picking up other pilots trips off the swap board? Helping the guy out when he needs some time off, etc.

How do you turn into the company HO when picking up a trip for time and a half when the companies only other option is to junior man someone that might not want to work? The only deals that are made are usually for double or even triple time if the company is desperate.

How do you turn into the company HO when on reserve telling scheduling to place you call first? Using your seniority to dictate if you get the flying or not.

I'm working 16 days next month for 94 hours of pay. 15 days off.
I worked 15 days this month for 96 hours of pay. Hardly put myself out there all that much.

We are hiring and have been for years. We don't have any furloughed pilots I'm taking flying from.

 

LA,

Those were on the list too. Thanks for the insight. One of my students is an investment banker and I have discussed this with him a bit already.