Careers other than airlines

[Flyguy6]

I hear a lot about folks wanting to be airline pilots. I am curious how to get into other flying careers. How does one get a job flying for the FAA? Either as an aviation safety inspector or just as a regular pilot. I see them sometimes at my local airport doing flight checks checking the nav equipment on the field. It may not pay what airlines pay but working for the federal government is stable and it is good pay.

 

[generaltso]

It's easy to become an aviation safety inspector, all you have to do is get turned down by every other aviation job you want.

 

[FN FAL]

I hear a lot about folks wanting to be airline pilots. I am curious how to get into other flying careers. How does one get a job flying for the FAA? Either as an aviation safety inspector or just as a regular pilot. I see them sometimes at my local airport doing flight checks checking the nav equipment on the field. It may not pay what airlines pay but working for the federal government is stable and it is good pay.

why don't you pursue a degree in criminal justice and fly for the DEA or Customs? More exciting and they need up and coming people like yourself. Seriously, look into it.

 

[Flyguy6]

Thanks for the compliment, but I already have a degree in journalism. I graduated from colege some ten years ago. Although I do want to go back to get my masters. I am thinking of going to ERAU and getting it in aviation safety.

I have thoiught about flying for FBI, customs,or DEA. but they have an age cut off of 37. I am 35 and by the time I reach the required 1500 hours I will be over the age limit. So sad too bad. My original goal was to be a USAF pilot when I was younger but my vision tok me out of that. I wish I had listened to folks when they told me to go for navigator. If I had it al to do over again, thats what I would do.

Anyway, flying for the FAA, being a DPE or flying for law enforcememtn sounds interesting. Are there any law enforcement agencies that fly fixed winged aircraft though? All I see is helicopters.

 

[betelnuts]

If you are interested in Federal Law Enforcement go now as a grunt. Work on the 1500 hrs after you're in.

 

[vetteracer]

QUOTE

How does one get a job flying for the FAA

("Darth Vader’s imperial theme in background")

Yoda-

"Luke, beware of the path to the Dark side, it is powerful."

Seriously, check into Air Ambulance work, Charter, Corporate etc. The fractionals may be an option as well.

Mark

 

[UnAnswerd]

why don't you pursue a degree in criminal justice and fly for the DEA or Customs? More exciting and they need up and coming people like yourself. Seriously, look into it.

That's sound like something I would be interested in, even if I had to get a degree. Just wondering how hard it might be to get that federal job, and what type/how much flying experience would be needed.

 

[FlyChicaga]

Any Federal LEO pilots on the boards? My Dad spent 34 years in Federal LE and it's a "backup career" for me of sorts should I decide to jump ship before I hit the cut off age. He worked in conjunction with Customs quite a bit, and many of the people he worked with told him to encourage me to look that direction. I'd just like to get a better perspective on what the job entails.

 

[pilotyip]

FAA inspectors do not fly

Other than the FIFO guys (Nav aid insp), a FAA examanier may fly around 100 hours a year. Most of this is spent watching someone else fly. For a POI at an air carrier most flying is done from the jumpseat. I tried to get on with the FA for 10 years they have some really different hiring technics. So if you are going to try the FAA because you like to fly, you may be disappointed. But there is tons of manual reading, and paperwork.

 

[Flyguy6]

All Federal pilot jobs require at least 1500 hours total time and 500 hours cross country. So,basically an ATP.

I am currently a local police officer. Before that I id work for the federal government. I would love toget back into it.

 

[414Flyer]

Forest Fire aviation work can be a lot of fun. Its long days and lots of them though, but if you dont mind working hard, flying low level doing orbits over a fire all day long, and gone quite a bit too. Flying a single engine air tanker would be a kick too, if you one has cropdusting experience.

 

[bobbysamd]

FAA piloting jobs

There are very few flight check pilots. They keep their jobs forever and new openings are rare. I would not count on getting one of those jobs. ASI jobs have similar requirements as airlines, e.g. 1500 total-500 multi and an ATP. The FAA looks for a little diverse experience when hiring ASIs. Yip is correct about the amount of actual stick time obtained by ASIs; most of the flying they do is evaluating other pilots.

These are good jobs. You get federal health insurance coverage and retirement. You work a fairly regular schedule and get all federal holidays off. There are worse ways to make a living. And, no one says you have to be a jerk to be a fed. I have two friends who are ASIs; they are both extremely fine and fair people, and excellent and knowledgeable aviators.

Hope that helps some more. Good luck with however you proceed.