Extra flying outside of your regional

[MaxQ]

Assuming everything would be kosher with your 121 regional airline that you are currently flying at, would you do any extra 135 flying if you had the opportunity?

I've been approached to do some contract 135 flying once in a while. It's ok with my regional as long as I ask them first and get a letter saying that it's ok. It would pay $250/day which would be great cause we all know how much regionals pay and I could definitely use the extra money.

Would you guys/gals do the extra flying?

 

[chperplt]

Most airlines prohibit their pilots from any outside commercial flying, except military.

 

[MaxQ]

Well...... This particular one does.

So, would you do it if it was cool with your company? Why or why not.

 

[jarhead]

Most 121 carriers would frown on that. There is still a limit of 1000 hours flying per year, and if you do 135 operations in your spare time, you may well run your clock out in October or November. I don't think your regional carrier would like it much if their pilots could not fly for them in the last month or two of a given year.

 

[tubelo]

I am in a similiar situation, having an opportunity to fly per diem for the helo ems company I flew with prior to getting with a Regional. It has to be approved by our DO, but I am going to wait till off reserve before I pursue it. My guess is you will need to prove to them you would not impinge upon your 30 or 100 hr FAA limits. With a line, you could ensure that by looking at your schedule.

 

[sf3boy]

Don't log the time. Just cash the checks.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

really..

just dont log the time..

imagine making 20K/yr at some regional but you cant make extra money on YOUR free time.

Maybe if they paid pilots enough to actually live on that wouldnt be a problem.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

Was wondering when someone would say that Gulfstream.......


Mr. I.

 

[jarhead]

You can earn ALL the extra money you want to on YOUR free time.....just can't do it by flying. There is NO rule against you selling paint at Sears, running your own landscapping business, selling real estate, or anything else you want to do for money, just so long as it does not involve flying for money beyond the FAA rules. You diminish your credibility when you resort to hyperbole in an example. NOBODY said you can't earn extra money in your time off. Keep it accurate, please.

 

[WhiteCloud]

There is a (small) risk of losing your job if you go against a company policy. Thing is....who are they to tell you what you can and can't do on your free time? I wouldn't want to debate it with the Chief Pilot though. Personally, I'd rather do other things on my days off to keep from getting burned out.

 

[jarhead]

Any employer can impose covenants on a prospective employee. If the conditions are that onerous, no one has a gun at your head forcing you to accept the job, and the conditions that go with it. If that type of freedom is required, you better start your own business, and become self employed. Most churches would fire a pastor who frequented saloons to get drunk and rowdy. If you work in a bank, you can not disclose personal financial information to the general public about the banks clients, or you'd be fired. An employer can set any and all conditions of behavior for its employees. If you can't deal with the conditions, move on, or form your own company or business.

 

[328dude]

If your bored on your days off, be a substitute teacher or volunteer at a community center. I do both and love it.

 

[KINGAIR PIC]

Max Q:

Seriously, you have got to think about one thing in particular when deciding to fly on the side (especially 135).

Let's say that the company you are working for does allow you to fly on the side, no matter what it is (91, 135, instructing). The 91 stuff, or instructing would be no problem (as long as you don't get violated).

But flying 135 is a different story. Let's say you go and take your 135 ride with the Feds, and they bust you. Then you are screwed as far as your airline, because you can't fly any 121 or 135 until retaking a checkride. How do you think the company will react if they have to give you an unexpected checkride?

Something you might want to think about.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Jarhead -

You gonna supplement your 17K/yr regional job by selling paint at sears for 5.50/hr???

sounds like a good life.

Your employer should stay out of your private life. Period.
Concerned about my liability by moonlighting? concerned about me showing up tired cause Im moonlighting? well than pay me enough so I dont HAVE to. Nobody LIKES to work on thier few days off.

 

[jarhead]

Gulfstream200

No, I won't work at Sears selling paint as a first year FO.....but that's exactly what my son did during his first year at Comair. Sears was very flexible for the hours he put in, understanding that Comair was his primary employer. It worked out well for him, and now he's a 7 year captain at Comair, making between 80K and 90K a year. He paid his dues without bellyaching about it. If the pay is too low for you, don't fly. Get another job...go to medical school and get to be an orthopedic surgeon or something to make big money right out of the gate. You can't do it flying. An airline will pay what the traffic will allow. How many companies do you know of that will pay more than they need to, to attract and hold an employee? If I own a company, an employee is an expense to me, and I know that I would not pay more than I needed to, to attract, and HOLD a good employee.

 

[MaxQ]

Thanks for all the input guys... I really appreciate it.

I was actually looking for opinions on risks like the ones KINGAIR PIC mentioned. I understand the limitations on flight time for the month and year etc. but I was looking to get your opinions on whether or not this extra flying on the side was worth the added risk of potentially getting violated or having an accident/incident while flying for another 135 company on the side. Or maybe even the chance of going on a trip that is only supposed to be one day, but the passengers decide they want to stay another day or two when I'm supposed to fly at my regional airline that day.

I could definetely use the extra cash, but want to know if you guys would take these added risks for the extra cash. I'm already subbing on my days off whenever I can, but this 135 flying would pay more than twice what I make subbing.

Thanks again guys!

 

[Lear70]

MaxQ:

There are a lot of pros and cons to doing this. When I was a 727 f/o in 2000 sitting Postal Reserve flying 20 hours a month, I started to get a little stir crazy to fly, so I picked up a Lear PIC gig at $400 a day out of Farmingdale (I really prefer the corporate flying lifestyle and this operator was as close as it comes to that in the charter world). Back then I had 16 days off and usually only worked 4 or 5 out of my 14 on anyway, plus I ended up dating one of our Lear dispatchers, so life was fantastic! Almost like the 727 was my part-time job! Didn't really NEED the extra money, just wanted to pay off some bills and have more "play" money for vacations, all of which is probably why I didn't get burned out doing it.

However, when EOI died and I ended up at Pinnacle, I went to the C.P. and asked if I could keep doing it - he had no problem with it at all since reserve guys USUALLY average around 25-35 hours per month here, but with only 10 days off a month to do it in and the extra dating "perk" removed from the scenario, I got burned out... FAST!

Now, I have enough PIC time to where it wouldn't matter if I bid back to CRJ F/O, hold a 15 or 16 day off line, drop down to 70 hours and have 20 days off, and fly Lears again on those days, but I'd only have 30 hours to spare (our contract only allows us to drop 5 hours below guarantee). Some months in the charter world, that's plenty, with others it might be pretty close. But the big questions are:

1. Assuming you want to get to a major, how would they look at that move? Would they think you weren't happy enough flying Part 121?

2. How long can you fly 30 days a month without getting burned out? Everyone needs down time, even when all you care about is strapping on that jet and getting into the big blue! Eventually, it'll catch up to you.

3. Your profile is pretty sparse, so I have to ask: do you even work for a regional yet? Have you made PIC yet at the regional? Do you have that magic 1,000 hours PIC Part 121 turbine? Is your holdup to upgrade flight time or seniority? You might want to consider picking up open time or trip trades to get your flight time Part 121 so you can upgrade and get that 1,000 PIC faster rather than picking up another job.

G200 has a valid point, that's why I never accepted an F/O position at a regional, but the reality is that most people have and it's not going to stop, so figure out what you need to do for income and do it (G200 also has my dream job - hand it over buddy!) You also stated a valid point about staying out another night... or two! The good news is that most 135 operators don't tolerate a static aircraft unless the person chartering it is willing to pay for it, so that would probably be a fairly infrequent problem. As far as busting a checkride? Please... You can't obsess over things like that - giving into those kinds of fears will always keep you from doing the things you want to do in life, just make sure you're always prepared for them and go for it!

Long story short, if you're not doing it for cash to survive and/or you're not going to get time off to "relax and reset", I wouldn't do it.