How to stay in aviation a little???

[SMOOTHRIDE]

Hey Y'all;

Anyone know of someone who wasn't flying commercially for an airline or charter/corporate anymore, but kept in aviation somehow?

Ideas:
CFI (obvious)
FSI instructor (obvious)
Writing for Flying or something (not as obvious)
Some kind of aviation business (fu**ing obscure for a guy like me)
Consultant (downright scary--what the heII do I know??)...

Any ideas you have are welcome, and are probably pretty entertaining!


kam-sa-ham-ni-da!

smooth

 

[pullmyfinger]

Get to know a couple of flight departments that use contract pilots and fly the trips that fit your schedule and keep you current.

 

[blackhawk911]

Get to know a couple of flight departments that use contract pilots and fly the trips that fit your schedule and keep you current.

Excellent advice.

 

[SMOOTHRIDE]

I'll be in Korea for 2 years.. is business aviation a reality over there?

So far, I can't find squat over there....

SR

 

[bocefus]

Keep reading these forums, before long you can hang a shingle and be an aviation consultant.

 

[SMOOTHRIDE]

he he heeee .... All I ever needed to know I learned from Flightinfo.com.

 

[hawk16e]

Hey Y'all;

Anyone know of someone who wasn't flying commercially for an airline or charter/corporate anymore, but kept in aviation somehow?

Ideas:
CFI (obvious)
FSI instructor (obvious)
Writing for Flying or something (not as obvious)
Some kind of aviation business (fu**ing obscure for a guy like me)
Consultant (downright scary--what the heII do I know??)...

Any ideas you have are welcome, and are probably pretty entertaining!


kam-sa-ham-ni-da!

smooth

Pretty entertaining, look into being a jumper dumper.-Skydivers- Look hard and long before commiting to it. You can get violated ( a couple of different ways) by jumpers...

 

[SMOOTHRIDE]

Me no kick Jumpa out of plane.

--SR

 

[Swass]

Aerial Photgraphy

 

[GenericPilot]

staying in av

Best Route...Military reserve aviator or flight engineer. No brainer for a former mil guy unless he retired. I make 25K a year just to maintain my basic qual on a C-130 (4 days a month) and earn a retirement. It's another commitment, but worth it.

My guard unit took a former E-2 pilot and made him flight engineer on the C-130. He had been out too long to return to the pilot seat. He's now warming up in a Cessna and looking for a professional flying career again. His F/E time will get him back into some nice civ equipment. We have a former B-52 pilot flying helos and C-12s in the local army guard unit. He's got a non-flying govt gig but still staying current.

Buy your own plane and fly for fun. Partnership or full ownership. Being at the airport will help you get a job at the airport. Being seen flying will help you get a job flying.

Bottom line. Don't get out unless you plan to stay out. If you get back in be prepared to spend 3-5K for recurrent training/proficiency/job search to be ready for an inteview. Nobody likes rusty pilots, especially when microsft flight sim is available for $30. Study and fly.

If you a a mil or fomer mil pilot, you should have this stuff already figured out.

Every year it gets harder for me to stay in the cockpit for a living. Non-flying offers and ways to make more money by not flying are popping up. However, I'm not ready to give it up yet. When I do, there will be an aerobatic airplane with my name on it at the airport for my personal flying (I purchased it last year and it pays for itself.taching).

Good Luck

 

[GenericPilot]

staying in av

I forgot to mention skydiving pilots. Great way to waste a whole weekend and not make any money. However, you might fly your tail off at an efficient operation. Waiting for a bunch of hung over jumpers to get started in the morning isn't fun, and if there aren't any loads to fly, the pilots sit around and wait. Low pay, high risk, but occasionally fun.

Towing banners..about the same.

Both offer the possibility of lousy equipment, bad weather, and faa violations. Sticka and rudder flying though.

VIP CFI work is the best. High end customers with nice planes. Put on a nice suit, get a haircut, and do plenty of ground school before flying. Use your mil credentials to get an "in" (if you flew as a mil pilot).
Civ CFIs probably know as much or more than a mil guy, but customer like the fact that a mil type is teaching them.

In closing, most of you guys knew this stuff already.
Good luck!

 

[phr8dawg]

Don't buy a whole plane, just a part. There's a couple ratty planes on every field looking for a caring owner. Or pass a piston 135 ride and be a standby pilot for a scheduled run outfit. But be aware that the day they call you might be an IMC nightmare and you might be just a bit rusty.

 

[Flt 525]

Fly Civil Air Patrol

Find a Civil Air Patrol unit and fly for almost nothing. While most all airplanes are SE, they have a few ME A/Cs, there is nothing quite so satisfying as flying a group of eager youngsters who are tettering on the brink of a possible military career.

One can build some strong friendships in CAP. I met many fine folks who enjoy flying, being around aviation, and helping others.

If you are an IP you can fly many hours a month.

 

[eaglemaster]

CAP has is benefits about being able to network with people in and around the aerospace industry. Its all volunteer, the people that you meet will be the real deal, they are there because they want to. You will make all kinds of contacts that may help you in your professional life. CAP is not just about airplanes, there is much more and you may develop another interest to pursue. I have my HAM radio license through CAP and I never thought a pilot would need one. That was until I did hurricane relief and cell towers were down.

 

[waka]

Can one volunteer to fly for the CAP and not have to wear a one of those goofy nomex suits?

 

[acpilot]

Hey Y'all;

Anyone know of someone who wasn't flying commercially for an airline or charter/corporate anymore, but kept in aviation somehow?

Ideas:
CFI (obvious)
FSI instructor (obvious)
Writing for Flying or something (not as obvious)
Some kind of aviation business (fu**ing obscure for a guy like me)
Consultant (downright scary--what the heII do I know??)...

Any ideas you have are welcome, and are probably pretty entertaining!


kam-sa-ham-ni-da!

smooth

Buy into a flight club with planes you want to fly and offer your CFI services. The planes are generally a cut above the trainers and you'll be dealing with other "owners" who want to treat the plane well.

 

[rettofly]

Can one volunteer to fly for the CAP and not have to wear a one of those goofy nomex suits?

Regulation IZOD shirt from CAP approved vendor, gray dockers, white crew neck t-shirt, black shoes and black socks is all the uniform you need.

Some guys like to go whole hog. I don't.