jobs at small airports for 17 year olds

[bunnyfufu]

i'm looking for a different job because i hate the one i have right now... is there anything that someone my age could do at a small-medium sized airport? specifically palwaukee (KPWK)

 

[airgator]

I started working lineservice when I was 14 or 15. It is a great job if you like to be around airports, and you meet alot of people.

 

[SkyGuyEd]

There are TONs of things you can do....

You'll have to find out what your airport has to offer, but some things that come to mind include pilot shops, fueling services, FBOs, etc.

 

[chperplt]

fueling services

Unless they changed the law (federal), you had to be 18 to pump gas at the airport.

 

[FSB99]

talk to the fbo's there about getting into their line cleaning/airplane washing service. i'm sure priester (if it's still priester at pwk) has that type of thing. if not, offer your service to do the job.
but, yeah, i think you have to be 18 to fuel.

 

[mattfish42]

Priester is gone. PWK's FBOs are Signature, Service Aviation, and North American Jet.

 

[Flywrite]

I think most big FBOs like Signature want you to be 18. Try smaller airports. I started hanging around the little airport where I was learning to fly when I was about 17, pretty soon I was put to work, and learned a whole lot about aviation. Working at even a small out-in-the-boonies FBO teaches you a lot, makes you some great friends, and beats the heck out of what your buddies will be doing to make money at the age (plus a smaller FBO will almost deffinately give you a big break on AC rental, pilot supplies, etc.).

Good Luck!

 

[Gulfstream 200]

heck just get out and ask.
I bet people would love to hire an enthusiastic guy to work at thier business.

 

[bunnyfufu]

hmm... the next closest airport to me is waukegan, but thats like a 30 minute drive :\

i fly out of there, so i'll see if my FBO (stick and rudder) has anything i could do

 

[dmspilot00]

What job do you have right now? J/C

 

[VNugget]

I tried to get a job at Amelia Reid, the local FBO that I've fallen in love with (and started my primary training with) but Robin (Amelia's son and current owner) unofortunately doesn't need any help right now.

Bah I say to that, bah!

Since the cost is a huge issue for me, I will be forced to switch my training over to another guy who made me a cheaper offer (in a plain ol' 172.) That's too bad, because I really missed training in those pieces of history 3 times my age. And come on, how many student pilots nowadays get to handprop the plane they train in!? I'll miss those fun times for sure. Too bad I won't get to cut my teeth on taildraggers, too. I won't get to make friends with all the folks there, or get the back of my shirt hung up in the office when I solo, or hang around the biplane, or get to help restore a classic. I was sure looking forward to all those.

Bah.

 

[bunnyfufu]

i've been a computer assistant in the youth department of my library since october of 2001. i hate it because i don't do much with computers, instead spending most of my time shelving books/videos/whatever... i also hate children which makes working in the youth department slightly.. inconvenient

 

[LearLove]

There are many former linguys on this board. I worked at an uncontrolled field during my senior year in HS until I went to college. One of the best summers I ever had. I got alot of free flight time just being around the airport which helped me finish my instrument before heading off to college. You'll meet alot of contacts which will help your flying career or almost any other career.

Laywers, Doc's, Accountants, engineers and the rest all have airplanes. Thats how I gota job as an engineering internship which inturn lead to an oppertunity to get my Comm, Comm Multi and CFI cheap (I wouldn't have been able to afford it otherwise) which positioned me with all my ratings by college graduation. Another airport contact from my lineguy days gave me a lead which landed me in the rt seat of a navajo with 350tt, 3 days after college graduation, my first fulltime pax flying gig.

I may be alittle biased but I'd recommend a small FBO/flight school at an uncontrolled field that has a good group of airport bums hanging around all the time. Also try and do your ratings there, they may give you a discount and in the end since you already have a work histroy there getting an instructing job will be easy.

Also if a job isn't available right away keep intouch, as many lineguys are working between college semesters so by Aug these guys leave and a position will open, thats how I got the line job.