Need Advice

[Maxwell Smart]

OK- Here it goes - Go out to an airport with some corprate aviation company - Draw pictures of their airplanes - Rent an airplane and scatter leafletts throughout the city to sell pictures of the coprate Jets that you drew - Also have a website that they can download these pictures- Also declare yourself president of your company and chief pilot of your corprate aviation wing(renting the cessna) - Hope that helps- Max

 

[350DRIVER]

I second the above. This way you are completing all of your objectives in probably the easiest way possible.

Right on Max


g o o d l u c k

3 5 0

 

[AeroBoy]

Av Publications

First, ignore the above two posts. If you're interested in writing (and possibly taking photos) for an aviation magazine, come up with a good story idea and pitch it to the magazine's editor in writing (e-mail or postal mail is most effective; I don't recommend calling by phone). Many aviation publications use freelance writers, and working freelance will allow you to fly for a corporate flight department or regional airline as your full-time job (in fact, some magazines--like Professional Pilot--prefer that their freelance writers are real professional pilots). This way, you'll be able to fly and satisfy your creative side at the same time.

Good luck!

 

[MST]

Based on what you said,

"So I ask, for someone who wants to work with people, wants to be a manager, fly airplanes with the latest technologies, and apply graphic/web design and writing skills, are there any jobs or career paths out there that would be most fitting? "

here are my suggestions:

1) Military Officer: As an officer, you would have the opportunity to fly the latest equipment and be a manager because the pilots help manage some of the enlisted people. If you like writing and creating graphics, there is always a need for someone who can produce nice newsletters and articles for the squadron/wing. You could help produce nice safety presentations and newsletter articles. The officers also help with the airshows and other creative projects.

2) Flight School Manager: You could work as a CFI part time and do things related to management (marketing, sales etc.) when you are not instructing. At most of these small flight schools, they print their own marketing materials and web pages, and these items always need improvement. There isn't very good money in working at a flight school, but you could accumulate lots of flight hours and management experience, plus it would be really fun to work with all the students. If you found you were good at sales, you could move into part time sales flying a new Bonanza around or something, demonstrating it to prospective customers. This would be very competitive though because most people don't want to pay $350,000 for a Mooney when they could find a nice used one in Trade a Plane for $90,000.

3)I dont know your qualifications, but perhaps this would be a good job for you.

AOPA JOB:
Job Summary: Under direction of VP of Communications, responsible for generating/editing daily information on AOPA programs, events initiatives, etc., for electronic publishing. Draft large volume of news stories and press releases for various in-house client organizations. Assist in establishing/maintaining relationships with media contacts, coordinating press visits/interviews with senior management. Respond to press queries. Serve as assistant AOPA spokesperson. Assist in or manage production of special events, press conferences, special projects and press kits.

Qualifications: Experience as reporter/editor in a rapid turn-around/high volume environment (i.e. wire service, broadcast news, Web news). Strong reporting, writing, and advocacy (press releases and editorials) skills. Demonstrated ability to interpret complex technical issues for a general audience. Strong telephone/public speaking skills. Four-year degree preferred in journalism, public relations or related field. Strong knowledge of general aviation. Private pilot certificate required. Instrument rating highly desired.

It doesn't seem like aviation journalism is really a "career path." It's something people do on their free time for fun. I know someone who is a photographer for all the flying magazines, but he has a full time job doing something in health care. John Nance, the person who TV stations consult after accidents is an airline pilot, a lawyer, an author, and an officer in the reserves too.

I think military Officer is the best one. That's what I want to do.

 

[bobbysamd]

Career path

You, my friend, are a regular Renaissance man. I intend it as a compliment. Not many people are multi-talented. Most of us are good at one thing, if we're lucky.

Which one do you like the best? I suspect flying; otherwise, you wouldn't be participating as actively on this board as you. do Maybe teaching, too, because of your posts on flight instructing. I believe that you also enjoy writing. I understand that one; I love to write and writing is important to me.

You can do all these things as a flight instructor and, tangental to MST's suggestion, being Chief Instructor of a flight school. You can employ your artistic bent in designing teaching aids and presentation. Chief Instructors are management and are involved in the business aspect of a flight school, even at the college level.

I don't believe that being an aviation magazine writer is regarded as a full time job. Perhaps as editor, but I am sure the writers you read in pilot magazines are free-lancers who are paid by the piece. A way to start might be to work up a piece and see if your local pilots organization will publish it in its newsletter. Being a published writer is something like getting a pilot job. You have to start at the bottom and build up your quals, i.e. a resume of published articles in bigger and better publications.

Hope that helps. You should be proud of yourself that you have all these abilities to offer.

PS-I should apply for that AOPA job. I have the quals . . . . . hmmmm . . . . . (actually, with my ATP I might be overqualified! )

 

[Maxwell Smart]

MST- you know absolutely nothing about military flight officers- I truly mean no offense - just that your description is completely wrong- "They manage some of the enlisted" that statement alone would probably get you shot by your own men- they put on airshows- Ah- That is at the very bottom of stuff to do- You can help with the new letter and safety briefings - I can see you have never had to do a Fitrep or OER - It aint the Civil Air Patrol - MAX

 

[MST]

OK, you're right--I know nothing about a military officer's job except what I have learned in CAP. Don't the pilots sometimes manage working groups though? Especially in the Navy where they have ground jobs in addition to their flying duties?

 

[AeroBoy]

Not a career path?

MST said:
"It doesn't seem like aviation journalism is really a "career path." It's something people do on their free time for fun."



Speak for yourself. My full-time job is working as a writer/editor of a well known aviation publication. My weekends and free time are for flying (among many other things). I may not have planned to take this career path (my original plan was to be a corporate pilot), but looking back I wouldn't change a single thing. I get to travel around the world, visit aircraft manufacturing plants and talk aviation with many interesting people (pilots, CEOs, etc). And I enjoy every bit of what I do (just like I hope that you do).

 

[banned username 2]

So I ask, for someone who wants to work with people, wants to be a manager, fly airplanes with the latest technologies, and apply graphic/web design and writing skills, are there any jobs or career paths out there that would be most fitting?

Be a Corporate Pilot flying the latest technology worldwide and be the President of your own Web Site Design company on the side....

WAIT A MINUTE!, thats MY job description!

No! You can't have my job!

 

[berooks]

Design and Fly

Wow! I thought I was the only one with these two career interests. This is good to hear.

FalconCapt-I live in Chicago, just got my Commercial Ticket this week and am a Freelance Graphic Designer. I'd love to take a look at your company--in or out of the Jet. I 'spect you operate out of PWK?
Take a peek at my portfolio: HERE and email me, PLEASE!
I'd love to work somewhere where they won't ask, "So do you, like, fly for the airlines?"

FlyChicaga:
My career has taken the opposite track to where yours has begun. I started off in Graphic Design/Advertising and have just recently gotten into flying. I don't know how your knowledge of all the design software is, but if it's good, you can pick up alot of decent paying freelance gigs with agencies in big cities. It has really helped my over the past few months while I've been a student. Also, same applies if you have excellent editorial knowledge, you can pick up freelance proofreading and editing/writing jobs. You really need to put together a body of work to show people what you can do--kinda like your logbook.

Being involved in both industries now, I gotta tell you though, it's probably just a small step away from being as bad as commercial aviation!

Follow the link above and email me if you want to talk further.