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"Off duty" side jobs?

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satpak77

Marriott Platinum Member
Joined
Dec 2, 2003
Posts
3,015
Just curious if anyone out there has any side jobs for supplemental income.

I have heard stories of pro-pilot lawyers, medical doctors, etc but some of that is a little far fetched to me. You are either 100% in the cockpit or not.

With that said, does anyone do some part time real estate, stock market investing, anything else etc on the side?
 
Flying is actually my side job. Make a pretty good day rate and fly pretty much when I want to. Was lucky enough to leave all my former employers on good terms and they still call.
 
Side Jobs

I'm a part-time Real Estate agent, and that crap about 100% in the cockpit. . . don't believe a word of it. I fly with several guys that own their own businesses and fly part time with me. They are usually better than the full timers because they are there because they want to and really enjoy it, rather than needing a job. The real estate gig works nicely because you can do things on your schedule and the client has no idea where you are when they get your cell phone. I am thinking of hiring a couple college guys to run a landscaping business too. Good luck with your sidejob and whatever you do, just remember that when you're flying, your mind is on flying, when you are at home, don't think about flying, it's that simple.

Kevin
 
I have heard stories of pro-pilot lawyers, medical doctors, etc but some of that is a little far fetched to me. You are either 100% in the cockpit or not.

Quite a few of our contract captains only fly as a side gig for "fun", most are very accomplished in the business world and that is where they make the $$$. We also have a first officer who does the same and by day he is a pretty well respected lawyer. I think you may be surprised with how many guys actually only do flying as a "side job".

3 5 0
 
I'm and Auxillary RCMP Contsable as well as a volunteer fire fighter. It's not about being paid, it's about enjoying what you're doing.
 
Some of the Capts I fly with have outside jobs and businesses and fly with Comair as well. One guy builds custom homes on spec as a general contractor, and is senior enough to hold productive one and two days that keep him in the loop at both jobs. Another one is into real estate investment and land development and can schedule his local meetings and negoatiations around his flying. Just flew with one guy that is a freelance writer on the side, does his work on the road in the hotel. Another guy writes software on the road.

I don't think being a 9-5 wage slave will work along with an aviation career, but there are things that a self starter can do that will marry up with being a pilot. The common thread in the above cases is that it's not necessarily all about the money. The outside jobs fill a personal need (creative or entrepenurial) which makes it easier to spend the extra time required pursuing them.

If your state will allow it without a teaching certificate, you can always substitute teach as well. Personally rewarding, though teachers aren't paid any better than regional pilots, especially subs.
 
I know a guy at Comair that is very senior and BIDS TO BE ON RESERVE. He could easily hold a very nice line.
Senior reservists at Comair, unless they BID TO FLY, will always be the last ones to ever get called for a trip. This guy flys when it's holiday time of course or when they're short on reservists, but most of the time he has to call them every three months to get a trip to get his landings in.

He mostly just runs his bar and accepts the paycheck for the 75 hours guarantee twice a month. Not a bad deal!

Jet
 

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