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Okay guys, what should I do?

  • Thread starter Thread starter HU-16
  • Start date Start date
  • Watchers Watchers 3

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HU-16

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 27, 2001
Posts
62
I want your opinions. I've only posted once recently, but I used to read this board religously. I got my CFI in Sept. out in Vero. I chose to move back out west, rather than stay in Florida. After failing to find a job instructing I became (cough) a car salesman. I intially had the hope of earning enough money to eat and stay in the air. Well, I started making good money and I scheduled a checkout flight. To make a long story short, we had an electrical problem and turned back. That was the first time I've ever heard "How many souls on board". My roomie(non-pilot) was in the backseat and was impressed how well the situation was handled between myself and the checkout pilot. We scheduled another checkout flight a few days out. The next night I was shooting pool and because of an old skiing injury, I tore my meniscus(cartilage in my knee). So, I've been on terra firma for a long time. I'm about to get the nod of approval and letter many of you suggested from my surgeon, so I can get back in the air. Monday, about the time George Dubba was speaking I reached my threshhold with the car business and quit (ethical reasons). So now, I haven't flown in months and I have no job! Where should I go from here? I'm about to turn 29, so between my age and my knee I can't enlist. I really wish I would have thought of that earlier in life, but hindsight is 20/20 right? I'm really curious what ideas (and yes flames) will be brought up. What the *&^$ should I do?
 
Job wise, I'm in the same boat. But here are my recommendations, ones that I am doing my best to follow.

My belief is that this downturn in the economy is temporary, as in no more than 1-2 more years of it. Need for pilots, be it instructors or whatever is still there even now, just not so much as it used to be, or will be again in the future.

If you plan on making flying a career in the future, do whatever you can right now to position yourself to be attractive for a job when it does turn around.

If that means working at a non-flying job to pay bills and fly once a week, then do it. Maybe you can find a job at an FBO pumping gas, or taking reservations, or working as a dispatcher at a busy flight school, anything to keep you in the aviation world and allow you to network.

I also believe that there are jobs out there for CFI's, they are just far and few between and you may have to move to get one. I would start by sending a resume or email, or making a phone call to all of the flight schools in your area, and if that doesn't work, start outwards from there. You are bound to find some flight school that needs an instructor.

The other option, go find your own students. beapilot.com has low cost marketing tools that can help you with this. Give them a call.

If you've done all that, and it doesn't work, then the only other options I can think of is, A) taking out a very large loan for a PFT B) re-evaluating your career as a pilot.

At this point I don't have my CFI, but I am confident that when I get it in the next couple months or so, one way or another, I WILL find a job.

Good luck,

Brian
 
get out there and fly.........

hey everything goes in cycles, if you really want you'll do so get out there CFI and all the rest. Beg, borrow, steal and lie and before you know it you'll be a whiney airline guy like the rest of us. No, but seriously scubabri is right, start now and position your self well down the road.

PS give us details on the unethical car sales thing.
 
Dispatch Job

Go to ERAU website and check out their employment page, there is a dispatch job open. It is at their Daytona campus.

I know it is not the flying job you seek but if you want something that is in the business till you get that CFI job....

Good luck to you.
 
Do you not pay attention to current events? Get out of aviation while the going is good. You are young and should still have some brain cells left. Sure flying is fun,when you fly for fun. Flying for a paycheck is a completely different story. There are other ways to make a living.
 
Don't give up

As negative about the business as I may appear to be to some people, I disagree with the above post. No one promised you a rose garden. This business is extremely tough, but doable with persistence and a little bit of luck

First of all, make sure you can hold your medical. Second of all, keep pitching. You have your CFI, so keep looking for jobs. You need some leads. Here's one: perhaps you can try ERAU-Prescott. This link should lead you to the employment page. The place is advertising for instructors. You could do far worse than instruct at Riddle. You could still call Mr. L. at FSI and at least talk to him. It might be worth your while.

If you can afford it at all you should finish all your CFI ratings.

Not to start this up again, but it was brought up above. Don't P-F-T. Faust did, and look where it landed him.

Good luck with your efforts.

PS-I, for one, appreciate your thoughts about enlisting.
 
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