Owning Your Own Business and Flying?

[your_dreamguy]

Hello,

I was wondering if there are any pilots out there that have their own business and are still able to fly professionally (in a capacity with a regional, major, cargo,etc).
I was thinking about starting and running my own business but I still want to get on with a regional and be a pilot for the majors some day.
Is it possible?
Obviously, one of the major components would be time available and time required to run a business (I am talking about any type of business, not just aviation).
The only pilots that I've heard of doing this are very senior pilots with a lot of time off. Usually, these pilots run aviation related businesses like flight schools.
I would like your thoughts and info. I would be starting out at a regional, so I imangine I wouldn't have any free time. Also, if I end up in a small city for a base, there might not be too many business options.

Please give me any thoughts, feedback, experiences, etc.

Thank you for your help

 

[LXApilot]

Business and Flying

Hey!
Answer is absolutely! I have been flying contract copilot on the Citation, occasional flight instructing, full time college, and own three businesses to help pay my bills. If professional flying career is your goal then I highly recommend developing a network of small businesses that combine a high cash return rate and can be independently managed by someone else after you have intitially developed them. And the best part of it is, occasionally I have to fly to nearby cities in my region to help my businesses; so I can write off those airplane rental expenses for business purposes! The first decade of professional flying WILL NOT pay you enough for a comfortable lifestyle by any stretch of the imagination. It is also important to have those investments should your medical condition degenerate or should you be laid-off , furloughed, etc.
PM me if you have any questions. It is very exciting and very rewarding to own your own business / business<es>. I wish you great luck! It can be done with planning and organization. Remember these two phrases; "There are no shortcuts to any place worth going" and "when you want what you have never had, you must do what you have never done."

 

[N49185]

The Aviation science degree looks like fun, but based on what you (LAX pilot), and others have told me, the aviation buisness manegement degree looks a lot more prudent.

 

[SDF2BUF2MCO]

There's a guy in Orlando whose side business is extracting venom from poisonous snakes. Think he flies charter. I sure wouldn't volunteer to get anything out of his flight case.

 

[FN FAL]

John Travolta has a business and flies for Quantas.

I have an LLC, and I fly full time. An LLC, is a limited liability corporation...a business.

I use my business LLC as means to bill a skydiving operation for work I do there as a contractor. I also use my corporation to hold some assets for me.

 

[Jump Pilot]

Sure you can. I does take some planning and sometimes results in a crazy schedule.

The key is to choose a busines that is flexible regarding the demands of flying. If you do consulting, contracting, or project management, you can schedule clients around flying. It is not unusual to be at a client's office n the morning and in the plane that afternoon.

Get ya a cell phone and a laptop and have at it. Good luck.

 

[350DRIVER]

Absolutely, good information from the above responses. Many of the guys I have flown with in the past own multiple rental properties/businesses/etc. I find it somewhat comical in a sense since they would never refer to present day flying as a "job", just as a hobby since most time/effort is invested in the other businesses that they are in. Flying and doing something else can go hand in hand and work extremely well with each other due to the down time that you will have in many positions within the industry that will allow you to pursue other ventures and opportunities. Many of the contract guys seem to do extremely well since they can dictate what days they want to be available and what days that they do not. I am currently looking to get into real estate, rental properties, etc, due to the fact that one can do quite well with a little knowledge of the industry and the financial rewards are also pretty good as well. If you have a solid idea and some backing then I would run with whatever you want to do.

good luck

3 5 0

 

[ibaflyer]

Just to add another reply. I havea buddy who is a Capt. for Airborne on 767's and is a CPA on his off days and his son is a Capt. for AA and has a small excavating business that he operates.

They are both rolling in the $$$$$

 

[JetPilot500]

I too have my own business (real estate investing). The key is picking a Flexible business. Obviously, you can't be in 2 places at once. But a Cell Phone and a Laptop make it easier. With as much down-time as pilots have, even when on the road, a lot of work could be accomplished even when away from home (and business).

Good Luck!
JetPilot500

 

[Resume Writer]

Many people have side businesses in the airline industry. Some are CPA's, others are lawyers, while still others are real estate agents. I have owned my business for many years and would work full-time during the week and fly on the weekends. It worked out well, though I was really tired working 7 days a week.

One thing though; do not let your business get in the way of your flying. Several years ago there was a pilot for a major (shall remain nameless, it might give away the person) and he was a real estate agent on the side. He apparently was calling in sick a lot to go show houses. One day he had a "client" who was very insistent on buying an expensive home. So, he called in sick only to meet the buyer, who happened to be one of the Chief Pilots at his airline! Ouch! Needless to say, he was fired on the spot!

 

[701EV]

Rental Property.

Lawn Maintenance.

Both flexible and work well>

701EV

 

[JetPilot500]

Lawn Maintenance.

Sure! Just what I want to do on my day off, cut some other guys grass!! I don't even cut my own!


LOL!


JetPilot500

 

[Jump Pilot]

We all get paid to do what someone doesn't want to do.

 

[JetPilot500]

We all get paid to do what someone doesn't want to do.

Boy oh Boy, aint that true!



By the way, I was wondering if your signature quote was from Kit Darby?!


JetPilot500

 

[Jump Pilot]

It is from an ad for The Airline Career & Interview Manual by Norris and Mortensen.

Here is the full advertisement. It is fun to think about how things could have been.


Global competition and strategies are creating a new world order in aviation. The air transport industry as we know it today will be totally different just ten years from now.

The Dominant carriers will become megacarriers. The commuters will be absorbed by their senior partners. Air traffic in terms of the number of people traveling and the number of transports to carry them will double. Travel between North America and Asia will be reduced to two hours by supersonic transport versus some fourteen hours now. The number of pilots required to service these requirements will double and there are not enough pilots in training today to fill the upcoming demand. Knowledgeable sources state 50% of the current workforce will retire in the next 13 years!

It's an exciting time and a wonderful opportunity to get in on the ground floor as we enter the next era of air transportation. No wonder there are so many young people seeking career information, guidance, and assistance in preparing for pilot employment. I have noticed, however, that even though there are numerous sources available for employment information and interview preparation, there are sill a large number of applicants who are unprepared for the selection process.

It is the sincere desire of the airlines to assist as many people as possible in reaching their career goal - that of an airline captain.