Pilot a few months a year? (contract)

[YaMama]

So I've just about decided that my career goal is to fly big jets (like everybody else I guess) but to do it only 3-4 months a year, leaving the other time to run my business, travel, etc. First of all, is this even possible? Second, if it is, I'm assuming it would have to be as a contract pilot, right? I wouldn't mind something like an airline job, but I don't think there's any way to do that on a part-year basis ...

So, some questions about contract flying - I imagine going worldwide on something like a G-V, maybe 10 or 11 days away, home for a few days and then do it again ... for 6-8 weeks at a time, twice a year. Realistic? I know I would be responsible for my own annual recurrency, and that it would be pretty expensive for only flying this much, but anyway I figure I should be able to get 16 months at a whack by scheduling things right. Here's a big question - how easy is the contract lifestyle living in a small city with maybe 2 dozen commuter flights a day to the hubs? ATL, CLT, and CVG being the big ones, EWR and IAH also. And who pays commuting costs, the company or the pilot, or do corporate guys get to jumpseat?

And I guess the biggest question ... how to get from here to there? Try to get a "real" job flying say King Airs, work my way up the corporate food chain for awhile, then make the jump to contract flying?

Thanks for any advice!
YM

 

[hogdriver00]

What?

Your "woofen" me right?

 

[YaMama]

Hey hogdriver,

You got anything constructive to say, or just sarcasm?

 

[SabreFlyR]

First of all with only 1300 TT there isn't an insurance company in the world that would consider letting you fly as captain, copilot would be doable with training. Keep in mind that most, but not all co's want a type rated current captain when looking for contractors. When you get somewhere in the neighborhood of 3 to 4 thousand hours total with a minimum of 500 in type then you'll qualify for the insurance co's open pilot policy.

So if you seriously want to fly jets, about the only way to do it is full time. Living in a small town only makes it that much harder, no matter what the connections are. The people operating this type of equipment in the big city have plenty of access to locals in most cases and no travel cost to incur getting them in position.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

this has to take dumb a$$ post of the month...



congrats YAMAMA

 

[rice]

YaMama/(YaDope)

So I've just about decided that my career goal is to run your business but to do it only 3-4 months a year, leaving the other time to golf, travel, etc. First of all, is this even possible? Second, if it is, I'm assuming it would have to be as an independant contractor, right? I wouldn't mind something like running my own business (even though its really yours) but I don't think there's any way to do that on a part-year basis ...

So, some questions about your business - I imagine going into the office 2 to 3 days a week, then home or golf for a few days and then do it again ... for 6-8 weeks at a time, twice a year. Realistic? I know I would be responsible for all the overhead and that it would be pretty expensive for only working this much, but anyway I figure I should be able to get some productive work done by scheduling things right. Here's a big question - how easy is it to run your business? Living in a small city with a limited market and minimal access to the big clients may be tough. Oh and who pays commuting costs, will I be able to expense that to the company or do I get to use your car?

And I guess the biggest question ... how to get from here to there? Should I try to get a "real" job running someone else' business and work my way up the corporate food chain for awhile, then make the jump to running yours?

You sure your name isn't McFly?

 

[YaMama]

Sabre,

Thanks for taking the time to write a serious reply. I know I'm years from having the quals to be a contract pilot- this is a long-term plan I'm trying to lay out. Why do you say it's not possible to be a part time contracter? BTW, I was reading on one of the contract pilot web sites that many of them do commute ...

The rest of you, why do you need to be sarcastic a$$holes? The reason I'm on here asking questions is because I don't know the answers. If it's not possible or not a good idea then tell me why, if all you have to offer is mean-spirited sarcasm, I don't need to hear it.

 

[105viking]

the bottom line:

even if you can make the contacts to contract pilot/ co-pilot a G500, and maybe you can do that and work less than full time, it is going to take several years of full time effort to make that happen. look at the resumes of some of the contract pilots who advertise their services online. 10,000TT, 9999.9 in type. that would be a tough group to run with on a part time effort. get ready for some years of flight instructing, night freight, on-demand charter working for people who don't give a crap about you or your business, scraping up jet time everywhere you can get it (how do you feel about flying timed out airframes with inop equipment and algae stains?).

many contract pilots who commute pay their own travel expenses, which i guess is not that big of a deal. also many of these pilots pay for their own recurrent training. on top of that, be ready to put away a fair portion of your contracting salary for uncle sam, he's gonna want his cut. i saw a figure posted somewhere that G500 contract ca's were getting around $1300.00/day (stop me if i'm wrong anybody).

referals can be really important. many contract pilots network with eachother to find work and cover multiple clients. what ever you do, don't be a dick and lowball the market. other pilots will find out, and you will not be well liked.

search the forums, there have been some good contract pilot links on here in the recent past.

105viking

 

[hogdriver00]

Cake and eat it too

Hey hogdriver,

You got anything constructive to say, or just sarcasm?

Just sarcasm.

Stupid is as stupid does.

 

[Jack Schitt]

Why do you say it's not possible to be a part time contracter?

The point you're missing is that part-time contractors usually have a full-time job as a professional PILOT. Having a full-time job at ExecJet with a 7 and 7 schedule would be the ideal situation for a part-time contractor. You can make a little extra Christmas cash on your 7 off. If you only want to be a pilot 3 or 4 months a year, I suggest you stick to renting a 172.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

GEE....

Id like to golf 8-10 months a year and fly a GV around the world the other 2 months...just cuz I think its neat.

Do you guys know how I can do this?

Please, only serious replys. None of those mean, smart a$$ replies.

Thanks Guys

 

[YaMama]

105viking and Jack S,

Appreciate the replies. I have read those threads about contract flying. Can anyone address what the problem would be with four months a year, once I had gained some experience and established a reputation? Is it just that the clients wouldn't go for it, i.e. if you need next week off no problem, but they want to see you flying for them every month in order to be willing to continue a relationship? Note that I'm not asking to make a full year's salary for my four months, only 4/12 of a year's salary.

 

[LJDRVR]

I don't imagine there would be any realistic way to develop a professional relationship with a client and not be available when they call. If you were to build your quals to the level where you were able to engage yourself as an ICP, your customers are expecting you to be available or provide them with a suitable colleauge. You might get away with one or two "sorrys" but after that they simply won't call. There are some seasonal airline jobs out there in the ACMI/tour operators realm. Ryan/Transmeredian/Skyking come to mind. Try writing to Jeff Beck at the Gulfstream site. I understand he's good about helping out ICP hopefuls with good accurate information about how it works.

Best of Luck.

 

[prpjt]

Realistic: No

When we look for contract pilots we want people who fly on a regular basis.

It would be impossible to stay current in type doing what you are suggesting. If you are going to warrent a daily rate of $1000 - $1500 per day you need to show up with A LOT more than a type rating and a business card.

G200
(GEE....
Id like to golf 8-10 months a year and fly a GV around the world the other 2 months...just cuz I think its neat.
Do you guys know how I can do this?)

LOTTO BABY !!!!!!! You're relentless. Keep it up.

 

[YaMama]

Lear Driver - thank you for a truly helpful post.

prpjt -

It would be impossible to stay current in type doing what you are suggesting.

What do you mean by current? What if I fly a month, take two months off - is there anything more often than 90 day currency that has to be met?

When we look for contract pilots we want people who fly on a regular basis.

Who's "we" and what makes you think you represent everybody else?

 

[Rick1128]

Leardriver has a couple of good points. There is more to being current that just flying one month out of three and meeting the currency requirements. When you operate aircraft where you can get the $1000 to 2000/day, you generally are operating internationally and it is always changing.

And most operators want someone who is available when they need them, not when the ICP feels like it.

I know and have worked with several ICP, and they are always on the go. You make every dollar you can today, because there may not be any trips next month. It is a hard business to be in. It sounds great, but it is not for everyone.

 

[OPECJet]

I'm the guy around the local airport here that is almost always available to fly folks in their aircraft, or sit right seat in the local jets.

The only way I was able to get in the cockpit of any jet was to already have jet time. I was lucky in that the company I was working for paid for my 135 letter in a Lear, and I went on the road flying one for almost a month to build jet time.

The problem I have with flying jets is my lack of total time and the insurance companies. If you approach your idea with more than 1500 total, you might do OK if there are several opportunities to fly, and that is for copilot only. It will take much more to fly captain.

I don't see how you could make enough money to make ends meet flying only a few months a year without another full time job. With the rates I get, I have to fly at least 5 days a week, and that's not been easy to do. Then there's the currency and proficiency issue. Taking a few months off will have you behind the airplane for the first few flights after you get back.

Whatever you decide, good luck!

 

[prpjt]

What do you mean by current? What if I fly a month, take two months off - is there anything more often than 90 day currency that has to be met?

If your going to fly that GV VFR I suppose your good to go.

I wasn't speaking of regulatory currency. A better phrase would have been "proficient in type".