The Lucrative Aviation Industry

[9GClub]

Ok, so anybody who's been around aviation for any length of time or who has gleaned anything from the discussions in these forums knows that it's easy to make a small fortune in aviation.... you simply start out with a larg-- yeah yeah ha ha ha.

So what's the best way to supplement your income outside of flying? There was a thread on this about a year ago, but I'm interested in bumping the topic and hearing what y'all think.

My dad frequently quips that people "never get rich by working for someone else"-- so is starting your own business (outside of aviation) the way to go? What theories do you guys have on actually surviving financially in this day and age? Cynicism of course welcomed but not preferred.

 

[mcjohn]

I work in a 5 star hotel as a bellman (usually, I just begged to be layed off.) All the other bellmen have kids and are in there 30's, 40's, and 50's. Some are under paid workers like teachers etc... They average $100 - $200 in cash tips a day on top of $5 an hour working very flexible schedules for about 20-30 hours a week. You should see the look on rich/snooty tourist's faces if I ever tell them I'm a 'commercial' pilot. They think I'm a freakin terrorist or something. One guy asked me "Do you ever get in those big 747 simulators?" I said "No sir, I instruct in a C152 most of the time, if I were to fly that into the side of a building it would barely make a dent."

 

[pilotyip]

Too many negative vibes. Bad karma. This is still a great career, where else can a high school grad plan on making $100K/yr by the time he is in his mid 30's working 17 days a month? Only on a pilot board would $100K/yr be referred to as a poverty wage.

 

[ReverseSensing]

Man, it's getting so I can almost hear pilotyip's response in my head, before I even read it.

Don't tell my AME that I'm hearing voices, though.

 

[pilotyip]

Yes it has been a fantastic adventure and I am still living the dream. I would change very little. I am truely lucky.

 

[GogglesPisano]

If he weren't so persistent I'd swear he was longest-lived flame-baiter in flightinfo history.

I've got to hand it to you pilotyip, you believe what your selling.

 

[avbug]

I know a lot of pilots in their mid thirties who qualify for food stamps on pilot wages, after fifteen years or more on the job.

I was one of them, once.

Certainly a living can be made in aviation, but just as easily one can go broke and stay broke living one's "dream."

I think one might be well outside one's bounds by suggesting that a high school graduate can "plan" on making six figures in his thirties, based on a careerin avaition.

 

[smellthejeta]

Too many negative vibes. Bad karma. This is still a great career, where else can a high school grad plan on making $100K/yr by the time he is in his mid 30's working 17 days a month? Only on a pilot board would $100K/yr be referred to as a poverty wage.

Kit Darby,

The only place in aviation I know where a high school grad can plan on making $100k/yr in his mid 30's is in ATC. When I worked for ACA, only the very senior captains were making $100k -- and they weren't in their mid thirties.

Some of my old roommates have been furloughed from various regionals three or four times. You can only "plan" for that $100k if you never get furloughed.. and you better plan for a furlough, because if you don't, you're in for a surprise.

 

[smellthejeta]

I am truely lucky.

I think that says it all. Not a little luck, not no luck, TURELY LUCKY.

 

[pilotyip]

SmelltheJP, they took the wrong route, should have come into the on-demand business would be a DC-9 Captain flying scheduled passenger making a $100K by their mid-30's

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Come on Pilotyip. That's the only answer? If they don't go to on-demand and live at the whim of USAJet -- tied to the electronic leash 24/7 -- then they've chosen the wrong path?

I'm in my mid 30s, have a college degree (which is worthless), and the only way I made six figures was by marrying a woman who earned good money.

 

[pilotyip]

Furloughed, you have chosen your path, good for you, but it not your place to judge others who have chosen other paths. The Passenger DC-9 pilots are not on a 24 hour leash, they know their schedules for days worked up to six months in advance and their departure times from YIP normally two days in advance, their days off are hard and they are always home on their days off. We are not having any problems finding really quality pilots who want to start out in the DA-20 as F/O's. I wish you the best, this is still a great career.

 

[Gulfstream 200]

Yes guys, YIP has alzheimers - no doubt...but he is correct in saying that one CAN make a 100K at places like USA Jet. No life (15 min callout), live in Yipsilanti, fly old crap, etc...but it can be done, in fact, some may actually like it!

Regional guys...everyone doubting making any money has the same "CL-65" in their profile. C'mon guys, airlines in the tank since 2000...6 years ago...you guys all sound young, why are you still there? Is the industry turn just around the corner?

Break the Generation X mold and go for it! - you have nothing to lose but 12 bucks an hour and an impending furlough!

 

[pilotyip]

and yes guys living to be old enought to have alzhemers is a blessing in and of itself. Taught my son to fly, talked him into flying in the miltary, he got out and now flies for a living, seems pretty happy. Now teaching my grandson to fly, hope to get him his private in high school like his dad, Great career!

 

[TransMach]

Lucrative Aviation

Pilotyip,

I have agreed most of the time with most of what you have had to say regarding "no degree required" ... but it is darn sure helpful. I have agreed that there are ways to make a good living in aviation besides the airlines ... which are now in the tank anyway ... (I always have flying freight, managing air carrier ops, large airplane corporate/charter). I disagree with your statement that "you can plan on making $100K/yr in your mid 30s". Yes, there may well be some mid 30s DC9 CAs at your place. But how many seats are available, all together at $100K/yr, 10 or 15 ?? That's 10 or 15 opportunities for, what, 150,000 guys 'n gals ?? Get my point ??

Gulfstream 200,

Please don't encourage all those CL-65 S.J.S. wonders to pursue corporate/charter ... we certainly don't need them pounding on our employer's door saying "I'll do it for less, darn I'll do it for darn near free!"

It's hard enough to keep our industry's standards where they are and should be without that additional challenge. Please ...

TransMach

 

[wheelsup]

But how many seats are available, all together at $100K/yr, 10 or 15 ?? That's 10 or 15 opportunities for, what, 150,000 guys 'n gals ?? Get my point ??

The same could be said about corporate and 135 gigs. There are those that are worth pursuing, and those that are a living hell. The ones worth pursuing I'm sure have stacks upon stacks of resumes on file...

I interviewed at a 91/135 gig where they wanted to put me in a 604 for $19,000/yr as an f/o. And to top it off, you're on call 24/7. Wow, sounds like the deal of a lifetime!

~wheelsup

 

[hawk16e]

Piltoyip, I'd like, if I may, make a small correction to your post (#10.) You could make 100k or fly fly passengers. If you're on the pax side, you won't get anywhere near guarantee, all the per deim won't quite push you up to that number. Mid 70's easy, or fly fr8 and be available-- on days off-- 100+ is quite doable.
Not whining, not much anyway, just how I sees it.

I like your signature. Very true