ScubaPilot

1. Earn a CFI and instruct for a year or 18 months. You will become a better pilot and build time.
2. Go to Freight Runners Express for a year or 18 months and build 1,500 hours King Air (BE-99, B-1900, or BE-350) time.
3. Apply to Avenge, Integrated Solutions, or any of five other companies flying King Air intel and surveillance flights over Iraq or Afghanistan, or wherever.
- $160,000 a year
- 60-days on/60-days off schedule. Large blocks of time off to be at home with your family and pursue your personal passions; education, hobbies, etc.
- Usually pretty good living conditions in country as they don't want to lose guys over penny-ante stuff

Alternatively, earn a Commercial Rotorcraft (additional rating) and again, CFI for some time to build hours, fly tours in the Grand Canyon, and then go to the Gulf of Mexico to fly offshore oil and gas, 14-on / 14-off. It may take a couple of years with Petroleum Helicopters, Intl, (PHI, or Era) but the Sikorsky Sk-92 Captains are making $180,000. Offshore is challenging and fun. I flew oil and gas for a couple of years off the coast of Angola, 28-on/28-off and made a million frequent flyer miles while commuting, $130,000 a year, and half the year off.

jimmyz80

Yep, part of my existing plan.


Not exactly how I envisioned step two, but something of the sort yes.

No way in hell I'm doing that. This is pretty much the opposite of what I'm looking for. I'd rather earn half of that and do something like fly charters or regional flights near home, spending the night with family as much as possible on working nights.

flynavyj

finish your commercial and CFI, tack on a CFI/I and instruct while keeping your day job. Work nights and weekends (it's the sacrifice) so you can get to where you want to be. With flight time under your belt, you'll be employable at various operations across the nation.

If you network at your local airport, you might even be able to find some decent QOL day trips / right seat gigs for individuals and companies in the area. I've run into several cirrus safety pilot options if I wanted to take a day off work. Fly the guy somewhere, and then either fly the airplane back home for him, or fly back with him that evening. Daily rate, and hotel paid depending on if he wanted you to stay the evening. Not a bad way to be involved in aviation by most accounts.