So you want to be a professional pilot but aren’t certain the airlines are right for you?
Not everyone likes living in airports, and the airline pilot’s job is a lot more button-pushing and computer monitoring than hands-on flying. Maybe you love the smell of 100 Low-Lead, or maybe you want a career that allows you to sleep in your own bed each night.
Don’t worry; many pilot jobs don’t involve working for the big Part 121 airlines. Here are five alternative career paths for aviators.
Pilot Jobs Other than Airline Pilot
When starting, new pilots are often attracted to the headline-grabbing, flashy pilot jobs working for the big, legacy carriers flying Boeings and Airbuses.
But these jobs aren’t right for everyone—not everyone likes the lifestyle or pilot schedule that comes with a Part 121 airline gig.
You’ll spend a lot of time commuting to work—not just driving to work, but driving to work and then jump seating across the country to get to your scheduled departure.
You’ll spend an awful lot of time in hotels and eating at restaurants.
Moreover, the airline industry has proven cyclical in the past, with layoffs and uncertainty for employees. Still, the pay, hours, and travel benefits are great once you have seniority at a company.
But some pilots want more control over their schedule, to be home each night and have predictable time off. Some find the structure of airline flying boring and long to fly more basic aircraft with less automation that requires more seat-of-the-pants flying.
Here’s a look at some alternatives to the traditional airline pilot jobs.
Part 135 Flying — Corporate or Charter Pilot
FAR Part 135 is a broad rule that encompasses many different types of aircraft operators, all of which need to hire pilots.
The most glamorous option is becoming a charter pilot, flying flashy business jets all over the world. Some corporate aircraft, like the new Gulfstream G700, can fly circles around any Boeing or Airbus.
Besides the equipment, the lifestyle of a charter pilot is different.
The quality of life is very much tied to the company you work for, which includes how much you’re paid and how your schedule is arranged.
Some charter pilots, especially when starting, are essentially on-call 24/7—they need the crew and the plane ready to fly wherever the passengers need to go, whenever they want to.
On the other end of the 135 spectrum are air taxis, which are essentially operated like mini airlines.
These carriers might fly Cessna Caravans or Piper Navajos, small passenger planes on the same routes a few days per week. While the pay and hours might not be great, it’s fun flying, and they often operate in some neat places (e.g., The Bahamas or Alaskan backcountry).
There are also specific types of Part 135 operators that might interest you.
There are cargo carriers, like the smaller companies that contract for FedEx and DHL (often in Cessna Caravans or Shorts 360s). Many companies fly medical evacuation flights, moving patients from remote areas to city centers to get more extensive medical care.
In the Part 135 world, the company you work for makes or breaks the job. For example, large corporations may have flight departments hiring pilots. On the other hand, you might work for a company like Netjet, Flexjet, Wheels Up, or XO that operates similarly to an airline but in the charter world.
Ferry Pilot for Aircraft Sales Company
Ferry pilots are hired to move aircraft from one place to another. Most of these jobs are related to the sale of a plane.
For example, someone in California wants a plane sold in Florida, and they can’t make the trip themselves. Or, someone buys a new plane from a dealer in Florida, so the dealership hires a ferry pilot to get the plane from the factory in Germany over to the United States.
All sorts of planes need to be ferried, so the only limit to the amount of work is what type of planes you are qualified in. Some ferry pilots work independently, while others are employees of new aircraft manufacturers, dealers, or brokers. Sometimes, brokers augment their income by flying ferry flights themselves.
Fly Bush Planes or be a Sightseeing Pilot
If you long to spend more time outdoors, away from big airports and the hectic world of normal air travel, being a backcountry bush pilot might be for you.
These pilots operate specially outfitted small planes that can be flown in and out of remote locations, often off-airport.
They’re a way of life in Alaska, where bush planes fly passengers to far-away hunting and fishing lodges deep in the wilderness. Some bush planes are seaplanes, while others have oversized tires for rough terrain or skis for ice.
Not quite as adventurous (but still fun) is the life of the sightseeing pilot. Sightseeing pilots operate air tours for guests around popular attractions—beach towns, famous landmarks, and beautiful places.
Hawaii, Florida, and Arizona (Grand Canyon) have fixed-wing sightseeing, and sightseeing jobs may also be overseas. Even more of these jobs become available if you have your helicopter rating.
Law Enforcement, Government, Firefighting, or Survey Pilot
Numerous pilot jobs fall into this broad category.
In general, government, law enforcement, and firefighting jobs hire from within. In other words, if you want to fly for the highway patrol, you might have to work as a trooper and go through law enforcement training before applying to be a pilot.
Many police, sheriff’s, and highway patrol offices around the country operate an aviation department. On the federal level, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) sometimes hire pilots off the street.
Many US defense contractors also hire pilots. Many big government agencies, like NOAA and NASA, hire mostly from the military.
The FAA regularly hires pilots for flying jobs (testing navigational equipment and inspecting facilities) and ASI (Aviation Safety Inspector) jobs, which may involve testing pilots applying for certificates.
A similar alternative is a job as a survey pilot. These jobs involve ferrying the airplane from site to site, flying a regular pattern while the cameras record everything, and coordinating with ATC.
Training Pilot/CFI
Pilots who enjoy teaching can have long-term careers as CFIs. This might involve regular flight instruction in small planes and teaching private, instrument, and commercial courses.
But it might also involve specialized training.
For example, aircraft manufacturers and dealers hire CFIs to check out new owners. Or you might work at a school that offers high-performance/high-altitude aircraft, acrobatics/upset training, mountain flying checkouts, or seaplane training.
Some CFIs work for a flight school, while others work as private contractors for individual aircraft owners. Experienced CFIs can often augment their flying income by teaching ground schools for colleges and universities.
You don’t have to stick with small planes, either.
Your flight instructor ticket allows you to teach in whatever planes you are rated for. Many pilots return to flight instruction after getting type ratings in bigger equipment. The type rating opens up jobs as a simulator instructor for type-rating applicants.
Experienced instructors can become Designated Pilot Examiners (DPE).
DPEs are trained by the FAA and allowed to issue certificates—they conduct the checkrides. The types of checkrides are only limited by your ratings and FAA training, so there’s a lot of opportunity to learn new planes and new skills (and make more money). Though this can be a challenging job to get.
The Sky’s the Limit. Where Do You Want to Fly?
Of course, there are even more pilot jobs out there.
Cargo flying, crop dusting, banner towing, helicopters, seaplanes, airships—there are many options once you start looking.
The military is also a great way to get into aviation since each branch has an aviation component.
The right pilot job for you is a personal choice. It has much more to do with your desired lifestyle than many people realize.
Not everyone wants to be away from home for two weeks every month. On the other hand, some people are more than happy to put in that time if they have the rest of the month free to travel the world on the company’s dime.
And some feel one way in their 20s but look at it differently in their 40s.
If one tip applies to all of these career paths, it’s to pick the best company to work for.
Working for a bad employer can affect not only your love of your job but also your love of aviation. No pilot wants to deal with being bullied into flying unsafe equipment in unsafe conditions or constantly putting up with irate customers.
Pay, scheduling, equipment upkeep, and the working environment all come down to your employer; these “little things” are what sets one job apart.
- About the Author
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Jarrod Roberts brings a wealth of experience to the Thrust Flight team, with a flying career spanning over 15 years. His journey in aviation began with a BS in Aeronautical Science from Texas A&M Central. After working as a flight instructor, he joined SkyWest as a First Officer and then later upgraded to Captain. He now flies for a legacy airline. Jarrod also serves as the Chief Pilot here at Thrust Flight where he guides our team of flight instructors in delivering top-tier training to our many Zero Time to Airline students.