Professional Pilot Jobs
When someone says they are a professional pilot, most people immediately assume that they fly for a major airline. While there are many airline pilots out there, there are so many more career paths for pilots. Aviation is a hidden component that is vital in our day to day lives.
Because airline pilots are the most well known kind of pilot, I will start with them. Pilots can fly passengers or cargo for major airlines as a career. Not many people know this, but cargo companies, such as FedEx and UPS, are considered airlines. Airline pilots at the top end of the salary range can make upwards of $150,000-$200,000 per year. Getting hired by a major airline is difficult. Most airline pilots come from a regional airline. Regional pilots start off at around $20,000, which is a notorious statistic in the industry. Many regional pilots work two jobs and live off of food stamps. As they gain seniority, they will end up making anywhere from $60,000-$100,000 per year. Most pilots don't stop here, they try to get hired by a major airline. Airlines are heavily regulated and very structured. Flying a wide range of aircraft for these companies provides jobs for many people, but there is more to aviation than the airlines.
Corporate pilots make up a large part of professional pilots. Corporate pilots fly executives from corporations, on a scheduled or on-demand basis. They can work long hours and can make a large range in salary. Corporate pilots not only fly the plane, but they greet the passengers, act as a "flight attendant", and pack bags into the storage area. They may have some office work to do as well. Corporate flying can lead to a long, successful career.
Becoming an instructor is a good option for many pilots. You can be self-employed or work for a flight school. Being self-employed allows you to choose your hours, students, and salary. Working for a flight school gives a little less freedom, but instructing will allow you to quickly build hours. You will know the material better by teaching it. This will give a lot of experience to aspiring pilots.
Pipeline pilots patrol pipelines, looking for leaks or any other structural concerns. This can also apply to power lines, railroads, or even roads. Law enforcement pilots can patrol traffic, participate in search and rescue, and help border patrol. News agencies hire pilots to report traffic or special events. They can also transport reporters to sites of accidents or crimes. Aerial firefighters watch for, and extinguish forest fires. Pilots can be hired to carry skydivers, tow banners, or tow gliders. Pilots can also work for the FAA as inspectors, test pilots, or airspace inspectors. Crop dusting is another vital use of pilots. Aerial photography is becoming more and more popular, as well. These are just a few of the many career possibilities for professional pilots. Pilots do more than flying jumbo jets. Commercial pilots fly anything from single engine aircraft, to state of the art jetliners. That is why aviation is so great.
