Proffesional Pilot Careers
Pilots are always looking for something more. Something different, and that's good! It simply means pilots are constantly aiming for something higher and something better! What are your options when it's time to change? What can you aim for? If you are sitting on the runway, waiting for the take off to a new career: Cleared for the take off and clear to climb to new heights!
Clear to climb to: teaching others!
Yeah, I know that it’s not glamorous. If the aviation industry didn't have any instructors, you wouldn't be a pilot. To be an instructor is always a good choice for low time pilots because you get to build hours and you get paid for it! You will build new friends and those always valuable contacts necessary for later stages in your career and the hours are reasonable (most student pilots only fly between sunrise and sunset). On the down side, you won’t make your millions in one year, the pay isn't amazing, but it will pay the rent. Furthermore the responsibility is huge ( isn't it every time you get into an aircraft and start the prop?) You need to do your instructors rating for this, and a few conversions to different training aircraft.
Clear to climb to: saving others
There are three ways to go with this. Firstly, fire fighting. You will basically pilot an aircraft ( Helicopter of fixed), pick up water and dump it on a blazing fire, just to return to the water source and repeat the whole process. Alternatively you get to be the "spotter aircraft" you fly around and tell the people on the ground ( or your fellow pilots) where the fire is and where it's heading. Secondly, you could go into the medical-air sector. This involves you taking medics to a crime or accident scene where people are critically injured and taking them and the patient to the hospital. Thirdly there are sea rescues. They prefer helicopters but use fixed wing aircraft for Mayday calls that are out of the helicopter's range. You go, get the rescuers to the scene, pick up the people and get them back to solid ground. You will need: conversions to the specified aircraft and some training for the specific route you chose!
Clear to climb to: transporting others (airlines and cargo)
You, my friend, have arrived! If you are starting to consider this, your logbook must be nice and full ( or there are three others on the shelf). Transporting people, obviously, requires a lot of skill. You bear the responsibility of having people's lives in your hands and you won't be excused when you mess up. But... you get to be captain of a Boeing (or something smaller if you chose the private charter route) just the word captain is enough for some people (and being captain of your Cessna 172 doesn't count, Mr and Miss solo student pilot). If you choose cargo flying, it's much easier, you know, cargo can't scream and annoy you as you dive in for a landing. I’m just joking....
Well, when established at your desired route ... enjoy your flight!
