What other job besides a airline would a airplane pilot recive at high wages after military service?

Question

What other job besides a airline would a airplane pilot recive at high wages after military service?

Answer 1

drug running

Answer 2

Depends what you call high wages.  There are many opportunities for pilots now, some are in the USA and others abroad. I just received a notice from Air India, they are extremely short of pilots and looking specifically for English speaking pilot (for those that don't know, all ATC is conducted in English world-wide) They recently have lost a considerable number of crewmembers due to inability to speak English well enough to pass their tests, along with other reasons. The pay is comparable to better than what you would have found among US based airlines.

There is also corporate flying either directly for a company with a flight department, or with a company that specializes in jet charter such as NETJET, FLEXJET  etc...   fractional ownership of corp jets has shown a huge increase since 9/11 and with the rising costs of travel, they will become more popular.  They are not too keen on  us fighterjocks, but prefer the CRM type that come from the crewed transport category aircraft.

There is also flight instructing with a major company such as Flight Safety International or Simuflite. You are no longer flying, but you can expect a reasonable salary and a very professional enviroment and strong benefits package.

You are already aware of your options with the Guard and RES, and if not.. you SHOULD be. After that... it gets thin... flying freight is an option, they always need pilots because the schedules are horrid, the flying dangerous, the equipment usually worn out junk, and the pay low.   You will on the other hand become very sharp because you will get a lot of practice in bad weather and single engine approaches. (real)

If you are flexible, i.e.  single, no problems moving and on short notice, you can find something, although competition is strong at the moment. Expect to see a lot of ATA pilots at the interviews since they closed their doors in April. If you have conditions that prevent you from relocating, or that restrict your hours of working.... good luck....  you may find something but it will be against the odds.  If you plan on getting out of aviation... well... you have an excellent background, training and trackrecord. You can market those skills into something profitable... what that would be I have NO idea because I couldn't do it.

   If  as was previously mentioned, ATC/FAA you will need to be current within the last 5 years, and one of the few times that age works for you (FAA) and against you (ATC)  There was a shortage of Inspectors for the FAA a few years ago, but they have caught up most of their areas to normal numbers the last I heard. Two former pilots I flew with have gone on to the Feds and they like it.  

Then there are the VLJ's that are becoming popular, but the new owners rarely have the qualification to be insured in their new plane, so you can pick up some time/money flying "safety pilot" for them... sit there and make sure they don't do anything silly.  

There are several good websites for finding flying jobs,  climbto350 dot com  is the one I used and is always full of new positions... from firebombers in CA to spotting fish in AK, to bottom of the barrel CFIA in Gooberville to Captain on a Gulfstream.  Look into using your GI Bill for training and be willing to pay for your own type rating if it gets you a job. Anyone else paying for your type rating will want you to sign a training contract to guarantee that you will stay a set period of time, (years) or if you leave prior to that point... reimbursing the company for your training. That is not only common, but to be expected these days.

Answer 3

1) The armed forces have regional offices which guide retired officers to suitable posts.

2) Ciivil/Federal Aviation Authorities.

3) Fire/Law Enforcement Agencies/Crop Dusting/Bush Pilot.

4) Air charter, aircraft leasing and brokerage companies.

5) Management  jobs in the private sector.

The above are just a few of the potential openings for retired pilots from the military.

Answer 4

Let's not forget that pilots in the military aren't just pilots.  Becoming a military officer (and pilot) comes with more leadership responsibilities than a comparable civilian's job.  

Some pilots get more leadership experience than others.  From what I've seen, Air Force fighter types get the least leadership experience, and Navy maritime patrol and helicopter pilots get the most.  Everyone else falls somewhere in between.

Regardless, this experience opens up the job market for folks getting out of military flying significantly.  Who would you hire to run your potato chip distribution unit? -- a 33yo guy who's leadership experience was a group of 10 programmers and all the "group projects" he could handle in college, or a 33yo guy who's leadership consisted of both small groups and peers, as well as the leadership of large groups of 120 people (comprising every skill set and demographic imaginable) or more before the age of 28?

Answer 5

The "Number One" stressful job in the world.....

Air Traffic Controller. Or a flight instructor.

Answer 6

Airline Pilot is not a high paying job unless you enjoy being a highly trained professioinal making $30,000 a year.