Expert: D. Norkus - 10/19/2006

Question
Dottie,
As I have read, regional pilots make very little money starting out. Being a pilot, would you have time to work a side job in order to meet financial needs, and still get some time off?  Or would I have to sacrifice my house and live like I was back in college again?  Thanks,  Dan

Answer
Dan

As a new regional F/O, with minimal days off and the worst schedules, you would be very hard pressed to work two jobs to make additional income. Typically you will have from 8-11 days off per month on the most junior schedules. When I was a new hire I did have a ground based job I worked on my days off. For over two months straight I didn't have a day off! It was simply too much to keep up so I had to quit.

While you may be able to pull it off with some very flexible jobs (i.e. work from home or via the internet), a traditional hourly ground based job will be very hard.

Once you get some seniority and can bid better schedules you will then be better able to have a second job. I do know several more senior pilots, with great schedules and lots of days off (15-18/mo) who moonlight in flexible second jobs like real estate or mortgage broking, even dry wall and construction.

If you are worried about keeping your house, do all you can to rework your finances and trim expenses. You will need to plan on a starting salary of less than $20K. Heck, after almost 4 years, I am hoping to break the $30K mark! If getting roomate or refinancing will help, do so. You also can't count on being able to be based near your home or have an easy commute to work, so you may have to rent it out entirely. When I was a new hire, I had zero debt but my home. It helped immensely! I don't know how I would have made it if I had credit card & car payments. Do what ever you can to eliminate and reduce your debt now.

For more insight, try the message forums at

http://forums.flightinfo.com
http://www.jetcareers.com/forums/

Hope this helps,
Dot