Expert: David A. NewMyer - 9/3/2005

Question
I'm 40, haven't gotten a First Class Medical yet, and currently earn about $65k in my non-aviation job.  I would love to fly for a living; but I'm not dying to fly for an airline.  Corporate aviation, freight (large or small company), or even sightseeing or charter flying sounds great to me.  Is it realistic to hope to return to this income level in a reasonable amount of time?  What is the best way to acquire training?  I like the idea of getting a Commercial certificate in a year.    I'm not dying to spend $30k.  Do you have any advice on the best path to follow?

Thanks for your help,
WL

Answer
Hi, Wayne:

Nice to hear from you.  I will try to assist.

As for not spending $30,000.....I am sure it is possible to obtain a Federal Aviation Administration-approved Private Pilot Certificate, Commercial Pilot Certificate and an Instrument and Multi Engine Rating without spending $30,000.  This would be especially true if you did the flight training through a local Fixed Based Operator or flight training company.  However, check the prices and see....it is not always an easy thing to price flight training and also make sure that you are working with a company that will offer excellent flight training.  So, make sure you comparison shop and also get some references from individuals who have gone through flight training with these companies.  If you go through a local flight training company or any company, it will take time to earn these ratings....if you are doing it part time and on weekends, as much as two to three years.

If you go through a national flight training company (such as one advertising in Flying Magazine), you will definitely spend more than $30,000.

As far as reaching an income level of $65,000, I would expect that this would take from five to ten years after your completion of flight school.  The reason for the time delay is that you will have to build your flight experience to a level of 2500 to 4000 hours of total flight time and 500 to 1000 hours of pilot in command in multi engine (preferably turbine) aircraft before the larger flight departments will be interested in hiring you.  And, by the way, you will have better luck with salaries at corporate flight departments than smaller freight companies...the larger freight companies such as UPS and FEDEX pay well, as do Atlas/Polar and Omni International.  But, the smaller freight companies (and their are lots of them) do not pay really well.

I hope that this information is of assistance to you.

Keep in mind that you do want to do what you love.....that is ideal.  But, you have to be practical about how to get there.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

Sincerely,

David A. NewMyer, Ph.D., Professor and Chair
Aviation Management and Flight
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
http://www.aviation.siu.edu/