Why not consider both? Yes flying for free is a piss take but look on the other side of the coin, you will be flying and you will gain experience and you never know something might open up from it I.e networking.
Get a paying job and at weekends work for these guys, I personally would of tried this option first before deciding to pick which job would be better.
Right now you have to be a hustler to get a job, play the game!
The song 'Everyday I'm hustling' - Rick Ross comes to mind
