Salary for flying private or smaller planes
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Salary for flying private or smaller planes
Just wondering what sort of jobs in the UK and Ireland that exist for flying smaller planes like a TBM or a caravan or a king air? Where to find them and how much do they pay? Is it significantly less than flying for major airlines?
thanks
thanks
Az, these vary from large compagnies like NetJets Europe with hundreds of pilots and schedules to single pilot operators where the one employee is the Jack of all trades: pilot, maintenance planner, hangar keeper and whatever else the owner comes up with.
Flying a single engine anything will never offer the same salary or benefits as flying for an airline.
A lot of smaller operators have gentleman’s agreements, a pilot leaves and they bring in their own replacement. Many of those jobs will therefore never be advertised.
Many of those jobs are essentially part time as the airplane is only used by the owner.
Part time jobs come with part time pay unless you’re very very lucky.
Keep in mind that these jobs generally don’t offer that much flying, maybe a couple of hundred hours a year. This may not be enough to move on or upgrade in a reasonable time.
I used to know an individual who was silver spooned into a large business jet right after his CPL, 5 years later he was complaining he couldn’t move on as he was still well under 1500 hrs for the ATPL, as a matter of fact he was still under a 1000. His first job turned into a golden cage. Not enough flying to stay not enough experience to go.
Life is different when you’re 21, when you’re 31
you need your first (and second and third) job to get you lots of hours in a relatively short time to get you where you need to be instead of having your career stall out.
Flying a single engine anything will never offer the same salary or benefits as flying for an airline.
A lot of smaller operators have gentleman’s agreements, a pilot leaves and they bring in their own replacement. Many of those jobs will therefore never be advertised.
Many of those jobs are essentially part time as the airplane is only used by the owner.
Part time jobs come with part time pay unless you’re very very lucky.
Keep in mind that these jobs generally don’t offer that much flying, maybe a couple of hundred hours a year. This may not be enough to move on or upgrade in a reasonable time.
I used to know an individual who was silver spooned into a large business jet right after his CPL, 5 years later he was complaining he couldn’t move on as he was still well under 1500 hrs for the ATPL, as a matter of fact he was still under a 1000. His first job turned into a golden cage. Not enough flying to stay not enough experience to go.
Life is different when you’re 21, when you’re 31
you need your first (and second and third) job to get you lots of hours in a relatively short time to get you where you need to be instead of having your career stall out.PPRuNe Handmaiden
az91, you won't earn any thing like the majors flying the Caravan or King Air. I don't know their salary structures but I would be surprised if it was more than £20K to £35K as command.
These jobs definitely exist but they tend to operate out of smaller airfields. There is a operator of PC12s, callsign "mosquito" and they seem quite busy, especially in the Swiss Alps. It is interesting flying and you'll do a lot more "hands on tasks". As B2N2 alluded to, if you're after hours for that illusive command, you'll be waiting a while. Most average about 300 hours a year. Although, at the moment, the bizjet world is booming so the hours are there but nothing like a "low cost" airling.
These jobs definitely exist but they tend to operate out of smaller airfields. There is a operator of PC12s, callsign "mosquito" and they seem quite busy, especially in the Swiss Alps. It is interesting flying and you'll do a lot more "hands on tasks". As B2N2 alluded to, if you're after hours for that illusive command, you'll be waiting a while. Most average about 300 hours a year. Although, at the moment, the bizjet world is booming so the hours are there but nothing like a "low cost" airling.
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How about part time jobs?
How about part time flying jobs? Do they exist?
im asking because I have a good stable job but I can afford to go part time (very flexible hours and days).
im asking because I have a good stable job but I can afford to go part time (very flexible hours and days).
Consider what you could do part time:
Crop dusting ( dying art form)
Glider towing
Para dropping
Sight seeing flights (seasonal)
Banner towing (seasonal)
Flight instruction
Air Show flying (sponsored)
None of these will pay enough to rub two nickels together. You’re talking pretty much hobby level flying with expenses paid.
Not to mention the competition for these jobs.
As an example you’re looking for a new pilot….who do you choose…who does your insurance company like best…the 300hr CPL or the retired airline pilot with 15-20,000hrs?
This is not an easy industry
Crop dusting ( dying art form)
Glider towing
Para dropping
Sight seeing flights (seasonal)
Banner towing (seasonal)
Flight instruction
Air Show flying (sponsored)
None of these will pay enough to rub two nickels together. You’re talking pretty much hobby level flying with expenses paid.
Not to mention the competition for these jobs.
As an example you’re looking for a new pilot….who do you choose…who does your insurance company like best…the 300hr CPL or the retired airline pilot with 15-20,000hrs?
This is not an easy industry
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Thanks
Yeah I know. It’s good to have all this input. Gives me more to think of how I’m gonna do it.
my goal is to eventually work as a pilot (ideally airline pilot but really don’t care too much as long as I’m flying). However, I have a good job (pays ok but I hate it and being a pilot is all I can think of) and a family, so it’s gonna be hard to make it work financially but will find a way.
now a possibility is make/save/combine with a loan to £70k. So I need to think how that will work out on the long term to still be able to support my family. Maybe work part time while training maybe invest or something.
thanks
my goal is to eventually work as a pilot (ideally airline pilot but really don’t care too much as long as I’m flying). However, I have a good job (pays ok but I hate it and being a pilot is all I can think of) and a family, so it’s gonna be hard to make it work financially but will find a way.
now a possibility is make/save/combine with a loan to £70k. So I need to think how that will work out on the long term to still be able to support my family. Maybe work part time while training maybe invest or something.
thanks
Your journey of 10,000 Miles start with a first step. Gather the funds for your PPL and do this part time at a local (ish) airport.
After completion make an honest assessment to how difficult/easy it has been to balance work/family and training.
Will you be able to do this for another 2-3 years of part time training?
As you progress the road will reveal itself.
Possible training in Canada, the US or South Africa. License conversions to EASA.
Your job opportunities will likely be outside of the UK.
After completion make an honest assessment to how difficult/easy it has been to balance work/family and training.
Will you be able to do this for another 2-3 years of part time training?
As you progress the road will reveal itself.
Possible training in Canada, the US or South Africa. License conversions to EASA.
Your job opportunities will likely be outside of the UK.
The first step is ALWAYS to get a Class one medical. Worry about everything else after that, money etc. You'll need about £40k for a fATPL if you go about it the right way.
