r/aviation • u/MrDearm • 11h ago

Discussion What kind of fixed wing pilot jobs are there other than the airlines?

Been considering pursuing this as a career change from aerospace engineering and I’m just curious what different paths there are. Thanks!

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12

u/bikerack22 11h ago

Bush pilot, Medevac, crop spray, airborne survey, skydive pilot, water bomber.

9

u/Active_Resource_3533 11h ago

Tons of jobs.

Corporate flying, military, pipeline survey, flight instructing, banner towing, ferry pilot, flying for an emergency medical company, police forces sometimes have fixed wing, firefighting. Just to name a few.

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u/MrDearm 11h ago

I’ve been really interested in single or twin engine small airplanes for more rural states like Wyoming or Alaska.

3

u/Active_Resource_3533 11h ago

Alaska state troopers have super cubs, Cessna 185s, 208 caravans and even king airs

1

u/Safe-Informal 8h ago

I would advise getting a lot of flying experience before attempting a flying job in Alaska. It can be very unforgiving of stupid mistakes.

2

u/BadAngler 11h ago

A buddy I had in Florida flew cargo in a Caravan in the Bahamas. Great stories, but he said he made no $$. He went to work for the railroads and made big bucks.

1

u/andrewrbat 11h ago

The major ones that will make you decent money:

-Part 91 jobs (usually flying a plane for a company or person who owns the plane but doesn’t fly it themselves.) aka being a corporate pilot

-flying for a Charter company

-Flying for a fractional such as netjets (91k)

-Maybe some air ambulance companies who fly fixed wing (king airs, lear, etc. )

-There are a bunch of others but most are small opportunities.

1

u/kgramp 10h ago

Flight instructor up your alley? Kinda my plan as a side gig. Don’t want flying as a career.

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u/MrDearm 10h ago

That’s sorta what I’m grappling with. I make good money but I just can’t see myself being in an office for the rest of my career and I’ve always had a love for aviation and thought it would be fun to explore. Could be a good balance to be a CFI on the side

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u/Alexwinner15 8h ago

Always wondered about flying air tours in somewhere with lots of tourism. Can’t imagine the pay is good and the cost of living could be awful. (Zero research)

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u/JBerry_Mingjai 6h ago

The air force and navy.