Job Track / Career Path

[VAmookie]

Well crap, I was looking at the thread "Flight Career" where the highschool senior was asking about military aviation and commercial airliners. Im going to PLC juniors this summer with a flight contract. Im definately looking forward to flying in the marine corps but dont know my long term career path. After my 8 year contract, ill definately stay in the reserves, but maybe even active for a full 20.

If i dont stay active until retirement, what are my options for a career in private flight. It sounds like the airlines have very little to offer, although i always heard the money's very good. I heard freight is the best way to go, like FedEx, UPS, Airborne Express, ETC, at least better than Delta or even jet blue. Is this true? What kind of private sector job can i hope to get? Private Leer Jet (Britany Spears anyone)? or private flight instructor? Also, if i get helo's what can i expect in the private sector. Hows the pay for private flight instructors? Or flying helo's for the police department? Is it really the best option to stay in for 20+ years?

My wife to be might have a hard time with a 20 year marine husband. Im pretty much looking at jobs taking into account family time, money, and job stimulation. Anyone care to shed some light?

 

[46Driver]

The best bet is a job at Customs or some other type of government agency - also staying in to 20 or beyond is a steady, comfortable job. ALL of the airlines are cutting back pay and benefits (Delta might be looking at 40% pay cuts, USAir's pensions went from $96K a year to $28K a year). Competition at the "good" companies is extremely tough. Its a tough time in the airlines now, but go to www.flightinfo.com and you can get a better feel for it.

 

[phrogdriver]

jetcareers.com is another good site with discussion boards for every type of civil aviation.

The airlines definitely aren't the money train they used to be. Even the lifestyle isn't as cool as it is often portrayed. 46Driver could go on at length on that one, as could many others on the board. I have been told that cargo is the way to go.

Corporate has a good lifestyle, from what I've heard, but the pay still tops out pretty early.

US Customs, or BICE, is the only federal law enforcement agency which hires people to be just pilots. All the other federal agencies require you to be a street agent for 3 years of more before going into aviation. Customs has very competitive pay, though. As a captain at the end of his service committment, you'll be taking a slight pay cut for a couple years, then start to pull ahead.

Most local and state law enforcement also require time as a regular cop before going air. There are exceptions, though, like the MD state police. Pay is, well, a cop's pay.

Helo pay generally bites. From what I've seen, it's pretty similar across EMS, oil rigs, tours, etc. Of course, now that airline pay sucks, too, it coesn't seem that bad. You're generally talking 40K starting and topping out in the 60s. Not bad if you're already getting a military retirement, but you're already earning more than civilian helo pilots make by the time you're a captain. The lifestyle can be good, though. My neighbor is a petroleum pilot. He works 14 days on, 14 off. So, he's gone 1/2 the time, but the rest of the time he's on vacation.

Of course, even civilian helo pilots make much more than civilian flt instructors. Those guys are really on the Ramen noodle plan. They're generally guys trying to build enough time to apply for another low-paying job in the airlines.

I'm by no means an expert on civil aviation, but I was looking at a lot of different options before I took the Devil's money(or for us Marines, the Devil's pocket change) and signed another 6-yr contract. Key thing about aviation now is that you've got to like flying, because the money isn't all that good. There are exceptions, but the military actually pays pilots pretty well compared to the outside. Me, I figured that no one else will pay me to fly at 100'.

If it sounds as if I've been focusing a bit much on money, maybe I have. It seems a relevant point of comparison. I figure that the flying in the military is pretty cool. No insurance company will let you do the stuff in the air that we do. You just have to put up with a little military BS. So, someone else had better pay me a butt-ton of $$ to get me to fly straight and level from A to B, especially if I have to file IFR. Blech! So, finding no takers, here I am.

 

[VAmookie]

Good Replies

Thanks for the replies. Measuring options in terms of money was what i was looking for. I know the military pays well compared to private, but i am looking down the road 10-12 years when ill have some kids running around. Staying in doesnt seem optimal for families, especially since im going USMC and wont even be flying that much at that time, and will probably be moving around a lot. Id like to stay in, but id like to make some cash too.

How about consulting jobs or NASA? Does Boing or Lockheed hire former military to advise or design? I know marines have a big test pilot program, how does that route look for getting into NASA?

Thanks for the replies

 

[phrogdriver]

You mean getting into NASA as an astronaut or as an engineer? The astronaut thing is competitive, but not impossible. You do need a strong science, math, or engineering background. YOu have to be TACAIR for a pilot slot, but any field can apply for mission specialist. Of course, you have to be good at a field they need. There's a CH-46 pilot there right now.

Test pilot is an option. I wouldn't say the Corps is particularly strong in that regard, but it is a big deal. Follow-on jobs in the industry wouldn't surprise me. Test-pilot isn't regarded as a huge career move within the Corps, however.

You'll be flying plenty in the Marine Corps. The non-flying thing gets beaten to death excessively. You can stay in the cockpit almost your whole career, if you play your cards a certain way. You won't be a CO, and will probably stay a terminal major, but if that's your plan, go for it.

There are also fields that don't deploy as much, if that's what you want. If you switched to acquisitions after your first 2 tours, you'd never deploy again. Or fly, but there's always a trade-off. We live in trying times, so deployments are fast and furious, but that will eventually taper off. In normal years, an airline pilot will spend far more time away from his family than a typical Marine officer.