The career of a pilot is undeniably under constant assault for a myriad of reasons. Flight deck crewmembers may lose their authority to exercise the privileges of their Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot’s license for medical reasons, driving under the influence, intentional or unintentional Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR’s) violations, and so on. In some cases, the FAA may simply decide that a pilot should have his or her license either suspended or revoked for the violation of FAR 91.13: Careless or reckless operation. For these and other economic reasons, a professional pilot should always have a career plan B.

1. Thiago Evangelista
Utah Valley University
UVSC 4700
vs.

2. Airline Pilot vs Airport Manager
Airline Pilot
- Majors
Airport
Manager
Entry Level:
Aerial
Mapping
Pilot
Entry Level:
Airport
Assistant

3. Airline Pilot Career - Entry
Level Job
Entry Level Job:
Aerial Mapping Pilot
- Precision fly assigned GPS-Grid
routes
- Responsible for aircraft and on-
board equipment maintenance
- Efficient airspace coordination with
ATC
- Compiling, coding, and verifying
photogrammetry data

4. Education & Experience
• High school diploma or GED required
• Typically, minimum flight experience required
• More complex mapping aircraft require higher experience
Minimum Qualifications – Sample (From:
www.latestpilotjobs.com):
- 300 hours of total flight time
- 50 hours of multi-engine time
- Must possess a high school diploma or GED
- Must hold Commercial ASEL + AMEL with Instrument Rating
- CFI preferred
- Must possess and be able to exercise privileges of at least Second
Class Medical Certificate
- Must be able to demonstrate Commercial Standard flying skills

5. Starting Salary & Pay Increase
Cessna
210
Piper
Aztec
Learjet
35
$ 26,000
$ 35,000
$ 50,000 +
Source: Various Job Postings

6. Domiciles & Work Schedule
• No fixed domicile
• Pilot is “on-the road” the entire rotation
• Live out of a suitcase
Work Schedule & Time Off
• Typical schedules are based on rotation (E.g. 8 days
on 6 days off)
• Some require the pilot to be on-the-road the entire
mapping season
• Work days depend on cloud coverage, sunset and
sunrise times, and other weather conditions

7. Benefits, Perks, & Quality of Life
• May vary considerably
• Most employers offer basic health, vision, and dental
coverage
•Perks
“Real” flying experience, minimum supervision,
freedom to make operational decisions
•Quality of Life
Rotation schedules allow for personal life planning
Long or short days are dictated by weather
Extended periods away from home

8. Upward Mobility &
Progression
• Much movement within smaller aircraft and companies
• Many consider it a time-building job
• Pilots who decide to pursue:
Chance to move up to twin aircraft
Become a Chief Pilot
After experience, may find better paying survey jobs
on jet aircraft
Not difficult to start your own aerial mapping business

9. Retirement
• Unless you started your own mapping business you’re likely
to retire from a different field in aviation

10. Personal Input
• I have 2 years of aerial mapping experience and
my personal thoughts are:
Great time-building alternative to flight
instructing
Hands-on, real life experience
Responsible for tracking aircraft maintenance
Single-pilot flying nationwide
Mapping flights are VFR. Ferry flights IFR
Stay for 2 to 6 weeks at different locations
anywhere in the US; this allows you time to
explore new cities

11. Airline Pilot - Majors

12. Description
• Fly passengers and/or cargo
• Responsible for safe and efficient operation of complex aircraft
• Ensuring the fuel levels balance safety with economy
• Pre-flight checks and planning
• Determines weather and conditions prior to each flight
• Pre-flight checks on navigation, safety, and operating systems
• En-route, perform regular checks on the aircraft's performance
and position, on weather conditions and air traffic
• Update aircraft logbook
• Report any mechanical discrepancies found during flight
"Can you fly this plane and land it?“
"Surely you can't be serious?“
"I am serious. And don't call
me Shirley."
- Airplane

13. Education
• In today’s competitive market a Bachelor’s degree is essential

14. Experience
• May vary considerably depending on the airline
• Many chose to acquire it via the Regionals. Other routes are
available (E.g. cargo, charter, corporate…)
• My air carrier of choice, Hawaiian Airlines, requires:
Airline Transport Pilot certification required with English proficient
limitation
Instrument Rating required 1000 hours turbine as P.I.C. as defined by
F.A.R. Part 1 (Preferred)
300 hours Multi-engine experience in large airline type equipment
(preferred) Multi-engine Rating (preferred)
Must have Radiotelephone Operator Permit
Must have 1st class FAA Medical Certificate
Must be able to pass a U.S. Government Security Clearance
Must have a valid Passport Must have a high school diploma or its
equivalent
Two years of college desired, college graduate (preferred)

15. Annual Average Salary
• Again, this area may vary considerably
• As published by Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational
Outlook Handbook, and reported by CampusExplorer:

16. Starting Salary & Pay Increases
• First Officer Year
One Hourly Rates:
• Alaska Airlines: $53
• Delta Airlines: $68
• United Airlines: $66
• American Airlines: $40
• Hawaiian Airlines: $36
• Southwest Airlines: $57
Low! Even Legacy Airlines
starting pay is very low
(From: Airline Pilot Central)
• Captain Year 10
Hourly Rates:
• Alaska Airlines: $193
• Delta Airlines: $208
• United Airlines: $201
• American Airlines: $192
• Hawaiian Airlines: $198
• Southwest Airlines: $212
Progression is very good
(From: Airline Pilot Central)
Note: First Officer second year hourly rates
increase considerably for all of the air
carriers above.

17. Domiciles
Alaska Airlines: ANC, LAX, PDX, SEA
Delta Airlines: ATL, CVG, DTW, LAX, MSP, NYC,
SEA, SLC
United Airlines: DEN, EWR, IAH, JFK, LAX, ORD,
SEA, SFO, CLE, IAD, GUM
American Airlines: BOS, DCA, DFW, LAX, LGA,
MIA, ORD, STL
Hawaiian Airlines: HNL, SEA
Southwest Airlines: BWI, DAL, DEN,HOU, LAS,
MCO, MDW, OAK, PHX, ATL

18. Work Schedule vs. Time off
• New hires on reserve get a set number of days off a month
• Equipment, base location, and staffing levels play a role
• Seniority dramatically improves a pilot’s schedule
• Senior pilots may enjoy upwards of 20+ days off a month
• Most airline pilots average approximately 14-15 days off a
month
• Be ready to miss important dates and holidays with family
• Extraordinarily flexible schedule
• Unusual hours

19. Benefits & Perks
• Major or legacy airlines offer attractive benefit packages
• Health, vision, dental, disability , and life insurances
• Financial benefits: 401k, profit-sharing, bonuses
• Lifestyle: Paid vacation, personal time, holidays, education
programs, and various other employee discounts
• Perks:
• Jumpseat
• Worldwide travel for self, family, and friends
• Reduced hotel rates
• Flexible schedules that allow you to explore the world

20. Quality of Life
• It can be horrible or fantastic, it depends on:
 Seniority
 Live at base as to avoid being a commuter
 Airline and pilot union labor contract
 Type of operations
 Important to research the conditions, bases, and expected
movement before signing up with a new airline

21. Upward Mobility &
Progression
• It has been stagnant since 9/11
• Signed into law in 2007, The Age 65 Rule slowed down
expected movement due to retirements
• However:
Massive retirement
New FAA rest and duty rules
Economic recovery
Optimistic industry forecast
Indications that relatively fast
upward movement and exciting
times are expected throughout
the next decade

22. Retirement
• Not what it used to be
• Deregulation, economic downturns, 9/11 events, and fierce
competition are to blame
• Major airlines still offer attractive retirement packages
• Regardless, a solid retirement plan is CRUCIAL

23. Personal Input
• I have Part 121 (Regional/Commuter) experience
• I felt overworked, fatigued, and underpaid but
the experience gained was excellent
• Working Hawaiian Airlines is my number one
choice
• The inter-island flying (Boeing B717) would be a
“dream” job as it would allow me to be home
with family every night; there are no overnights

24. Airport Manager Career –
Entry Level Job
Entry Level Job:
Airport Assistant
- Daily airfield inspections
- Administrative, secretarial, and
clerical staff assistance
- Snow removal
- Participate in airport meetings
- Technical and paraprofessional
duties

25. Education & Experience
• Associate’s degree in management or a related field
• Aviation related experience
• Word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications
• Understanding the operating policies and procedures of an
airport
• Organizational skills
• Strong interest in airport
management and aviation

26. Salary
• According to the website Indeed, approximately $29,000 per
year
• According to Career Center, as of May 2014, the Aspen/Pitkin
County airport was offering a starting salary of $32,600 per
year
• Senior Airport Assistants may average $40,994.51 - $52,321.98
annually, as reported by www.agency.governmentjobs.com

27. Domiciles
• This position is usually offered at medium to large airports
• Nationwide opportunity, so take your pick:

28. Work Schedule vs. Time Off
• It may vary, but mostly a Monday – Friday job
• Schedule may change during:
Busy periods of the year, including holidays
Other major operational demands
• Not a very flexible schedule

29. Benefits, Perks & Quality of Life
• Many Airport Assistant opportunities are local government
jobs
• City or County
• Only three states still manage airports: Hawaii, Rhode Island,
and Alaska
• Expectedly, the benefits are above average:
 Vacation, sick leave, holidays, education incentive pay, medical,
dental, vision, life and long term disability are offered by most by
cities or counties
• Private airports offer less competitive benefit packages
• Quality of life can be good, especially if you chose
to work in the city that you want

30. Upward Mobility &
Progression
Airport Assistant
Senior Airport
Assistant
Airport Manager
Airport Board or
City/County
Commissioner

31. Retirement
• Good retirement package, especially if working
for a City or County managed airport

32. Personal Input
• Being an airport assistant seems to be the best
way to learn and acquire the experience
necessary to become an airport manager
• Exciting and dynamic
• Perfect plan B for myself

33. Airport Manager
• Similar to managing a small city
• Runs a smooth and efficient day-to-day operation
• Coordination and supervision of airlines, general aviation, and
military tenants
• Ensures enforcement of regulations that governs the airport
• Promotes airport development and economic growth
• Forecasts increased traffic and passenger volume
• Determines staff requirements
• Adheres and submits annual airport budget
• Promotes the airport within the community it serves
• Each airport is unique

34. Education & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Aviation
Management, Airport Administration, or other closely related
field
• American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) offers a
highly desirable Certified Member Program (C.M.)
Experience
• Required experience may vary, typically 3 to 7 years
• Excellent oral and written communication aptitude
• Problem solving skills
• In-depth knowledge of applicable regulations and laws

35. Starting Salary & Pay Increases
• According to the website PayScale, airport managers
average a salary of $52,226 per year
• Pay increase can be expected up to 10 years
• Additional experience will not considerably affect pay
• Tops out at $93,656 annually
• Depends on location

36. Domiciles
• Opportunity to work in many airports around the U.S.
• Privately, city, county, or state operated

37. Work Schedule vs. Time Off
• It may vary, but mostly a predictable schedule
• Schedule may change during:
Busy periods of the year, including holidays
Airport or city events
Security issues
Aircraft emergencies
Other major operational demands
• Not a very flexible schedule

38. Benefits, Perks & Quality of Life
• City, county, or state managed airports will offer amazing
benefit packages that include:
Vacation, sick leave, holidays, education incentive pay, medical,
dental, vision, life and long term disability are offered by most by
cities or counties
• Private airports offer less competitive benefit packages
• Good quality of life, especially if airport is locate in a preferred
area

39. Upward Mobility &
Progression
• If desired, an airport manager or director may become an
airport board or city/county commissioner
• This would mean reaching the top of an airport management
organization chart
• Pay usually tops at 10 years

40. Retirement
• Very good package as you are likely to retire
while working from local government
• Good options from the
private sector also

41. Personal Input
• Managing an airport sounds exciting but demanding
• It attracts me because it is very dynamic
• The somewhat regular schedule does not thrill me
• The usually good benefit package that comes with
government jobs is an excellent added bonus