What Can You Do With A Commercial Pilot Certificate? (The Sky Is The Limit.)

Elateded Student Pilt With A New Certificate!
Successful New Pilot!

Perhaps you have contemplated becoming an Airline Pilot or you want to be an Alaskan Bush Pilot and you wondered, What Can You Do With A Commercial Pilot Certificate?

Hopefully, this article will give some insight into the value of a commercial pilot certificate. It has been very good for my family and now maybe yours.

What Can You Do With A Commercial Pilot Certificate?

A Commercial Pilot Certificate allows you to sell your services as a pilot. You can be a Bush Pilot, an Airline Pilot, a Freight Pilot, a Corporate or Charter pilot, a Rescue pilot, or your choice of many flying jobs. Donate your services to help others in need, like Angel Flight.

1. Privileges.

The Commercial Pilot Certificate, (License), is the beginning of a journey in making flying a career and you have the opportunity to go as far as you like from Flight Instructor to a Major Airline Captain position.

There are many options in between these two examples. I fell in love with a job flying freight for a regional freight airline, Alpine Air Express, flying feeder for FedEx, Airborne Express, UPS, DHL, and the U.S. Postal Service.

Each company was a separate contract so in the long term, my time was flying U.S. Mail. These jobs took me throughout the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana.

All of the time spent flying was seeking a better higher paying flying job, but they just did not come around very often, Those of us looking were seeking jobs through attrition, expansion, or start-up operations and they were highly sought after. The competition was steep, so the most qualified got the best jobs. It is all about getting the highest pay for your service. This has changed and so has the face of Commercial Aviation.

There is always another hoop to jump through in the job search like more turbine hours, more jet hours, and type ratings. It is a constant challenge so getting the time needed for a good job might be more money spent on training in getting that job.

Now in 2022, there is an opportunity like no other time in history in the job market for commercial pilots.

2. Your Career.

This Commercial Pilot Certificate opens the door to making your dream of being paid for flying a reality. But remember that the real fun of flying goes away when you sign up for that Airline Pilot job. And most other flying jobs too. Now it has become your job. Hopefully, it is something fun.

But let’s stick to the flying because that is why you have a Commercial Pilot Certificate.

Now it is time to pick the kind of flying most suits you and your lifestyle and that can be chosen from almost any number of jobs.

I liked flying night freight because I was lucky enough to have a job in my hometown and I flew 3 to 4 hours per day and then home. There just isn’t much time for a social life because I needed to be ready to fly my run. My work week was 6 days one week and 5 the next from 10 PM until 2 AM.

3. The Flight Instructor.

This interim job or career is likely the most honorable position in a flying career. It’s also the very best way to learn to fly because if you want to learn it, teach it! 

It is highly rewarding to successfully teach a student pilot. There is a lot of pride in seeing a student solo for the first time. Knowing you were good enough to have the FAA issue your student a Private Pilot Certificate and hopefully, the Commercial Pilot Certificate makes an Instructor pilot feel darn good.

I once received one of my highest compliments while teaching from an FAA Safety Inspector who gave my student their check-ride and I was personally congratulated by this Inspector for my instruction. It was the easiest pass in his career.

4. The Commercial Pilot.

It takes a lot of work, dedication, study, and determination. Lots of work. Especially when starting with zero time. But it can be done rapidly by fine flight Schools and Independent Flight Instructors. There are many to choose from so research based on your choice of programs to fit your need.

Not only is a commercial pilot job absolutely great it is a great time to be applying for a job. I took a look at the present market by looking at airline jobs, and discovered that Meas Airlines is offering a $20,000.00 sign-on bonus! Unheard of!

There are job opportunities in every facet of flying and charter companies are hot. Skywest has a mentor program called Skywest Pathways for pilots that should be considered here.

Corporations are looking for new pilots as well so there is a lot of latitude in prospecting. I looked at a Youtube video and checked the N number for the owner of a charter jet company in the video that needs pilots at $120,000.00 for an FO position. Not bad!!

Captain’s wage is up around $220,000.00. A great wage and you work 15 on and 13 off.

5. Technology and Flying Cars.

We have no choice but to look to the future and where Commercial Aviation may be in 20 or 50 years.

We may be in a world of remotely operated drones working as Airlines in as near as 50 years from today in 2022, but anyone working 40 years from now until 2062 may be the last of the rare breed of pilots that shine on in the history of aviation.

I won’t be around to see that but it may be the end of an era for Airline Pilots. A sad day in my view.

Now, what are we going to do about the Flying Car? The days of George Jetson of the futuristic 60s show with the family flying car are a reality now. I don’t know if you have seen these machines but I want an eVtol (electric vertical take-off and landing) machine in my garage!

Today there are more than 600 companies worldwide in the development of flying cars and there is opportunity with these companies in every aspect of flying

Final Thoughts.

A Commercial Pilot Certificate literally opens the door to the world to you. In a matter of fewer than 2 years of school and flying, you could be flying about anywhere in the world.

You would definitely be on track for a Captain position with An airline, a Charter company, or a Corporation, to mention a few.

You must not forget the need for Agricultural pilots, Air Ambulance crews, and Government jobs that are seasonal like Wildfire pilots.

Consider your options and jump at this chance because aviation changes in an instant.

Remember just 3 years ago the airlines were dumping thousands of pilots. Many of these people found new careers and many came back from furlough to a changing world. A new face in the changing world of aviation.

Remember, Boeing estimates the need for new pilots over the next 20 years at 612.000.

That is exciting.

If you have questions or comments please do leave them. Let’s go flying.

Related: Are Pilots In High Demand? ( 5 Reasons Why There Is A Pilot Shortage)

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