Making money flying ?
As Ben Dere indicated, you and your boss would be walking a slippery slope if your plan was to use an airplane for business-related purposes with only a private pilot certificate. CFR Title 14, Section 61.113 states: “a) Except as provided in paragraphs (b) through (g) of this section, no person who holds a private pilot certificate may act as pilot in command of an aircraft that is carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire; nor may that person, for compensation or hire, act as pilot in command of an aircraft. (b) A private pilot may, for compensation or hire, act as a pilot in command of an aircraft in connection with any business or employment if: (1) The flight is only incidental to that business or employment; and (2) The aircraft does not carry passengers for compensation or hire. (c) A private pilot may not pay less than the pro rata share of the operating expenses of a flight with passengers, provided the expenses involve only fuel, oil, airport expenditures, or r
You ask about “going on for a commercial certificate, to make real money”. Be advised, to make money at all, in any way, shape, or form as the pilot of an aircraft requires that you hold a minimum of a commercial pilot certificate. Flying for any kind of compensation as the holder of only a private certificate is illegal, and could land you in hot water with the FAA. It is acceptable to split costs of flying, and things like that as a private pilot, but you cannot come out ahead or even pay a lower percentage than your passengers. Now as far as going on to work for a regional airline or some other commercial job, there is no reason that you cannot make it happen from where you are now. Flight instruction is a very common first job after getting a commercial ticket, (and the appropriate instructor rating, obviously) and if you manage to take on a large number of students, you can accumulate hours very quickly and move on to another flying job. Go for it, don’t look back later in life re
You cannot fly your boss around in a C-172 and get paid for it unless that flying is ancillary to your job. For instance, if you are a traveling salesman and use the airplane for traveling to visit customers, then you do not need a commercial license, but if you fly other people around for the benefit of the company you work for, then you are required at minimum to hold a single engine commercial pilot license. An insurer will also probably require an instrument rating. To gain the experience and seniority required to “make real money” as a pilot you’re looking at a 10 year commitment. That would still give you 10-15 years of professional flying making a livable salary. Current entry-level wages at a regional airline are $18k to $23k. To break the $50k barrier you’d have to upgrade to Captain, which could easily take 5 years. As a Captain for a regional airline you wouldn’t see a high 5 figure or a 6-figure salary for almost 10 years with the company. As for making it to the major airl
you are 39 and will be competing with 20 somethings. You may have the maturity, but they “cost” less to feed and house. Many of these kids start as teenagers and spend anywhere from 2 to 5 years getting their ratings and building their experience base. Also, expect to pay between 20 and 50k to get the ratings/experience. I am not going to say you can’t make it but the odds are against it. Related note: Private Pilot Certificate anywhere from 5 to 12k depending on where you are and what you fly. Then, you really need the Instrument Rating as well and that is going to be another 5-12k. If you boss is paying for all this for you, you will have to report it as additional income in kind to the IRS and pay taxes on it. It would not look good on a resume to be busted for income tax evasion. OK, all that having been said, Follow you heart and go for the dream.
