Hi Everyone, I am fairly new to this and I am hoping that I can have a few questions answered. I do have this on another section "bush flying" and was hoping to find some replies here!
Firstly, I am 45 years of age and following a dream I have had since a kid: being a bush pilot. I never wanted to fly the big jets or even small jets for that matter but would rather fly bush planes. I have started flying lessons and hope to have my commercial with floats by the end of next year. I am thinking about 100 hours on floats and 100-150 on wheels.I have a clean bill of health, strong as an ox and not afraid of hard work.
So, the questions I have are:
1. How hard will it be for me to get a bush flying job with just the base minimum hours for holding a commercial with floats. I am willing to travel anywhere in the world and my wife is 100% behind me.
2. I guess the first question answered would or could lead to the second one. I have abut 20 years experience in guiding fishing trips, teaching fly fishing, guiding canoe trips,Scuba trips, survival trips, hiking, etc...I have comtemplated the idea (if I was too old to work for someone else) of starting up a small touring business in areas that there would be ao lot of lodges (Norther Canada!!). if this was the case, what aircraft would be the best to take 4-6 people at a time? But, I am not sure if it would be worth while.
Anyway, you have probably got an idea of what is going through my mind and any help or leads that you can send my way will be greatly appreciated.
Just following a dream...........
Commercial at 45 - find a job or start a business???
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Irishgypsy1962
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North Shore
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Re: Commercial at 45 - find a job or start a business???
Not sure if now would be the greatest time to start a new lodge business - most of the places I've ever been to, the clientele is mainly American, and with their economy slowly circling the drain... OTOH, our dollar is following it, so maybe the exchange rate will even out!
It would seem to me that you have the right kind of experience to do the lodge work thing, and, at 45, you'll be pretty stable, and I'm sure that your days of testosterone exceeding brains (and thus doing stupid young-man things) are receding, also.. So , all in all, I'd think that your chances are pretty good.
However, are you planning on moving to where you are going to be working? Is your wife's job transferable? What about kids? You might want to think long and hard about taking any job that is going to take you away from home for most of the summer months, unless you move there. Your wife says she is supportive right now, but things take a different tint when you are in Pickle Lake, she's in Southern Ontario, and the roof starts leaking/car breaks down/toilet clogs, and any one of a host of other household emergencies that you would normally take care of occur.. Ditto the kids, if any.. Likewise, if you do move, is she really going to be happy in all sorts of places where they ask you what flavour would you like in your latte (if you can even find one!,) a jacuzzi means fa#ting in the bathtub, and rocks are thrown through windows, not heated and used for fancy massages at the day spa..
Whatever you choose,
Good Luck.
There's some great jobs out there.
It would seem to me that you have the right kind of experience to do the lodge work thing, and, at 45, you'll be pretty stable, and I'm sure that your days of testosterone exceeding brains (and thus doing stupid young-man things) are receding, also.. So , all in all, I'd think that your chances are pretty good.
However, are you planning on moving to where you are going to be working? Is your wife's job transferable? What about kids? You might want to think long and hard about taking any job that is going to take you away from home for most of the summer months, unless you move there. Your wife says she is supportive right now, but things take a different tint when you are in Pickle Lake, she's in Southern Ontario, and the roof starts leaking/car breaks down/toilet clogs, and any one of a host of other household emergencies that you would normally take care of occur.. Ditto the kids, if any.. Likewise, if you do move, is she really going to be happy in all sorts of places where they ask you what flavour would you like in your latte (if you can even find one!,) a jacuzzi means fa#ting in the bathtub, and rocks are thrown through windows, not heated and used for fancy massages at the day spa..
Whatever you choose,
Good Luck.
There's some great jobs out there.
Say, what's that mountain goat doing up here in the mist?
Happiness is V1 at Thompson!
Ass, Licence, Job. In that order.
Happiness is V1 at Thompson!
Ass, Licence, Job. In that order.
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Irishgypsy1962
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Re: Commercial at 45 - find a job or start a business???
Thanks for the read and info session. I have done the lodge thing and sold it a few years ago. Had a great time but now I am thinking about hooking up with lodges and taking their clients on a sight seeing trip in the local area of the lodges/lodges. That is if I did buy a float plane instead of working for some. My preference is to work for someone but who knows what is in store.
As for my wife, she is very flexible in her work and is willing to move with me and we have no kids.
Anyway, thanks again for the reply
As for my wife, she is very flexible in her work and is willing to move with me and we have no kids.
Anyway, thanks again for the reply
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Chuck Ellsworth
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Re: Commercial at 45 - find a job or start a business???
Are you aware of the mind boggling procedure you will have to go through to get an operating certificate, which can take up to two years?Had a great time but now I am thinking about hooking up with lodges and taking their clients on a sight seeing trip in the local area of the lodges/lodges. That is if I did buy a float plane instead of working for some.
The most difficult thing about flying is knowing when to say no.
After over a half a century of flying I can not remember even one trip that I refused to do that resulted in someone getting killed because of my decision not to fly.
After over a half a century of flying I can not remember even one trip that I refused to do that resulted in someone getting killed because of my decision not to fly.
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ScudRunner
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Re: Commercial at 45 - find a job or start a business???
Well all that being said I think that people with money are on a buying spree, You can pick up things at a bargain these days. So there might be some lodge out there willing to deal.
To be honest it might be wise to see how other fly in charters work before jumping head first to something you have no clue about. It may open your eyes to potential hazards and insight into the business or give you an Idea about how to run it and how to run the Airplane side of things.
To be honest it might be wise to see how other fly in charters work before jumping head first to something you have no clue about. It may open your eyes to potential hazards and insight into the business or give you an Idea about how to run it and how to run the Airplane side of things.
