Flying jobs on the side

atp2atc Junior Member Boston, MA

I was wondering if there are any current controllers on the site that are also working as pilots on the side whether it be CFI or charter. If so whats the job and how does it fit in with your schedule as a controler.
The reason I ask is because i'm making the move from pilot to controller and I know for a fact that i'll miss flying too much if I give it up all together.

irishcarbomb Moderator Houston, TX

when i toured at houston tracon, there were a lot of pilots in there. the controller i talked to said that there are a few that work as CFI on the side when they can. I plan on doing that, but not until i'm CPC. Eventually becoming an examiner might be nice too

strykr Junior Member cardboard box

During my interview the manager that I was with was an IR multi/comm and said that he thinks a rough estimate ATC/Pilot combo is about 10%... I defianetly plan on trying to finish my ratings and doing some teaching on the side.

scope dope Trusted Member

I'd like to instruct for fun but the truth of the matter is if I haven't gotten to it over the last 5 years, I probably won't at my facility either.
-philip, CFI with a big goose egg of dual given

hell I barely have the time/money to keep current, my IPC has been due for like 4 years.

SnowAviation Senior Member Escondido, CA

I used to instruct just about every weekend for my first few years in the
FAA but the lack of free time made that situation pretty stale. Nowadays
I just can't find the free to fly at all. Some guys instruct pretty regularly,
flying charter or corporate might be tricky with our shift work.

One note for those working at towers, be careful trying to instruct out of
the airport where you work. The FAA will take a serious look at you for
possible Conflict of Interest in that situation.

scope dope Trusted Member

Never thought about that...

what about center pukes? Not that it matters, I barely have PPL knowledge these days let alone instructional knowledge.

The Fold Transmitting in the Blind South Florida

Hmm.. I'd like to hear more. I suppose it'd be a conflict of interest if you flew for "Alpha" training and you said "Bravo 13, xx tower, make short approach behind the Boeing 747 heavy, caution wake turbulence"

No, but are they worried about you giving priority to your people?

I'm hoping to go to a class B facility anyways, so I wouldn't flight train out of there anyways, unless I was Chuck Norris.

strykr Junior Member cardboard box

Honestly, I think most facilities will not care if you instruct, most of the controllers at my facility all have some family/friends/themselves that work in/have worked in the aviation sector and they could care less what company was coming in/give priority to any of those companies. They say that when they sit down, they do their job, not grant favors. Agian, thats not going to be everywhere, but just my experiance.

strykr Junior Member cardboard box

Also, My wife was a Charter Coordinator for a 135 operation that flies into her facility now, and (when she gets to TRACON) will be talking to all those pilots as they fly in and out of the airport they are based out of which is in her airspace. everyone at her facility knows about it and doesn't think twice about it. The pilots will ask the other controllers how she's doing and stuff like that, and they just laugh at her because the pilots think its funny telling stories about her.

rotorhead Newcomer

Just bumping this thread.......If anyone has any details on rest requirements, please let me know. We all know the 10 hr rest rule for 135, but is there anything for ATC? Just curious.

I'm a full time EMS helicopter pilot and part time news/traffic for three different stations. I'm looking to get into ATC, but stay part time in both.