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Three Great Jobs In Aviation That Beat Working For The Airlines!

Have you always dreamed of flying for a living but don't want to work for a commercial flight service? Fortunately, obtaining a degree in aviation provides you with multiple career opportunities that don't involve flying for one of the airlines. Following are just three of the many exciting paths that you can take after you have completed the proper aviation training. 

Flight Instructor

Teaching others to fly can be a rewarding career for those who enjoy teaching others how to do something they love, and if you have earned your commercial rating, you're qualified to teach. Flight instructors are also in high demand due to many pilots reaching retirement age as well as the growth of the airline industry in general, so you'd have plenty of job security. Flight instructors can work directly for individual airlines, flight schools, or for themselves. Pay and benefits are also rising significantly for flight instructors because of the current lack of qualified pilots. 

U.S. Forest Service Pilot

If you're enthralled by abundant natural beauty and pristine wilderness, you might consider hiring on as a pilot with the U.S. Forest Service. Most of your flight time will be during forest fire season transporting equipment and fire fighting crews to strategic locations. You've also got the option of contracting with them on an as-needed basis or applying for a year-round position. Recent drought conditions in many parts of the country have resulted in an increased need for flight personnel to combat forest fires. If you choose to apply for a year-round position, you'll be working at inspecting and maintaining aircraft and other ground operations as well as providing transportation for non-firefighting related activities. For instance, you might fly wildlife biologists in and out of the field.

Private Jet Pilot

Working as a private pilot for a wealthy individual just might be one of the best jobs anyone could ever hope for. You'd be visiting the world's most beautiful places on a regular basis, and the aircrafts are usually extremely well maintained and fitted with luxurious amenities. You can also expect to be put up in first-class hotels with all the perks for the duration of your stay in various locations. For instance, if the owner of the jet goes on vacation in the South of France for two weeks, you're on vacation there as well --with your boss footing the entire bill.  

Your local flight training school can provide you with more information on what type of post-graduate opportunities may be awaiting you. However, before you can pursue any of these careers, you'll have to get your aviation degree. To help you pay for that degree, consider looking into aviation scholarships


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