Being a pilot is one of the adventurous and challenging tasks ever. Who doesn’t like to enjoy his/her office above the cloud and go to the places never visited? Pilots get a chance to work and explore new cities at the same time while witnessing the never-ending blue sky and majestic views they never grow tired of. Private pilots have the added benefit of getting permission to fly at night and a massive amount of freedom.
We can attribute private pilot to that individual who possesses Private Pilot License (PPL) and is well-trained to navigate the small jet aircraft at a controlled airport through the country’s airspace. How much do private pilots make after getting intensive private pilot training and a degree of commitment and experience?
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Private jet pilots usually have far more responsibilities for checking, preparing an aircraft for varied work schedules. As private jets are chartered to cater to customers’ individual needs, the private pilot needs to prepare flight-planning, logistics, and fly to obscure airports around the world. So, private pilots often get well-paid.
How much do private pilots make in the US?
There isn’t an accurate figure to determine the private pilot salary as it depends on the qualification, experience of the private pilot, company they work for and country to be flown, etc. In the US, a private pilot makes an average of about $112741 per year. The minimum salary offered to them is around $21000, and the maximum salary earned is around $210000. Some pilots make money between $80000 and $200000.
Private jet companies such as NetJets, Flexjet have a base pay average of $100481-$217961 per year.
The top ten cities where private pilots earn more than the national average annually in the US are San Mateo, Boston, Santa Monica, Renton, Berkeley, Daly City, Lowell, Richmond, Newark, and Springfield.
Although private pilots cannot earn a living from flying or carrying passengers or property for compensation or hire, they can leverage their flying experience to make money. Airline pilots make their living by the compensation received from airlines by working in many settings. How can one earn money as a private pilot?
1. By becoming an instructor
Holding a private pilot license allows an individual to become an instructor for instrument ground training, giving the students recommendation, knowledge, and experience as a private pilot while conducting the ground training for different purposes such as sports, recreation, flight reviews, etc.
2. By being an aircraft salesman
One of the ways private pilots make money is through aircraft sales. In the context of the US only, thousands of new and used general aviation aircraft are transacted. Even if a private pilot can make few aircraft sales by demonstrating an aircraft in flight with his/her flying skill to the prospective owner, he/she can get a good commission. It depends on the ability of a pilot to showcase the aircraft’s flying condition, safety performance, and maneuverability to seal the deal from the client.
3. Towing gliders and ultralight
Another option for private pilots to make money is by towing gliders and ultralights. However, they must complete 100 flight hours in aircraft they will be towing with along with proficiency in a glider and ultralight safety, signals and emergency procedures, etc., in order to tow gliders. All other requirements specified by FAA needs to be compliant, and before contemplating towing for living, it’s highly recommended to speak to other pilots, or experience flight instructor or CFIs that specialize in general aviation.
4. Leaseback
Private pilots can lease back the aircraft to flight schools or flying clubs to make money back on their investment and own them at the same time. But it requires more financial work. Since it is not an impossible task to do, they can make money for the efforts expended.
5. Shared ownership
Some pilots buy the shared ownership of the aircraft that multiple people enjoy as they share expenses and maintain the plane’s upkeep. The cost of owning the plane reduces profusely by fractional ownership, but it can also end up costing them more than expected.
If you are a private pilot and have the rating, you can fly cropdusters or other agricultural flying machines. Commercial activities related to flights are restricted to private pilots.
Some private pilots make handsome money by clicking the excellent photos while they fly into the wild blue yonder. How much do private pilots make is determined by the work they are engaged in and their qualifications.
Private pilots get a great sense of wonder along with substantial growth opportunities by making money up to a six-figure median annual income. How willing are you to embark on a career as a private jet pilot?
