What else do we do?

For example, just a short perusal of my own company’s internal job posting site had almost 150 job openings that were available for current employees, many of which the company would rather fill with folks already here than to have to go out and recruit someone who may not have a great deal of airline experience or the right kind of talent for the job, or who simply may not fit the culture.

As the pilot group grows, there are positions for simulator instructors, classroom teachers, interviewers/recruiters, and office personnel. If you want to spread your wings a bit, you may find opportunities in finance, marketing, or as an analyst on a major project—such as studying which airplanes to buy, researching which locations to open (or close), or comparing one parts vendor to another. Pilots who have experience as an A&P can find unique opportunities working with the maintenance and engineering departments as a liaison with flight ops, which can be critical to getting pilot group “buy in” to a new procedure or process. Some pilots have worked as flight attendants and can parlay that experience into a management position in the in-flight department or as one who helps coordinate processes and manuals between in-flight and flight ops. Understanding the needs and unique nature of each job can go a long way toward achieving the kind of symbiosis needed on an airplane.

Movement from one department to another isn’t always easy, and in some cases, it can be one-way. Some people step into jobs that they end up growing into and can’t leave. They either love the work, or find that the company feels they are indispensable in the new position. A position in my own airline was recently vacated by someone who fit that bill. The individual was so good at a very complex job that the only real way to continue to advance up the ladder was to leave the company and take on a job of greater responsibility. He was simply too good at what he did.

Pilots are a group of people with diverse interests and backgrounds. Software programmers, safety analysts, and other subject matter experts are always needed, and if you want to break up the routine of flying, you can almost always find something to do that will keep you engaged and interested. Look around, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to try on a different pair of shoes. You never know where they may take you.