Welcome to the L2F (“Learn to Fly”) Newsletter. We’re here to help you in your journey of becoming a pilot!

We’ve been going through a series on the airspace classifications which are vital for pilots to understand, and this week we’ll look at an exception to those classifications; and also introduce some of the many career options in aviation…

Let’s dive in!

What job opportunities or career pathways are available after obtaining a pilot's license?

Finally getting your Private Pilot’s License (PPL) is a huge milestone on your way to becoming a professional pilot. If you’re interested in flying as a full-time job, you’re probably eager to be searching for opportunities as soon as you’ve obtained your certificate. We’ll help make that process a little bit easier as we explore the opportunities that will arise along your journey.

Unfortunately, an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL) or Commercial Pilot License (CPL) is required for any career involving compensation - including all jobs as a commercial pilot - but that’s not to say obtaining your PPL can’t open up any opportunities.

Training

One great career path the PPL opens up is the opportunity to teach others about aviation. While the process to become a CFI is more elaborate, becoming a ground instructor doesn’t actually require a pilot’s license (though it certainly helps). Flight schools are often looking for individuals to teach ground school courses and holding a pilot’s license is a great way to show them that you know what you’re talking about, and that you can help students reach success.

Sales

Do you think of yourself as a persuasive individual? Are you curious about marketing? Well, another major career opportunity for private pilots is in sales. If you’re going to sell an aircraft, understanding how it works is pretty important, which is why aircraft sales companies will be eager to hire persuasive private pilots. Also, a degree in business or marketing will give you a competitive edge. Since it’s not a flying job, the requirements usually won’t be too extreme, and if you’re willing to put in the time, making six figures as a senior broker is definitely doable.

While you can have a rewarding career in aviation with only a PPL, if you want to be spending time in the air and be able to be paid for it, your next goal should be a CPL. Commercial Pilots can fly for compensation, flying less than 30 passengers at a time on unscheduled routes (think charter flights). The CPL opens up a plethora of opportunities, including becoming a Certified Flight Instructor, flying for a charter airline, or flying for a cargo airline.

In Part 2, we’ll discuss even more career opportunities for pilots with A CPL or ATPL!

Class E Airports with Towers?

For the past couple of years, Coeur D’Alene airport (KCOE) has gotten a control tower for the summer. It’s been necessary- KCOE is where they base firefighting aircraft for our fire season. The runway is long and wide, so they can bring the heavier tankers into the region.

I was asked a while back how to treat KCOE while the tower is operational. How high should I be to overfly it? How far out does the boundary go? It’s class E and they don’t publish anything on the sectional, so where do I need to start calling?

Fortunately, as I find myself saying a lot, there’s a reg for that. Just look at 14 CFR 91.127(c) for guidance. In this reg, the FAA requires two-way radio communications with an operating control tower in class E airspace.The reg also specifies that “communications must be established prior to 4 nautical miles from the airport, up to and including 2,500 fee AGL.” That sounds kind of familiar, doesn’t it? Not really that different from Class D, give or take.

Now, there are some important things to remember here. First of all, you won’t see it on the chart. Temporary towers can come and go within a publication cycle, so they don’t bother to reprint charts while it’s operational. That means you’ll need to check NOTAMs to see it. The FAA is required to publish necessary information, after all: hours of operation, dates applicable, and frequencies to use. It’s readily available information, but it’s not hard to find ASRS reports of pilots who missed the memo and took off or landed without even realizing they needed a clearance to do it.

Second, all that extra traffic means more responsibilities for us. Firefighting aircraft are usually pretty big and heavy, and involved in time-sensitive important work. It’s on us to do our part to see and avoid (and stay out of their way while they try to work). ADS-B in capability is a big benefit here. It’s never a bad time to get a Sentry or build a Stratux to give yourself some extra vision. ADS-B out is also pretty important- technically, it’s not required, but required and safe are often a bit different.

Finally, they put that tower up at KCOE because there are fires nearby in the summer. It’s something we’re just going to have to plan for, probably for the rest of our flying careers. Fires in the area mean TFRs, most likely. Checking for TFRs should be part of your preflight planning anyway, but be sure to give it a good double-check anyway.

All that said, temporary towers really aren’t that big a deal. Just keep a couple things in mind before you go meet your friendly new controllers, and fly safe out there.

The L2F Newsletter is crafted by seasoned pilots and experienced instructors, all with one common goal: to empower your dream of soaring high.

We're not just sharing information; we're sharing wisdom, insights, and the kind of guidance you can only get from those who are already living the dream you aspire to.

Buckle up, because with L2F, you're never alone on your flight training adventure!

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