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hamdiabdulaziz40

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Nov 21, 2025
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FutureBusDriver
Hey everyone, I’m stuck between two choices and could use some advice. I’m in the middle of my flight training, and I just got offered a job detailing aircraft at a busy airport everything from Gulfstreams to Boeing jets. It’s great aviation exposure, but it pays about $3 less per hour than my current security job. Right now, I work security pays me $23/hr, which means more money each week and more funds for flight lessons. I’m torn between staying where I make more money or taking the lower-pay job that gives me more experience and can possibly network.
 
Take the airport job and the networking. Who knows, you might get tipped if you are able to interface directly with customers and are willing to hustle and go the extra mile a bit. Money isn't everything anyway; most of us don't get paid at all to be airport bums...

Oh, and welcome to PoA!
 
If your staying in aviation as a career go with the airport job,never know who you might meet.
 
hamdiabdulaziz40 said:
Hey everyone, I’m stuck between two choices and could use some advice. I’m in the middle of my flight training, and I just got offered a job detailing aircraft at a busy airport everything from Gulfstreams to Boeing jets. It’s great aviation exposure, but it pays about $3 less per hour than my current security job. Right now, I work security pays me $23/hr, which means more money each week and more funds for flight lessons. I’m torn between staying where I make more money or taking the lower-pay job that gives me more experience and can possibly network.
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A long time ago and in a place far far away, I too was a security guard.

Take the aviation job.
 
Yep... agree with these guys. Networking is everything. Everyone you meet, tell them you're working toward flying for a living. I've had friends do this and they got to ride along on some pretty cool trips.
 
You never know (once you get your ticket) when some guy with a single pilot citation who’s plane you have been taking care of asks you to ride right seat as an extra pilot. Lowflynjack has some good advice
 
GoFly said:
You never know (once you get your ticket) when some guy with a single pilot citation who’s plane you have been taking care of asks you to ride right seat as an extra pilot. Lowflynjack has some good advice
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Yea honestly that’s my mind set, Build connections with people and see what happens
 
This one is an easy decision. Take the airport job, show up every day motivated and smiling, and you'll be amazed at the opportunities that come your way.
 
JOhnH said:
A long time ago and in a place far far away, I too was a security guard.

Take the aviation job.
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I should have added, in over 50 years around airports, I have never had a gun pointed at me. But in my two year stint as a security guard it actually happened. It wasn't worth the 15 cent raises I got (remember, this was ~50 years ago).
 
JOhnH said:
I should have added, in over 50 years around airports, I have never had a gun pointed at me. But in my two year stint as a security guard it actually happened. It wasn't worth the 15 cent raises I got (remember, this was ~50 years ago).
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Damn, I work corporate security so the most action I see is an employee losing his badge to get in
 
If you get good at detailing aircraft, that can be a good gig all by itself. Know how to handle the idiosyncrasies of airplanes (rivets, boots, not breaking antennas) and you can go out on your own and make good money. Hard work, but if you're good, you can charge decent $$
 
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Which job now does more to help you get there? Note that may mean finding a third option that pays stupid good money for little effort that pays off the debt you currently have.

Please don’t go into debt thinking you’ll have a career in aviation. Too cyclical a market and too dependent on a medical.
 
TCABM said:
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Which job now does more to help you get there? Note that may mean finding a third option that pays stupid good money for little effort that pays off the debt you currently have.

Please don’t go into debt thinking you’ll have a career in aviation. Too cyclical a market and too dependent on a medical.
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In 10 years I’d like to see myself flying a PJ around. I just finished my instrument rating so far 0 debt.
 
Hang 4 said:
If you get good at detailing aircraft, that can be a good gig all by itself. Know how to handle the idiosyncrasies of airplanes (rivets, boots, not breaking antennas) and you can go out on your own and make good money. Hard work, but if you're good, you can charge decent $$
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I think the market is going to be oversaturated, but rather make okay money flying than making good money detailing
 
hamdiabdulaziz40 said:
In 10 years I’d like to see myself flying a PJ around. I just finished my instrument rating so far 0 debt.
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Well then, SUPT is in your future. Find your nearest ANG Rescue Squadron and rush them; if accepted, it’s a guaranteed job. Fixed wing or rotary wing?
 
JOhnH said:
I should have added, in over 50 years around airports, I have never had a gun pointed at me. But in my two year stint as a security guard it actually happened. It wasn't worth the 15 cent raises I got (remember, this was ~50 years ago).
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Working Line at Daytona Beach Aviation (DBA) in ~1982, parking a Baron early evening. Arthur Jones (Nautilus) exited the airplane with gun in hand. He seemed very upset. Not sure the gun was ever pointed at us but a little unsettling nonetheless. We retreated quickly.

He kept his Citation in the DBA hangar while Ocala ranch runway approvals were still underway. He would fly his Baron over from Ocala and then have Fred, his Pilot, fly him in the Citation wherever he was off to. The 707s were another story that would come in a year or so. John Travolta, who bought the Ocala ranch, ended up with at least one of the 707s.
 
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