You Can Fly - 2021 edition - 29

AERONAUTICAL ENGINEER
Aeronautical engineers design aircraft,
missiles, and other airborne craft. They
can be aeronautical (aircraft) or astronautical (spacecraft) specialists. The work is
highly technical and will be in an office,
working on computers, as well as in manufacturing facilities testing and creating
prototypes of new designs. You'll be on
the cutting edge of new transportation
systems in either aeronautical or astronautical innovations. However, it could take
years before your design is accepted or
mainstream-if ever.
Average is $102,700 annually; California is the largest employer of aeronautical
engineers in the country.
POWER LINE AND PIPELINE PILOT
An estimated 500,000 miles of power lines
snake their way around the United States.
General aviation pilots are frequently
employed to scout the lines and their
supports-poles, pylons, and the like-
and report any problems to the power
company. Similarly, pipeline patrol pilots
perform the same type of work for the oil
and gas transmission industries. Pilots
fly as low as 80 feet above the ground
in Cessna 172s, Piper Super Cubs, and
other low-powered airplanes, keeping a
sharp eye out for discrepancies in grids
or pipelines while keeping clear of the
high-voltage lines, trees, and other obstacles. They may fly 600 to 800 nautical
miles in a day.
$35,000 a year and up.

CUSTOMS AND BORDER
PROTECTION PILOT
U.S. Customs and Border Protection's
Air and Marine Operations provides
a host of national security and law
enforcement support in both helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Air
and Marine is not the border patrol,
although it does sometimes assist the
border patrol. Largely based at GA
airports, Air and Marine pilots fly
everything from light single-engine
aircraft to Cessna Citations, P-3s,
Airbus helicopters, and even Black
Hawks. Being the only law enforcement
organization in the Department of
Homeland Security with aerial assets,
they are called upon to fly a large range
of missions, including tracking drug
runners over land and offshore, providing surveillance during major political
events, gathering intelligence on
criminal activities, and even providing
disaster relief.
Up to $98,059 first year and $139,760
by year three.
But wait, there's more. This roundup
is just a sampling of what awaits aviation-career-minded pilots and
nonpilots. Consider a subscription to
Flight Training magazine, which highlights a different aviation career each
month.
ft.aopa.org/free2

WHY I FLY

NIKI BRITTON

" Flying is the gift that
keeps on giving. It's
one of the most exciting
and rewarding hobbies/
careers out there. Every
new flight hour builds my
confidence and keeps me
striving for more. Flying
also allows me to work in
the field that I love in the
family business. "
-Aerial photographer and
instrument pilot Niki Britton

julie.walker@aopa.org

FLIGHTTRAINING.AOPA.ORG  29
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You Can Fly - 2021 edition

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of You Can Fly - 2021 edition
