We’ll have to work on the timing around all of this, because (from memory) your compound growth rate was large enough even assuming a ‘normal curve’ … now, we may have a two part curve:

1. During Military obligations – a-little-slow-and-steady as she goes

2. Post-Military obligations – super-bloody-fast, mate

A complicating factor for me is my military service obligation which will make it difficult to go full bore after either one of these ideas for a few years.

I’d like try and use the internet (now) to begin to advance either concept in a productive (and profitable) way, then possibly transition to more of a classic bricks and mortar approach after I leave the service.

I’m convinced that I could get a job after the military in any organization. I truly believe that Leadership is a unique skill (which can be learned) and someone who has the ability to lead can be transplanted into any organization producing any widget and be successful.

In my current job, I’m doing nothing even remotely related to flying. I’m in what is basically an acquisitions policy job for NATO. I’m in a leadership position where my followers are more senior (yes they outrank me) and have more experience (measured in years) in this discipline. But I’m effective because I recognize my limitations, leverage the experience and knowledge of my people and have built a team that desires to succeed. It doesn’t matter what the widgets are, people are pretty much the same where ever you go and leading them doesn’t appreciably change from organization to organization.

But finding another job isn’t what this MIT experiment is about, in my opinion. It’s about me (and the the rest of the MIT in their special ways) using my unique talents to start a business. So Leadership and Flying are some of my core competencies. Making things happen is a trait that I have and intend to leverage as well.

I think now is the time to spring some more of my ideas on the team now continue this discussion.

My dream job right now is to start an Air Taxi/Charter business. I know more than just how to fly. I’ve spent a fair portion of my career working in and leading Operations, Administration, Safety and Maintenance departments within a flying organization. Albeit, a military flight squadron, flight ops are flight ops. Your write a schedule, you make sure your people are trained and available and you institute an cultural environment that balances mission and safety.

For many years business aviation has been recognized for the unique benefits it provides senior leadership of the world’s companies. However, given the cost of ownership and aircraft operations, business aviation has belonged to large companies.

Today there is a new alternative that should enable a whole bunch of smaller companies to reasonably afford to charter a jet. A new category of business jet is being produced by many manufacturers (called Very Light Jets (VLJ)) that are cheap (relatively) to acquire and cheap to operate.

I want to build a business centered around the charter idea only targeting the little guys who have been too little to sit at the table of Business Aviation…until now.

So that’s one idea. The other is completely different. I can see an opportunity to build a leadership consultancy business that would help civilian companies organize, reorganize, improve work environments, build teams and improve their companies.

That’s a tall order and fairly presumptuous on my part to think that I have something over my civilian counterparts. However, I think the military afforded me (and my peers) a leadership learning experience that is dramatically different to many civilian business people.

This comment is almost a post in and of itself. Tell me what you think of my twists on my growth engine.

Thanks,
Jeff

I’m personally not really “feeling” the “flight school” idea despite the obviousness of it in my table. After 20 years of military service, flight instructor pay is paltry (25-50K with several thousand hours experience), so I’m not sure how much of a draw it would be for other military aviators.

Most aviators will be making around 110K-125K/year at retirement so civilian flight instructor pay is a significant step down. However, with a pension in the area of 50K/year and flight instructor pay of 50K/year, I suppose there could be some interest. I’d just need to find the right type of person that is more intersted in flying than making a ton of money.

Thanks for the idea. I’ll add it to my bag of tricks. I still have some ideas that I want to run by everyone, but I’ll hold off on those until a few more MITs weigh in.

Thanks again, Jeff

my question is, if your intention is to start your own flying school, maybe you could draft some of your fighter jet buddies to come on board with you, you hold the majority of the company, and advertise that all the instructors are x-fighter pilots? This will also act to minimize your personal risk exposure.