Aviation Consulting Business

[Ukridge]

I am trying to reconcile something in my mind. I have watched with on again off again interest the proceedings on this board. Something that struck me the most was a comment by a captain that he could earn as much as he does charting an aircraft doing consulting work.
Now, my wife was serving a rasher of grief about the old auto this week. She would like to nip off on holiday in something a bit more flashy to be honest, but the problem is with funds. These bloody things require a coin or two. However! If one can make as much money exposutlating on various aviation topics as one does commanding the aircaft then I thought there just may be hope for a shinny new wagon after all.
Although carrying no expertise or portfolio as a consultant in this field it seems that the barriers to entry are rather low. I can spill out baseless rhetoric on command and have even been complimented on producing script that the reader does not know what is trying to be said.
Any suggestions as to how this work is acquired? 😉

 

[ual06]

Ukridge,

It appears that you have scored 100% on the "Airline Consultant" aptitude test.

 

[L1011Ret]

Consider that the air carrier business is so competitive that the industry often seems like eternal warfare. Half a dozen "legacy" carriers pitted against LCCs (low cost carriers). If it isn't warfare between carriers it is warfare amongst employees who are sent like cannon fodder into battle as foot soldiers. The government stands on the sidelines extolling and cheering the virtues of low cost air fares while regulating various aspects of the operations including labor relations at some carriers. And the war has just begun. Are you sure you want into this? Maybe the spouse can for go the new wheels in favor of a longer life for you.

 

[Ukridge]

"Are you sure you want into this? Maybe the spouse can for go the new wheels in favor of a longer life for you"

I am afraid to ask her. She very may well decide for the new auto!

 

[jimntx]

"Are you sure you want into this? Maybe the spouse can for go the new wheels in favor of a longer life for you"

I am afraid to ask her. She very may well decide for the new auto!

Agreed. Never give a wife a choice between having the husband around longer and a new car/house/dress/pair of shoes/garbage pail. It's the equivalent of drawing to an inside straight.

Ukridge, as someone who used to be a consultant, let me tell you that all you have to do is run an ad in some trade paper offering consultancy services in some area--planning, IT, labor relations, etc. There's bound to be at least one airline that is desperate enough for a clue and too poor to hire one of the biggies--like EY. And, if you play your cards right, you really only need one client, and your wife will be shopping for the Bentley of her dreams.

The neat thing about consulting is that you really don't have to know a lot. You just have to know how to draw the answers out of the client and make him/her think that you thought of them.

Remember...
1. A consultant is someone who steals your watch in order to tell you what time it is.
2. Sincerity is the key. If you can fake that, you can be a consultant.

 

[ual777fan]

Ukridge,

I am afraid that you would fail as a consultant for one reason... You know what you are talking about, and you propose straight forward solutions. Consultants can't do that, it is written in the Bible

 

[Ukridge]

jimntx wrote; 'There's bound to be at least one airline that is desperate enough for a clue and too poor to hire one of the biggies--like EY. And, if you play your cards right, you really only need one client, and your wife will be shopping for the Bentley of her dreams.

The neat thing about consulting is that you really don't have to know a lot. You just have to know how to draw the answers out of the client and make him/her think that you thought of them.'


Hmm. Perhaps there is something to this after all! Of course one must be careful - first it would be the new auto, then it would have to be a nice hotel on holiday - a very slippery slope if I may say. B)

 

[novaqt]

Ukridge:

Have you given thought to leasing a new car. You can write it off as a business expense. At the end of three years, you either buy the car or lease a new car. Realtors lease cars all the time.

 

[Just Plane Crazy]

First I would ask the initial Captain what consulting work he was talking about.

I don't think that there is a high demand in the aviation industry at this moment and there are so many out there who are trying to be consultants and don't know what they are talking about.

So maybe he was indicating that he could be a travel consultant?

 

[Ukridge]

"and there are so many out there who are trying to be consultants and don't know what they are talking about."

Exactly, therefore my poor attempt at humour with this entire thread - it was meant as an observation for those who can, for remuneration, pass themselves off as expert commentators. I guess I can cross off 'comedian' as a source of additional monies as well
The wife would like a new auto however. <_<

 

[mweiss]

I guess I can cross off 'comedian' as a source of additional monies as well

Well, I thought it was funny. But, then again, that might be working against you... :blink:

 

[Fly]

I was laughing......and then I saw parellels to myself in your wife. So now I shut up and read! :unsure:

 

[CAETravlr]

Ukridge,

As a former consultant myself, you levity is very much appreciated. I got a great laugh out of it! Just like I do when people make jokes about us from the southeast here in the US. 🙂

CAETravlr

 

[L1011Ret]

Perhaps UK has been good at having all the literally thousands of consultants on these airline BBs look at ourselves. If for instance you meander through the UAL February financial results threads, the consultants have a range of opinions from utter disaster to hopeful optisism. Unfortunately, there are few who appear as knowledgeable accounting wise. Alas, we are stuck living one day at a time in great uncertainty because our consultants are not as knowledgable as we would like them to be. Back to the future is not a star attraction on these BBs. I have a feeling your spouse is going to get her car.