14 Passive Income Ideas For Pilots [2024]
Interested in earning passive income as a pilot in 2024?
We put together a few of the best passive income ideas you can start as a pilot today. These will help you increase your quality of life by bringing in more income for yourself or your business.
For each income idea, we’ll show you real-world examples, revenue expectations for each idea, plus some things you might need to know before you start your passive income journey as a pilot.
Here's the full list:
1. Make passive income with a stock photography business ($14.6K/month)
As a pilot, you could take advantage of your unique travel opportunities to start a stock photography business. Your profession might take you to stunning landscapes, bustling cityscapes, and unique cultural sites that many people don’t get to see. By capturing these moments with a good camera, you could build an impressive portfolio of high-quality stock photos that businesses, website owners, and bloggers would pay to use for marketing and other purposes.
Investing in good photography gear and learning about stock photography could be a smart move. Once you have a collection of great shots, you could upload them online to well-known stock photography websites. An excellent online presence could help you sell your photos faster, earning you a passive income over time. This way, you could blend your love for flying and travel with a profitable side hustle.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $45,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $3,500 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Pro Photo Studio founder Tsour Lee Adato shares how she turned a $5k investment into a business that services over 500 clients annually and makes approximately $350k per year with plans to expand and become a 7-figure business while offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs to always be innovating, learning and growing, and not to undervalue themselves.
2. Make passive income with an online course sales business ($85K/month)
As a pilot, you could start earning passive income by creating and selling online courses. With your unique experiences and skills in aviation, there is a potential market of aspiring pilots or aviation enthusiasts eager to learn from someone with real-world experience. Topics could range from flight techniques and navigation to the intricacies of aircraft systems and safety protocols.
The process is straightforward: identify your target audience, develop your course content, and choose an e-learning platform to sell it. With the booming e-learning market expected to be worth over $645 billion in the next few years, your expertise could turn into a profitable side hustle. This endeavor allows you to share your passion for flying while generating a steady stream of income.
How much you can make: $100 — $300,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A multipreneur shares how she built a successful print on demand side hustle, generating $120,000 per year through multiple brands spread over various platforms.
3. Make passive income with a YouTube channel ($72.1K/month)
As a pilot, starting a YouTube channel could be an exciting way to supplement your income and share your unique experiences with a wide audience. You could create content ranging from day-in-the-life vlogs, educational videos about aviation, or even travel guides focused on the destinations you fly to. This variety can attract a broad audience, giving you multiple revenue streams through ads, sponsorships, and merchandise.
The key to success on YouTube is consistency and quality, so you'll need to invest time in planning, shooting, and editing your videos. Engaging with your viewers regularly and understanding video SEO can also help grow your channel. While it requires effort, the potential for financial rewards and the flexibility to express your creativity make it a worthwhile endeavor.
How much you can make: $2,000 — $333,333/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,250 (?)
How long does it take to build: 30 days (?)
This case study follows the journey of a young entrepreneur from Nigeria who started a profitable blog generating a monthly revenue of $1,500+ through sales of advertising space, sponsored posts, and information products, and shares his strategies for success including a Twitter growth challenge and guest post pitches.
4. Make passive income with a niche blog ($31.5K/month)
Starting a niche blog could be a great way for you to supplement your income as a pilot. You already have a unique and exciting perspective on travel, aviation, and lifestyle that many people find fascinating. By sharing your experiences, tips, and insights through blog posts, you could easily build a loyal audience who is eager to learn more about life in the skies and beyond.
To get started, you could choose a specific niche within aviation or travel that you're passionate about, like flight tips, best destinations for layovers, or insights on navigating the aviation career path. You could create unique and informative content such as travel guides, gear reviews, and personal stories. Over time, you could monetize your blog by including affiliate links, partnering with travel brands, and even expanding into related platforms like YouTube or Instagram to further grow your audience and income.
By regularly engaging with your followers and consistently publishing high-quality content, you could establish yourself as an authority in your chosen niche. This could not only boost your passive income but also provide you with a creative outlet to share your passion for flying.
How much you can make: $100 — $650,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $650 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Starter Story grew to 1.4 million monthly visitors and millions in annual revenue by sharing the stories of entrepreneurs. Pat breaks down the early days and how he grew the business into something that changed his life.
5. Make passive income with an affiliate marketing business ($77.5K/month)
As a pilot, you could explore the world of affiliate marketing to supplement your income, utilizing your unique schedule and experience. Affiliate marketing involves promoting other companies' products or services online and earning a commission for each sale generated through your efforts. Given the flexibility inherent in your job, you could easily manage this side hustle during layovers or downtime.
For instance, you might choose to partner with an eCommerce store or a manufacturer whose products you believe in and find easy to market. By selecting brands and products that resonate with your interests and knowledge, you could craft compelling content that encourages others to make a purchase. Over time, as your affiliate marketing efforts gain traction, this could become a steady stream of passive income, enhancing your financial stability without demanding significant additional effort.
How much you can make: $500 — $773,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $700 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
This case study explores how Spencer Mecham founded Buildapreneur, an affiliate marketing business, and has made over half a million dollars in profit with no employees, relying solely on content marketing through platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok.
6. Make passive income with a podcast ($97.9K/month)
Starting a podcast could be a great way to supplement your income as a pilot. With your unique experiences and insights from the aviation industry, you could choose a niche or topic that fascinates you and resonates with many listeners, such as aviation tips, travel stories, or even career advice for aspiring pilots.
You don't need expensive equipment; a simple microphone and headphones will do the trick. By sharing your expertise and promoting your podcast through social media and word of mouth, you could build a loyal audience over time. As your listener base grows, you might attract sponsors or advertisers, adding an extra stream of passive income.
How much you can make: $400 — $1,020,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 60 days (?)
Time commitment per week: Min. 2 hours/week
A successful podcast production company that grew from one client making $15/hour to a team of 10 contractors producing over 30 shows per week with revenue of over $10k/mo, primarily through referrals and with a focus on providing high personal touch and being picky about working only with clients who are a good fit.
7. Make passive income with a health and wellness app ($108K/month)
As a pilot, you could start a health and wellness app to help others achieve their fitness and mental well-being targets. Pilots often face irregular schedules and long hours, which makes maintaining a healthy lifestyle challenging, so you could create an app that offers personalized fitness routines, nutrition plans, mental well-being exercises, and progress tracking. This virtual coach in your pocket could provide users with reminders to drink water, guide them through yoga practices, and offer tailored meal plans, making it easier for people to stay on track with their health goals.
Building the app would involve conducting market research, collaborating with health experts, and developing an effective app and marketing strategy. The potential to positively impact lives while tapping into a growing market makes this a compelling venture for you. This entrepreneurial journey could be not only rewarding financially but also fulfilling, as you contribute to the well-being of others using your passion for health and technology.
How much you can make: $600 — $300,000/month
How long does it take to build: 200 days (?)
Founder and CEO of SelfDecode, Joe Cohen, explains how his company helps people discover personalized diet, supplement, and lifestyle recommendations based on DNA and lab tests; generating about $2.7 million in revenue over the past year and raising $8 million in a crowdfunding campaign, SelfDecode provides personalized health recommendations prioritized on unique genetic variants, marking the future of healthcare.
8. Make passive income with a mobile app ($70.3K/month)
As a pilot, you could leverage your unique experiences and insights to develop a mobile app that caters to the aviation community or frequent travelers. Imagine creating an app that helps pilots track flight plans, log hours, or find the best layover spots. Your firsthand knowledge of the industry can guide the user experience and ensure the app addresses real-world needs.
Developing a mobile app doesn't necessarily require advanced coding skills; you could hire a developer to bring your vision to life. Your primary tasks will be planning the user experience and ensuring the app is helpful and user-friendly. With effective marketing, your app could gain traction, attracting a steady stream of users and providing a source of passive income.
If you have a creative idea that can solve a common problem or provide entertainment, the mobile app world offers a vast opportunity to monetize your innovative solutions. It's a practical way for pilots to turn their professional insights into a profitable side hustle.
How much you can make: $1 — $500,000/month
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
BACH, an app that plans and books bachelorette parties, has grown from $0 to >$1M net revenue run rate in less than 6 months, gained over 100,000 users in their first 60 days, and has over 40,000 parties using the app this month.
9. Make passive income with an AI writing tool ($255K/month)
As a pilot, you could supplement your income by developing an AI writing tool. This type of tool uses artificial intelligence to assist with creating content, which can be a game-changer for businesses, bloggers, and students who need high-quality writing quickly and efficiently.
Given your schedule and the demands of your profession, an AI writing tool can generate passive income because it works around the clock without requiring your direct involvement. The tool can create error-free and engaging content with just a few clicks, making it an appealing option for anyone looking to save time and boost productivity.
By diving into this innovative venture, you could tap into the growing market demand for automated, high-quality content, offering a solution that significantly eases the workload for writers worldwide. This can allow you to leave your mark on the digital landscape while enjoying the benefits of a cutting-edge side hustle.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $1,000,000/month
How long does it take to build: 52 days (?)
Rytr, a new AI writing assistant developed by a startup platform and business incubator, has become a market leader, serving over 300,000 customers across the world and doing seven figures in ARR.
10. Make passive income with an ai based business solution ($55.8K/month)
As a pilot, you could explore starting an AI-based business solution to supplement your income. Using artificial intelligence, you could help businesses optimize their operations, whether it’s streamlining customer service, managing inventory, or analyzing data to make better decisions. These AI tools can automate repetitive tasks and provide insights that save time and money.
Given the rapid growth in AI technology, there’s a strong demand for these solutions across various industries. You don’t need to be a tech expert to get started; many platforms come with user-friendly interfaces and robust support. By investing some time to understand where AI can make the most impact, you could tap into this expanding market and create a lucrative side business.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $120,000/month
How long does it take to build: 125 days (?)
Mikkelsen Twins grew an online education company from scratch with over 800 students, making over 6-figures in profit every month thanks to their successful program, Audiobook Income Academy 2.0.
11. Make passive income with a social media automation business ($148K/month)
As a pilot, you could leverage the long layovers and downtime between flights to start a social media automation business. Managing social media accounts without constant manual effort means you could schedule posts, automate interactions, and analyze data for clients while you're in the air or resting. Helping small businesses and influencers boost their online presence could be a rewarding way to diversify your income.
The demand for streamlined social media engagement is massive, and by offering automation tools and services, you could fill a valuable niche. If you're tech-savvy and enjoy following social media trends, this could be a great side hustle. It’s a flexible and potentially lucrative way to capitalize on your free time, and it complements the structured, scheduled nature of a pilot's career.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $400,000/month
How long does it take to build: 50 days (?)
MeetEdgar, a bootstrapped social media automation tool founded in 2014 by Laura Roeder, has grown to $4 million in annual recurring revenue and more than 5,000 customers, with a team size of two dozen, achieved through content marketing, social media marketing, and organic search.
12. Make passive income with a photography blog ($10.1K/month)
Starting a photography blog could be a natural fit for you as a pilot because you often travel to unique and beautiful places that most people don't get to see. By sharing captivating photos from your destinations, you could attract a dedicated audience interested in experiencing the world through your lens. The blog could feature a variety of content such as travel tips, gear reviews, and behind-the-scenes stories of your adventures.
By consistently posting high-quality content and engaging with your readers, you could build a strong online presence and establish yourself as an authority in travel photography. Over time, you could monetize your blog through advertising, sponsorships, and offering paid content like ebooks or online courses.
Additionally, specializing in a niche like aerial photography could set your blog apart and attract more opportunities to earn passive income. This way, your passion for capturing stunning images during your flights and layovers can turn into a rewarding side business.
How much you can make: $1,200 — $27,400/month
How much does it cost to start: $5,000 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
A software engineer turned founder started a digital camera review website as a side-hustle which turned into a successful online publication with up to 1.3 million unique monthly visitors, generating around $1,000 per month, attracting visitors through guest posts, focusing on desirable quality content, and through answering popular questions on Stack Exchange, providing helpful advice for other entrepreneurs.
13. Make passive income with an ecommerce reselling business ($83.3K/month)
As a pilot, you could leverage your extensive travel schedule to source unique items from various destinations, creating an eCommerce reselling business. By purchasing goods that are difficult to find or highly sought after in other regions, you could build a profitable online business without worrying about production costs.
You do not need to start with a website; instead, you could use social media platforms to showcase and sell your products. Over time, as your business grows, you could eventually invest in a dedicated website to expand your reach. This approach not only utilizes your frequent travels but also allows you to supplement your income with minimal initial investment.
How much you can make: $4,000 — $150,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $2,999 (?)
How long does it take to build: 75 days (?)
Empyre Off-Road, an e-commerce business founded by Greg Shuey which sells aftermarket parts for Toyota Tacomas, Tundras, and 4Runners, generated approximately $100,000 a month in revenue and was able to expand its product offering, focusing on content marketing, email marketing campaigns, and organic social media to attract and retain customers.
14. Make passive income with a subscription box business ($97.9K/month)
As a pilot, starting a subscription box business could be a great way to make extra money and tap into your passion for travel and unique finds. You could create a subscription box that delivers travel-themed items, gourmet snacks from different countries, or even aviation-related products. This business model allows you to leverage your knowledge and experience, offering a special and exciting product to your customers each month.
By focusing on a niche market and providing quality items, you could build a loyal customer base who looks forward to receiving their boxes regularly. Your time in different cities and countries could give you access to exclusive products that would be hard to find elsewhere, making your subscription box unique.
To get started, understand what your target customers enjoy, design an appealing box, and build relationships with vendors and fulfillment companies to ensure smooth operations. Marketing your service will also be key to attracting and retaining subscribers.
How much you can make: $400 — $400,000/month
How much does it cost to start: $210 (?)
How long does it take to build: 180 days (?)
Vowed Box Co. is a line of curated, quirky gift boxes with non-traditional brides in mind, offering four different products that have helped the business become profitable most months since its launch in 2018, with a monthly income of roughly $600.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
