Latest / The Side Hustle Career Podcast with Fexingo: Second Income, Freelancing While Employed / How a Flight Attendant Built a $9000 Monthly Side Hustle in Aviation Safety Auditing
Transcript
- Lucas: So Luna, I was reading a Bureau of Labor Statistics projection last night — aviation and aerospace is expected to grow about six percent over the next decade, but here's the thing, the real money isn't necessarily in flying. It's in the paperwork. Luna: Paperwork? You mean like, the safety manuals and compliance forms that keep planes in the air? Lucas: Exactly. And today's guest proved that point. She was a flight attendant for a major US carrier — we'll call her Rachel — spent about eight years working the aisles. And she turned her cabin experience into a nine-thousand-dollar-a-month side hustle in aviation safety auditing. Luna: Okay, I love this. Because people hear 'audit' and think accountant in a gray suit. But this is totally different. So Rachel was a flight attendant — what gave her the idea to start auditing? Lucas: She told me it started with a single moment. She was on a layover in Chicago, scrolling through a freelance platform, and she saw a posting: 'Seeking aviation safety auditor for FAA compliance review.' Pay was four hundred dollars for a half-day job. She had no formal auditing background, but she knew the cabin inside out. Luna: So she went for it. Did she get the gig? Lucas: She did. And that first job led to a whole business. Today she works with three regional airlines and two corporate flight departments, charging between seventy-five and one hundred fifty dollars an hour. The key was that she understood the FAA's regulations from the crew perspective — she knew what actually happens on a flight versus what the manual says should happen. Luna: That's such a powerful angle. I mean, any pilot can cite the regs, but a flight attendant knows where passengers actually store their bags, how quickly the crew can evacuate, where the emergency equipment is stashed and if it's accessible. That's real-world insight. Lucas: Right. And the FAA mandates that airlines conduct regular safety audits — both internal and third-party. Rachel's hustle is essentially doing those audits for smaller operators who can't afford a full-time compliance officer. She checks things like crew training records, onboard equipment checks, emergency procedure drills. And she's booked solid about twenty hours a week. Luna: I bet the pay is good because it's specialized. And because the stakes are high — if an audit finds a violation, the airline can be grounded. Lucas: Exactly. The average fine for a safety violation is around fifteen thousand dollars. So airlines are happy to pay a hundred bucks an hour for someone who can catch issues before the FAA does. Rachel told me she found a mislabeled oxygen tank on one audit — that alone saved the airline from a potential citation. Luna: Wow. And she's still a flight attendant? Or did she go full-time into auditing? Lucas: She still flies about fifteen days a month. The auditing is strictly a side hustle. She does it on her layovers and days off. The best part? She says the auditing actually makes her a better flight attendant — she's more aware of safety protocols now. Luna: That's a beautiful loop. Now, for anyone listening who's thinking, 'I'm not a flight attendant, is this relevant?' — the answer is yes. The principle here is: your day job gives you insider knowledge that outsiders can't easily replicate. What's your industry's version of aviation safety auditing? Lucas: I really appreciate that framing, Luna. And it's a good moment to mention — if we've helped you think through a career move or see your own job in a new light, you can support the show at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. That's B-U-Y-M-E-A-C-O-F-F-E-E dot com slash F-E-X-I-N-G-O. Even a small contribution helps us keep this podcast ad-free and focused on real stories like Rachel's. Luna: Yeah, it really does make a difference. And we're grateful for every cup. So Lucas, back to Rachel — what's the first step she recommends for someone who wants to start a similar side hustle? Lucas: She says: start by reading the regulations. In her case, it was the FAA's 14 CFR Part 121 — that's the airworthiness and operations rules. But for any industry, find the governing standard. Then, offer to do a free audit for a small business in your network. That's how she got her second client — she audited a friend's charter company for free, and that friend recommended her to a regional carrier. Luna: Free work as a portfolio builder. Smart. Lucas: Exactly. And she also recommends getting certified. There's a Certified Internal Auditor credential, but more specifically for aviation, there's the FAA's Safety Management System training. It's an online course, costs about two hundred dollars, and it gives you a certificate that makes you marketable. Luna: So for a few hundred bucks and some study time, you can unlock a six-figure side hustle. That's a great return. Lucas: Right. And Rachel's not unique. I've seen similar stories in medical device auditing, food safety, even construction site inspections. The common thread is: your everyday expertise is undervalued by you, but highly valued by someone else. Luna: I love that line. So let's talk numbers. Rachel is at nine thousand a month. What's the ceiling? Lucas: She knows other auditors who charge two hundred dollars an hour and work thirty hours a week. That's about twenty-four thousand a month. But she's happy with her current pace. She says the key is not to burn out — she still loves flying, and the side hustle is just a supplement. Luna: And the airlines don't mind? I mean, she's auditing while still a crew member — is there a conflict of interest? Lucas: She was careful about that. She only audits airlines she doesn't work for. And she disclosed her side hustle to her employer — they were fine with it as long as she doesn't audit her own company's flights. It's a classic non-compete boundary. Luna: Smart. So for anyone in a safety-critical role — flight attendant, nurse, construction worker, even a truck driver — there's likely an auditing niche waiting to be tapped. Lucas: Exactly. And Rachel's advice is simple: 'Don't assume you need a degree in auditing. You already have the domain knowledge. Just learn the standards, get a certification, and start talking to people.' She landed her first client through a Reddit post in the aviation subreddit. Luna: Reddit! That's a great example of meeting your market where they are. Lucas: So if you're listening and you have a specialized skill from your day job, think about what rules or standards govern your industry. That's your auditing niche. Luna: And we'll have a link to Rachel's favorite FAA training course in the show notes. For now, thanks for listening, and we'll see you next time on The Side Hustle Career Podcast.