Can I be a pilot and still have the time to create my own business?

Hi Nathaniel,
Pursuing a career in the aviation field and in bus transportation simultaneously may prove to be very challenging. There is a significant amount of time involved in becoming a certified (in the USA) airline pilot; upwards of 1200 hours of flying time (some of which you may end up paying for). If you're intending to obtain a commercial pilots certificate to simply pilot and get paid for it, the requirement is much less but would not allow you to fly for an airline. Because the airline industry is largely unionized, you would work the least desirable schedules until you had sufficient seniority to get better schedules/assignments. Depending where you are flying out of, the actual time consumed to travel to your home base, make your flights and return home may make it difficult to develop a bus business as that too will take a great deal of time and effort. Bus operations tend to be expensive, regulated by many government agencies,labor intensive and require business, leadership and negotiation skills. Can it be done, absolutely.....but....it will take real dedication and discipline to do both. I know of at least one person who has flown for an airline and set up a successful business. I have some contacts in the bus industry if you want further information,
Regards,
Don