[woodreau]

This is what I tell people who want to learn to fly - whether for personal reasons or to go into a commercial pilot career.

It take time and money - that's it - if you develop problems, like have a little trouble understanding landings, slow flight or NDB holds - just throw more money and time at the problem - the problem will go away ... eventually or maybe not. Ideally the problem goes away before you run out of money and time. It depends on how much money or time you throw at the problem.

With the fast track kind of programs like ATP, you're on a schedule and you're limiting yourself on time. The FBO / Part 61 training is more open ended. And when you do finally get hired as a pilot and go through the company's training program, you definitely don't have the luxury of extra time if you have a hard time understanding something.

There are some FBOs out there that do have some sort of financing programs. you have to look around - but the best way to go about getting into flying is to pay as you go. If you don't have the money for training, how are you going to get the money to still fly after getting your private certificate to stay current, so that your hard earned flying skills don't deteriorate?