Wannabe pilot in North ATL area

mikeham88 · May 2nd, 2008, 11:15

I've been reading JetCareers for the past couple weeks. I have now decided to make an account and make a post! Some info about me. I'm 19. I work full time and go to college at night. I've always caught myself looking up at the planes in the sky ever since I was a little kid and wondering where they were going. I wanted to go to. Growing up in a crappy situation really makes you wish you had wings. Situation is different now and I have more opportunities to start a life.

I have no flight experience but I was thinking of turning this into a career. I'm just not sure if I can handle 70k of debt. I want to train full time and to really do this. I don't really have credit (credit card a couple months) and I won't have a cosigner. But I'm sure I can get a loan to train.

I learn pretty fast and I'm pretty technically inclined. I currently work computer forensics and data recovery. I just don't want to spend my life in a dark room away from human contact.

Thank you for your opinions and information

atpwannabe · May 2nd, 2008, 13:28

M:

Get a pt job washing or fueling planes at your local FBO. After you have been there for a little while, see if someone is willing to teach you to fly as oppose to being paid or however you work it out.

You're only 19. You've got lots of time.

Good luck. Blue skies.

atp

mikeham88 · May 2nd, 2008, 14:11

atp,

Thank you for the advice. Could you possibly discuss your entrance into flight and possibly some other tips and tricks. I'm really getting excited about aviation and I want to get the best footing possible.

Thanks again

Mike.

TexasFlyer · May 3rd, 2008, 03:18

Welcom to JC.

I train in Atlanta.

There are a lot of flight schools here from small FBOs who can get you through all the ratings around $40k to others which may requrie closer to that $70k mark you mention.

Take a look at my thread under Falcon Aviation. You can see my historical path into flying as a career (it was quite a journey) and see where I am at today as I am very close to finishing my multi-commercial rating and will be posting another comment into my thread very soon about that.

mikeham88 · May 3rd, 2008, 09:43

TexasFlyer,

Thank you for the warm welcome and your advice. All in all would you recommmend Falcon?

TexasFlyer · May 3rd, 2008, 15:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeham88

TexasFlyer,

All in all would you recommmend Falcon?

Absolutely!

mikeham88 · May 4th, 2008, 02:24

Awesome. I'll definitely look into pursuing falcon! Thanks again!

mikeham88 · May 7th, 2008, 11:56

Some more info about me. Just hoping to get some more information.

At my current job I make $13k a year. As I said before I'm 19. I still live with my father. I have a girlfriend that I'm pretty serious with ( almost a year) but I've discussed this with her and even brought her to a local FBO so she could ask questions to someone who actually flies for a living. She's understanding about me wanting to pursue my dream. Said girlfriend and I have discussed moving in together. I know that at 13k a month that is not possible to live with even by myself.

So I guess my question is, is it possible to live with a girlfriend on beginning regional pay? If the girlfriend has a job and she is supporting of my dream? Who can also enjoy her own time alone. (I believe that leaves me to have more freedom in job choice)

I'd always figured the pay could be better than what I'm getting for 40 hours a week.

In my current profession I'd have to work 2-3 more years at 13-15k a year and probably live with my father.

Then from there I would have to apply to a company or start my own. After having to become a P.I. Which takes a couple years. I'm not happy I'm not paid and the opportunity at this job may not exist. I'm a grunt. Who does the leg work.

So even with all the grim news that I've heard on the JC forums would a flight career be worth it?

Another question. Making 13k a year and working 40hrs a week. It would take an exponentially long amount of time for me to even get my PPL. So I would assume that I need to take a loan out. Is that worth it? I really want to move out of this rut and into the next stage of my life.

I know that this was partially rant and partially question. But I am in need of all the opinions and information possible.

If any pilots in the N ATL area I live near (RYY) could PM me I'd love to get some talk time with you pilots!

Thanks again!

germb747 · May 7th, 2008, 16:47

At your age I would focus on going to school and getting a degree. Doesn't Georgia still have that "hope" scholarship or whatever they called it?

mikeham88 · May 7th, 2008, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by germb747

At your age I would focus on going to school and getting a degree. Doesn't Georgia still have that "hope" scholarship or whatever they called it?

Thing is hope applies to full time students. In my financial situation I couldn't go full time. Definitely got bills to pay and things like that. I go to school part time while working full time. This does not allow for hope and their is a bunch of other more obscure factors.

I know that I should be going to school full time but it's just not in the cards at this moment.

Thank you for your help. Do you have any other ideas? I really appreciate the help.

Wittmandriver · May 8th, 2008, 15:13

Just a suggestion not a persuasion. You may want to look at the military. Forget the negativity you see in the media. Look at it this way:

1. They will pay for college tuition through TA-totally separate from the GI Bill or any one of the service's college funds.

2. They will provide everything for you including medical and dental (meals, housing etc).

3. The salary is more than you make just starting out. Say you bust your balls and make E-5 then get out after 4 years. You are not in debt (hopefully), have a college fund (maybe) and GI Bill, and maybe have found the time using TA to get your GENED classes done. Plus, you hopefully will have grown up a little.

Now for the bad stuff the media hypes up. You deploy into harm's way. Now, with that said, here is the way I would suggest (I have been in for 14 years) to keep as far away from harms way (relatively) as possible. Remember nothing is guaranteed. Join the Navy or the Air Force, do your 4 years, and get out with benefits. It is a reasonable thing to do. Keep your nose clean and you will come out on top of your game, which means put up with all the BS with a smile. It will come to an end. Then, you'll be 23!! Very young, but ready to go get that education you want and not have to worry about making ends meet.

Or, you can be 23 and so far in debt because you have to pay for education, no matter what you go for.

Granted this is not the only way. Any way you choose will require work and sacrifice.

By the way, you may not want to hear this, but I have this conversation with my young Sailors all the time (male or female). DO NOT GET MARRIED YET!!! Have the significant other, fine, but keep it that way. If you are right for each other, then it won't matter if you wait. Think about the consequences if you are wrong.

Hell, you may have to wait until my age until you get your life straightened out...

Wittmandriver

mikeham88 · May 8th, 2008, 15:22

Wittmandriver,

Thank you for your advice. It seems to be a very good idea. But it could not work for me because I have mild Cerebral Palsy. Which doesn't limit anything but it's recorded on paper and the military says no automatically.

Your advice on the significant other, is very very good and I plan on taking that. I definitely do not want to get married yet.

BillErvin · May 9th, 2008, 11:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeham88

Wittmandriver,

Thank you for your advice. It seems to be a very good idea. But it could not work for me because I have mild Cerebral Palsy. Which doesn't limit anything but it's recorded on paper and the military says no automatically.

Your advice on the significant other, is very very good and I plan on taking that. I definitely do not want to get married yet.

Don't want to dash any dreams, but have you checked too see if you can get an FAA Physical? You can ask the Flight Surgeon on this site, he may be able to answer that question without any other info.

Bill

mikeham88 · May 9th, 2008, 11:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillErvin

Don't want to dash any dreams, but have you checked too see if you can get an FAA Physical? You can ask the Flight Surgeon on this site, he may be able to answer that question without any other info.

Bill

I checked the disqualifications and CP doesn't seem to be listed. It's not really a condition that hold me back. But I will ask the Flight Surgeon about it as well. Was going to get the cert next week. I really hope that I can do this.

mikeham88 · May 12th, 2008, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeham88

I checked the disqualifications and CP doesn't seem to be listed. It's not really a condition that hold me back. But I will ask the Flight Surgeon about it as well. Was going to get the cert next week. I really hope that I can do this.

Update:

So I checked with the Flight Surgeon and he says I won't be limited! So any other advice would be appreciated!