Idea on reducing training costs.

[WyoRunner8]

Ok like most of you searching for flight schools I have realized this stuff is far from cheap and financing the needed education can be tricky. I just recently did my training in San Diego which turned out to be a financial disaster with my PPL costing me a little over 10k. With that said I have spent countles hours online doing some research on some options out there.

Now most people talk a lot about going to ATP. The All inclusive price of basically 50k will cover all training, flying, ground, books, and living. The best thing about ATP is the accumulation of MULTI ENGINE TIME. Most if not all of the flying is done in a Muti-plane. This is the reason I have been saving oney to go there. But I started to realize that its going to take a very very long time to save up even half that amount. This is where the idea comes in.

Get the ratings up till CFI locally. There are so many schools out there where you can pay as little as $5000 per rating. I went to several different flight school websites (mostly local FBO's and flight schools-I did a search in 28 states) to get a good average of the ratings.
PPL-$5000
Instrument-$2500
Commercial-$5000
CFI-$2500
CFII-$2500
MEI-$1500

Total: $19,000
Average total flight time- 230 hours.

After you get done with these rating go to ATP for their ARLINE TRANSITION PROGRAM. This program again is all inclusive. The cost of the Program is $25,000. This program is mostly multi-engine cross country flying with over 200 hours of PIC.

So with that Total cost of training: $44,000
Total logged time (430 hours)

What do you think?

[montanapilot]

After you get done with these rating go to ATP for their ARLINE TRANSITION PROGRAM. This program again is all inclusive.

a big waste of money. why not become a CFI and get paid to fly instead of drop 25Gs to bore holes in the sky "airline style".

[TexasFlyer]

If flying for a Regional is your first career choice and you have around $50K sitting around and you know that's all it'll cost you with whatever analysis you done, go for it. It's all about what is best for you. And if you think you would be awful CFI, no one wants you as one.

Just always have something to fall back on if something goes wrong. So I'd still advise the CFII and Multi CFI just in case your direct track plan does not go as planned. Then you can at least still work toward your dream in some way without being sent on a 10 year journey outside of aviation like happened to some of us. Just make sure if you "fall-back" to being a CFI, you put your heart into it since you have someone else's education in your hands.

Whatever you pick, best of success to you. See you in the sky...

[JayAre]

buy your own plane get your ratings and hours than sell it.

[CLR4ILS]

Originally Posted by WyoRunner8

Ok like most of you searching for flight schools I have realized this stuff is far from cheap and financing the needed education can be tricky. I just recently did my training in San Diego which turned out to be a financial disaster with my PPL costing me a little over 10k. With that said I have spent countles hours online doing some research on some options out there.

Now most people talk a lot about going to ATP. The All inclusive price of basically 50k will cover all training, flying, ground, books, and living. The best thing about ATP is the accumulation of MULTI ENGINE TIME. Most if not all of the flying is done in a Muti-plane. This is the reason I have been saving oney to go there. But I started to realize that its going to take a very very long time to save up even half that amount. This is where the idea comes in.

Get the ratings up till CFI locally. There are so many schools out there where you can pay as little as $5000 per rating. I went to several different flight school websites (mostly local FBO's and flight schools-I did a search in 28 states) to get a good average of the ratings.
PPL-$5000
Instrument-$2500
Commercial-$5000
CFI-$2500
CFII-$2500
MEI-$1500

Total: $19,000
Average total flight time- 230 hours.

After you get done with these rating go to ATP for their ARLINE TRANSITION PROGRAM. This program again is all inclusive. The cost of the Program is $25,000. This program is mostly multi-engine cross country flying with over 200 hours of PIC.

So with that Total cost of training: $44,000
Total logged time (430 hours)

What do you think?

One thing to remember is that it is very rare to finish up at an FBO's projected cost. The instructors are very transient (spell check please) and there will be other factors such as MX issues, WX etc.... I would ad a percentage factor in there for approx 15%....

Another thing to consider is that it will make it alot easier on you if you start at one school and finish with that school. It will be easier to gain employment with that school and you will not have to learn all of their procedures and checklists after coming in late from the outside...

Just a few things to think about...

ILS

[avdrummerboy]

In the long run you only saved yourself approx. 6k!!!!!!!!!!!!

Might as well go all out.

[desertdog71]

Originally Posted by WyoRunner8

Ok like most of you searching for flight schools I have realized this stuff is far from cheap and financing the needed education can be tricky. I just recently did my training in San Diego which turned out to be a financial disaster with my PPL costing me a little over 10k. With that said I have spent countles hours online doing some research on some options out there.

Now most people talk a lot about going to ATP. The All inclusive price of basically 50k will cover all training, flying, ground, books, and living. The best thing about ATP is the accumulation of MULTI ENGINE TIME. Most if not all of the flying is done in a Muti-plane. This is the reason I have been saving oney to go there. But I started to realize that its going to take a very very long time to save up even half that amount. This is where the idea comes in.

Get the ratings up till CFI locally. There are so many schools out there where you can pay as little as $5000 per rating. I went to several different flight school websites (mostly local FBO's and flight schools-I did a search in 28 states) to get a good average of the ratings.
PPL-$5000
Instrument-$2500
Commercial-$5000
CFI-$2500
CFII-$2500
MEI-$1500

Total: $19,000
Average total flight time- 230 hours.

After you get done with these rating go to ATP for their ARLINE TRANSITION PROGRAM. This program again is all inclusive. The cost of the Program is $25,000. This program is mostly multi-engine cross country flying with over 200 hours of PIC.

So with that Total cost of training: $44,000
Total logged time (430 hours)

What do you think?

Only problem I see with your figures here is that you have not accounted for any "time building"

The prices for the ratings you have quoted are assuming you have the minimum hours for the ratings sought. Add about 5-10 thousand to your $19,000 and you are getting closer. That is assuming its Single Engine time.

[Flying Ninja]

Total Time: 430 Hours
Total Cost: $44,000

FTSI/CAPT you get:

Total Time: 225 Hours
Total Cost: $100,000 + No CFI, No CFII, No MEI

Hrm...sounds like a no brainer to me.