Future Flight Training Decisions...

[SnareMV17]

Hello everyone,

I've been reading through these forums for a few months now. Back in October/November, I decided to make being a professional pilot my goal. I'm 25 years old, without a college degree, and live in the San Francisco Bay Area in California.

I tried to talk good old mom into co-signing on a loan to get me into ATP back in October, but cooler heads prevailed and she vowed to co-sign on a loan to any academy I chose AFTER I get my college degree. So here I am, working on my Bachelor's in Aviation at San Jose State University. It will be a few more years before I'm done, as I just started full time in the fall. I'm almost done with my first full year!

The original plan was to attend ATP, but since I started looking, ATP's price has jumped 10k. Since I've been reading these boards as well as a few others, I've since decided to look at other options. San Jose State's flying club, the "Flying Twenty", rents it's planes for $75/hr and instructors for a max of $25/hr for students, faculty, and alumni. I just recently decided to look into doing some of my training there. Perhaps at least for the PPL.

So here I am, without much money, working on a degree, and in the middle of a recession in both the industry and the economy. Where the heck do I go from here? The ATP dream is quickly fadeing and I need some help and guidence. Anything you guys can offer up would be wonderful. Thanks!

Chris

[Tld]

Those are good prices, I would DEFINATELY get going on your ppl. Don't let the cost of aviation turn you away. I also looked at ATP, but decided it wasn't the right choice for me. There are so many options out there for earning your ratings, you just have to do the research and figure out what will work for you, both financially and within a timeframe you are comfortable with. As with many industries, aviation is cylical, and hiring will be up and down. If you really want to fly though, you've got to go after it. By starting on your ppl you will definately meet a lot of people who are in similar situations to yours and can offer you fresh perspective on your different options. Then just keep plugging away on your ratings while you are in school. If paying for your ppl is the problem, see if you can get at job with the flying club...cleaning planes, answering phones, anything to help offset your costs. Trust me, once you get up there and start flying, you will do anything to make it happen...just look at me, I went from a secure job to working part-time in order to pursue aviation. Now I'm keeping the ramen company in business, but i get to fly all week and have never been happier. Keep us posted on how it goes...