Who pays for flight training?

deek · February 17th, 2007, 13:45

I'm a recent college grad and my student loans are about to kick in (almost $1,000/mo), so I won't be able to afford flight school for about 30 years (no rich uncle). So I'm wondering who else pays for training besides military (already went in and got a medical discharge, non-av threatening). I would be hoping that all these airlines needing pilots with the '"shortage" would start paying for training with work for 5-6 years kinda thing. Any ideas would be great!!!

jtrain609 · February 17th, 2007, 13:47

Where'd you go to school? Harvard?

amorris311 · February 17th, 2007, 13:51

no he went to western michigan. isnt that the harvard of the great lake region?

surreal1221 · February 17th, 2007, 13:56

Uh. . . just what all of us need now are for the airlines to start hiring kids before they even have any pre-private training.

I so hope the whole ab-initio mindset of Europe doesn't come over here. . . that'll be the nail in the coffin for GA.

MFT1Air · February 17th, 2007, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by amorris311

no he went to western michigan. isnt that the harvard of the great lake region?

Kinda like RICE is the "Harvard" of Texas.

Doh!

Good question though. I've seen guys work at the airport/FBO for flight time.

jtrain609 · February 17th, 2007, 13:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by amorris311

no he went to western michigan. isnt that the harvard of the great lake region?

Close, that's Kalamazoo College.

Nismaxdan · February 17th, 2007, 14:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by deek

I'm a recent college grad and my student loans are about to kick in (almost $1,000/mo), so I won't be able to afford flight school for about 30 years (no rich uncle). So I'm wondering who else pays for training besides military (already went in and got a medical discharge, non-av threatening). I would be hoping that all these airlines needing pilots with the '"shortage" would start paying for training with work for 5-6 years kinda thing. Any ideas would be great!!!

No buddy, you do. What you are talking about is done in Europe, India, Asia, and the Caribbean, but not in the GOOD 'Ol U S of A. Seriously though, if they did that here, that would be the hangman's noose for general aviation in the US.

surreal1221 · February 17th, 2007, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nismaxdan

No buddy, you do. What you are talking about is done in Europe, India, Asia, and the Caribbean, but not in the GOOD 'Ol U S of A. Seriously though, if they did that here, that would be the hangman's noose for general aviation in the US.

omg. . . we agree!! I'm in love with you now!!

Nismaxdan · February 17th, 2007, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by surreal1221

omg. . . we agree!! I'm in love with you now!!

Now? And here I was thinking I had you at hello.

falconvalley · February 17th, 2007, 15:45

Sounds like you got yourself some conflicts of interest, har har har! Personally (and I mean seriously) I would sell off everything I didn't need, get an apartment with multiple roommates, and work as many jobs as possible. At one point, I was working one full-time job and two part-time jobs just to make ends meet and be able to afford flying lessons. Also, having a job like being a line worker at an airport certainly does help, too! It might not lead to flying lessons directly, but it helps in many small ways. That's just my experience, though.

LoadMasterC141 · February 17th, 2007, 15:49

$1000/Mth for student loans? Wow. Is that just student loans and not the credit cards you ran up during college too?

I have an Ivy-league degree. Granted I went to Comm. College first, but my loans are still only $100/mth. Can't see it being THAT much.

Sprint100 · February 17th, 2007, 15:50

I'm going to take up a part-time gig to supplement the costs of flight training and time building.

H46Bubba · February 17th, 2007, 16:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by deek

I'm a recent college grad and my student loans are about to kick in (almost $1,000/mo), so I won't be able to afford flight school for about 30 years (no rich uncle). So I'm wondering who else pays for training besides military (already went in and got a medical discharge, non-av threatening). I would be hoping that all these airlines needing pilots with the '"shortage" would start paying for training with work for 5-6 years kinda thing. Any ideas would be great!!!

Alright! I got two or three possible solutions for you.
1. Did you get a severance payment when you were medically discharged?
2. You are a disabled veteran. Have you submitted a claim to the VA? I get $1,400/mo tax free disabilty from the VA. They will go over your entire record and make a disabilty rating decision based on all your previous service connected medical issues.
3. Have you exhausted you GI bill funds? If not once you get passed PPL the VA will pay 60% up to a spacified level.

88MPH · February 17th, 2007, 18:04

Two Words:

Find a girl who's dad is the manager of some corporate airline, and marry her. But don't let your agenda leak too soon.

But seriously ... seems the multiple jobs/roommates thing is looking to be it for you. GI Bill was a HUGE help for me. I also washed the planes for instructor time. Saved a few hundred pesos there; every little bit helps.

Last resort, you could find a student credit card with reasonable APR and go that way, but there are TONS of catches with those plastic "ball and chain" devices.

C150J · February 17th, 2007, 18:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by LoadMasterC141

I have an Ivy-league degree.

You go to CU too? Saw that you were from the ITH area (so am I) - PM me if you did.

LoadMasterC141 · February 17th, 2007, 20:09

"Went" to CU yes, and from the area too. PM Sent!

skydog · February 18th, 2007, 18:41

I hope with those kind of student loans you have an education that will get you a well paying job. If it is, work hard, pay off the loans, save your money, and then train. If it isn't, then forget about aviation. You'll be happier for it.

deek · February 18th, 2007, 22:58

No I didn't go to an Ivy school, just an expensive private one. And no benefits from the Army since it was a "pre-exsisting" condition. They don't help you out when you have something previous.

I do have previous flight experience, did a few "introductory" lessons in a cessna, and in a helicopter. Plus went flying a few times for $100 hamburgers with my friend who now flies for Colgan. Flew from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West as low as we could over the islands, spotted some sharks on the way down, simply amazing.

Yeah, I might move in with my grandmother in Vegas to save some rent, and working on getting a second job now.

kellwolf · February 18th, 2007, 23:10

Unfortunately, it's a catch 22 right now. People can't afford to learn to fly b/c it's expensive, but no one out there other than the military will foot the bill. To compound the issue, pay at the regionals doesn't really help service the debt until you upgrade. The trick is to figure a way to make it work. Live somewhere that has a cheap cost of living (at grandma's house would be a good option), don't go out very often, go to the grocery store instead of restaurants and fast food places and get a used, cheap, functioning car. Following that model (minus the living at grandma's, I bought my own house), I've not only been able to survive on 1st year FO pay at the regionals, but I've even got some extra $$$ on the side. Granted, I don't have NEAR the college debt you do. Can you re-fi those loans to get the payments down? That sounds downright criminal of either the loan company or the college to charge that much. I don't think I'd pay that to be tutored personally by Einstein!

Murdoughnut · February 19th, 2007, 13:48

Not to be a downer, but perhaps you should consider a decent paying job (i.e., not flying) until you pay down the loans quite a bit. I don't see why folks go to expensive private schools when you could get the same education from a large, state school. Oh well.

Soul Brotha' · February 19th, 2007, 14:11

I sold some stocks that were left to me from my great granny. My parents weren't rich by any means. I got grants and loans for college which paid for my 4 year degree. Go 'Cuse! After college I worked at a human resources consultating firm for 4-5 years and paid of my college loans. After I did that and decided that I wanted to be a pilot, I cashed in my stocks and paid for flight training at DCA. What a dumb ass move that was. It just goes to show you that even if you have a degree doesn't make you smart.

So my advice to you is work and pay off the loans. Then if you are still serious about flying get a second job and pay for your training that way. The jobs will still be there.

Timbuff10 · February 19th, 2007, 15:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul Brotha'

After I did that and decided that I wanted to be a pilot, I cashed in my stocks and paid for flight training at DCA. What a dumb ass move that was.

I was going down the same road as you. Was all set to go down to Slimeville Florida till I found Doug's site here. Instead, I worked to save up for flight training and did it the cheap way. Still owe tons of money for the flight training but it could have been a WHOLE lot worse had I done the DCA thing.

My college education could have easily cost over $100,000 but if you are able to work the system, you can get it for a quarter of the price pretty easily. On graduation day, I didn't owe anyone anything. It did take 6 years for college but I had about $600 in my bank account that I could keep.

Had I been in debt at all after college, there is no way I could have done this thing without winning the lottery. Now the CFI road is proving to be pretty long for me but I am enjoying it.

February 17th, 2007, 13:45	#1
deek Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 101	Who pays for flight training? I'm a recent college grad and my student loans are about to kick in (almost $1,000/mo), so I won't be able to afford flight school for about 30 years (no rich uncle). So I'm wondering who else pays for training besides military (already went in and got a medical discharge, non-av threatening). I would be hoping that all these airlines needing pilots with the '"shortage" would start paying for training with work for 5-6 years kinda thing. Any ideas would be great!!! __________________ Remember, Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 17th, 2007, 13:47	#2
jtrain609 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Park City, UT Posts: 12,000	Re: Who pays for flight training? Where'd you go to school? Harvard? __________________ STFD 6 on, 1 off, 2 on, 2 off, 5 on - That's a cumulative 84 hours at home over a 14 day period.

February 17th, 2007, 13:51	#3
amorris311 Old Skool Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Los Angeles soon to be phx Posts: 2,471	Re: Who pays for flight training? no he went to western michigan. isnt that the harvard of the great lake region?

February 17th, 2007, 13:56	#4
surreal1221 Old Skool Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Alpha Tango Lima Posts: 8,382	Re: Who pays for flight training? Uh. . . just what all of us need now are for the airlines to start hiring kids before they even have any pre-private training. I so hope the whole ab-initio mindset of Europe doesn't come over here. . . that'll be the nail in the coffin for GA. __________________ AGI.MEI.CFI.CFII.FO.CRJ2 \| Josh \|The TRoP \| Ramble On \|ALPA \| Your DD-214 is where?

February 17th, 2007, 15:45	#10
falconvalley Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: KMKE Posts: 1,906	Re: Who pays for flight training? Sounds like you got yourself some conflicts of interest, har har har! Personally (and I mean seriously) I would sell off everything I didn't need, get an apartment with multiple roommates, and work as many jobs as possible. At one point, I was working one full-time job and two part-time jobs just to make ends meet and be able to afford flying lessons. Also, having a job like being a line worker at an airport certainly does help, too! It might not lead to flying lessons directly, but it helps in many small ways. That's just my experience, though. __________________ British Airways flight asks for push back clearance from terminal. Control Tower replies: "And where is the world's most experienced airline going today without filing a flight plan?"

February 17th, 2007, 15:49	#11
LoadMasterC141 Old Skool Join Date: May 2006 Location: Live in Temple, TX - From Ithaca, NY - Wish I was on an island in Fiji Posts: 1,898	Re: Who pays for flight training? $1000/Mth for student loans? Wow. Is that just student loans and not the credit cards you ran up during college too? I have an Ivy-league degree. Granted I went to Comm. College first, but my loans are still only $100/mth. Can't see it being THAT much.

February 17th, 2007, 15:50	#12
Sprint100 Old Skool Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Santa Clarita, CA Posts: 5,802	Re: Who pays for flight training? I'm going to take up a part-time gig to supplement the costs of flight training and time building. __________________ "I have learned over the years that when one's mind is made up, that diminshes fear" - Rosa Parks

February 17th, 2007, 18:04	#14
88MPH Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Dark Side of the Rainbow, or Tucson Posts: 994	Re: Who pays for flight training? Two Words: Find a girl who's dad is the manager of some corporate airline, and marry her. But don't let your agenda leak too soon. But seriously ... seems the multiple jobs/roommates thing is looking to be it for you. GI Bill was a HUGE help for me. I also washed the planes for instructor time. Saved a few hundred pesos there; every little bit helps. Last resort, you could find a student credit card with reasonable APR and go that way, but there are TONS of catches with those plastic "ball and chain" devices. __________________ "Hey, at least I'm housebroken!"

February 17th, 2007, 20:09	#16
LoadMasterC141 Old Skool Join Date: May 2006 Location: Live in Temple, TX - From Ithaca, NY - Wish I was on an island in Fiji Posts: 1,898	Re: Who pays for flight training? "Went" to CU yes, and from the area too. PM Sent!

February 18th, 2007, 18:41	#17
skydog Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 456	Re: Who pays for flight training? I hope with those kind of student loans you have an education that will get you a well paying job. If it is, work hard, pay off the loans, save your money, and then train. If it isn't, then forget about aviation. You'll be happier for it.

February 18th, 2007, 22:58	#18
deek Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 101	Re: Who pays for flight training? No I didn't go to an Ivy school, just an expensive private one. And no benefits from the Army since it was a "pre-exsisting" condition. They don't help you out when you have something previous. I do have previous flight experience, did a few "introductory" lessons in a cessna, and in a helicopter. Plus went flying a few times for $100 hamburgers with my friend who now flies for Colgan. Flew from Ft. Lauderdale to Key West as low as we could over the islands, spotted some sharks on the way down, simply amazing. Yeah, I might move in with my grandmother in Vegas to save some rent, and working on getting a second job now. __________________ Remember, Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

February 18th, 2007, 23:10	#19
kellwolf Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Memphis, TN Posts: 13,058	Re: Who pays for flight training? Unfortunately, it's a catch 22 right now. People can't afford to learn to fly b/c it's expensive, but no one out there other than the military will foot the bill. To compound the issue, pay at the regionals doesn't really help service the debt until you upgrade. The trick is to figure a way to make it work. Live somewhere that has a cheap cost of living (at grandma's house would be a good option), don't go out very often, go to the grocery store instead of restaurants and fast food places and get a used, cheap, functioning car. Following that model (minus the living at grandma's, I bought my own house), I've not only been able to survive on 1st year FO pay at the regionals, but I've even got some extra $$$ on the side. Granted, I don't have NEAR the college debt you do. Can you re-fi those loans to get the payments down? That sounds downright criminal of either the loan company or the college to charge that much. I don't think I'd pay that to be tutored personally by Einstein! __________________ "I'm The Doctor, by the way. Run for your life!"

February 19th, 2007, 13:48	#20
Murdoughnut Old Skool Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: St. Petersburg, FL Posts: 2,348	Re: Who pays for flight training? Not to be a downer, but perhaps you should consider a decent paying job (i.e., not flying) until you pay down the loans quite a bit. I don't see why folks go to expensive private schools when you could get the same education from a large, state school. Oh well.

February 19th, 2007, 14:11	#21
Soul Brotha' Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Random hotels of America Posts: 460	Re: Who pays for flight training? I sold some stocks that were left to me from my great granny. My parents weren't rich by any means. I got grants and loans for college which paid for my 4 year degree. Go 'Cuse! After college I worked at a human resources consultating firm for 4-5 years and paid of my college loans. After I did that and decided that I wanted to be a pilot, I cashed in my stocks and paid for flight training at DCA. What a dumb ass move that was. It just goes to show you that even if you have a degree doesn't make you smart. So my advice to you is work and pay off the loans. Then if you are still serious about flying get a second job and pay for your training that way. The jobs will still be there.

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