Boots2Wings
Just happy to be here.
Hello everybody,
I have been browsing this site for a while now and figured id take the opportunity to emerge from the shadows, and take a more active approach to something I have always dreamed about pursuing. I apologize as it will probably be a long first post, but hey what can you do?
Im currently 23, and have from my earliest memories I have wanted to be a pilot. Specefically a military pilot. But part of what i wanted to do, was serve as a grunt, a lowly private, and work my way up to become an officer and pilot someday. In my humble opinion, it was important to me if I was going to be up top, i needed to know what the bottom was. Well fast forward, and after serving in the army reserves (going on 7 years now)I realize that, frankly I will never fly in uniform. I just was not as good as the minimum they accept (physically at least). I was never a marathon runner or fitness guru, and that was before i blew out my knee. Im still fully fit, and actually just reenlisted while im still deployed (in the middle east for a few more months currently) , so it wont be an issue for my medical certification civilian side. But i realize the only way to fly is go the pure civilian route. So I have been researching months now the best way to do it all. This site has been a true goldmine for that, but i digress.
My love of flight is about the only thing in life i can truly say has never diminished (odd considering i was scared of it as a little kid). No matter where i was or what i was doing, everytime something buzzed overhead i would just watch it and plot my way to the pilots seat one day. The sum total of my true experience u can say, has been an introductory flight. Loved every bit of it from the preflight check, to the radio chatter. I know no matter what i fly, for who, or where, to me it would beat any job I could imagine.
So my questions (to which i will provide my insights thus far to check their validity) are as follows.
Loans:
I am a senior at a 4 year university currently (totally unrelated major) so I certainly plan to finish that upon my return home. This far i have no debt (thank you gi bill and deployment money), but after graduating i will also have student loan repayment from the army (20k). I know that for my ppl thats entirely out of pocket, but does anyone know if sallie may loans or other financing are covered. That way i can cut down on post ppl costs for training and hours (i already have about 150% of estimated ppl costs for my local schools in San Diego saved and put aside).
First jobs:
I have constantly heard pay is horrid starting out, but I'm single with no family to support, so I can live comfortably on like 1800-2200 a month in san diego. So obviously cost of living is high, and i can relocate to pursue better jobs or lower costs. Is it a real possibility, to land a reliable job within say a year of a ppl (assuming I get the required certs) to make ends meat at that standard? No i do not care about the bird Im in or what the actual job is. If it gets me in the sky, ill be like a kid on christmas eve. Oh And yes i LOVE ramen!
To be a true pilot and only fly for work?
How hard is to truely only fly as a job, once again if I can make that 1800-2000 or so i can be set at least for the next several years. I hear often about furloughs and closures, but is there ever job security at a post?
That'll suffice for the interrogation of this online community for the moment. If I kept your attention thus far, thank you. I am sure many more post and questions will follow. Until then I look forward to hearing from you all!
I have been browsing this site for a while now and figured id take the opportunity to emerge from the shadows, and take a more active approach to something I have always dreamed about pursuing. I apologize as it will probably be a long first post, but hey what can you do?
Im currently 23, and have from my earliest memories I have wanted to be a pilot. Specefically a military pilot. But part of what i wanted to do, was serve as a grunt, a lowly private, and work my way up to become an officer and pilot someday. In my humble opinion, it was important to me if I was going to be up top, i needed to know what the bottom was. Well fast forward, and after serving in the army reserves (going on 7 years now)I realize that, frankly I will never fly in uniform. I just was not as good as the minimum they accept (physically at least). I was never a marathon runner or fitness guru, and that was before i blew out my knee. Im still fully fit, and actually just reenlisted while im still deployed (in the middle east for a few more months currently) , so it wont be an issue for my medical certification civilian side. But i realize the only way to fly is go the pure civilian route. So I have been researching months now the best way to do it all. This site has been a true goldmine for that, but i digress.
My love of flight is about the only thing in life i can truly say has never diminished (odd considering i was scared of it as a little kid). No matter where i was or what i was doing, everytime something buzzed overhead i would just watch it and plot my way to the pilots seat one day. The sum total of my true experience u can say, has been an introductory flight. Loved every bit of it from the preflight check, to the radio chatter. I know no matter what i fly, for who, or where, to me it would beat any job I could imagine.
So my questions (to which i will provide my insights thus far to check their validity) are as follows.
Loans:
I am a senior at a 4 year university currently (totally unrelated major) so I certainly plan to finish that upon my return home. This far i have no debt (thank you gi bill and deployment money), but after graduating i will also have student loan repayment from the army (20k). I know that for my ppl thats entirely out of pocket, but does anyone know if sallie may loans or other financing are covered. That way i can cut down on post ppl costs for training and hours (i already have about 150% of estimated ppl costs for my local schools in San Diego saved and put aside).
First jobs:
I have constantly heard pay is horrid starting out, but I'm single with no family to support, so I can live comfortably on like 1800-2200 a month in san diego. So obviously cost of living is high, and i can relocate to pursue better jobs or lower costs. Is it a real possibility, to land a reliable job within say a year of a ppl (assuming I get the required certs) to make ends meat at that standard? No i do not care about the bird Im in or what the actual job is. If it gets me in the sky, ill be like a kid on christmas eve. Oh And yes i LOVE ramen!
To be a true pilot and only fly for work?
How hard is to truely only fly as a job, once again if I can make that 1800-2000 or so i can be set at least for the next several years. I hear often about furloughs and closures, but is there ever job security at a post?
That'll suffice for the interrogation of this online community for the moment. If I kept your attention thus far, thank you. I am sure many more post and questions will follow. Until then I look forward to hearing from you all!