Am I making the right decision?

P

Pyke

New Member
All my life I have wanted to travel. And all my life I have lived for adrenaline.

Am I making the right decision in learning to become a pilot? I am currently in college for communications in public relations (but thinking of switching to Education since that is more in demand and I would enjoy teaching too). However, what I really want to do is fly. Just dreaming about breaking through the clouds, taking off, landing, seeing the sunrise and sunset, watching the stars at night... it just gets me excited.

But is it worth it to take on 50k of debt in this economy, in this industry? I really would hate to take that loan out and not be able to get a job or pay it off. I have two years left to finish college, and I am pretty set on going to ATP in Houston to learn to fly at my own pace, so I can get all the certifications needed to fly by the time I get my bachelors degree and begin flight instructing as soon as possible.

Any feedback is appreciated. Should I wait until I am done with college, or start now?
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
 
If you are going to do all of this at your own pace, go the FBO route. Its cheaper and more than likely you are not going to have to come up with all the money up front. There is no need in taking out 50k worth of loans if you aren't even sure of your intentions yet. Take some flying lessons, get your private out of the way and have fun with flying a little bit before making a decision like that.
 
I would suggest that you train part time during college for your private. Take two-three lessons a week, and you can get your license before spring semester ends.

If you really like it, pursue it further. My experience is limited, but common sense tells me that taking out truckloads of loans for something you're not even sure about is not the way you want to go.
 
Pay for as much as you can as you go, out of pocket. See the following thread for how difficult it can be if you put yourself in a large amount of debt before you even start flight instructing. http://forums.jetcareers.com/general-topics/103134-lost-interest-aviation.html

Nobody can tell you the best route to take because it is all based on your personal circumstances. Read this forum top to bottom, especially the personal perspectives to get an idea of what a career in aviation can be like. http://jetcareers.com/perspectives.html

After reading all the perspectives and other threads asking for advice ask yourself if you are willing to deal with the worst possible scenario, not just the best possible. That is a question only you can answer.

Best of luck in your decision.

Id say, get your PPL and become a teacher. Slowly build hours, get your Comm rating and spend your summers towing banners down the beach and winters making a livable salary. After trying the teaching gig then decide if flying is something you would rather do as a career.
 
Matt13C said:
Id say, get your PPL and become a teacher. Slowly build hours, get your Comm rating and spend your summers towing banners down the beach and winters making a livable salary. After trying the teaching gig then decide if flying is something you would rather do as a career.
Click to expand...

+1

Or be a CFI during the summer. Or fly skydivers. Just finish college and get a job first.
 
drunkenbeagle said:
+1

Or be a CFI during the summer. Or fly skydivers. Just finish college and get a job first.
Click to expand...

I second that.....don't get into to much debt to fly....you will never get out. As many have said get your private, have fun with it, and see if you want to continue or not.....

ps. Go the FBO route, its cheaper and you will make more local connections that way.
 
jamin35008 said:
I second that.....don't get into to much debt to fly....you will never get out. As many have said get your private, have fun with it, and see if you want to continue or not.....

ps. Go the FBO route, its cheaper and you will make more local connections that way.
Click to expand...

Just so you all know it is possible, I've never borrowed a dime for anything aviation related. I did my PPL 10 years ago in a 152 while I was still in college. I was making $15/hour part time, and managed to do it in a year or so. I was in no hurry, it was my CFI was pushing me to get it done. My TOTAL investment up to commercial is about $11-12K, over about 10 years. And most of that was the 15 dual hours for the instrument (I did that in an arrow to knock out the complex time for the commercial)

+1 on the local FBO route. Most importantly, it is more fun that way. The local connections are definitely key.

Just remember, most of the ratings are cheap. The 250 hours you need for the C-AMEL/C-ASEL/CFI are what will cost you. It matters not what type of aircraft you accumulate those hours in. In my case, a big chunk came from Glider towing (free hours), Glider rides (free hours), being a safety pilot (free hours), and taking trips with my friends (paying 1/4 of a C182 rental, cheaper than an airline ticket would cost). I guess what I'm saying is, if you can be patient, the experience can come cheaply.
 
I just talked with a local school that says it will take about 1-2 years and I can get my PPL, Instrument rating, Commercial rating with multi-engine add on in the 141 part school for about 27-30k. This is not counting the pilots I know that can help me out.

What is the FBO route?
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
 
Pyke said:
I just talked with a local school that says it will take about 1-2 years and I can get my PPL, Instrument rating, Commercial rating with multi-engine add on in the 141 part school for about 27-30k. This is not counting the pilots I know that can help me out.

What is the FBO route?
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
Click to expand...

What school is this? All that for 27k-30k is cheap and I'd be careful before you commit to be sure it's legitimate. It's probably assuming you would get done in the minimums, which is difficult.

FBO stands for fixed-base operator, and what that essentially means in terms of flight training is your local flight school. They typically are pay as you go. Another type of school is the academy or "pilot-mill", which often requires relocation for a few months (unless you live by one). They usually quote you a fixed price for their services (e.g. ATP with their zero to hero program running at 48k). The last type is a university flight program, such as ERAU.
 
I would definitely stay in college. I am currently a freshman in college and I already have my PPL/IFR ratings. I have a part time job and I am flying out of a local FBO. I have done all of my training part 61 and I have really loved the experience of meeting all of the local airport people. Those people can be vital when it comes to getting a job in the future.

I would suggest getting a major in something besides aviation, right now they aren't that worried about whether or not you have some type of aviation degree. If you get a degree outside of aviation and something happens to your health, you will have a way to make a good living.

That is just my .02 cents, good luck with your choice.
 
Instead of flying for a career, how about get your private and instrument rating and maybe a CFI/AGI if you want to teach part time for fun and get a job in ATC or Dispatch or even outside of aviation. This way you rent or own an aircraft and fly when you want in whatever conditions you want, safety permitting, and not worry about furloughs, low pay, constant base closings and all the downsides of being a professional pilot. There is an AGI at my local flight school who worked at ZDC until retirement. He has his own C172 and flies it every year for his summer trips while teaching ground school for the fun of it. To me, that seems a lot better than being on reserve for 1-2 years wondering where you are going to be night after night while making $20,000 as a first year FO. A good plan would be to apply PUBNAT or invest in a dispatch course. Dispatch courses cost about $6,000 total with housing. Dispatch pay at the regionals starts around 25-30K and tops out between 40-50K. Majors and LCC's pay between 60-90 with some higher totals. The return on investment though is still better than pilot and you get the same flight benefits the pilots do! Dispatchers can jumpseat on the flight deck or cabin JS of any airline because most are in CASS, they get 4 on 3 off schedules typically but you are home every night and not in a hotel room. You also have joint authority over the flight legally with the captain when you sign the flight release. It is basically doing the job pilots normally should and would be doing themselves but cant because airlines schedule quick turnarounds and multi-leg days.

On the ATC side, if they hire off the street and you do well on the AT-SAT you pick your geo-preferences for living and wait for a job offer. I think PUBNAT is the greatest from a return on investment stand point. It costs little money to apply and take the test and if you do well and get the job you could be making 80-100K in 3-5 years time.

If you like adrenaline rushes, airline flying is becoming increasingly automated and pilots are being reduced to button pushers and systems managers that watch the aircraft do most of the actual flying. On smaller GA aircraft there is less automation and more room for skillful flying. Thats not to say airline flying doesnt require skill but that airlines try as much as possible to keep things automated to avoid liability issues if the pilot makes a mistake.
 
Pyke said:
Should I wait until I am done with college, or start now?
Click to expand...

You should wait until you can pay for it without a loan. If you can do that now, great! If you need to save up money first, then do that. Whatever you choose, I would definitely pay as you go, and by that I mean, don't pay a flight school a lump sum of money for your certificates and ratings.

As others have said, I would go the FBO route.

Also, there are some flight schools that present misleading information about cost comparisons between Part 141 vs. Part 61 schools. They'll sell you that Part 141 will save you a significant amount of money. The truth is, it can, but it won't necessarily. When in doubt, ask people on this board.
 
It's wont be a dream anymore when/if you got your self into some debt you couldn't get out of. I'd consider it a nightmare at that point. The turtle wins the race, and most often enjoys his pace.
 
Pyke said:
All my life I have wanted to travel. And all my life I have lived for adrenaline.
<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">
Click to expand...

This is not what an airline job is by the way. If you get lucky and some day make it to a major that does a fair amount of international you'll get your "travel" part taken care of but doing domestic turns to XNA (no offense Mike!) doesn't exactly meet most people's definition of travel (nor adrenaline).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top