Civilians- how did you pay for flight school?

Hello fellow JC'ers!! I'm making my debut this evening in response to wongs' post. This may be a little long, but I feel I can really relate to this post. First off, I'm a career changer at 32. I went to college, got a degree, went to work as a chemist for a government agency, went back to school for the masters, and I'm still miserable as hell
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! Anyway, to get to the point, I always wanted to fly, but the time and money never did present itself. I always thought that if I went to college and got a "good" degree, I would make tons of money and be happy ever after. Didn't seem to happen that way!! I decided about 6 months ago, that I would set my goals on something that I would enjoy getting out of bed for everyday, and flying was the ticket. I set out on a mission to research any and everything I could about the flying profession. One of the most invaluable tools that I have found is this website. I've been lurking everyday for quite a while, and have seen the good, bad, and ugly side of being a professional pilot. After the initial shock of realizing this profession is a crapshoot, I decided what the hell, I'm 32, not getting any younger, single, no kids, and I'm going for it!! That being said, my first priority was to start stashing the cash back for my PPL. Everything on this board indicated to me that the market for professional pilots WILL be back, its just a question of when, and for that very reason I have decided that taking out a 40K loan is insane!! I already have a mortgage and truck payment that I'm in debt for around 100K, so why tack on another 40-50K? I'm planning on the market making a comeback in 5-10 years. Thats plenty of time to work on my ratings as I pay for them. I've still got a "good" job here in OKC, so why quit and go to Florida, hand over 40-50K, get my ratings in 8 months, and sit around and hunt for a CFI job?? I've decided that the best route for me is to go to the local FBO (which I've already done my homework on), aquire my ratings, work as a CFI on the side, and hope that the market has returned around that time. If not, its cool, no student loans to pay. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't get in too big of a hurry for something that probably won't be waiting on you. Get your education, then worry about your ratings. Just listen to what these guys have to say, cause they have been there,done that, and bought the t-shirt!! Just sit back, relax, check out JetCareers everyday for your daily fix, and absorb the knowledge that flows on these boards
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Hello fellow JC'ers!! I'm making my debut this evening in response to wongs' post.

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Welcome to the boards!
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I've been doing the pay as you go method. I thought about getting one of those key loans, but then I thought about being a CFI making about $12,000 a year, and having a loan payment on top of that.

I decided that wouldn't be a good idea.
 
I agree that you should work your buns off and pay as you go, and save everything you can and just take it one rating at a time. We are going the FL school route but that's because we are older, have a family, are out of time, and want it over with fast. Corbin doesn't have the luxury of working and doing one rating at a time right now. But where your at I really think that would be the best way, and if we were to start over he'd do it that way. So really give it some thought before you head for the loan office.
 
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..... but that's because we are older, have a family, are out of time, and want it over with fast. Corbin doesn't have the luxury of working and doing one rating

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Older? I thought you two were mid 20s?

If I am not wrong (and it is rare that I am
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) that is a serious bunch of BS, to say you are out of time or older.

You are taking a short cut, against pretty much eveyone's advice which is fine, your choice your school, your money, no skin off anyone's back here but without a degree your DH isn't really going to be a threat on the interview (if he gets one)when compared tot eh rest of the job seeking pilots. But we have been over all that before..


Which makes this a good time to bring up to eRiCdWoNg

Be sure you have finished your college degree, you will not be able to find a good flying job that pays anything without one.

I may have missed it but it sounds like you may still be in High School, and if you are looking to go to school after you graduate, look to Daniel Webster in NH, Perdue, Riddle, to name a few, all have good quality Schools, ***AND*** very good flight departments as part of the school.

Do not do not do not buy in to the mindset of skipping or not finishing your degree, you will go to very very bottom of the list at any airline.

With the post (somewhere on here) that said SWA has over 200,000 Applications for pilot’s slots, and they hired 5000? (or was it 500?) eitherway, how many do you suppose did nothave a degree or a military flight background, I would guess close to Zero…. Without a degree you will not succeed. Period.

Anyone who tells you different is full of crap.

Stack the deck in your favor do not be a failure!!
 
hmmmm.. how i paid for flight school?? heck, i just married a pilot and every now and then, i get a new lesson in flying and every week i get a new lesson on how the business works!

BWAAA HA HA HA HAHHAHAHAHA
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Why am I not surprised? You don't know everything about our situation becasue we have not told you nor are we going to. Our choice is made so give it a rest. To answer your questions Corbin is 27 and for the 600th time he is almost done with his 2 year degree and will continue to finish till he has a 4 year degree through UVSC, a very accredited college on the list of aviation schools that YOU linked to telling us to chose from when he is already there. NO one EVER said he wasn't getting a degree but you have brought that to your arguing several times. Just for the sake of any one that misunderstood, yes he will be getting his 4 year degree [ QUOTE ]
against pretty much eveyone's advice

[/ QUOTE ] No Eagle, only a few people had an issue with it. About 90% of the responses said that FSI was a great choice. [ QUOTE ]
that is a serious bunch of BS

[/ QUOTE ] Since I was *giving* advice not *asking* for it you had no reason to pick apart my post, especially since the advice I gave is the same as yours, so tell you what, you worry about the people that are ASKING for your opinion and stop giving it to me unsolicited. Okie Dokie?
 
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Since I was *giving* advice not *asking* for it you had no reason to pick apart my post, especially since the advice I gave is the same as yours, so tell you what, you worry about the people that are ASKING for your opinion and stop giving it to me unsolicited. Okie Dokie?

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You know there's to much of that at JC. I mean its sort of discouraging, you give advice and then you're advice gets rotted out by some other member. Sort of discouraging in that fact that you're afraid to give advice because of other members chewing you out for it...
 
Glad someone agrees...it's called harassment. I could understand if I said something ignorant like drop out of school and work at McDonald's the rest of your life, then sure, someone has the right to say "that might not be the best idea", but to constantly make arguements out of everything, pulling away from the topic is so unecessary. (So, I will stop pulling away from the topic now)
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Doug grabs the wheel and steers it back towards "Finance Flight Training" Blvd.
 
(Sorry Doug)

I forgot to mention one other thing that might be helpful. I can't remember if I had already asked about this or not, but I heard somewhere that you can find sponsors that help with your financing. I am not sure if that's true, I have not really checked into it much further, but from what I understand there is some retired pilots that like to sponser hopefuls and I don't know what the pay back terms are, but maybe you could see if you could find more info.
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I've never heard of a sponsorship like that at all.

Small scholarships, yes, but not a sponsorship per se.
 
I paid for my private by working at taco bell. I talked my parents into paying for the last $1000 if I did everything else myself. I then joined the Air Force RESERVES because the GI bill pays 60%of everything else (as long as it's part 141). That worked out great, the air force paid for about $15,000 of flight training. DO NOT GO ACTIVE DUTY FOR THE GI BILL!!!!! They never get enough time off, work the wrong shift, get deployed, get transfered, etc.. and cant get anything done until they get out 4-6 years later. RESERVES or Guard is the only way to go. As a bonus, if you enlist into an aircrew position (loadmaster, boom operator) you've got your foot in the door if you want to go to AF pilot training.
 
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I also went to the University of Miami my first year (read private school) and it was not cheap. I didnt do that well and it cost my parents probbly $40,000 that year alone. I can see why they are reluctant to spend huge amounts of money on me...

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I didn't do that well my first year at ASU, so I understand your situation pretty well. If your experience turns out to be like mine was, raising the money will be of secondary concern. Getting things turned around academically, and making progress toward a specific degree should take precedence for you. I'm 25 and I just have a two-year degree, even though I've taken at least one class every year since high school (1996). Getting a degree started is easy, getting it completed is often trickier, and it can drag on forever if you don't make it a priority early enough. I think in your case (and also in my case), finishing a degree (in anything) is more crucial than finishing your ratings quickly.
Think about just getting your PPL for now and then concentrating on getting a degree in another field. That way you'll have employable skills besides flying.
As Doug himself said just three days ago,
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If you're thinking about this career without a viable back-up, you're not only crazy, you're downright stupid.

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I understand that getting a non-aviation degree wouldn't be as much fun, and might seem to be a distraction from your long-term goals. But it would demonstrate to your parents that you're taking education seriously, and would take professional-level flight training equally seriously. And after you have those ratings, you'd be able to work a full-time job during the week while instructing on weekends. Don't lots of CFIs end up working two jobs out of desperation anyway?
 
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About 90% of the responses said that FSI was a great choice.

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I thought you were not replying to my posts anymore...
Yep ..Even I agree that FSI is a great choice for you or anyone else.
My point to the origional poster is DO NOT put flight training before a college degree. (some exceptions) And I stand by that. This is the advice eveyone else gave and you have discounted. you life your choice.

I am curious (and the guys at the college flight schools can answer)

When you are paying tutition for a large school like ERAU, Or Daniel webster. Is the flight time extra? or does the tuition cover it? Extra fees like lab fees? By the flight hour etc.

This may make it easier for the origional poster to "sell" the idea of these flight schools to mom and dad.

And paying for the flying becomes less of an obsticle
 
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When you are paying tutition for a large school like ERAU, Or Daniel webster. Is the flight time extra? or does the tuition cover it? Extra fees like lab fees? By the flight hour etc.

This may make it easier for the origional poster to "sell" the idea of these flight schools to mom and dad.

And paying for the flying becomes less of an obsticle

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Well I'll tell you how it is here. UND has 7 flight courses to finish if you are a commercial aviation major. Each year, courses are evaluated by averaging all the money spent by each student in each course, that is how the school determines the cost for each flight lab.

Flight labs can be added to the total cost for a student to attend school each year. If you fill out a FAFSA, once the results are back, the school then figures in the costs of flying into your financial aid statement. I love that because half of my loans are interest free until 6 months after graduation.

I guess to answer your question Eagle, the flight labs at UND are separate from school costs.
 
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The residual from the insurance settlement that was left over after covering my astronomical medical expenses was put into a trust fund which got me through about three years of Embry-Riddle.

My parents helped me with the rest of it, under the direction that I absolutely must do the same for my child if I ever cranked one out.

Hey, you asked!
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Doug,

What about the part-time postion at the escort service? Remember when you said you were going down to ASU each weekend?
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Doug,

What about the part-time postion at the escort service? Remember when you said you were going down to ASU each weekend?
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My Landau Carissian "Love Doctor" days were a long time ago, Mikey!
 
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Doug,

What about the part-time postion at the escort service? Remember when you said you were going down to ASU each weekend?
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My Landau Carissian "Love Doctor" days were a long time ago, Mikey!

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Doug : Ma'am, would this be a standard date, or full service??
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I mostly paid as I went (with some parental help). I also got a small loan for my MEI through Key Bank.

You might want to check with AOPA for information on scholarships.
 
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