New opportunity/contract

T

Teenpilot_05

New Member
Just recently, I was offered an opportunity to become a flight instructor for a school that is willing to pay for all of my training up until I get my CFI at which time I would work for them until I could pay off the debt I had incurred. To me, this sounds like a great opportunity, I can get all of my training done and start instructing by my sophmore year in college.
I have been taking ground lessons with this college all summer long and they seem to have a really good program. They intend on giving all of their students great education, none of this, "well, we'll just tell them what they need to pass the tests to get their ppl." One of the main instructors has a ton of time and has flown for a variety of different companies throughout his life. They have done a ton already to help me get into the air. ( I was not taking lessons in the air at the time because I did not have the money; I was working my butt off so that I could take them this upcoming summer) It seems like a great opportunity.
For years, I have been looking at going to a college for my flight training while majoring in something other than aviation. If I go the route I have been talking about, it will confine me to the University of Iowa which has no aviation program. Iowa is a great school with excellent teachers.
The only thing that makes me nervous is the fact that I will be getting my training through a private flight school. My one connection would be the guy who has flown for a number of companies. The thing about it is that that one in particular connection has a lot of connections.
Am I looking to do the right thing. I would love to hear what you all have to say. I feel as though I may have a case of tunnel vision and am unable to see some of things I may be giving up, like not enrolling into an aviation program, or going to an out of state school (I would have had to, nothing really offered here), and things like that.
The contract would probably go for like 3 years to four years. If you all have any comments, or advice, or warnings, they are very much welcomed.
 
Sounds strange....is it possible for you to give more details?

How much will they pay for your training, and how much will you pay back? Are there hard numbers?

I hate signing my name to any line, but that's just me. I don't like the idea of not being able to change my mind next month or next year.....

Details!
 
Hmmm... From the things I've learned in this industry, This seems too good to be true. Whats the name of this program too By the Way?
 
I just re-read your post again. If I was in your situation. I would Go to Scool, most likely a state school, get my degree, prolly some business degree, and then while doing that work some job that provided enough money to fly at some Local Airport. I would also try and live at home. I wouldn't want to have any loans or anything like that. Keep things cheap. Also whats the rush. Take your time and enjoy college.

I would be wary with anything where I had to sign a contract. You sure you have all the info about this program. Most programs like this require you to pay God-awful amounts of money up front, and then they say they pay you back afterwards with a job that you are required to work for them with. I would run away from these programs like a Bat out of Hell. These shortcut will only cause you problems later on.
 
Is it part of the hope flight academy thing?

I agree...it sounds too good to be true.

If you are currently flying and they are paying the bills, though, then milk it for all it's worth. You will NOT be at a disadvantage down the road because you trained at a small flight school as opposed to a big academy.

I've gotten that Flight Training magazine free for years and used to save the "free subscriptions for students" cards. Well...not anymore...I think that magazine has way to many misleading big academy ads and I'm not going to help them spread the word anymore.
 
Well the reason this is being offered is because it is a new flight school that just opened up in Iowa City. New as of this summer. The amount of people looking for good training at the price these guys are offering it for has skyrocketed and their business is doing great, and they expect that to continue. The man who is behind all of it works for the FAA down in Oklahoma and flies up to give lessons and ground school every other week or so.
I have been taking ground school lessons with these guys for the past summer and they are very intent on giving their students the information they need to go on past the PPL, to go beyond just what you need to pass the checkride and the written.
It is because they want to offer good education, that they want to hire pilots they have trained themselves. (So that the trainers train the students the same way they were taught.)
Remember that none of the time I get in flight lessons is really coming free. I would still have to devote a certain amount of my time to teaching at the end, to repay the debt I had incurred. To me, that doesn't sound like to bad of an idea because I am building flight time no matter what. The only thing that I won't have solved is my money for on the side type stuff. I think they plan on giving me a little bit of my flight training money as spending money and the rest would go towards paying off the debt. Another benefit was that I would have a job coming straight out of school where as I might not find a CFI or other job right away and would therefore have to spend time jobless.
I have not seen the contract yet, that is why I am coming to you all first. You all have lived it and I just wanted to see how skeptical I need to be when they hand it to me. By choosing this school, I would be locking in my college at the beginning of my senior year.
One last thing you should all know however is that these guys have been outstanding to me so far. They know that I have been raising money to get into the air and that I have been waiting so that I can do it all at once. They have been doing everything in their power to get me in the air.... free. Introducing me to students who are working on IFR ratings and such so that they would take me up. They are very willing to work around my schedule, in fact they don't want me to drop out of my sports and they want to make sure that my grades stay high like they have been.
The thing is that they have not given me any reason to not believe them or to thing that they are going to jip me out of something.
I hope this is some of the extra information you were looking for. I still would like any comments you all may have. Already, I will be going in with a little more skepticism than I would have before. I don't really know anyone besides these guys down at this flight school that can help me make the decision. My family know's little to nothing about flying and really has no clue as to whether this is a good opportunity or not.
If you all could please provide with any and all thoughts, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
Keep on flying!
Adam
 
BAsically, I'd like to know how much they're "paying" for your training (i.e. how much will you have to repay), and what the repayment terms are. Is there interest? What will happen if you decide to repay them in cash and go work for the flight school across the street? How much of your pay will they demand from you when you're working for them to "repay" your debt?

Things that make you go, "Hmmmm".

By the way - the fact that he works for the FAA doesn't mean squat. His flight school is his own personal Business....
 
If something sounds to good to be true it probably is. Lets say you go ahead and train with this flight school how long do they expect you to work for them to pay off your training debt? What will you do for money to pay your bills with? Do they offer medical insurance? Although this may sound like a good idea now you will likely change your mind after you get a little older. If I were you I would walk away go to a local college and just start working on my ratings one by one.
 
You sure you don't have to work for free after they supposely pay for your training???? Something just doesn't sound right. Oh well. Good Luck with whatever you do, and Be Careful! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif





PS: Try some spaces Teenpilot, its tough reading a huge block of words.. heh /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/Smilecrunch.gif
 
Be very cautious this sounds way to good to be true. What is in it for the owner? You need to get hard numbers...Paying back 60K at $10/flight hour would take years....
 
Considering IF you were able to have 8 billable hours per day.... (8 hrs x $10/hr = 80/day --- 80/day x 5 days = $400/week ---- $400/week divided by $60K = 150 weeks --- 150 weeks = 2.89 years at zero pay)

And that's presuming that you're consistently working a billable 8 hour day, 5 days a week for almost 3 years.
 
I defiantely appreciate all the feed back everyone. I will be sure to ask the questions you have all posted. My counselor at school wants to review the contract before I sign anything. My dad would like a lawyer to review it. This whole contract thing makes me a little uneasy. When I get more details, I will be sure to let you all know.
Appreciate everyone's advice.
Keep flying,
Adam
 
I've never heard of anything like this before...which makes me skeptical. I sure wouldn't do it if I was starting a flight school. I might give you a break, like not charge you for instruction time and then let you fly it off later when you get your CFI.

Let us know more of the details, as they become known.

Also, since you're a minor, I don't think you can be held accountable with a contract. I bet your dad will have to sign it.
 
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Well the reason this is being offered is because it is a new flight school that just opened up in Iowa City.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have no worries. As you already know, America's Heartland is a good and wholesome place! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
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