Where to start?

If you're half Mick what's the other half??!!
I'll agree with all of the above. Pay as you go for as long as you can. 80K is insane when you think of the financial return (or lack of). I started flying June '07, weekend warrior, should have my comm soon. Plan to get all my certs (up to ME and CFI) debt free (so far so good) and maybe instruct part time to begin with (while building up a cash reserve if I decide to take the plunge). 27 is plenty young - remember you retire at 65!!
Downside is it can take a while and you will spend the week at work itching to fly (only for the weekend to be wahed out....d'oh!!). ;)
 
Half_Mick said:
That seems to be the general concensus... Thanks



I agree... Thanks

Should've had my head examined for even romancing the thought of that huge loan...
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For all the bitching done about guys who join the forum, ask these types of questions, and then get mad at the advice we give them, I think it is important to recognize that this guy listened.

Thanks for being one of the good ones, Half_Mick.
 
Ian J said:
For all the bitching done about guys who join the forum, ask these types of questions, and then get mad at the advice we give them, I think it is important to recognize that this guy listened.

Thanks for being one of the good ones, Half_Mick.
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Who am I to contest advice given from people who obviously know more about the subject than me??? If I do this, I would like for it to be as painless as possible.

And thanks to everyone for the prompt responses... I wish I could personally reply to everyone, but theres far too many. :laff:
 
I can't really say anyhing more than what has already been said, so just add me as a +1 on "big crazy loans...BAD!!!". The way things are now, you could probably find an independent CFI and work 8 hours a day 5 days a week if you want to go "accelerated". Again, probably not advantagous with the economy the way it is, but you could. OR....just fly 2-3 times a week and you'll be surprised how fast the time goes by AND you won't have mad, crazy loans. I couldn't imagine have an 80K loan that I couldn't use as a shelter...NO WAY!!!


Oh airplane ownership...it just rocks! The only regret I have is that I didn't do it earlier. It has GREATLY reduced the cost of training for me, and it's great to be able to shoot off for the weekend and not have to fight for the airplane or log a "minimum" number of hours.
 
Half_Mick said:
Half_Mick_Half _Polock <------ Far too long of a callsign :buck:. I'm a somewhat rare South Philly breed.
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I dont know your exact location but in the Philly area there are some great airports.

In the Philly area you have Flying W (N14), South Jersey Regional (VAY) and Millville Municiple (MIV) all of which I hear great things about.

To the North you have Northeast Philly (PNE), Trenton (TTN),Doylestown (DYL) and Wings (LOM). Philly and Trenton are Class D and have towers. Know an instructor at Hortman at PNE, they have a nice mix of planes, many instructors and I believe operate both 141 and 61. 141 is more structured with a set syllabus, 61 is less structured, but they both have the same results, it really depends on personal taste. TTN has a small school, only Cessna 172's and is a weekend only operation called Royal Karina. Nice planes and great if you are only going to fly weekends, but I am sort of partial since it iw where I am learning.

DYL is a fun place to fly into but I dont know anything about the school and Wings is just awesome. Many different planes to fly, Cessnas, Pipers, Cirrus and Diamonds. Stopped in there a few times and everyone has been super friendly, helpful and knowledgable. I believe MoxiePilot is or was an instructor there.

All the rates are pretty standard at these places. A 172 will run you between 90 to 130 depending on year and its set up. An instructor is 45 an hour at most places.

If you want to get your tail wheel endoresment there is great little grass strip in North Bucks Country called Vansant (9N1). lots of fun to fly into or just drive to and spectate, always cool planes there.

Some good resources for finding information about local airports and flying in general.
http://www.aopa.org/
http://www.airnav.com/airports/
http://skyvector.com/
http://adds.aviationweather.gov/
https://www.duat.com/


Sorry for the long post.

Good Luck.
 
Matt13C said:
I dont know your exact location but in the Philly area there are some great airports.

In the Philly area you have Flying W (N14), South Jersey Regional (VAY) and Millville Municiple (MIV) all of which I hear great things about.
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Millville Municipal is probably gonna be my route. I've already talked with one instructor there, he was a guy that you could tell loved to teach, pretty much what you expect to see in a flight instructor. Cross Keys is closer to me, but thats where I had my couple of hours of instruction before. I wasn't really happy with the CFI, young time builder, not the best teacher, nice guy though. Nice thing is that Cross keys is a big skydiving spot, I could probably pull some hours there after I get some ratings.:rawk:
 
Half_Mick said:
Millville Municipal is probably gonna be my route. I've already talked with one instructor there, he was a guy that you could tell loved to teach, pretty much what you expect to see in a flight instructor. Cross Keys is closer to me, but thats where I had my couple of hours of instruction before. I wasn't really happy with the CFI, young time builder, not the best teacher, nice guy though. Nice thing is that Cross keys is a big skydiving spot, I could probably pull some hours there after I get some ratings.:rawk:
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Totally forgot about Cross keys, I even went skydiving there. ha
 
One more vote for the FBO route. That way, if you find out that you don't like it like you thought you would, then your not $80,000 down the hole.

Check out any flight clubs in the area as well. At my field both flying clubs are signifigantly less expensive than the flying school.

Good luck man. We're more than happy to help, so don't be afraid to ask of our opinions or questions any more.
 
I'd definately go the fbo route. Don't take out a $80,000 loan and go to a large flight academy or even worse, go to Gulfstream. Visit a few fbo's around your local airport or airports. Talk to some of the students and other pilots around there and see who they would reccommend.
 
Hernandezcfi said:
80g's...if it is not for Medical school tell them to keep it. I don't know anyone that have taken flight training loans with no regrets.

If you take your training in small steps and pay as you go, you will be better off in the long run! Keep your eyes off the big jets and just think about your next short term goal like...instrument rating. There is certainly no rush right now to have all your ratings. When the music starts back up, you will be ready.

This is the approach I took and I made it to the airline world without owing anyone a dime. I can use all of my little paycheck to buy food, gas and rent. I'm surviving. If I had any loans to pay, I would be on the corner with a cardboard sign. It would read "Will work for food...have no skills but I can fly an airplane"

Good Luck
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for 80gs you better walk out of there with an ATP and several type ratings. I had a place quote me that too and I walked. the last thing you want to do is have a student loan payment the same amount as a house payment making $15-$25/hr maybe 80 hours a month for the next few years.

I would take out a small loan and fly locally. pay per $1000 or so and fly at your own pace. Don't blow your whole wad at once.
 
Since i just obtained my PPL, I can tell you my costs:
1. cessna/king schools CD ROM ground school stuff $350
2. 72 hours total time to get PPL
3. 2005-2007 Cessna 172SP's with nav 2 setup: $122/hour
4. Instructor: $45/hour
5. FAA check ride $400 (part 141 school with in-house checkride person)
6. FAA written test $100
7. Medical exam $85 (i was comped on this since i am also a physician, but that was the cash price).
9. Headset (I recommend this once you are sure): $280
10. Knee board $12
11. FAA exam questions study book: $25
12. charts for solo/local area etc $16
13. wire frame sunglasses: $60 at costco ('cause the plastic frame ones i had killed under the headset)
14. 18 miles one-way to the local FBO at an average of $3/gallon in a honda civic getting 30mpg x I forget how many times i went there, but it was a lot.
......
........total cost about $14,000.00
 
Don't go with Gulfstream. Why? Type "Gulfstream" in the search box and read what you find.

Best of luck to you!
 
ozone said:
Since i just obtained my PPL, I can tell you my costs:
1. cessna/king schools CD ROM ground school stuff $350
2. 72 hours total time to get PPL
3. 2005-2007 Cessna 172SP's with nav 2 setup: $122/hour
4. Instructor: $45/hour
5. FAA check ride $400 (part 141 school with in-house checkride person)
6. FAA written test $100
7. Medical exam $85 (i was comped on this since i am also a physician, but that was the cash price).
9. Headset (I recommend this once you are sure): $280
10. Knee board $12
11. FAA exam questions study book: $25
12. charts for solo/local area etc $16
13. wire frame sunglasses: $60 at costco ('cause the plastic frame ones i had killed under the headset)
14. 18 miles one-way to the local FBO at an average of $3/gallon in a honda civic getting 30mpg x I forget how many times i went there, but it was a lot.
......
........total cost about $14,000.00
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I'm really not trying to hate, so don't take any of this personal....

You can get your training for a lot less than this. I rent a plane for $80/hour wet, and pay $32/hour for the instructor. If you are able to fit into a 150 or 152, go that route. You don't need a big fancy glass 172 to train in, you can have fun in that once you get your license. Also, the more you fly, the easier it will be to get your license with less hours. Why? You'll spend less time reviewing and more time learning/practicing new concepts and manuevers.

I'm not saying anything of what you did was wrong, I just wanted the original poster to know that he could get his training done for much cheaper than that.
 
core class'
primary flight 5300
instrument flight 3500
instrument ground trainer 630
comm 1 4660
comm 2 7700
comm 1 ground trainer 180
comm 2 ground trainer 270

total 22400

my basic at a 2yr college is a hell of alot cheaper
my electives course (5 class') are less than 11 grand.

as a fellow start up i say run away from the 80k
 
mavsfan31 said:
...Also, the more you fly, the easier it will be to get your license with less hours. Why? You'll spend less time reviewing and more time learning/practicing new concepts and manuevers.

I'm not saying anything of what you did was wrong, I just wanted the original poster to know that he could get his training done for much cheaper than that.
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I completely agree with the idea of more practice is better. I had the VERY large credit card bill to prove it this last month when i had almost every day available to finish my training.

The costs I incurred were through a cessna training center and it was a part 141 school. I did not fly glass, I had the KLN 94 GPS in my planes. I know that in other parts of the country, prices are cheaper. But, I did not live in other parts of the country. These were the rates for the denver area without my having to drive for an hour or more to train.

For what it's worth, now that I have my PPL and I have moved to the Boston area; the rental rates out here are actually slightly higher AND they are charging these rates for planes that are no younger than 1982. At least in Denver, I had the chance to know what flying a newer plane was like and i feel like i got my money's worth.

I guess I would encourage someone looking to go pro to be open minded about where they live and try to move somewhere cheaper for living and for training if they can. I have seen people boasting on this website about very cheap rental rates in the midwest and south.
Out west....not so much :o
 
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