Originally Posted by
ORDCRJ
Mr. Burke,
I know of many pilots who have paid well over 250k for "basic pilot" certificates.
I did not describe any course which I was "jumped to the head of the line" I simply had an opportunity (not a pay to get the the head of the line program as you seem to have suggested) to go and fly for a 121 carrier and not pay an additional 30k to get my cfi and cfii. What would you have done?
Now, the school I went to all paints a rosy picture of being able to pay back your student loans after paying a god awful amount of money for the training. To me that is misleading.
I need an additional 100 plus hours of PIC time to qualify for my ATP before anybody will touch me. Your solution is to instruct but I do not have a CFI and the other solution is to go and fly freight which I cant because I have below 1500 hours although I have great experience.
I was furloughed from a job whree I was paid $64 an hour and now if I chose to go and get my PIC time id have to start over at a regional making $25 - 28 an hour starting out and putting myself further in debt and chances are getting divorced and paying alimony.
By no means am I entitled. I want to pay what I feel is fair but I feel that being sold a bill of goods that you could pay off your student loans at a clip of $800 plus a month is not reasonable and furthermore I left the school not fully trained and able to earn a living thus my lack of PIC time.
I am well aware that you have to pay your dues in this business. I have been in for 10 years pre flighting 19 seat planes at 4 am in minues 10 degree weather to flying heads of state to forigen countries. Aviation is not what it used to be and if you call it throwing in the towel so be it. I call it waking up and realizing that after 10 years its going to be 20 more years of the same ol same ol.
Congrats on being futher into your career than me. Perhaps one day we can compare resumes. I am happy for you and I wish you the best of luck in my situation. There is an empty right seat in a 767 that I have left vacant. Maybe you can have mine?
Thanks to the other posters for the IP suggestion. I do love being an IP but I am not past military.
If anyone else has any other constructive suggestions I welcome them. Thank you.