Originally Posted by
seafeye
$65,000
Saw the ATP ad where you can get your zero to hero for $65k. Well lets look at that for a second and see if this job is a good idea or not. Say after you take the course and after 6 months you finish with all your ratings. (Not likely but maybe possible) You now have a job as a CFI. Making $15,000. You work for a year and get the 1500 hours needed to work at a regional. Ok it will most likely take 2 years but for simplicity sake….
Earnings - Living expenses = What's left over.
$15,000 - $15,000= Wash
$20,000 - $15,000= +$5000
$25,000 - $15,000= +$10,000
$30,000 - $15,000= +$15,000
$35,000 - $15,000= +$20,000
$40,000 - $15,000= +$25,000
So after 6 years of living off of $15,000 you have paid off your certificates.
I think realistically it is like a home mortgage and you will be paying for 20 years.
But then your an airline pilot so what the hell right?
Figures are a bit off. No interest accounted for in them. Also, I made between $35-$45k/year instructing.
However, your point is valid. The payoff for all the work is a LONG way down the road for pilots these days (if it comes at all) when compared to an engineering or tech degree.
It is already hard to fill classes at the regionals, I think it's just going to get harder. (Phrasing!)