Thread: AOPA
View Single Post
Old 07-23-2016 | 10:27 AM
  #3  
JohnBurke
Disinterested Third Party
 
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 6,758
Likes: 74
Default

AOPA is a political organization, not a finance organization. They do have peripheral services that are under the AOPA banner. They are relatively high interest, up to 84 month terms, and require good credit.

Bear in mind that flight training costs advertised by most schools are borderline fraudulent; they usually advertise the FAA minimums, and the national average for students to complete their flight training is often considerably more (and consequently, much more expensive). The national average to get through a private pilot certificate, for example, is nearly double the FAA minimum requirements).

You're not going to have "a little debt" from your flight training, and given the payment term of 84 months, that's seven years to pay off your loan. If you're carrying loan payments and going to school, when are you going to go to work to make the payments? You still need to live during that time. People do it, of course, but don't get caught in the mindset that it's a little bit of debt; any debt follows you for a long time and affects your ability to do other things, like to go school, get away from a job, get loans for cars, homes, etc, or even some educational loans.

The hardest part of learning to fly is paying for it, but make it as easy on yourself beyond the basic flight training by exploring all your options, first. Consider your options Part 61 vs. 141 training, or including flight training with your schooling, or buying an aircraft vs. renting, etc. Costs can be lowered, but don't think that taking out loans, especially with relatively high interest payments, is going to be taking on a "little debt."
Reply