Originally Posted by
serthwrmtym
Fuel is not even close to the most expensive part of training
It does now. It didn't used to on the bottom end, but with regional FO pay closing in on $60-70k it now makes sense to take a risk to go that far into debt.
Except that due to the 1500 hour rule that wage isn't available for at least a year or more after finishing training.
There is so much ignorance in this post it's astonishing.
It does not take 4 years to get through flight training. I know freshmen and sophomores in college who have their MEI already. They will easily get 1500 hours before they are even legal to take the ATP written.. They will graduate with a job at the airlines waiting for them, so it won't take "over a year" to be hire-able. Work hard, plan ahead, and you'll get the most out of your time.
How can you say that fuel is not a primary training cost? When I was going through, Avgas cost $6.80 a gallon x12 gph = $81.60/hr just for fuel. If that's chump change to you, then you've had it easier than most.
Lastly, first year FO pay is nowhere near $60-70k. It is closer to $30,000 (unless you're at Mesa, then it is less
). Temporary bonuses can be snatched away at an instant. You want to take out a $100,000 loan hoping that a temporary, one-time bonus will still be waiting for you?