Originally Posted by
LeoSV
I was close to going to ATP again about 3 months ago, but the cost is too much to bear. The repayment will be $612/mo for 20 years. And I already have my PPL. Add the other $9k in for the PPL and the payment goes up to $709/mo for 20 years. Perhaps if I was single and didn't care about anything, but even then it's a tough sell at that price. You, on the other hand, may have it a little different. You said that your dad may help you with about $40k. Well, that means you only finance $30k. Your payments would be significantly less, but you'll still be around $300/month for 20 years. Other than the money, I believe they have a good program. I am really enjoying the FBO thing though. It's more like a family. We have cookouts, flyouts, hanger parties, there's very little turn-over, and I get to enjoy flying in general aviation for longer. I like being able to rent the plane and buzz my mom's house, or fly to the mountains with my friend, or the best will be taking my dad up. ATP is a fastlane to the 121 world. I used to want that, but there's so much more to flying than just work.
LeoSV:
Yeah...I've always wanted to be an airline pilot. You see, when I first went to Riddle, my grades were average. My dad said he wanted to see better grades before he forked over that kind of cash. They came along...in my junior and senior year
. By that time, I was well into the airport management degree program. I acquired a government student loan to finance my college education. My monthly payments are $416/mo to Nelnet. It helps to have a wife that works also.
My parents NEVER said that they wouldn't send me to flight school. They are both retire school teachers. I'm eternally grateful for them and they understand my passion for flying. They would actually pay for all my training at ATP and I'm so grateful that they would still want to do that for me even at this stage in both of our lives.
I get that same FBO family type feeling at Aeronautix Flight School at one of the local FBO's here in Palm Beach County. When I went up for my discovery flight, I felt very comfortable with the instructor who is a former Delta Captain and with the sales rep who has no flying experience.
atp