I have friends that went to a "flight school", there $80,000 in dept. You wont make any money at a regional for the first two years. My friends pay something like $650.00 a month for student loans. That's 1/3 or more of there income. I went to a FBO where I have zero dept. I was a CFI, then got a job flying the canyon. Sure I fly a Otter, who cares! I would rather fly the otter for a year than be in dept for 10 to 15 years. Going to a FBO then getting a time building job has worked very well for me. It will be hard for my friends to even buy a home when there student loans are so much a month. As for learing to fly. I think you really learn to fly with your first flying job.