BGwings

Forgive me as I'm sure this comes up quite often now, but I feel I must ask as I've hit a dead end trying to find the information.

I've hit a point in my current job where it's time to leave and see it as my last opportunity to pursue my dream. I'm 37, married, 4 kids, and a patrol sergeant with a sheriff's office making $28/hr after 10yrs of law enforcement work. Yes my boss (aka wife) also works (schoolteacher) yet since we got married 15yrs ago we're still paycheck to paycheck.

I found a school I want to attend, and bonus being a part 141 so I can partially pay with the Post 9-11 GI Bill. My problem is two-fold which will end up being my limiting factors. How to fund the training and how on earth do I get extra money to still pay the bills? At my age learning part time while still working won't cut it as I haven't found anything close by that would work, especially given I work 6pm - 6am. Going back to college isn't an option as after two years I'll have the certifications but little to no hours. Therefore I see a training school to be my best option.

Everyone I've talked to at this point is telling me I need to find a wealthy benefactor or a "sugar momma". Don't think my wife would like the second and I have yet to find the store full of eager benefactors.

If this were something I could get to work and make it to the left seat, I have every intention of trying to start a funding program/pay it forward program to help someone in a similar situation to mine down the road.

I love my family dearly and don't want to throw their quality of life out the window just to go train for 9-12 months before making flight instructor pay to build hours before the regionals will look at me.

If it helps any, from 2002 - 2008 I was in the Army as an apache helicopter mechanic, so I'm somewhat familiar with the aviation field. I submitted for warrant officer flight school three times but was listed as qualified not selected.

If you know of any good options out there I'm all ears. I'm hopeful that the Forces to Flyers program goes through as the school I'm looking at applied for it. There's still the problem of bill paying past that.

Thanks for reading and giving me a chance.

kevbo

You are going to completely trash your family chasing a pipe dream. It's hard for a single guy to keep a girlfriend with the location and schedule changes you must endure. Your wife will NOT appreciate you dumping the kids on her while you are out living your dream!

rickair7777

There's no way around the fact that you don't make much money at first.

Some of us older folks will have limited sympathy because regional pay was less than half of what it is today, plus we got stuck at the regionals for about an extra ten years.

Good news for you is that regional FO pay is almost liveable, and you should upgrade within 2-3 years. At that point you should be no worse off.

Military reserves helped me along the way, but back then it paid much better than regionals.

Eventually the airlines will likely have to sponsor flight students, but that will be very competitive, probably similar to the military academies, and you're too old to wait for it anyway.

Bottom line the wife and family will probably have to be on board to suck it up for a few years. If there's no fat to trim from the budget they maybe with for kids it's just not in the cards. Not everybody gets to live their dream, that's not always under your control. Raising your kids right is more important.

AirBear

American has started a Flight Academy with financing. Need to be careful thou, if things do not work out you can wind up with over $100K in debt.

Newsroom - American Airlines Announces New Program to Recruit Next Generation of Pilots With Launch of Cadet Academy - American Airlines Group, Inc.

mark hughes

Hi BGWings, in reading your post, I'm not clear that you have a 4 year college degree. That's a very important qualification to getting a top tier flying job. It definitely is one of the requirements. You mention going back to college. I wish you the best and want you to be able to pursue your dream. Good luck! Mark

spladle29

This seems like a game changer as far as accelerated flight training programs go! Costs are competitive with ATP and others, and financing seems like a much better process - up to 20 year repayment with Discover Student Loans. I wonder how competitive the selection process will be.

TiredSoul

Right now you’re making $50k without overtime. Maybe $65k with overtime.
You’ll be 3-4 years away from matching that in aviation.
Plus the cost of training.
So you’re considering going into debt?
A debt that may take 5-7 years to repay?
Do you have the savings to cover those 3-4 years?
Plus you have 4 kids with their expenses that increase exponentially for the next years.
So unless you have $200k cash stashed away dont do it.
Don’t even think about it.
That ship has sailed brother.

The only option you have is to get on with a Sheriffs aviation unit.
Somehow.....
But a CPL fixed wing or rotorcraft will still set you back $60-$70k.

AirBear

Since you have military experience as an Aviation Mechanic have you looked at getting your A&P license? I don't know what A&P's make these days but I suspect it's as much as your current job.

This would keep you around airplanes, and may offer you a discount on flying if your employer also does flight training. Would probably take longer to get all your ratings but not as painful financially. And I would think having an A&P ticket would help down the road with the good flying jobs.

kevbo

NOOOO. A&P work pays less than he is currently making. Plus its dirtier, has horrible hours, and usually in a place he would never choose to live!

JohnBurke

At this stage, it's irrelevant. It's going to be a number of years before he's in a position to apply for a job that requires a degree, and there are plenty of jobs in aviation that don't. That leave plenty of time to do an online degree while getting on with his goals. The issue of a degree is a non-starter.