Housewrench

Howdy folks, not a pilot here. I'm a line mechanic at a big maintenance base in SFO. 28 years old, zero-time pilot. Got a degree with my A&P so I'm still living with a . No home obligations, just month-to-month room rent in SFO. I know I love to fly because I got 5hrs for free back in 2009 (high school), and it inspired me to pursue the mechanic's career path since I actually had experience there. I'd love to fly for the airline I currently work for, just for what little loyalty I have after two years. I don't really have any disposable income at this point, it's all combating loans and the cost of living. I currently commute to Vegas to see my fiancée, and sometimes fly to ORD and then catch SkyWest to see my birthplace and parents.

That's about as quick of a summary as I can provide.

So now my purpose here: What is my best path to eventually flying with a major airline? I've only just discovered this site, but it seems like debt is a big factor that I don't need to be carrying into unemployment and I don't have solid enough income as a mechanic to pay it off quickly. I'm looking for any suggestions or opinions you may have. I'd consider taking on more debt if I knew I could keep my head above water and fly towards my goal.

Thanks,
HW

kevbo

First, you need to find some disposable income or a benefactor, flying is very expensive. You could make out better as a mechanic if you bill customers directly. Mechanics will never make a decent wage because there is basically no barrier to entry. Most pilots are either rich kids or have massive student debt.

Fixnem2Flyinem

Get out of SFO as fast as you can. Try to transfer to a cheaper CoL mx base and start saving. Ideally if you could save the 60-70k that would be best, but even if you just save 25k in a year and knock out the private and instrument. Then maybe buy your own plane or a share of a plane and use that for time building, that’s where these flight schools get ya. The commercial alone is 25-30k because of all of the time building. Then you could sell the plane once finished with you ratings and get some money back while you starve as a CFI

Anyway best of luck, it’s a fun career but has its challenges and barriers for sure. Keep us posted!

aiir

If you have a college degree you could try applying to the Air National Guard, it is the only way to receive your training without putting too much money up front. I hear some units want to see a PPL, especially fighters but if you’re not too picky with what airframe you want they sometimes take people with less hours. This route requires that you want to serve your country but in my opinion it’s a valid route. Your age might be a factor but I hear that they are pushing the age limit up to 33, heavies being more likely than fighters to hire above 28 or 29.

You can also join many of the programs that are out there, like ATP, the American Air Lines Academy, or that LIFT program that people talk about on here, there’s even a JetBlue one. I tend to very quickly browse the forum so I’m no expert on those but the main gist is that you will go in debt with these programs, but have a path along with a few guarantees. There are many on the forum who are optimistic that the future retirements will mean great career mobility and therefore you should be able to pay off the loan, especially if you make it a point to pay it off before getting yourself other toys/debt. The risk with this option, besides a major industry downturn is you losing your medical, flunking out of the program mid way or otherwise damaging your record/resume that you become a bit unhirable.

Another option is to get your training done at a local momma and papa shop where you pay your way through training, or find a relative or bank that will lend you the money which is hard to do/or find. This tends to be the cheaper option but it’s more a la carte, and and it’s up to you to hustle.

There are so many ways to approach this, if you read around the forum you’ll be able to find even better info. Best of luck!

DontLookDown

I agree with this.

Typically the most expensive part of owning a plane is storing it and maintaining it. Being an A&P will help you keep MX costs down.

And def leave SFO. I personally wouldn’t live there even if I could do so for free simply because of the politics, but all of that aside- there’s no reason to corner yourself into such an expensive area when you have a marketable skill that will allow you to make just as much in any part of the country

Housewrench

Considered this, but all my transfer options will likely be more expensive that my costs now. My rented bedroom is $850, my groceries are $150-200/mo, and fuel is negligible because I live 5mi from work. Moving anywhere else in the system (IAD, ORD, PDX/SEA, LAX, or CLE have all had openings) would increase my fixed costs as well as tacking on a hefty moving fee - for which I’m still tax-liable even if I get company reimbursement. And I don’t have any savings to accomplish the move anyway.

I went broke to come out to this job, and the situation hasn’t changed much. I anticipate in about 3yrs the pay scale will be far enough ahead of my costs to afford flying and paying off student debt... But that’s just a forecast, and I don’t have to tell a group of pilots how reliable a forecast can be.

DontLookDown

In that case try reaching out to American Flyers.

They have been known to hire A&P mechanics aspiring to be pilots. It typically involves you signing a contract to work with them for a certain length of time (a year or two). They will pay you an hourly wage that is less than you’re worth, but make up for it by providing you with flight time. At the end of your contract they hire you on as a CFI

This plan will still involve leaving SFO but could keep you on a quicker timeline with 0 debt and therefore nothing to lose. They also have locations in cheap areas, like Texas, where you can rent an entire apt (not just a single room) for 850 or less.

bababouey

Check out American Airlines cadet academy. Otherwise, there are traditionally 2 ways to do this. Take on debt and apply to the regionals when you get 1000-1500 hours or go military. You could submit an unsponsored reserve package and be in upt in a year I bet, but the military is a big commitment. You either donate your life to the government for a few years, or go into massive debt if you’re not independently wealthy. Good luck


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rama

Find a GA airport in your area and try to get to know people there. Help out with 100 hrs./annuals and maybe trade work for time.
Youʻll stlll have to shell some cash for the ratings, but getting to know owners/cfiʻs 135 operators etc. may open some doors in the future.
It takes a lot of time and commitment and is by no means an easy or short road.
The end game could be a huge pay off if you can make it there.
Been there, done that.

rickair7777

x3 American Flyers.