Hello Everyone,

I wanted to get some advice from some veteran members here in regards to flight training. I will be starting my training for my PPL in the next few weeks while paying out of pocket with no loans. I wanted to see what the best route for me to take will be. I do not make a lot of money per year and will be paying for living expenses like everyone else. I don't think I will be able to afford all this training especially multi engine flight building time in the long run. I would ultimately like to be a corporate pilot but want to get my ATP within the next few years. Do you guys recommended getting my MEI certificate. I understand being a flight instructor has terrible pay but I guess that's just the way it has to be. If not, what option would be best to build multi engine time? What jobs would I be looking for?

I appreciate all the help in advance.

 

What ever airport you start hanging around, you will be able to network, which is the key to progress. Your approach is good, do not go in debt. MEI is helpful. Things will develop perspective once you become familar with your airport surroundings. Listen more than talk, and network, network.

 

I am going to disagree with badflaps in regards to taking on loans to pay for you flight training. I wouldn't view it as debt, it's an investment in your future. If you are serious about becoming a professional pilot, you need to get your training completed as soon as you can. Every delay you take is that much longer til you get your first "good" pay check. It is also that much less time you will have at the end of your career making top dollar. Everything else he said is spot on! Good luck!

 

You have two options for building multi time....become an MEI or buy it. I had co-workers who bought blocks of multi time and hopped around the country. I chose to get my MEI and build it that way. Right now, I'm one of only 2 MEIs in our flight school so I get a reasonable amount of multi time each semester. Flight instructor pay is not the best, but it's certainly not terrible. Right now every single flight school in the country is looking for CFIs. We have 3 leaving in the next 2 weeks, and lost 3 additional CFIs in the previous month. Bigger flight schools will pay more than your average Part 61 FBO will.

 

The problem is that it's a potentially very risky investment, which has sunk thousands of prospective pilots. If you make if off probation at FDX at age 29, Score! It paid off. But if you get stuck as an FO for years, or furloughed, or bounced between multiple regionals with no major job in sight, you lost the bet.

I will admit that if you had to take out a loan, there has probably never been a better time to do it, industry-wise, than now.

 

Flight instructor pay is not horrible.
I made some of my best pay as a CFI.
My best year I made $52K and that was hourly.
No I wasn't home much and worked 6 days a week.
Being an MEI teaches you a whole lot more about ME flying then droning along on a XC in a Seminole.
As an MEI I've had a engine failure after take off while polishing up a student for his checkride.
Part of the successful outcome was because I'd demonstrated this scenario 3-6 times a week for the last 6 months.

Being a CFI/MEI also teaches you to bite your tongue and come up with creative ways to deal with people you can't stand....
Comes in very handy when you fly with Capt Crusty or Capt Bunghole later on in 135 and 121.

 

I think a lot of your questions will be answered once you get further immersed in your training. Like Badflaps said, network, network, network. This is going to be especially true if your interests really are corporate aviation as who you know will be the determinate as to who you will get jobs with.
Have a good attitude, ask questions and don't offend around your local airport. After you understand the lay of the land, so to speak, try to get your entry level job(s) at an airport with good prospects for better future employment. Lastly, keep an open mind to teaching. It is a great way to improve your own flying and communication skills and if you are crappy at it and its obvious that you are only in it for the flight time, that will not improve your employment prospects locally.

 

i took the leap. took out the loan, went to ATP. about to take my comm multi checkride. couldn't be happier with my decision.

 

I highly recommend going to a local community/ state 2-year or technical school for your training and transferring to a local state university to finish. I don't think the 4 year is required for many corporate gigs, but it'll definitely make you competitive. You'll be able to instruct while you're in college, and you'll have the education and resume to be competitive, and the certs and flight time, at the same or cheaper rate than you find at a lot of these private companies. Loans are an inevitable hurdle that nearly all pilots deal with. There are very few lucky ones that escaped without them.