yeah that would be cool if I could split 150 hours at 75/hour that would only be 37.50x150=5625$. It sounds like I really need to find someone in the cleveland area who wants to split time when I get to that point that would save me a huge chunk of money! Thanks for the info

50hrs a week and 5 flight hours a week is a pretty big load. 5 flight hours for a low time private is a good amount a week. Each flight will be around an hour, and that is a lot of information to absorb. On your initial training, anything over 1.5 id say your brain wont be able to work as hard. It is alot of stuff thrown at you. Maybe alot easier in a non controlled area/airport. Also depends on how good your instructor is.
I would go on a discovery flight with a GOOD instructor and see how it goes, and tell him about your plan. See what he says.


Also have to factor in weather and maintX. There will be some days that you are grounded...

If I were you and wanted to get your commercial ASAP and start flying as a career, make it a priority.
Really depends on your living situation. Family, bills, ect. If you dont have any of those, or just a few bills, go get financed for half of the price of training and the rest cash. Work less and fly more.

Just a few thoughts from a graybeard near the end of his career. If my son approached me with a similar question, on the face of it, I'd see the allure of fast and cheap. Here is the reality and what I'd caution him or anyone pursuing "fast and cheap", its a fools chase. Your goals (I presume) is a career as a professional aviator, you are not trying to buy a cheap rug to cover a bad spot on a crappy floor is a rundown apartment. This is your future!! Don't F** it up to save a couple (thousand) bucks! Look over your FBO with the low cost aircraft, compare them to another airport near by with more expensive equipment. Look at the shop where they are maintained, even if your not familiar with aviation maintenance, just use your experience comparing and seeing if it appears to be doing things properly. Ask around the airport about the school and the quality of maintenance and how they treat people. If it is a lower rung operator, instructors won't hang around long or the one that stay may not be able to do any better. I don't know the going rate where you are looking but if the school is charging $25 an hour (the instructor will likely get less than that) while others are getting more, ask why. Interview the instructor(s) and if you unsure of what to ask or uncomfortable doing so, ask for references from him, the school or locals that are using the airport.

Bottom line, don't make price the main criteria for deciding who you learn with and who's airplanes you fly. Your life is (literally) hanging on your decision.

Good points from a fellow FedExer and the guy with the best avatar on the forum. :D
There's also no substitute for experience. You can only get that one hour at a time. Doing the minimum as fast as possible probably translates into a sub-par pilot and instructor who may get themselves and their students hurt.

Check out Integrated Flight Training Academy. They're in Fort Lauderdale. $30k for commercial, instrument with 50 hrs multi.

What hourly rate are they charging? Either they are lying or they'll be out of business soon imo.....

yeah I'd be leery, Av8r18 just joined and has 2 posts promoting this place, especially if they are looking for that 30k up front

$79,600. 6 months 0 hours to 250 hours. ATP.... :D

If you have your own plane, it may be possible to find a CFI in your area that will fly with you for free. I have a couple friends that teach at schools, but do training for free on the side just for the additional hours to get to their 1500 mark. I personally wouldn't go around asking for that, but befriend a few instructors and see where it goes.

If you have your own plane, you will have tons of people that want to be your friend all of a sudden. :D

Good luck!

Update
 

It’s been a few years since I have last spoken to prospective pilots thinking about the profession. And often a kid comes to the flight deck with similar questions. Could someone ballpark me the new figures for the following?

Part 61 local flight school private pilot rating cost?
Part 61 local flight school private through IFR, commercial, multi and CFI?
4-year aviation degree at a college with 141 program?

Last I knew it was 5k for a private, 30k for all your ratings at college (flight training costs only), and if you went to an ERAU/UND you were looking at 100k+ for your bachelor’s degree.

Thanks