Stoked27

I know this is a dead horse, but for each older thread I read I have a "but, my situation is a bit different" for just about each one. Looking for your recommendations

Making a career change in June 2018 to finish all of my ratings and need to build up to 1,500 hours for my ATP rating to make my next step toward Regionals and then hopefully one day onto the Majors. I'm a bit lost - each thing I research makes me question my plans.

(I understand with my late start at 33 years old that left seat at a major might not exist or might fairly limited - I'm okay with that). Starting training prior to June 2018 is not possible.

Current:
33 years old
135 hours
Private Pilot Single w/Multi add-on
Bachelor's in Aeronautics
Masters in Business Administration
Married, no kids

Plan:
1. Finish Instrument and Commercial Written prior to June 2018 training start date.
2. Use $14k in remaining Post 9/11 benefits via Part 141 to finish Instrument and part of Commercial
***My local flight school accepts VA Post 9/11, but their aircraft availability is limited, they're closed Sundays, and working as a follow-on CFI for them would not gain me hours fast enough. Even though their aircraft have impeccable maintenance, which I like.***
3. Transfer to ideal flight school to finish Commercial/CFI/CFII via Part 61 since it'll cost less than Part 141 given my hours. Looking for a school in the Southeast.
4. Work as CFI to build hours to 1,500 and look for the next stepping stone (Regional/Commercial) to keep moving toward the Majors.

[B]Where I'm Lost:[/B]
-I will be selling my house and moving to complete my Commercial through CFII and then instructing, but would ideally like to instruct in the same town that I finish my training. ATP Flight School would be acceptable if not for the fact that it will cost me $60k... when given my situation I can get it done elsewhere for $30k (I will have 175 hours and my instrument by the time I would start with them). Even with their tuition reimbursement program I'm not comfortable since I would be locked in so early and a slave to their regime in order to get the tuition reimbursement. I'll forego the reimbursement to keep a bit of financial flexibility/safety. I can make up the ~$11k reimbursement with added flexibility by keeping a small LLC company I own open.

-I've seen schools in Daytona Beach, Palm Beach (is Trump's frequent TFR causing issues at these schools?), and Tampa. So far Tampa is my first choice since I can save on housing costs with extended family and they have an 'average' amount of student traffic. CFIs are getting around 50 hours per month there and PlaneSense has a hub in Tampa (keeping as options open as possible).

1. Is there a school that I'm overlooking that can get me trained in 6 months for $30k and I can work as a CFI for 2 years up to 1,500 hours (in the Southeast)?
2. What do you think will be the quicker path to the majors two years from now as the pilot shortage gets worse... Regionals or Corporate?
3. If you were in my shoes what would you do? Take out $60k in loans to attend a school like ATP Flight School, attend a smaller mom & pop for $30k with an average amount of student traffic/monthly hour accumulation, etc?

Thanks for any feedback. I'm currently trying to figure this out on my own and through listening to various sales pitches at each school. I would really benefit from non-biased feedback on this forum.

Thanks!

sourdough44

Just a few months ago I talked to a Mom who’s 24ish y/o Son recently graduated from premed, afterward he decided he’d rather be a pilot. She said he’s now in one of those ‘zero to hero’ programs(no flight time).

You have a handful of things already in your favor, degree, some flight experience. You need to just put it in high gear.

Assuming your closet is fairly skeleton free, seems doable. Like many things, the individual in question is a key component.

wmlocante

You can definitely do it. I am 27 and played professional baseball for 7 years before deciding I wanted to pursue my first dream as an airline pilot. You are already ahead of the curve with having 130+ time and a multi add on. What really worked for me was to go full steam ahead and act like it is a full time job. I went from 0 hours to commercial pilot in just under 9 months. It can be done! That being said, I did mine at a 141 school so you can do as little or as much as you want. That benefitted a student like me who really just wanted to smash the gas and get it done ASAP.

Stoked27

Thanks for the replies. No skeletons in the closet other than a couple speeding tickets many years ago.

If anyone has suggestions or red flags to look out for I'm all ears. I got checked out in a 2015 SR20, but I hadn't recognized that the school had a 2017 SR20 with a 215 HP Lycoming (I still need to get my high performance). I could have knocked out two birds with less money spent, but I'll only have one financial shot at finishing the rest of my ratings so I won't be able to afford to be mentoring myself through these hiccups.

If I'm overlooking a school that I should look into more (in the $30k range) that offers Part 61 and Part 141 in the Southeast please let me know. Or if it's critical that I do my training in a G1000 for airlines... things like that.

Thanks again.

kingsnake2

Airlines really won't care what aircraft/avionics you did your training in. No need to pay a premium for a G1000 SR20. A C172 with G430/530 gets the job done just as well for 30% less.

MadmanX2

I started flying for a living at 38. You are not too late to make left seat major.

I had plenty of opportunities for me to go 121, except I had other plans in aviation.

Before you sell the house and give all the money to a flight school, get with an AME and see if you will pass the 1st class medical. If you haven't done so already.

JetBlueNewb

https://www.transportation.gov/brief.../forces-flyers

If you're military and have the time to wait for this to kick off it may be helpful. You're not too old. I'm 36 and just got picked up by JetBlue through their Gateway Select Program. I made similar choices to sacrifice in order to succeed in the long run. Even if you don't get your ATP for awhile, you can still work once you get your CPL. Plus, even if it takes you several years to get there, you'll have over a 25 year career to look forward to. Don't give up.