Head-in-the-clouds
05-02-2018, 09:12 AM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: May 2018
Posts: 2
Head-in-the-clouds
Hi my fellow cloud surfers
I’m a FA for a regional currently. I live near MCO, and am based out of DCA the commute is a blessing. Recently I was granted GLT (part-time), after recently purchasing the ASA Private Pilot Kit and completing my first discovery flight— I mustard up the courage to ask my grandmother to co-sign on my student loan. On May 1 at 8:55pm she said “no”. Then followed up with “you should of thought about that before having Cordell” (my 5 year old son). I asked “How do you expect me to expidite the process of moving out when I can’t afford to?” Her response “Go apply for one of those government funded houses and get a stay-at-home job working from a computer.” I am near death — I can barley breath since hearing this from someone who was once proud that I am (yes, still at 30 years old) the only grand child who achieved a BS degree (in Event Management/Hospitality from UCF).
I am planning to pay for my private pilot license out of pocket for $4,220 from Air America Flight Center in Daytona Beach. Is there any recommendations from you all? I still believe I can achieve my dream, I am just praying that this is possible within 3 years maximum.
Help. xo
I’m a FA for a regional currently. I live near MCO, and am based out of DCA the commute is a blessing. Recently I was granted GLT (part-time), after recently purchasing the ASA Private Pilot Kit and completing my first discovery flight— I mustard up the courage to ask my grandmother to co-sign on my student loan. On May 1 at 8:55pm she said “no”. Then followed up with “you should of thought about that before having Cordell” (my 5 year old son). I asked “How do you expect me to expidite the process of moving out when I can’t afford to?” Her response “Go apply for one of those government funded houses and get a stay-at-home job working from a computer.” I am near death — I can barley breath since hearing this from someone who was once proud that I am (yes, still at 30 years old) the only grand child who achieved a BS degree (in Event Management/Hospitality from UCF).
I am planning to pay for my private pilot license out of pocket for $4,220 from Air America Flight Center in Daytona Beach. Is there any recommendations from you all? I still believe I can achieve my dream, I am just praying that this is possible within 3 years maximum.
Help. xo
05-02-2018, 09:17 AM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2017
Posts: 368
Originally Posted by PilotDreamer
Hi my fellow cloud surfers
I’m a FA for a regional currently. I live near MCO, and am based out of DCA the commute is a blessing. Recently I was granted GLT (part-time), after recently purchasing the ASA Private Pilot Kit and completing my first discovery flight— I mustard up the courage to ask my grandmother to co-sign on my student loan. On May 1 at 8:55pm she said “no”. Then followed up with “you should of thought about that before having Cordell” (my 5 year old son). I asked “How do you expect me to expidite the process of moving out when I can’t afford to?” Her response “Go apply for one of those government funded houses and get a stay-at-home job working from a computer.” I am near death — I can barley breath since hearing this from someone who was once proud that I am (yes, still at 30 years old) the only grand child who achieved a BS degree (in Event Management/Hospitality from UCF).
I am planning to pay for my private pilot license out of pocket for $4,220 from Air America Flight Center in Daytona Beach. Is there any recommendations from you all? I still believe I can achieve my dream, I am just praying that this is possible within 3 years maximum.
Help. xo
I’m a FA for a regional currently. I live near MCO, and am based out of DCA the commute is a blessing. Recently I was granted GLT (part-time), after recently purchasing the ASA Private Pilot Kit and completing my first discovery flight— I mustard up the courage to ask my grandmother to co-sign on my student loan. On May 1 at 8:55pm she said “no”. Then followed up with “you should of thought about that before having Cordell” (my 5 year old son). I asked “How do you expect me to expidite the process of moving out when I can’t afford to?” Her response “Go apply for one of those government funded houses and get a stay-at-home job working from a computer.” I am near death — I can barley breath since hearing this from someone who was once proud that I am (yes, still at 30 years old) the only grand child who achieved a BS degree (in Event Management/Hospitality from UCF).
I am planning to pay for my private pilot license out of pocket for $4,220 from Air America Flight Center in Daytona Beach. Is there any recommendations from you all? I still believe I can achieve my dream, I am just praying that this is possible within 3 years maximum.
Help. xo
05-02-2018, 09:31 AM
#4
Line Holder
Joined APC: Sep 2016
Posts: 45
Originally Posted by blindfayth
Well, if you can "Mustard" up the courage to ask for a loan, keep in mind that you're going to have to play a lot of "Ketchup" at this point in your life.
Muahahaha...
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
05-03-2018, 04:53 PM
#8
In a land of unicorns
Joined APC: Apr 2014
Position: Whale FO
Posts: 6,459
AAFC doesn't do "courses", their course prices are just totaled numbers from their rental feet - you will pay for the plane per hour, and CFI by the hour. Total cost depends on how much time you need dual/solo. $4220 is impossible.
You need to buy 4 10hr blocks of the cheapest plane they have, that's $3560 and just so you know, they only have one plane at that rate, and it flies a lot.
Then you need to pay your CFI, they are independent contractors and set their own fees. Minimum realistic CFI time is 30 hours, average is 40 per hour (some charge 50, some 60 there), that's $1200. Now you're at $4760. DPEs start at $450 for private, plus 2 hours of plane rental. That's $700. Now we are at $5460. Written test is just under $200, $5700 total now. Medical exam, call it a few hundred. You are now at $6000, give or take a few.
And this is with the absolute bare minimum hours and instruction. At KDAB especially with E-R in season, you will NOT get it done at 40 hours unless you are extremely lucky, somewhat talented, and work full time at this project. You'll waste countless hours waiting in line to do patternwork. And to get this price, you need to have almost exclusive access to the only airplane that you can get for this rate at AAFC.
Be realistic when you start it, you'll need 7000-8000 to be comfortable at minimum hours, and if you have a few setbacks, that won't be enough.
Good luck. You can do it, just be realistic with your goals and budget.
You need to buy 4 10hr blocks of the cheapest plane they have, that's $3560 and just so you know, they only have one plane at that rate, and it flies a lot.
Then you need to pay your CFI, they are independent contractors and set their own fees. Minimum realistic CFI time is 30 hours, average is 40 per hour (some charge 50, some 60 there), that's $1200. Now you're at $4760. DPEs start at $450 for private, plus 2 hours of plane rental. That's $700. Now we are at $5460. Written test is just under $200, $5700 total now. Medical exam, call it a few hundred. You are now at $6000, give or take a few.
And this is with the absolute bare minimum hours and instruction. At KDAB especially with E-R in season, you will NOT get it done at 40 hours unless you are extremely lucky, somewhat talented, and work full time at this project. You'll waste countless hours waiting in line to do patternwork. And to get this price, you need to have almost exclusive access to the only airplane that you can get for this rate at AAFC.
Be realistic when you start it, you'll need 7000-8000 to be comfortable at minimum hours, and if you have a few setbacks, that won't be enough.
Good luck. You can do it, just be realistic with your goals and budget.
05-03-2018, 11:24 PM
#9
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2016
Posts: 180
Honestly, you're more likely to spend $10-12k for a PPL if you're also working full time, and have a kid. You can assume that you'll cancel a good 1/3 of your flights for weather/illness, etc. The more time you spend between flights, the more flight hours you'll need to gain the skills necessary...although the extra flight time does count towards your CPL.
Unless you go into the service, the last estimate I saw was $80,000-$100,000 to get to the point that you can work as a CFI and start making a little money. Not much, but a little.
I don't want to crush your dreams, but it's important to understand what you're getting into before you invest a lot of money in this career. There's not much money in aviation for a pretty long time. You have to really love it for it to be worth it, otherwise it's just not a good investment.
Unless you go into the service, the last estimate I saw was $80,000-$100,000 to get to the point that you can work as a CFI and start making a little money. Not much, but a little.
I don't want to crush your dreams, but it's important to understand what you're getting into before you invest a lot of money in this career. There's not much money in aviation for a pretty long time. You have to really love it for it to be worth it, otherwise it's just not a good investment.
05-04-2018, 07:31 AM
#10
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2013
Position: A320 CA
Posts: 2,297
Your Grandma was smart to not co-sign with you. You are not in a position to pursue this. I couldn’t tell if you just want your private certificate or to change careers, but it doesn’t matter. You can’t afford either right now.
Now, with that said, you can do it eventually. Start by getting a new job. Realize that if you’re making $25 an hour as an FA, that’s really the equivalent of $9 an hour when you factor in the down time. Factor in the commute, and it’s about $5 an hour. So get a local job paying $20 an hour and you’d be way ahead. You have to take a long view on this. It’s not “I have to do this in 3 years or else all hope is lost”. It’s “I want to do this in 6 years (a more realistic number for you), how to I get from here to there?”
Also, this is literally the worst way to expedite moving out, so not really a good plan for that. Getting a local job that pays about the same as you FA job (even slightly less) is the best way to expedite moving out.
Now, with that said, you can do it eventually. Start by getting a new job. Realize that if you’re making $25 an hour as an FA, that’s really the equivalent of $9 an hour when you factor in the down time. Factor in the commute, and it’s about $5 an hour. So get a local job paying $20 an hour and you’d be way ahead. You have to take a long view on this. It’s not “I have to do this in 3 years or else all hope is lost”. It’s “I want to do this in 6 years (a more realistic number for you), how to I get from here to there?”
Also, this is literally the worst way to expedite moving out, so not really a good plan for that. Getting a local job that pays about the same as you FA job (even slightly less) is the best way to expedite moving out.
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