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Old 08-15-2018, 03:17 AM
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Originally Posted by deftone View Post
Maybe not a huge difference, but remember LIFT has a training contract that requires a 5 year commitment following completion of training. Im not sure if your daughter has received a copy of the contract yet, but read it carefully when you get it.
Understood. But wouldn't she be spending about that long at a regional anyway before being considered for a major?
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Old 08-15-2018, 05:40 AM
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OK, so we decided to cancel the in-person interview at LIFT for now (and the flight to get there) and get cost estimates again from some other training centers. We'll try American Flyers, ATP, and some others.

The note that kind of was an "ah ha" moment was the possibility of a signing bonus if she goes to a regional after getting the ratings on her own. Essentially taking $10K-$20K off of any existing flight training debt.

So even if the training comes in at the same cost of LIFT, it is a better deal to do it alone.

To be clear, she needs to finish up instrument (close), then get commercial, ME/ME instrument, CFI, CFII, CFME. The 400TT that she has in power is quality stick and rudder skills time but mostly not XC time (a lot of glider towing in L-19 Birddog, Piper Pawnee, and SuperCub).

I am hoping to find a way for her to get through the ratings *relatively* affordably. Under $40k would be nice, but maybe a pipedream.
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Old 08-15-2018, 10:20 AM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by dbdevkc View Post
OK, so we decided to cancel the in-person interview at LIFT for now (and the flight to get there) and get cost estimates again from some other training centers. We'll try American Flyers, ATP, and some others.

The note that kind of was an "ah ha" moment was the possibility of a signing bonus if she goes to a regional after getting the ratings on her own. Essentially taking $10K-$20K off of any existing flight training debt.

So even if the training comes in at the same cost of LIFT, it is a better deal to do it alone.

To be clear, she needs to finish up instrument (close), then get commercial, ME/ME instrument, CFI, CFII, CFME. The 400TT that she has in power is quality stick and rudder skills time but mostly not XC time (a lot of glider towing in L-19 Birddog, Piper Pawnee, and SuperCub).

I am hoping to find a way for her to get through the ratings *relatively* affordably. Under $40k would be nice, but maybe a pipedream.
Should be achievable. Much as I hate to say it, she probably doesn't *need* the MEI in this hiring climate if pennies are tight. She needs just 25 hours of ME time for most regionals.

Odds are that she won't need the MEI, plus you REALLY have no business teaching in a twin with less than about 100 hours ME time... frankly a bit dangerous. The MEI would however be one more box you can check for extra credit on major airline apps. Probably best to just spend the MEI on time building (safety pilot time to split the cost).

It's good that she started in stick and rudder planes, those habits will stick with her for life. Plenty of time to learn glass & XC in the commercial training.
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Old 08-19-2018, 07:20 PM
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Take a look at Falcon Aviation Academy if you haven't already. I have just started their program, and so far am very pleased. They have a free CFI program that will knock a good portion of the flight training cost off. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
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Old 08-20-2018, 02:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Beaverbeliever View Post
Take a look at Falcon Aviation Academy if you haven't already. I have just started their program, and so far am very pleased. They have a free CFI program that will knock a good portion of the flight training cost off. Feel free to PM me with any questions.
Starting with private?
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Old 08-20-2018, 05:38 PM
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Originally Posted by BravoPapa View Post
Starting with private?
Yes

filler
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Old 08-20-2018, 06:13 PM
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If she has 400 hours, you need to sit down and calculate what requirements she needs to get the Comm and CFI. If she needs more XC time, probably cheaper to do that on her own rather than through a standardized program. Then just a matter of practicing the maneuvers for the commercial check ride and then learning and practicing from the right seat for the CFI. Find a local flying club and create your own program to get her done. These programs are all going to try to sell you more than you need. Are you a CFI? If so, there is your answer.
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Old 08-20-2018, 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by PRS Guitars View Post
If she has 400 hours, you need to sit down and calculate what requirements she needs to get the Comm and CFI. If she needs more XC time, probably cheaper to do that on her own rather than through a standardized program. Then just a matter of practicing the maneuvers for the commercial check ride and then learning and practicing from the right seat for the CFI. Find a local flying club and create your own program to get her done. These programs are all going to try to sell you more than you need. Are you a CFI? If so, there is your answer.
I'm not a CFI. I wish. She needs to finish up her instrument, and I agree in doing so, they could get a bunch of the comm XC done at the same time. The more I research, the more I find this could be done without spending the big $'s that so many of these programs are getting.
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Old 08-20-2018, 07:15 PM
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Originally Posted by dbdevkc View Post
The more I research, the more I find this could be done without spending the big $'s that so many of these programs are getting.
For what its worth, I manged to find a cheap airplane and have been using it to timebuild. Including the costs to purchase im looking at $35 per hour, over $100 less than the cheapest rental around here. I would definitely recommend buying something if she wants to build hours. Im aiming for the magic 500hr mark before i start applying for jobs and the savings are huge (plus I will get most of it back when I sell)
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Old 08-21-2018, 03:07 AM
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Originally Posted by deftone View Post
For what its worth, I manged to find a cheap airplane and have been using it to timebuild. Including the costs to purchase im looking at $35 per hour, over $100 less than the cheapest rental around here. I would definitely recommend buying something if she wants to build hours. Im aiming for the magic 500hr mark before i start applying for jobs and the savings are huge (plus I will get most of it back when I sell)
It sounds like that is a great idea for some situations for sure - like starting out with almost no hours. But she already has 400+ hours in power (and another 200+ hours soaring - for whatever that is worth). So when she finishes her instrument and comm she'll be over 500+ in power only. The both of us believe it would be a good idea for her to actually instruct for a little while after getting CFI/CFII and figure that will take a year or so to get to around 1,500.
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