Corona Virus: Impact on Flight Training
 

"It has never been a better time to become a pilot" is not an uncommon phrase now a days. However, that phrase is starting to look like a contradiction with the outbreak of Corona Virus. Is it still a good time to start flight training with all the flight cancelations, travel restrictions, and general fear of the public flying again? I know that once all this smoke leaves, the public will start to fly again, but how long can we expect that to occur before i spend 65k on a loan?

One has to give Corona some time to ‘hopefully’ settle out. We’ve had similar ailments in the past, yes, this one is more onerous.

Come back in 3 months, then we can retreat to the bunker.

The $65k loan can still be an issue, with or without Corona. The idea of faith comes to play at times too.

I doubt the world will end in 12 years. I also don’t think people are going to quit flying.

$65k? Are you thinking if going to Lift?

Not to hijack the thread, but I have a similar question and didn't want to post a completely new one.

I'm going to be a career changer and plan to begin training in a few months. I've got a healthcare job now, so I'm leaving a very stable (and decent paying) job to pursue this. With this virus, I'm wondering if I should hold off for a while till things look better or continue with the current plan hoping things return to "normal" by the time I'm done and ready for the regionals?

If you are just starting you should be fine. Especially if you have another source of income while you train. The thing is, this will be temporary. The timeline is still not known and the true impact to the economy is still up in the air, but people will start flying again. Retirements are also going to still come.

This honestly could cause another huge hiring wave in a couple of years.

This may serve to thin the herd of those with weak stomachs for this career as well. The place I rent from also does a lot of zero to hero training and they’ve already had some students wavering on if this is the career for them.

just remember one thing. You will be leaving a stable job for a unstable job. Airlines are fickle....it’s all about timing and seniority which goes hand and hand. We could be looking at a major recession and mass layoffs. This is probably going to blow 9/11 out of the water and post 9/11. Most of us were flying around 9/11 but this scares the crap of me. The fallout could be months/years.

long story short chase your dreams. You can’t predict this stuff.

Corona Virus and the impact on flight school?
 

Hello everyone, this is my very first post on this forum. I am set to start flight training at a flight school down in Florida in June. However, due to this whole Corona Virus crisis/pandemic it makes me wonder if the flight school will even still be training students at that point and long-term if by the time I get to 1500 hours (which should be in the next two years, hopefully) will the regionals/airlines in general still have a demand for pilots? I have already secured financing for the entirety of my training, so as of now everything is set in stone. I am probably over thinking this whole thing right now, but with how things are right now can you blame me? I look forward to everyone's input and above all else, be safe and keep flying.

You’re not the only one asking those questions.
Have a read here:

https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/r...ml#post2999343

Don't give anyone, flight school or housing related, any money as a downpayment for anything at this time. If you want something to do while waiting out the current crisis, study and than take the Private Pilot written test. Use all the online resources (the free ones) and order a copy of the ASA test prep guide and back up the learning you did reading and viewing and pass the written before this summer. Very little out of pocket, will keep you busy and motivated. Hunker down and study.

This, do not prepay a dime to anyone. If they insist, walk.

Last time around they would insist on big down payment because they were broke... they would then use YOUR money to pay for training of people who were further along in the program. Ponzi scheme basically, which fell apart as soon as there was a hiccup in new-student interest. Many folks came to school to find the doors chained shut and their money gone.