Flight Training Time/Cost
 

Good Afternoon, I'm currently 33 and wanting to change careers from Healthcare to Aviation. I currently work full time with 4 10hr shifts 630am to 5pm. First question is would it be feasible to get my flight training done with my current work schedule or do I need to adjust my schedule? My other question is the cost involved. For me to afford this endeavor I'd be using a Home Equity Line of Credit to fund this. If I go with my bank they can give me a line of credit of $75,000. If I go with a local credit union they can give me a line of credit of $103,000. My local flight school quoted me from PPL to Commercial $50,000. It would be an extra $20,000 total to get my CFI, CFII, and CFI Multi if I wanted them. With that information would either line of credit be enough to get me from 0-1500hrs? Other thoughts to consider?

Thanks,
Zach

My recommendation is to NOT get the CFII or MULTI at the school. After you get hired as a CFI, most flight schools will give you a significant discount on aircraft rental, and in many cases free simulator time and reduced instructor rates.

Best of luck.

Joe

My first question, why do you need to finance with a full time job?
Do not pay in advance for a full course of training.
It’s fair for the school to ask you to keep a positive balance and there will be times you’ll burn through $1000+ a day.
Put a $1000 on your account and at the end of the day ‘top off’ back to a $1000.
Your money needs to pay for your training not for hangar rent or a bulk fuel bill.
Defaulting on a home equity loan will cost you the house.
You’ll be busy but don’t give up your job till you have a flying job lined up.
Try and do this with the least amount of debt.
As far as training is concerned, there is some overlap that would allow you to save some money.
Don’t mess with the Private as that is the foundation for everything else. However practice extra on VOR navigation and airway flying during the required cross countries and night flights. This will help with the instrument rating. When you take your Instrument written do the CFII written also. Useless to study twice for (almost) the same test.
There’s much more you can do.

Solid
 

This is SOLID advice. Never pre-pay for an expensive course of study, especially with a secured credit line.

Just a decade ago we had flight schools here in a Oregon go bust and take deposits leaving students with nothing. The business cycle is inflecting again, and this is a high risk time.

If you must self finance, then feed them in short bursts. Better yet, get sponsored.

For reference, when I was working toward my PPL, I had a full time job on a 4/10 schedule. I was able to complete it in about 5 months, flying 2-3 times a week. YMMV. Good luck.

I am working full-time as a pediatrician, and it will take me more than eight months to get my private license. I can only fly once a week.

I study every morning though.

.......and there's a doctor on the plane.

Also check to see if there are any flying clubs at your home airport that will allow for a student pilot to join. You can shave about $10k-$15K off of the flight school price depending on where you are located. Here is a guy in Northern Michigan who can do your multi engine rating in 3 days for $4,000... https://traverseair.com/

Insurance doesn’t allow student solo at the flying club I just bought into.
I hate those 3-day ratings with a vengeance.
Don’t skimp on anything that could very well kill you dead.
Find the meanest MEI in the state and fly 15-20hrs including SE missed approaches and holds.
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/...90/156/940.gifSo explain Vmc to me one more time…..

Yes, it should only take 2 days!