Company sponsored flight school “IS IT WORTH IT”
 

Greetings,

I work for this amazing company that has a company sponsored flight school, in-which covers 75% of the total cost per license! It’s an excellent opportunity for me simply because I’ am an aspiring pilot who doesn’t have a pot to **** in or a window to throw it out of. Anyway’s, my only caveat is that the company requires a two year commitment after receiving necessary contributions towards each license.

Exact wording from GUIDELINES

“If an employee participating in the Company Sponsored Flight Training Reimbursement program terminates employment within 24 months of receiving a reimbursement benefit, they will be required to reimburse the “Company” for flight school expenses paid for the last pilot certificate course enrolled in or completed, within 30 days or their termination date


With that being said, is it really worth taking the company contributions and being seat locked for an extended time period? My ultimate goal is to become a pilot (Regional/Fractional/Majors) ASAP… Currently, I’m still working on my private so it could be any where between 4-5 years before I would be able to fly professionally

What do you think????

ok first of all, the 4-5 years thing is not true at all... Its very realistic that you can be a CFI in 2-2.5 years if you really bust your butt (maybe less)... It Depends on what kind of pay you are making, and would you be able to maybe instruct on the side once you got your CFI?? being locked in for 24 months is a VERY long time if you are not flying... and in the end not building time is not gonna get you to your goal any faster. If you make good money at the company and wouldn't mind part time instructing then it sounds like a good deal. Any way to avoid or minimize debt in this business its a great thing, but not at the expense of your time and sanity (waiting for those 2 years to end)...

Tell us what kind of company it is and maybe that will help us give better advice....

This sounds like an excellent opportunity for you. You are fortunate to be able to take advantage of this. (and you should)

I would not worry about the exit costs nor let those exit costs stop me from beginning flight training. It may never ever be an issue. If it does become an issue then you will cross that bridge when you come to it.

Boeing? Yeah, I would take advantage of that...keep your real job (and paycheck!) and try to get as many ratings as quickly as possible.

When you get your CFI, teach on the side until your commitment is up, then do whatever makes sense in light of the hiring climate at that time.

The good news for you: hiring will be slow to non-existent until 2012 at the earliest, so you will not lose much airline seniority while you finish out your two years. But get started right away!

Is it two yrs per certificate? ie 2 yrs for your private then another 2 yrs for your instrument and another 2 yrs for your commercial?

Six years is a long time but it may be worth it. It's up to you. Hiring is not going anywhere anytime soon and if you like your current job, why not?

Could you instruct for your current employer and have that time count?

A lot of us would settle for this ... :)

Good advice above; I don't know how much you're flying so I can't say how long it'll take you. Your restriction looks like two years from the last rating / license. This is reasonable assuming the discount is honest and not applied to an inflated price. There won't be much hiring for awhile anyway.

Take the discount. Take your time. Enjoy your flying. If your outfit is so amazing you just might choose to stay. You can be a CFI on weekends - very much a professional pilot.

Most good things involve a trade-off, it seems. Right now you work for an "amazing company". Many of the "(Regional/Fractional/Majors)" you aspire to are not so "amazing". I'm not telling you which direction to take. Just take the time to slow down and think. Good luck. :)