AKASHA

It appears this forum invites input from all areas of professional aviation. And I think OdeToMemory should know that many pilots have enjoyed a nice career without ever working for free at a regional airline.

Suppose you work as a flight instructor or aerial survey pilot until reaching 1200 hours, then get a 135 job flying mail or other freight. Get another 1200 hours and get hired with a local air taxi company. Start getting to know the customers and other folks around the field who are flying corporate. Get your foot in the door that way. And you will have a good chance of landing a nice corporate job.

True.. either way there are dues to pay. And I don't knock anyone who chooses the regional route. To each his own and all the best.

snippercr

It's funny, one of the (many) misconceptions about aviation is the stepping stones. Many students I hear want to "fly corporate for a bit, build hours, head to the regionals, become a captain then move onto the majors." As it stands right now, it's sort of the other way around. You go regionals->majors->corporate.

pilot1278

There is absolutely NO reason to rush through training right now. Everybody is furloughing. Get a 9-5 job, save and pay as you go at a part 61 school. Work as a part-time instructor for a while and build hours that way.

No debt is really the best way. You will be paying $600 a month for 15 years on a 45k loan! Wouldn't it be nice to instead use that $600 for savings or a college tuition?

snippercr

Also when you done with your training you will have about 300 total and about 20 hours multi. As a flight instructor, filling up that TT wont take too much. If you get on with a good school, you can bank away 1000 hours in a year or two without too much effort. Its getting ~200 multi time to get competitive. Even with your MEI, unless you get lucky (and many people do) you wont be teaching in a seminole for a LONG time. Its a lot easier to save up for multi time when you have a descent job that pays well with little to no debt.

I was sort of lucky because I was funded through most of my education, until mommy and daddy decided they didn't want to be mommy and daddy any more so little timmy's college money when to mommy and daddy's lawyer. I graduated with "only" 10,000 in government loans but as a part time CFI, I am barely making enough to pay rent, let alone loans. But because they are government loans, I have a bit more flexibility.

I have a friend who paid ALL of college with loans, 90,000 worth of loans and most private loans and I cannot begin to imagine her monthly payments.

OdeToMemory

Could there be a way to pay through the military? I'm also considering enlisting to get college paid for (and adventure, and patriotism and other cliche stuff). Military would also pay for me to get PRK surgery. That would be a HUGE thing for me because I have 20/200 vision and astigmatism. I'd also go ATC which would open some doors for Navy Aviation Officering...

After looking through the site, I'm guessing that I would be best to do the MGIB over the Post 9/11 Bill because the Post 9/11 doesn't cover flight training.

My parents will never ever ever EVER cosign that student loan so I'm SOL for that.

Maybe this is my best track. I had been thinking Navy without this motivation anyways, this just adds another reason to enlist.

USMCFLYR

It isn't "cliche stuff" OdetoMemory. It is part of the job.

Yes - the military MIGHT pay for many things. It is HUGE as you say, but don't worry - they will get their pound of flesh our of you for that privilege.

Somebody on here will know this answer better than I; but I don't even know if you can CHOSE the MGIB over the POst 9/11 bill if you enlist now. You havd better be sure to research this thoroughly.

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I'm glad that you have been giving it some thought beforehand because going into the military just for the purpose of debt managment is likely to not work out the way that you envision it working out!

USMCFLYR

OdeToMemory

Oh no, absolutely not. I've always wanted to serve my country and see the world and be a gear in the war machine. I've been thinking about it for 3 years now and I'd love to join some way some how.

I'm thinking that what I might do is apply for Navy and Air Force ROTC and if I can't get a scholarship, look further into enlisting. I want to serve my country one way or another, be it as an officer through ROTC, enlisting or ANG.

The only issue with military is that my parents are adamantly against it. They're also adamantly against student loans. They have specifically told me that if I apply for ROTC, they won't pay a dime for my college and they'll be a step or two away from kicking me out.

USMCFLYR

I'll bet they don't have problems exercising those rights protected by those they seem to dislike. I'm sorry for them; but tell them it is ok. My friends are still out there looking after them. You have a tough decision in front of you Ode. Good luck to you.

USMCFLYR

Danzig

Ode:

My brother honorably served in the Marine Corps (recently separated after eight years, and two tours in Iraq.) He put it the best way I've ever heard it: "That is the beauty of being American. As free men we have the choice to serve, a choice that has been given to us by the many who chose to serve - and by the blood of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. Don't join because you are a legacy, there is no such thing. Don't join because you feel duty-bound. Join because you are free to do so, join if it is what is right by you."

Those were some of the most profound words I've ever heard to come from a Grunt (meaning no offense to any Grunts out there), although he did later proceed to tell me (sarcastically, I think) that if I joined the Army over the Marine Corps he'd disown me - Marines

USMCFLYR is quite right, it is a hard decision - irregardless of whether your family is anti-Military, or your family is mostly comprised of Military personnel (as is my case.) Good luck to you.

Regarding taking out a student loan to pay for aviation training: let me just say that I strongly and wholeheartedly discourage such a path. Take it from the sad voice of experience, trying to pay even the minimum payments, while green and inexperienced in this career, is disastrous and demoralizing - most especially with the current state of the industry.

-Danzig

chignutsak

You should not be contemplating 45 cents of debt, much less $45,000. Long-term debt is a burden on your soul, and it can crush your financial future. I am assuming you are very young. At this time in your life you need to be saving; even putting away trivial amounts now adds up to huge amounts in the future, through the magic of compounding interest. Nothing beats the 100% down plan when it comes to buying anything.

The military may be an option for you, but do it for the correct reasons. You join to serve your country, and to be given the privilege of trying to earn the respect of those appointed below you. If they also allow you to fly airplanes or drive ships or tanks, great, so be it. Just know that you will pay back every dime they give you for college via your blood, sweat, and tears, up to and including dying in whatever third world hell-hole that is deemed important at the time.