Am I an Idiot for perusing this dream?
 

Greetings!

I am 25, married, and my son will be born Tuesday (via C-Section). I hold a PPL with 210 hours, have most of my instrument training completed (admitting that I haven't had training in awhile), and I am majoring in Aviation Management. My dream has always been to become a professional pilot, but I don't see how I can reach that goal, i.e., my credit isn't perfect and I don't have a co-borrower for a private training loan and regionals don't pay enough to support a family, let alone pay back education and training loans. I have been working hard in school to try and get scholarships, but it is difficult and competitive, even as an officer in Phi Theta Kappa and having a 3.66 GPA. So is this a fantasy, dream, or goal? What do you guys think?

If it is in your heart and you can't imagine yourself doing anything else, then you will fight for it and figure out a way to make it happen. If it is in your heart, you'll consider all facets of professional aviation and pick the one that suits you the best. Airlines, firefighting, air ambulance, etc.
If you want to strut down the concourse in your fancy uniform and this is just another job, then please run, don't walk away from this profession. Sadly, I run into the latter way too much (the "this is just another crappy job" part).
Once you do get to where you want to be, please be an advocate to improve the profession, not tear it down.
I wish you the best of luck and PM me if you have any questions. I have been at this for
29 years and have 5 family members in the airline industry (pilots). It was either that or take over the family ranch. ugh.
siemprerojo

Nothing wrong with PERUSING the dream, in fact that is highly recommended before you make a decision.

As far as PURSUING the dream, that's a different story. I hate to say it but the aviation management degree is a bad idea, it has no real value other than punching a ticket. Professional pilots must expect to lose their jobs (more than once) to furlough, bankruptcy, medical problems, etc.

IMO, it is unrealistic to enter this profession without a backup skill. Aviation is not, I say again IS NOT, a reliable means of generating an income. If you are young, single, going to stay that way, and somewhat bohemian it's possible to spend 15 years of your life living in run-down apartments eating top-ramen.

In your case since you have the double whammy of family and poor access to funding I would suggest immediately switching your major to something which has practical employment options. If you still want a crack at aviation someday, select a field which is boring, stable, stable, and portable...accounting, pharmacy, physicians assistant, computer programming, nursing, etc. Graduate, get a job, and keep flying and working on your ratings on the side when you can afford to. Wait for good industry timing before you jump to aviation, and have some money saved up.

If you have the right backup skill, you can work part-time to earn some income and to keep your skill ready on the back burner for when (not if) you need it again.

Thats the only realistic path I see, unless your wife is a doctor...

Go find a job that pays $250K/year and do that. Then buy your own plane. Your QOL will be exponentially higher.

Re:
 

Dude, think about the reality of this. You are thinking of racking up student loans with little chance of getting a pilot job, when your wife and kid will be needing you the most. Put the flying dream on hold, and finish your degree if you are close to finishing it. Get a desk job and pay for training AFTER paying your bills. There is no way you will get a good, or even decent paying job with little time in your logbook. You can always get back into it later on when you are financially more stable and can manage it.

I submit the following thread as an example of what can happen due to poor money management:

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/money-talk/4003-key-alternative-loan-bankruptcy.html

+1 million

Your family needs you to provide, you can't do that as a starving pilot.

Compound that with the 1500 hour requirement for regionals.

A well paying job you don't love that provides great QOL if better than loving your job while your family starves, and you won't be loving your job then.

I wouldn't say you're an idiot, but you are considering an irrational decision that will most likely will put you and your family in financial peril.

If you're smart enough to fly airplanes, you're smart enough to do a lot of other things for a living that will provide better security.

Hurry up and knock out that degree, the military provides fantastic benefits for family. You'll fly stuff way cooler than an RJ.

CRJ should be a step, not a goal.

I agree with the pervious post - The military has excellent benefits as far as school and training. My 5 year contract with the Army is over in 2 weeks. The benefits added up is a total of 8 years paid in local and federal benefits. I am starting my flight training in January using the post 9/11 GI Bill I pay nothing out of pocket because I am training through a community college working for a AAS Degree. I plan on Transfering to a University to finish up the bachelor's degree. Many have made it clear that a Aviation Degree is a waste but I have nothing to lose. What the worst that can happen? I dont find a Job? I have 4 years extra to work towards a different degree.
Congrats on the son being born

eric... any chance you can still get the post 9/11 gi bill to pay for your flight training, and work on a non-aviation degree? Trust me, it's a safety net you want to have, ESPECIALLY if you're not paying for it. Don't miss out on the opportunity just because uncle sam is footing the bill.