Jabberwock

Why spend $100,000 or more to get to the airlines? Really?

I've owned airplanes and been in aircraft partnerships almost continually since age 17. In the current down turn, airplanes have gotten as cheap as they've ever been and if you can change the oil in your car, you can do a lot of light airplane maintenance yourself. With a little common sense, you can get the cost of flying down in the range of $35 to $50 an hour, or less.

I worked my way through night school, getting my bachelors while flying anywhere from 30 to 70 hours a month in my own aircraft. Instructed nights and weekends, picked up corporate flying and am now flying for a major with less than $15,000 of my own money. In fact, if the money made from fixing and flipping airplanes is considered, I either broke even or made a little. This does not have to be hard, or expensive, IF you are a motivated, self starter.

First, hang out at the local airport, get to know other pilots and particularly other airplane owners. Look for deals on the bulletin board(s). A well maintained, cheap to operate, airplane can be bought for the price of a reasonably good condition used car. Be willing to accept ugly interiors, out dated avionics and baby poop brown paint jobs. Think outside the box, like a Aeronca Citabria I saw recently for $15,000 with a new engine! How fun would that be? Learn to fly conventional gear, learn basic aerobatics and fly for around $20 an hour

There is no need for the latest tupperware fuselage'd glass panel faster than heat Diamo-Cirrus. Learn to fly old, cheap, gauges. You are BUILDING time, so who cares if it is slow? Besides slow airplanes are fun. Find some grass strips, pack a lunch, take a girl. Great cheap dates to be had in old airplanes flying out to no where one weekend and the beach the next. Take full advantage of airport cars, free food and the kindness of strangers.

There are good deals out there. Not soon after my private rating a man threw me the keys to his airplane and had me flying his kids back to his ex-wife half way across the Country. Another had me flying mechanics around. A company asked me to do some Angel Flight missions that their boss had signed up for, then had been to busy to get done. Once you reach your goals, help others. I try to take aspiring pilots on business trips, they sit in the left seat, fly and log the time. Probably the best aspect of this type of experience building is the fly in the weather, mission oriented, flight operation that is difficult to find in a flight school environment.

When you interview for your airline job, your breadth of experience and ability to make things happen will look good on a resume. You will stand out and you will get hired. If you pick up an A&P Certificate along the way, good for you! You will be a pilot who understands what it means to be an airplane owner / operator. You will be a pilot who has more varied and dare I say, better, experience gained from doing instead of book knowledge. You will also learn to be creative, be a person who can get things done without having to be spoon fed.

Sure there is a place for book knowledge. Get your written tests done before you even start training. But there is no reason to go heavily into debt for this career.

... and despite what you hear, it is a great career. Eventually you will fly from vacation spot to vacation spot, enjoying the camaraderie of your crew members and having enough time at home to really enjoy your family. You'll no longer get rich doing this job, but you'll get by. Not having a load of debt will sure help.

Fewer than 1 of 100 pilots I meet these days are choosing this path. Can anyone explain why?

Sincerely,
Airport Bum
ATR42/72, CL65, DC9, 737, 757, 767 Type Rated

Ewfflyer

The reason why, is because most people feel entitled or are just lazy. You were willing to work hard to get where you wanted to be, and you appreciate and take huge pride in what you've accomplished.

Others just throw money they don't have at a problem, thinking that is the solution, and yet they end up in huge debt and no way out.

I appreciate what I've done also, and take great pride in where I'm at. Ironically, I am going to be leaving "full-time" flying and picking up my other lifelong passion, and working side-by-side with my father on our family farm. I still plan on flying, as I have 5100hrs and absolutely love what I do, but I waste a lot of my life sitting in an office doing nothing(ie why I'm posting this right now). If I'm not flying, I want to be doing something constructive, and this is how I plan on making it happen.

USMCFLYR

I'm sure that many are sold the idea (and maybe it was true at one time) that the quicker you got into the business the better. It is repeated over and over again - seniority is everything. I'm sure that the idea is sold to spend great amounts of money, get everything you need as quick as possible, get hired as quickly as possible (regardless of experience) and start OJT.
In this line of thinking, those wonderful lazy days of flying to out of the way grass strips to have a picnic with your girl is wasting time and putting you further and further behind in your potential earnings.

USMCFLYR

pilot1278

Most younger people I meet nowadays want thier ratings and job NOW and aren't willing to wait for it. Sometimes I'll recommend people to fly skydivers or get a partnership in a plane and I get a look as if I just insulted their mothers. Heck, I'll recommend waiting and paying cash for training and still get the same looks. This is coming from someone who's BEEN down the debt path too. Oh well... I'm not the one getting into debt in the end.
OP, you are right. There is no reason why people should have to shell out 100k to zip through training if they take it nice and easy and look at different options. In fact, what you've been doing is my DREAM once I get other priorities sorted in life!

Jones14

Good Info! This is exactly the sort of thing I would love to do, and partially have. I've wanted to be a pilot since day one. I went to college and saw the price tag for their big fancy program and decided to spin wrenches across the street. Came out with my BA and an A&P ticket.

Got my Private back in May and paid cash. I have been working at a general aviation shop for about 4 months. I've gained so much experience already working on anything from 150s to Super King Airs and Merlins. I have recently decided to move on to a regional airline A&P job where I will make more money and open up 3 full days during the week to begin my Instrument. Might also pad my resume if I were ever to apply for a regional flying job.

If the opportunity were there though, I would easily invest my money towards a partnership with someone who is knowledgable in buying and maintaining aircraft. Perhaps another A&P or CFI. I've read countless threads and even bought a couple books, but I still know too little to venture into the world of aircraft ownership on my own at this point (or so I feel).

I paid $140/hr dual in a C150 during my Private... I'm sure it would be possible to cut costs or at least break even on that rate. That's even when considering Mx costs, insurance, hull, etc. And if not, you're investing in something that will retain it's value. The aircraft can always be sold in the end. Not to mention the pride of ownership and fun along the way. What better way to gain flying experience?!

I respect the people who think outside the box and go about this ever-popular journey in unique ways. I think it keeps the passion alive and gives you something to continually work towards.

Bucking Bar

Once you are in the door as an A&P, and after you have your ratings, you can probably TRANSFER into a flight spot, keeping your longevity. That's a great deal. A friend at a major retained his original date of hire as a Mech.

Heard of a few pilots at FedEx and UPS doing the same.

Good luck to you!

Jones14

FedEx was hiring mechanics last month down in Memphis. They wanted 5 years experience so I never even got a call back. Flying for FedEx is number one on my list... I don't think I could ask for anything better.

zondaracer

My old flight instructor and I were talking about this one day. If I had known that this was even a realistic option, I definitely would have done it and I would have even leased back the plane to the flying school. this is after I found out the flying school didnīt even own half the planes and the rest were under a leaseback deal. I really thought that buying an airplane was something that rich people do, and never thought that buying one was something that would have actually saved me money. Hind sight is 20/20.

USMCFLYR

Two brothers were dsoing this at the school that I trained at in college.
They had the nicest (and nicest equipped) C-172 on the airport. No private students and they got first dibs. It was quite the deal! I too wish I had 20/20 hindsight.

USMCFLYR

Cruz5350

Even though I have my ratings up through Commercial Multi I'm still planning on buying a plane to time build in. It's cheaper for me to buy a 172 and work my day job to build time rather than instruct to get up to mins. Added benefit is my fiancee is a photographer so the plane will be used in addition to start up Aerial Photography with her photo business. Should be able to gain a tax write off or two with it all.