Pilotpip

I'm finishing up my CFI at one of those $7000 places. I have rented in the past from the $3000 places. There are huge differences. While more expensive, I don't have to worry about the radios in the aircraft working properly, and parts being maintained. The $3000 place had a couple aircraft that had virtually non-existient radios, and required a portable intercom (costing you more of your hard-earned money) if you wanted to communicate without shouting. Little things like this added up and I got sick of guessing engine RPM on a tach that was placarded "reads 200rpm low" and never stabilized. It's nice having aircraft with GPS and modern, working radios available and I have no problem justifying the extra expense. Even their older 172s are very well maintained.

Quality instruction is another factor. See what kind of resources they have. Nice simulators will help with your instrument rating. These are usually less expensive than an aircraft and allow you to learn procedures as well as hitting "the pause" button to clarify situations or set up specific scenarios. Not something you can do in the airplane. Certification requirements can also add costs. Is the program certified under part 141 guidelines or is it a part 61 program? Part 141 schools have an approved sylabus and in many cases these greatly reduce time requirements for certain ratings, like the commercial. Under part 61 you'll need to log 250 hours total and do many hours of cross country flying to get the rating. Part 141 only has a few cross country requirements and no total time requirement. In the long run it may be much less exspensive to persue a more expensive part 141 program than a part 61 program.

Check into a flight school very carefully before throwing that kind of money down. It's a huge investment. Have a friend who is already rated go with you and inspect the maintenance logs on the aircraft. These should be readily available and somebody who has gone through their private should know what inspections are required and where to find them in a logbook. If they refuse access to these (which is not legal) walk out and never return.

I went the aviation degree route. At the time it was the only way I could afford to persue my dream of flying. To be honest, it still is While I agree with many of the comments about diversifying, I went to a school where much of the core curriculm had a business focus and I could go back to school for a year and get a second degree in management or marketing if I choose to do so later down the road.

You're asking a ton of questions, which is great. It's not easy, and it won't get any easier. I'm just finishing up the chapter that you are just beginning. The questions don't stop, and you'll often wonder if you've taken the right path for yourself. This fourm is a help that I wish I had six years ago when I started looking at schools. Don't stop asking questions and arm yourself with as much info as you can before making a decision. Don't just take the words from a school recruiter as the end. Talk to students, customers, graduates, anybody that you can because they'll give you the real take, not the advertising spin.

I've gotten this thread way beyond any real pilot's attention span. Feel free to IM me with any questions. My screenname is the same on AIM and Yahoo as my screen name here.

Lear55driver

One more thing to keep in the back of your mind. I won't repeat what's already been said, because everyone has already done a great job of informing you. I just wanted to give you (and whoever else) another option of building up flight time in addition to flight instructing that some people forget about or sometimes dismiss. Skydiving!!!

There are hundreds of drop zones all over each state that are dying for pilots. Most of the times it is the small DZ's that operate 182's that really need the help. So take some time and look around for some. Most of the time they either won't pay that much or they won't pay at all, but just think of it as free flight time and who knows they might turn you into a skydiver for free. That was my story. I built more time flying the jumpers around than I did flight instructing. Plus they didn't have any minimums for me to start.

It builds good character, makes you an ace at landing and perfects your visual flying skills (because most of the time none of the instruments work in the plane anyway). Just something to keep in mind. You'll need your commercial license to do it, but I highly recommend it. Good luck.

Do3r17

It's a Part 141 school (I just found out) but it even says that you wil probably need to spent another 900 bucks on hours so it adds up to like 4500, which is still great. I will check out their equipment to find out how it is. I am also going to try to aim you, I was at work all day yesterday and didnt get back till like 12.

Do3r17

Actually that was one of my questions I've had in the back of my head for the past month. Does building your hours that way influence the major airlines in a negative way opposed to getting your CFI and training pilots? IF not, then why become a flight instructor when I can fly an airplane and skydive.

HoursHore

Why Not? I think you should do a lot more research about the Mil option before you dismiss it out of hand. Thier are multiple avenues via the Mil.

Active Duty
Obtain an officer Commision via Rotc or Service Academy. IF you have the grades and are physically qualified, Obtain a pilot slot and fly for the Military for Ten years. Have an adventure before becoming the Autopilot Monitor.

Reserves/ Guard. This would involve Enlisting as a Crew Chief, Load Master, or Boom Operator in a local Guard Reserve unit while in School. After graduation, Apply for a pilot slot. This is a great way to go if you have a unit near your school.

OTS / OCS : Go to school as a civilian. After Graduation, apply to the services for a pilot slot.

Now of course, that is way oversimplified, But If I can do it (option 1 via NROTC), any one can. Nothing is guaranteed in the Military though, so you'd want to keep up your civilian training as well. As long as you hadn't accepted any money for your education, you'd incur no commitment, and would be able to get out if you were not physically qualified.

Pilotpip

It's a good way to build total time, but aside from that there isn't much you'll get. You don't log any cross country time because you're just going back and forth to the same strip. Skydivers don't jump in overcast so you won't get any actual instrument time either. These are two major things you get when instructing.

otter

Being a CFI is your first tast of being a captian. Everything is up to you. Your student will look to you for all the answers, just like you look to your CFI for answers. I enjoyed my time as a CFI, And learned the true meaning of PIC.

iflyjets4food

If you live that close to Purdue, why not consider Vincennes University? They'll take you from nothing to Commercial Instrument Single and Multi, as well as CFI in 4 semesters. I did it faster than 4 semesters, and you could too if you are motivated, which it seems you are. Purdue takes Vincennes transfers after the 2-year degree if you don't want to stay in Vincennes for the whole 4 years. You'll have the opportunity to get all of your ratings done cheaper and more structured than at Purdue since VU is a 141 school. VU has a great core of instructors with most having more than 8,000 hours of instruction time. These guys are paid by the University, so you won't be gouged by fellow students who are trying to just get their time and get out. Definitely a great program. PM me when you get 25 posts if you want more info.

mkrinn

Since you live in Indiana you might want to check out Indiana State University. We are not a Part 141 school but I was also checking out Purdue on my hunt for colleges my senior year as well and unlike you I didn't have the great financial situation you have upon entering school. I found that Purdue while being a great school, (I'm not knocking Purdue at all) their flight program was very structured and cookie cutterish. Which is great for most people but I am kind of a quick learner and don't like to be held back. I instead checked out Indiana State and their flight program was a much more "work at your own pace" type of school. So it may work better for some people who work at a quicker or slower pace than your average student. Also its a bit less expensive. I'll come out owing around $65k with my Private through MEI with my Tailwheel endorsment. Also if you like small bit of adventure you are allowed to fly to the Bahamas with a group of students after you get your Private and recieve 2 college credits in the spring. This is great if you need the cross country time for your intrument or commercial. Also you are almost guarenteed a job at the flight school you flew at once you get the ratings. Once I get back to the States (I'm in Germany on an exchange program) I will be finishing up my commercial an hopefully the CFI in the next semester. Here is a link to the schools website......
http://aerospace.indstate.edu/....... Happy hunting.

mkrinn

Indiana State also takes VU students as well. Just a thought.