MikeInTx

Although 'pay as you go' is obviously the wise way to go so interest doesn't bury you, how does one who is not independently wealthy (me) complete CPL in a reasonable span of time at a cost of $17K without loans? I can complete PPL/IFR through my own means, but CPL? Out of pocket I can only afford 2 lessons each week, and at that pace (for me personally) the learning process is much slower vs. flying every day by having the funds through a loan. My best progress yet was when I flew 4 times in one week, but after reviewing my budget I realized that this just wasn't realistic.

So as Slice stated earlier, "It's cheaper in the long run to do it full-time than a few days here and there," but saving 17 G's is not realistic for me. So how do I get it done then?

(SkyHigh, while I do appreciate your insights, please don't tell me to go do something else...this is what I want to do)

LAfrequentflyer

Get you PPL. Save your money for a few years then go out and get the rest of your ratings. You may have to take out a loan but it will be much smaller and more managable.

-LAFF

STILL GROUNDED

I don't know if Petroni lives yet or not.

atpwannabe

And for God sakes DO NOT TELL THE FBO/FLIGHT ACADEMY THAT YOU WERE APPROVED FOR A LOAN!!


atp

LAfrequentflyer

Yeap...Tell them to mind their own business and that you'll pay after each lesson. If they have a discount rate for having a certain deposit with them don't do it but ask for the same discount since you plan on getting your ratings with them. If they don't want to play. Check the other FBOs in the area.

Bottom line: leave your money in your account until its time to pay them...

Also, Keep all reciepts for all training...

-LAFF

SkyHigh

MikeInTx,

"My best progress yet was when I flew 4 times in one week, but after reviewing my budget I realized that this just wasn't realistic."

Yup the whole idea isn't realistic.

What we want and need are two diffrent things. I don't know you or your situation but my advise is the same to everyone. Take a careful survey of the industry. The odds are not good.


SkyHigh

LAfrequentflyer

The odds are not good for the majors / cargo companies unless you have military training.For the regionals you should be fine. Maybe after some PIC time at the regionals you can move to the LCC.

-LAFF

SkyHigh

It is important to remember that everything changes in aviation. The last five years have been boom times for the regionals. Very soon the hiring landscape will change and the regionals will become more difficult to get on with. In 1998 I was the low time guy in my new hire class at Horizon with 3800 hours. In the early 1990's one had to be a C-5 instructor in order to get a shot at the regionals. Current performance is no guarantee of future results.

SkyHigh

CO777Driver

Originally Posted by LAfrequentflyer
The odds are not good for the majors / cargo companies unless you have military training.For the regionals you should be fine. Maybe after some PIC time at the regionals you can move to the LCC.

-LAFF


This is absolutely wrong!! I was a pilot in the AF, however, I would say that I fly with more guys from the civilian world then that of military background. I think that it is really close though. I have heard so many people make this statement " Big airlines only hire guys that were pilots in the military." I think that it is funny. Look, the airlines do not really care where you get your training. The main things to get hired at a major are: PIC time, Personality, and internal rec's. I would say that having a good internal recommendation is most important.

Puppyz

Good to hear coming from someone who is actually in the indusry and has experience. I always thought internal recs were most important as well. Im already working on networking. I keep in touch with all my CFIs, some have gone on to work at regionals / corporate.