Flight Training Advice
 

Good evening gents,

I'm 21 years old and a second year college student who is currently studying aviation technology at a local community college. I recently got my private pilots license through the program, however - it has taken me 9 long months since the flight-school associated with the college has very few planes and too many students.. their planes are ALWAYS breaking down + weather. I'm a little frustrated that it's taking so long and sometimes I feel like I'm wasting time. The only way I'm paying for my flight training is through pell grants, state grants, and sub/unsub loans from the government. As much as I'd love to attend a flight school like U.S Aviation academy or ATP, I can't since I have no one to cosign the loan for me. I'm currently thinking of the different options I may have -

Option 1: Stay in the flight program and hope things get better.

Option 2: Use the sub/unsubsidized loans which I will get reimbursed and find a good job to help pay for my flight training at a local part 61 flight school which have rates as low as $80/h for a C-152 and just continue my flight training part 61. Plus they have more planes and instructors.

Option 3: Enlist in the ANG , which is offering 20k sign-on bonus for certain jobs. I can use this money to help me pay my flight training once I come back from tech-school. In addition, I may open up doors to get into SUPT assuming I meet the requirements.

I don't have much money and in fact , I'm in debt by 3-4k. My ultimate goal is to become an airline pilot and possibly a part time Air Force Pilot (ANG/Reserves). I'm very open to hear any advise/suggestions.

~De La Ghetto

Well if you are in the area of US Aviation Academy, we are starting up a partnership with Tarrant County Community College next semester that would open up a lot more financing options for you.

I should be able to round up some info and contacts for you if you're interested.

Thanks for your reply kingsnake2,

I'm very interested and willing to relocate if the right circumstances are met.

You can't seem to attach documents here so PM me or contact US Aviation Academy and Tiffaney should get back to you in a few days.


Here a few of the details (some of this could be out of date):

Flight Fees
Private Pilot: $4200-5400
Instrument: $4200-5400
Commercial: $12,000-14,400
CFI: $2,400
CFII: $2,400



Ground school and associates degree: $3,410


Summer Abney | [email protected] | 817-515-7250

I also know that the director (I think that is his title?) will be Tyson Walker. He should be working at TCC too now. He used to work for US Aviation.

Aviator College, formerly AriBen Aviator is a good pick. Personally, I believe that you get your money's worth. JMO, though.




atp

Find a school that is FAA accredited to get the "restricted ATP" 4 year schools can qualify you for the ATP in 1000TT and a 2 year can with 1250TT or 750 TT from a military experience. So the ANG could be your cheapest route, but may not be the shortest one. $$ or time?

You're only 3-4k in debt? Work hard to keep it that way, by all means. Keep busting your hump to pay that back and find ways to pay back everything you borrow quickly. I don't think you're losing or wasting time, it's going to take some time anyways until you can meet flight time requirements. Being a CFI is a great idea.

First of all, congrats on the private pilot license and welcome to our community of pilots.

My recommendation would be to move over to a part 61 school. That will, hopefully, allow you to be more in control of how much you fly (on a side note, it will also allow you to control who you fly with, a good instructor, that you get along with, is worth it). The more you can fly the faster you will move through your ratings (piloting skill requires practice and repetition). You lose a lot of skill sitting on the ground between flights which will require more flights and time to get back.

I would also recommend continuing with the degree. Not only is it good as a back up to being a pilot, it also shows your future employer that a)you are good at studying/learning at a higher level and b)you can stick to a difficult, long and complex task.

Lastly I would recommend keeping your debt down as low as possible at all times, even if it means you take a break between ratings to pay things off. You are in a great position to reap the benefits of the coming pilot retirements. The job will be there when you get through with your ratings. I would recommend focusing more on becoming a good pilot, with good skills and aeronautical decision making. The commercial airline accidents over the last couple of years have been because of poor (or no) recovers from private pilot manuvers (recover from stalls and low airspeed). I say this both to keep yourself safe and also because, hopefully, someday my family or I may be on your aircraft.

Hope this helps. Sorry if its a little long. Anything else I can do, I'd be happy to help.

I agree with reredwood. I would go over to a part 61 school and fly as much as possible without going into debt. If you have a lot of time between lessons keep your head in the FARAIM.
Also don't get discouraged about the amount of time it took to get your private. I was at a flight school similar to the one you described, and it took me a year and a half to get my private.
If you don't go airgaurd I would continue on until you get the CFI. Maybe at a 4 year university.

Good luck De La