In my opinion, this is getting blown way out of proportion. It's one thing to say that you must pay for the first 250 hours, given that most of it's training. But don't forget that before the new rule was in effect (2013)....and before the airlines were hiring pilots at 250 hours (2002-2010)....there was a time when a pilot had to have 1500 hours to be competitive (1996 or so to 2002 or so )....and before that, a pilot needed to have not only several thousand hours, but a few hundred hours of multi-engine time (late 1980's to the early 1990's).

Here's the deal: going forward, pilots will do what we had to do "back in the day" to get from 250 to 1500: they'll have to be CFI's. Or they can go tow banners somewhere. Believe it or not, there ARE options for getting from 250 to 1500 that don't involve writing checks. You can actually get paid to get from 250 to 1500.

I know many claim they don't want to be CFI's, but here's a little secret: you will learn far more about your craft being a CFI than you can even imagine. I, for one, loved the experience, and I only wish that I live someplace where I could do it part-time.

If you are looking at the time between 250 and 1500 as a barrier, that is only because you have decided it will be one.

 

^^^this!

Since he is out of college and I believe this retirement wave to be real I say do it as fast as possible. Maybe it can be done cheaper than All ATPs and just as fast? That is a good option for his timeframe in life and they GUARANTEE you a CFI job at then end (I'm sure getting a CFI job anywhere these days isn't hard but you will get that 1500 fast as a MEI at all ATP). If he was 18 with no school my advise would be MUUUUCH different.

 

HEY! HEY! HEY! settle down there gyrine, I'm a former jarhead myself of the enlisted swine persuasion. I ain't knock'n the military pilots, I have the highest regard for them - I sat in the back of frogs, huey's and 53's. I'm just pointing out that those of us of the great unwashed, had to scrape, cheat and lie to get flight time which was a little bit different than sitting in a classroom, wearing a flight suit, getting the best training on the planet FOR FREE , not to mention getting a good paycheck (I was making $122/mo as a private)- Accumulating 1500hr at $90/hr is a steep investment for a civilian. And as I said in an earlier post, is an irrelevant number to indicate flying skill.

 

^^^^^^^ +1

 

My advice --- DON'T DO IT!!!!!!

 

Im not sure why you quoted my post if you were looking to convince someone of the points made in your post because I am agreeing with it. If you quoted me because you agreed - - - well I get it

As for the bolded part above - I didn't want to be a CFI right away but that is because I didn't feel that I knew enough to teach at the time. I know it is the traditional way of time building, but I wouldn't et a newly minted 16 year old teach anyone how to drive either.
And this goes with SERGRADs and FAIPs in the military too (though I know/knew fine pilots who did this type of first tour - but I'm glad I didn't have too).
Now after I got a tour under my belt and had some more experience besides the local pattern and to/from the training area I felt much better about instructing - enough so that I went back for a second tour at the RAG for a total of 7.5 years I enjoyed the environment and the students so much.

@krudawg:
It took me probably 10 years in our beloved Corps to get my 1500 hrs of military time - so I probably did some things during that time along some lines of tough training, tough flying, AND living/working under some tough conditions that would equal what the "great unwashed" toiled through.

I was making $3.52/hr and paying $35/hr for a C-150/152 for my PPL.
Min wage is now over $7.00/hr and I know that it is possible to find a similar training plane for $70.00. Now if you want to train in that new G1000 equipped C-172 then you'll pay more; but we both still worked 10 hours for that 1 hr of flight time. It isn't that much harder in today's environment and probably easier in some ways because of the availability of on-line courses, flight simulators, and FTDs that were as accessible as they are today to help with the price tag.
It is a number that has been around for a long time and seems to have worked for the industry. I'm sure that you have a number in your head or some of qualifier that everyone would agree with and still fit with the numerous requirements of our aviation system right?

 

>>>it took me probably 10 years in our beloved Corps to get my 1500 hrs of military time - so I probably did some things during that time along some lines of tough training, tough flying, AND living/working under some tough conditions that would equal what the "great unwashed" toiled through. <<
OK Jarhead, I get it - after all, we were both part of our beloved corps; Semper Fi, lets bury our K-bars

 

50k seems like a lot but you will spend more going to a school where you don't get pushed through and aren't constantly in the airplane flying.

 

Holy Cow! Were you in the Corp when Jesus was a Chaplain!? Way back when I was a private I made $850 a month!

 

Based on your username and a rough guess on your seniority, I gotta ask: There was a "Kru" at UAL involved in the various hiring events/expos in the late 90's and was pretty well known among the current batch of "wannabes" at the time. I eventually flew my last trip before furlough with him. Just wondering if that's you?