Airline Pilot Central Forums - How much did you spend on training?

Airline Pilot Central Forums (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/)

- Flight Schools and Training (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/flight-schools-training/)

- - How much did you spend on training? (https://www.airlinepilotforums.com/flight-schools-training/86652-how-much-did-you-spend-training.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TEX2 (Post 1842702)

Zero dollars. Navy all the way. I was 31 when I got winged (and incredibly lucky since the rules changed after). I also had sinus surgery, PRK, and slight curvature to my lower lumbar...and I still got through NAMI. People are quick to say that certain ailments are disqualifying, but you never know until you actually research it. You can start (at least for the Navy/Marine side) by researching your condition in the U. S. Navy Aeromedical Reference and Waiver Guide. It will say whether conditions are NPQ (not physically qualified) or not. Many NPQ conditions are WR, or waive-able. This means that you're not technically qualified, but a waiver is recommended.

It can be a real ass pain to get through NAMI, but the rewards of building hours while getting paid as an officer are well worth it. Persistence can pay, and I'd exhaust every military avenue before attempting the traditional pay-your-way route. Good luck

Well if you've ever heard of any military pilots with Pectus Excavatum I'd love to know about them. From what i've read it disqualifies me. I would LOVE to fly military, but i have no desire to join the military if they wont let me fly. I'm all for serving my country, but I love flying too much to give it up. In a perfect world I would be able to do both at the same time, but unfortunately my mild case of Pectus Excavatum stands in the way.

US military is training fewer pilots. There is a growing chance you will be selected to fly drones, which do not translate into a job flying later. The odds are not in your favor; maybe 1 in 5 to 10. You will also not be able to start at an airline until your mid 30s, so folks receiving training in the private sector will have a 10 year jump on you seniority-wise.

I would not recommend a large flight school or a college aviation degree program; if you think it's worth doing as a career, and then grab everything up to and including CFI unless you have an "in" with someone looking for low time commercial pilots.

Not sure about financing, but if you can stay away from huge pilot mills, then do so.