bedrock

A mom and pop school is a small field based operator, not a big flight school like ATPs. Becoming an airline pilot is expensive. I worked for ten years in IT before going to flight school. You should focus on college first, because you will need a degree to advance as a professional pilot. That degree SHOULD be practical, i.e. not a history degree. Check out AOPA and get their Flight Training Magazine. Start out with a Sport Pilot license first, it's cheaper gives you the basics, and can be expanded to a Private License. During the summer, you could work, live at home and get the license. But be warned, going at this before you are financially ready will be very costly, because of all the stops and starts which will cause you to have to repeat lessons or flying time.

An average person who flys 3x a week AND studies well can get a private license in about 50 hours. The best I've seen is 38 hours. This is not an easy vocation, it will take extreme dedication unless you are the son of an oil Sheikh.

VladimirG94

Don't pilots require a bachelor's in the Air Force? And what's the guarantee you'll get a job as a pilot? ASVAB scores?

VladimirG94

Also what's the average cost of getting your private license?
Pay per flight, I know it ranges, but what's the average price per hour/flight?

If I start from scratch, how much time and money would I have to put in to get my private license?

Javichu

I think you need to do a lot of research!, read a lot. Search option up there in your screen will help you a lot. It depends a lot if you fly a c150 or a cirrus, if you do it in Kansas or if you do it in DC, if you prepare your classes and optimize your training, etc,.......

Swimm in this forum and you'll find a lot of people asking/answering many of those questions.

For a flying slot at the air force you'll need a bachelor. But you could fly helicopters in the Army without it, or National guard.
Or you could just go active duty and then use your GI Bill to pay your training

galaxy flyer

In Boston, try this out. East Coast Aero Club | New England's Largest Flight School


As was pointed out elsewhere, the best schools with the best chance at getting to a major all begin with United States...

GF

Austin Marshall

Agreed Javichu,
There are many aviation schools provides training for commercial Pilot. All the aviation academy has different scholarship options. They may vary by general scholarship, or women scholarship, or many more. The other option is you may think about financial aid provided by flight training school another source is a student loan.* Banks offer student line of credit program to help finance their educational expenses.
Hope this will help you.

bedrock

How much per/hr depends where you go and what airplane you use. Big cities using new airplanes=more.

Most schools break it down to 20 hrs dual instruction, 10 hrs cross country, 10 hrs solo. You should figure 30 hrs dual. If you can get into the Civil Air Patrol, you may have access to cheaper planes and instruction at a military flight club. Since 9/11, I don't know if it's still the case. If you live somewhere with good weather and a good availability of planes and instructors, you could complete a PPL over the summer. But what then? The worst thing you could do would be to get a PPL and then not fly for several months. You'd have to spend money getting checked out again if you wanted to fly, that would be about 2 hrs dual, and 1 hr ground most likely. Also, don't forget the cost of renter's insurance.

If you enlisted in the military, you could qualify for tuition assistance for college and you could avail yourself of military flying clubs. Of course, you may be ordered to risk your life for the privilege, or you may do it without your knowledge like the vets who were exposed to radiation and deadly chemicals.

TheFly

Gimmick or no gimmick, I've seen guys with 25 hrs of multi and there is a big difference in terms of how they handle engine failures, etc. multi-engine experience never hurts.

Redbeard

Have you looked into any four year programs? If you can qualify for financial aid and student loans it can help with up front costs a lot. I also know that most airlines say that they prefer someone with a bachelors in an aviation program. (I know its not a must, but doesn't hurt) Ill give a shameless plug to look at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, anywhere you can get a degree and certificates from private-CFII for less than $80,000 and qualify for restricted ATP is worth a look. I know plenty of people that work and pay 100% of school and flying and are going through the program.

Not trying to debate what the best way to do it is, just trying to help out if you are looking for an affordable way to go. Best of luck.

JamesNoBrakes

Do not finance flight training.