Hello to all, i am an American curently living in the USA, who holds a bachelors degree in nursing. I am 23 years of age. I have always wanted to become a pilot, but here in the states it is extremely dificult to acomplish that dream when it comes to hunting for a $70,000-$100,000 loan to pay for the training, especially if you wouldn't like to use a co-signer. I have heard that many Asian and European airlines have sponsored 100% of flight training for their citizens, either by means of cutting their paychecks when they start working for the airline or my means of a lifetime contract to work for them. Is their any such programs for a foreigner that has no Asian or European descent, if so can you name a few to you're knowledge. Thank you.

 

At your age with 42 years ahead of you in this career, you can afford to take your time. Those training prices sound like accelerated programs that will get you done in a few months. As a nurse you can pay for your training as you go at a local flight school and start your career owing no one and free to go where you want. No need to sell yourself out for this. Even with youth on your side and the invincibility that comes with it, you don’t want to start a career that depends on your health with that debt looming overhead. Ask me how I know.


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Thats exactly the kind of program im looking for. Nurses don't make as much money as people think we do, especially if you live in Florida. At my pace paying rent, student loans, ETC.. It may take 8 years before i can earn all my ratings. As cliche as it may sound, seniority is everything, so i have been told. Waiting that long in an industry such as aviation, can be the difference between securing a PIC position at a major airline or crop dusting for the local farmer.

 

I was going to say the same thing that OldWeasel said.

 

To the OP, no, those programs are invariably directed to nationals, not foreigners.

GF

 

There’s always the military if you qualify. WOFT in the army. They’re desperate for pilots. Good pay to get Uncle Sam to pay for it.

 

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Looking at the FAA Regs and the cost of getting from point A (no pilot Cert) and point B (Airline job with major 121 carrier) there are cost effective ways to achieve point B.

One way, pay the $100,000 for someone to spoon feed you the info while holding your hand and taking your hard earned money and future money.

Another way, is to save your money and do some research. Sniff around the local FBO and search for airplane partnerships in an instrument rated Cessna 150/172 or like ac. It’s quite common. But do your due diligence on the maintenance condition of the airplane (have a mx inspect the ac, the logs, and knows the AD’s on that aircraft....it’s cheaper than the $100k Route and will save you coin down the line). Opportunities are out there, you have to have the ambition to find them.

Generally, paying an instructor to teach you in your own (partnership) airplane will reduce the $100,000 price tag by 75%. During your time getting your Private Pilot Cert, you’ll meet people renting ac, paying significantly more per hour. Once the 2 of you have your respective Licences, you can legally invite them to fly to a destination of 1-3 hours away and your new bud pays for the gas/oil and acts as a safety pilot, while you wear the foggles. Once at the destination and he/she refuels/oil in ac, switch seats with them flying using foggles and you as safety pilot. Both legally log the hours, their normal rental time of an aircraft at $100/hour is cut to $25/hr. Your normal $35/hr (having partnership/ownership in ac) reduces down to $10/hr (insurance, mx costs, tie down/hangar costs). It’s a win-win for both of you. The upfront capital in the aircraft, think of it as a savings account. You will eventually sell your share of the ac and get the Lions share or potentially more depending on your due diligence in the beginning.

I was able to get a private pilot, IFR, and many hours towards my Commerical/IFR License using this technique. Then did the 10 hours training for the multi rating. Explained to Examiner, I wanted to lump my Multi-engine, IFR, Commercial rating all into 2 checkrides. Normally, it’s 3. For the Commercial License, part of the checkride has to be in a “complex” aircraft and the other part can be in cheaper non complex aircraft. I used the twin as the complex and the IFR Rated Cessna 150 as the platform for the training and check ride for maneuvers required in Commercial rating. The above techniques saved me well over $10,000 in the early 1990’s when airplanes rented for less than half of today’s prices. If your employer offers tuition reimbursement for education, you may be able to utilize these benefits as well.

Like a previous poster said, at 23-24 you are well positioned time wise. Find your path and start taking more steps. Generally speaking, the biggest obstacle to this career is a person’s lack of persistence and apathy.

 

Do you hold a Bachelor's degree? Regardless, step one is to start taking lessons for your Private. Pay as you go and see how you like it. If you know this is for you great! The above posters had it right, you are young and have a good job that you can pay this thing yourself and not worry about loans. If you have your BA, look up local Guard and Reserve units near you and try to get a UPT slot. I wish I wasn't stupid at your age and did this ASAP. Good Luck