like many others in this forum...I have accumulated some student debt from attending flight school..

My question would be this...

instead of aiming for a regional with the minimum times they require and taking a huge pay cut from cfii to 1st year FO..

would it be better to keep instructing for a few years and pay off my debt quicker while finishing my degree?

the reason i ask is because i know seniority is everything in this industry, however i dont want to be repaying this loan forever and getting robbed by interest...

any input appreciated!

No.

Take the regional job as soon as you can get it. Get a part-time job on your days off delivering pizzas, or whatever, to earn extra money to pay off the debt as quickly as possible.

I would say instruct and get your degree. It will be hard to find the time and money to do so at a regional. At least instructing you'll be in one place and can take classes at a local college. You'll need it to move to the next level beyond a regional and the hours you build in the interim will give you more options down the road.

I would say to jump into the regionals as soon as you can. With times as they are who knows if you will even be able to get a regional job two years from now. Better to take the bird in the hand and figure out the rest after your career is underway.

What use is a degree and paid off pilot licenses if there is no one out there who is hiring anymore? Ten years ago it was common to have the low time CFI new hires at the regionals with 4000 hours or more.

I think it is better to be a laid off airline guy who goes to college. Once you have 121 experience it is much easier to get more jobs when times are tuff.

Skyhigh

thanks guys!!!

Without the degree you'll be at a major disadvantage in the competition for the upper tier jobs.

My first priority would be paying off your student loans ASAP. My second priority would be finishing the degree. Ideally, it would be great if you could finish school with zero student loan debt.

You are very correct in saying that seniority is everything in this is industry, but I do not recommend selling your soul for it. In other words, I don't consider the benefit of seniority worth the risk of a lot of student loan debt. One thing is certain with regard to my last statement: seniority will never guarantee you will keep your job, but debt will guarantee you a bill each month whether you have an income or not.

Thanks Led,

This is exactly what i was thinking about doing but i wanted some reassurance. My plan was to keep instructing this way i know i will have a steady stream of income while i finish my degree. By doing this I can pay my loan off in about 3 years instead of a lifetime, and save a ton of $$ in interest. As you can see what skyhigh said above, he would rather be a laid off airline guy who goes to college....theres only one problem with that....When you are laid off, YOU HAVE NO INCOME...but that STUDENT LOAN BILL doesnt care!!! in addition you would have no money to attend college... thanks for all of your advice guys.