Amish... Pilot... ?

I feel like there's a really good joke here... but I don't want to be the bunghole to poo on his parade...

 

I think he also has some advantages, compared to his typical "English" age group peers. Serious worth ethic, polite, respectable, and personable would be a given for someone from that background. No screen time cripples in that community.

I knew a guy who grew up poor in a very very remote mountain village in a country very far away. As a teenager he got interested in aviation when a military helo visited his village. Only aircraft he had ever seen. First time he flew was on the trip to the US, he's a regional CA now and I'm sure will get on with a major soon enough.

 

Google this:" out of tragedy, he grew flowers"
Very interesting story of an Amishman who became a TWA captain. Died in TWA 800 while riding in the back. Very interesting.
Among the straw hats hung in the Amish meeting entryway were the hats of TWA pilots who returned to celebrate their colleague Gideon Millers life.
TWA later sent two large vans back to Lancaster Pa. to take the Amish to the TWA JFK hanger, and served lunch aboard a 747 that Gid had flown. One of the TWA chief pilots seated some of the plain folk in the pilot seat where Gideon had worked, a very somber event.
A very moving story.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/1996/07/20/n...they-fear.html

 

I was shredding some old files yesterday and came across some college bills.

We paid 2000 price per credit hour $124 and I think it topped out in 2004 at $141

Price now...$423 per credit hour.

120 hours to graduate at $423 is $50,760 dollars now vs about $17,000 back then

The flight fees to graduate with a CMEL, ASEL, IA, CFI are listed at $78,431. In 2004 I think the price was around $40k

So $129,191, not including living expenses vs 57k in early 2000.

Now, I’d be curious to compare the ROI compared to average salaries in other career fields.

Plenty of people still lining up to pay 130k, so complaining and wishing the airlines change the rules isn’t likely to happen.

 

I’d be curious to compare it to being a doctor. Let’s assume an average career for both.

For the pilot, you’re probably looking at ballpark 125,000 for a four year degree and flight fees at a state school, maybe a Big ten school with a flight program in Indiana. Many will come in less than that with scholarships, some don’t have a good in state program and will end up with much more. First year FO pay at a regional with bonuses, roughly 75k. Upgrade at around the 18 month mark, you’re looking at maybe 55k year two, 75k year three, and 80k year four. Let’s say you work hard, network like crazy, and have a little luck- first year at a major (5 years post graduation) 90k- second year- 135k, third year, 140k, fourth year, 155k, fifth year upgrade 225k, sixth year (year 10 out of school) 230k.

Ends up being roughly 1.26 million dollars at year ten for an initial four year and 125k investment.

Let’s say a doctor does pre-med at a good state school. Let’s say they’re a Hoosier and go to another big ten school in southern Indiana. Call it 40k for tuition, 20k for living expenses. Let’s say they get a 10K scholarship, so 50k total. After four years they will attempt to get into med school somewhere. Let’s say they manage to get into IU school of medicine, and are in state. That is roughly 30k a year for four years- or 120k. We’re now up to 170k minimum in debt without any return. The pilot has made 285,000 and, if they were judicious with their money, have paid off their student debt. The med student must apply for a residency. Let’s say they get one- average pay is 65k and this can last 3+ years. By the time the residency is over, the pilot is at a major and nearing upgrade, routinely making 130+ a year. Let’s say the doctor gets a relatively in-demand specialty- they will likely make 300k a year. So, eventually the doctor will likely overtake the pilot 10-15 years after the pilot graduates, assuming the pilot just flies their line and does no extra work.

Now, I know you’re thinking “getting to a major isn’t a guarantee! I was stuck at so and so airline for 10 years!”- I totally agree, but not every pre-med student gets into medical school, and not ever med school graduate gets a residency (or the one they wanted). I’m just shooting for a middle of the road hypothetical.

I’ll put together a spreadsheet at some point to figure out exactly where the doctor would break even with the pilot, but I’m guessing it’s roughly 10-15 years down the road.

As far as other career fields, I know I’m making more as a regional captain than most of my engineer friends that were in my class. I’d venture the lawyer path looks similar or worse than the doctor path. Finance/business majors that land good jobs probably beat us out of the gate.

 

Your “middle of the road hypothetical” suggests a major airline upgrade at age 32.

Lmfbo

 

Don’t blame him, he’s just spitting off the same lie that was spoon fed to him by college recruiters to scam him into spending a stupid amount of money on something that means absolutely nothing.

 

Meanwhile people get their pilot ratings o. A pay as you go basis and not go into crippling debt along the way. The culture today of inflicting such massive debt on yourself and then demanding it be forgiven just boggles my mind.

Hey.... By the way... When do we start the mortgage forgiveness program? Sign me up to be forgiven for a huge debt I willingly committed to repay without any duress.

 

Yeah, if we're going to get college loans forgiven I want my mortgage forgiven too... frankly I need a place to live more than most of these people need a BA in underwater woke basketweaving.

Also I need a few years of my life back from obligated service from my military college scholarship... they can just write me a check for those years, base pay at my highest final rate.