Took my first flying lesson at age 11, wanted to go to USAFA but decided on Purdue for aviation (out of state) with AFROTC scholarship. Started Purdue at 18 and got my private, at 19 found out I was medically disqualified from Air Force. My 4th semester I did my IRA/COM/CFI/CFII rides in a 6 week period. Instructed two summers in LEX, and was a Chautauqua intern between my junior/senior year. Was selected to fly Purdue's Beechjet fall of my senior year, then did a one-year UPS co-op all of 2005, graduating in December 2005. At that point, I was a CFI-AIM and had roughly 1050tt, 100 multi, and had spent probably 30-35k directly on flying with another good amount on regular college tuition & fees. I had about 50k in student loan debt.

Started at Air Wisconsin the first week of 2006, based at some point in all 3 (at that time) domiciles even as a newly married man, and happily worked there through Nov 2007 when I was hired by my current employer. After 3 months and obtaining my ATP/CE500 type rating, the Chief Pilot quit for NetJets and at age 24 I was promoted by my boss to Chief Pilot "...because I trust you." Given all that responsibility I hired my current colleague, went through a major maintenance event on our old Citation, managed the acquisition of our new CJ2+ along with the divestiture of the old airplane, and have been flying & pushing paper ever since.

Today I'm 26 years old, married with a successful wife, own a nice home on a 15 year note, and will have all but about $5k of my student loan debt paid off before my 27th birthday.

So what did it take for me to get where I am today? A lot of financial burden, even more hard work, a little recognition of that hard work, and more than just a little luck.

Took Private Pilot Ground school through a local community college in high school. Started flying at 18 in college...4 years of college later (2 as a student and 2 as a part time CFI) I had about 800 hours and over 100k in debt. One year after graduation and a year as a full time CFI I had about 1500hrs...went to Mesa...and that's where the real payment happened. Lost about 5 years off my life from frustration and high blood pressure...got out after a year and went to RAH...been there 3 years and overall like it.

At 28, I bought my private while stationed at NAS Key West with the base flying club. Last 15 months or so on active duty, took a full time job and banked every penny I could. After separation, took the money I saved plus the GI bill and had enough to pay rent and flight training up to CFII (had an easy part time job to pay for food and beer). Finished flight training with zero dollars and zero debt.

Since then I instructed a year or so, worked 8 years for two 135 companies that have since both closed up, did the corporate thing for a year, and ended up flying a 121 Saab for "job security".

I'm not sure how I got here, but I did find some security camera footage from when I got my first furlough notice:

YouTube - I got nowhere else to go

And my second:

YouTube - i got nowhere else to go!

And this is Bryan Bedford trying to get me to just go away after locking me out:

YouTube - I got no where else to go

24 and 50K in debt too, 1500tt with half of that 121. I have always wanted to fly for the airlines. I was an average high school student with a dream ha.
I went to a small 141 flight school where I obtained my ratings, worked through college, while flight instructing at a big 141 school and got on with a 121 carrier after obtaining my bachelor's with 700tt.
I now have been furloughed for 8 months and miss flying a ton. I do love the job when I have it and can't imagine doing anything else. I'm hoping to get on with a respectable regional carrier. I think that will make a world of difference.
I totally agree w/ the statement above, day to day is enjoyable but it really does leave you with nothing else in life for sure.

The details of my life are quite inconsequential....Very well, where should I begin? My father was a relentlessly self-improving boulangerie owner from Belgium with low-grade narcolepsy and a penchant for buggery. My mother was a fifteen-year-old French prostitute named Chloe with webbed feet. My father would womanize, he would drink, he would make outrageous claims, like he invented the question mark. Sometimes he would accuse chestnuts of being lazy. A sort of general malaise that only the genius possess and the insane lament. My childhood was typical. Summers in Rangoon, luge lessons. In the spring we'd make meat*helmets. If I was insolent, I was placed in a burlap bag and beaten with reeds. Pretty standard, really. At the age of twelve I received my first scribe. At the age of fifteen, a Zoroastrian named Vilma ritualistically shaved my testicles. There really is nothing like a shorn scrotum. At the age of eighteen, I went off to evil medical school. From there...I went on to get my private. The rest is history.

AWESOME!!!

took my discovery flight when i was 13 along with a few lessons. hit it hard when i turned 16 didnt get to solo on my 16th birthday but got my private 2 days after i turned 17. Graduated High School a year early, Went off to an aviation college. Got my associates and finished up my ratings, while working at the local FBO and as a agent for the local Continental Connection feeder. Was lucky enough to h ave lots of students and built alot of time really quickly. Finally got my first "real" job flying jets with a charter/managment company. I was 20 years old had about 1100TT/160ME.
So far not including my private had spent about $35k including my associates. Was fortunate enough to have my parents pay for everything as long as I maintained a 3.0. They only covered flying and tuition and "fun money" I had to provide. Worked for about a year, then did a short stint for a regional hated it, and was fortunate enough to find a job flying a Falcon freighter outta my hometown.
Best job Ive ever had by far, alot of people dont like the on demand lifestyle but i dont mind. I live in my hometown fly 40-60-hours a month. Spend maybe 5-7 nights a month away from home, and make pretty decent coin. So thats where I stand 24 years old about 2800TT and enjoying every bit of it. Zero debt about to close on my first house though, so fixing to take on alot of debt lol. I realize I have very blessed and thank God every day for the privelages I have had. I wish everyone else who chooses this career the best of luck as well.

Started flying at an afb aero club my freshman year at a comm. college. Got all the ratings and a B.S. from an extended campus of ERAU on the base, while working two other part-time jobs. Every penny I ever spent on my training - $21,500. Instructed at the AFB for almost two years, and then another two years at a small college out of state. Got hired by my first regional with 2300 TT and about a 100 ME in the first part of 2005. Furloughed from them in 2006. Hired at my current gig in early 2006. Quick upg (lucky that time). Made $77,000 last year without working any overtime. Of course I was on RSV for 5 months - 11 days off per month. I feel very fortunate that I worked as hard as I did from 98-2005. I hope my current company gets better, otherwise I'm out the door when the better companies begin to hire. But then again I'm happy that I'll have descent time to apply to those companies. 5500TT 3000Turb. 1500 TPIC.

So I was looking at ERAU's website...and could not believe it...went I went a few years ago, it was never this bad.

Estimated Cost of Attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Estimated annual costs + flying = $53,300 a year

At 4 years = $213,200....for a $20,000 a year job? Maybe? Are you kidding me!!!! And I don't know about everyone, but a lot of people spend a lot more than $15,000 a year in flight costs....I am sure $60,000 a year is not unheard off.