What about CFI, CFII, and MEI? Never got them? Maybe I could see a PPL in 50 hours at about $100/hr plane + instructor+supplies for someone smart, but that's $5k right there and damned cheap too. You got all the rest for only $5k? That's $25 an hour to reach 250, no money left for exams (that's 4 checkrides at a typical cost of $250 each), you're really stretching credulity there. A more common estimate is $20-30k for average folks for that set of tickets using economy airplanes, doing a lot of safety piloting and cutting corners on everything esle. It is not uncommon for people to end up north of $50k even so. I think mine was $30k or so through MEI. I was lucky about saving money on most of it and got one ticket for free (CFI).

 

In what decade or century?

 

Never got any instructor ratings.

 

Last century, mid 80s.

 

Okay. Well, 1985 called and they want their non-inflation-adjusted comparison back.

 

ROFLMAO!!! Post of the thread!!

 

In 1989 I started my PPL, C-150 was 45/hr w/ instructor!

 

Haha kind of what I figured.

 

I'm a newly minted commercial pilot, SEL only, and it takes a hustle getting a measly .7 or 1.1 here and there.
Very few 135 commuter outfits hire at commercial mins, and the ones that do have WAY too many guys applying.
I have mixed feelings about repealing the FO Qualification Rule, because obviously it's bad for the profession as a whole, however, the positions from getting to ATP mins , or even 135 mins for that matter are scant. (Unless you become an instructor) I've been told This used not to be the case...

Personally, i'm in it for the love flying , but I think part of the reason fewer people are signing up for the profession is that there is no well defined path to "make it". The pilot has to shoulder the entire burden. Possibly for upwards of 5 years. In the case of the FO rule, The FAA (...on behalf of congress) has raised the bar significantly without providing any sort of initiative to fill the gap it created.

Relax the Part 135 SIC logging rules anyone?
Increase the less than 9 to less than 19 to encourage more small operators to open doors?

 

A hundred thousand isn't necessary to become a pilot; not by a long shot.

Many are willing to invest in becoming a pilot.

Not so many are willing to fly for a regional. There are other career paths, generally chosen by the more savvy who don't wish to prostitute themselves for the sake of "hours."

Those who hire on with the likes of Great Lakes know what they're getting into; pick up one end of the stick, pick up the other. Nobody puts a gun to their head and forces them to seek, or accept employment there. People get employed there because they think it benefits them, period.

As for Riverton...there's nothing in Riverton. There are plenty of places in Wyoming where people must drive a fair distance to get a flight. I lived closer to a town that GLA served, but drove the extra distance to hit Cody or Billings, instead. More choices, better service, better equipment, better companies.