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chewingonabone@gmail.com
Guest
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 Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:26 am Post subject: Paying for Flight School |
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Hey guys, I'm new to the group, but I'd like to have some advice from
pilots.
I got my pilot's license as well as my IFR certification when iw as
18. I am now 20, and just started college. (I took a while off to
start college.) Anyway, the advice I'm seeking has to deal with paying
for the rest of flight school to become a commercial pilot. I'm
already going to be about $60k in debt from just college, not
including the rest of flight school which I would estimate to place me
another $30-40k in debt. I've considered joining the military. However
I don't really care to join. If anyone has any ideas, that'd be
greatly appreciated. |
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Jim Stewart
Guest
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 3:45 am Post subject: Re: Paying for Flight School |
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chewingonabone (AT) gmail (DOT) com wrote:
| Quote: | Hey guys, I'm new to the group, but I'd like to have some advice from
pilots.
I got my pilot's license as well as my IFR certification when iw as
18. I am now 20, and just started college. (I took a while off to
start college.) Anyway, the advice I'm seeking has to deal with paying
for the rest of flight school to become a commercial pilot. I'm
already going to be about $60k in debt from just college, not
including the rest of flight school which I would estimate to place me
another $30-40k in debt. I've considered joining the military. However
I don't really care to join. If anyone has any ideas, that'd be
greatly appreciated.
|
For your 4-year degree, you could do what
my daughter is doing. Spend your first
2 years going to community college and
live with your parents. That shouldn't
cost more than 3-4 thousand a year. Then
transfer to a state university. That
will cost about 8 thousand a year. Between
working summers and help from your parents,
the debt should be little to none.
As to the flight training, first get a real
job and save your money. Get your instructor's
rating and teach some flying.
People have been getting through school this
way for years. Or do what I did and join
the Army for 3 years. You might actually
enjoy it and not regret the decision later. |
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Larry Stimely
Guest
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 4:04 am Post subject: Re: Paying for Flight School |
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Jim Stewart wrote:
| Quote: | chewingonabone (AT) gmail (DOT) com wrote:
Hey guys, I'm new to the group, but I'd like to have some advice from
pilots.
I got my pilot's license as well as my IFR certification when iw as
18. I am now 20, and just started college. (I took a while off to
start college.) Anyway, the advice I'm seeking has to deal with paying
for the rest of flight school to become a commercial pilot. I'm
already going to be about $60k in debt from just college, not
including the rest of flight school which I would estimate to place me
another $30-40k in debt. I've considered joining the military. However
I don't really care to join. If anyone has any ideas, that'd be
greatly appreciated.
For your 4-year degree, you could do what
my daughter is doing. Spend your first
2 years going to community college and
live with your parents. That shouldn't
cost more than 3-4 thousand a year. Then
transfer to a state university. That
will cost about 8 thousand a year. Between
working summers and help from your parents,
the debt should be little to none.
As to the flight training, first get a real
job and save your money. Get your instructor's
rating and teach some flying.
People have been getting through school this
way for years. Or do what I did and join
the Army for 3 years. You might actually
enjoy it and not regret the decision later.
|
This is good advice.
Get that degree, then worry about flying later. You're young. You have
plenty of time.
As to the military thing...boy, the services are a scary place right
now. I'd borrow the money for school and worry about paying it back
later on. Or...you could join an ROTC program and agree to serve so
many years as an officer later on. |
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gatt
Guest
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 5:09 am Post subject: Re: Paying for Flight School |
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"Larry Stimely" <stimely (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote in message
news:Lb53i.3118$4Y.1460 (AT) newssvr19 (DOT) news.prodigy.net...
| Quote: | As to the military thing...boy, the services are a scary place right now.
I'd borrow the money for school and worry about paying it back later on.
Or...you could join an ROTC program and agree to serve so many years as an
officer later on.
|
Given that he already has his Private with Instrument rating, that should
put him in a great position for an ROTC aviation billet or scholarship,
or even an army Warrant Officer program. Boy, it would sure suck to learn
to fly Apaches on somebody else's dime!
Otherwise, I agree with the other people. Either find a college that has an
aviation program (such as Washington State University or a local community
college) or complete college before attempting to progress with ratings.
-c |
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Larry Stimely
Guest
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 5:42 am Post subject: Re: Paying for Flight School |
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gatt wrote:
| Quote: | "Larry Stimely" <stimely (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote in message
news:Lb53i.3118$4Y.1460 (AT) newssvr19 (DOT) news.prodigy.net...
As to the military thing...boy, the services are a scary place right now.
I'd borrow the money for school and worry about paying it back later on.
Or...you could join an ROTC program and agree to serve so many years as an
officer later on.
Given that he already has his Private with Instrument rating, that should
put him in a great position for an ROTC aviation billet or scholarship,
or even an army Warrant Officer program. Boy, it would sure suck to learn
to fly Apaches on somebody else's dime!
Otherwise, I agree with the other people. Either find a college that has an
aviation program (such as Washington State University or a local community
college) or complete college before attempting to progress with ratings.
-c
|
Let me be even more frank.
Get that frickin' degree! NOW!
I work as a very senior unix specialist, and I see more damn guys who
can't get jobs or keep jobs NOT because they aren't proficient with the
technology but usually because they never finished their college degrees.
We've got a situation right now where a very good friend from a defense
contractor has a chance to get a management slot with a local
government, but (so we're told) doesn't stand a chance with all his
experience due to not having a bachelor's degree. He can do the job but
thirty people applied for that slot and we know perfectly well he won't
be the one they choose - for that exact reason.
Don't let that happen to you. Please?
If you happen to meet a nice girl with pretty eyes and pretty everything
else who wants to hold you back from finishing your education...get away
from her. And, for God's sake, don't get her pregnant outside of
marriage! You want to ruin your life? That'll do it.
You also might want to consider the Air Force Reserve or the Naval
Reserve. I'd lean Navy if you're interested in a reserve commission
because their educational benefits are out of this world. You want law
school? They'll pay for it. You want an advanced engineering degree?
Ditto. It's just that you might end up serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Just a few things to think about. |
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gatt
Guest
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| Posted: Fri May 18, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject: Re: Paying for Flight School |
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"Larry Stimely" <stimely (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote in message
news:8E63i.21055$YL5.9540 (AT) newssvr29 (DOT) news.prodigy.net...
| Quote: | Get that frickin' degree! NOW!
I work as a very senior unix specialist, and I see more damn guys who
can't get jobs or keep jobs NOT because they aren't proficient with the
technology but usually because they never finished their college degrees.
|
LOL! Meanwhile, I'm a very junior Unix specialist and university grad and
my college neighbor--who smoked pot, played video games and dropped out of
college--ended up being my boss for awhile. Another dropout just bought a
Porsche and lives up in the hills in San Francisco. He's 33, 34 years old.
Having said that, those are the two that got lucky. The rest are making
$15/hr or less doing jobs they hate. Cynicism aside, I agree with you 100%.
> |
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Robert M. Gary
Guest
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| Posted: Sat May 19, 2007 2:38 am Post subject: Re: Paying for Flight School |
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On May 17, 3:26 pm, "chewingonab...@gmail.com"
<chewingonab...@gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Hey guys, I'm new to the group, but I'd like to have some advice from
pilots.
I got my pilot's license as well as my IFR certification when iw as
18. I am now 20, and just started college. (I took a while off to
start college.) Anyway, the advice I'm seeking has to deal with paying
for the rest of flight school to become a commercial pilot. I'm
already going to be about $60k in debt from just college, not
including the rest of flight school which I would estimate to place me
another $30-40k in debt. I've considered joining the military. However
I don't really care to join. If anyone has any ideas, that'd be
greatly appreciated.
|
Nowadays airline pilots **MUST** have a backup career to pay the bills
during the down times of the market. Go to college and get a degree in
something nonaviation that will pay the bills (and pay for your flight
training).
-Robert |
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