Sallie Mae Doing its Part to Reduce the Glut of Pilots

[Voice Of Reason]

Guess everyone can go back to demanding higher pay now, since there will be a shortage



The news today is that student loan entity Sallie Mae is moving its call center back to the USA...saw just a blurb on CNN...when I search google news found this new little gem:



"Sallie Mae slashes flight training loan business

By Ian J. Twombly
Responding to what it calls “difficult market conditions,” Sallie Mae announced via letter to select flight schools recently that it is significantly reducing the amount of flight training loans it generates.
Although the reduction is thought to be significant and widespread, the company wouldn’t comment on how many schools will be cut from the loan program.
“Due to difficult market conditions, we have found it necessary to focus our resources only on those schools that generate sufficient volume of approved loans to justify the expense of maintaining this manually intensive program,” said a spokeswoman.
The effective date of the termination is May 8. Applications submitted up to that point are being processed, according to the letter. Students are encouraged to speak with their flight school manager for additional details on whether or not financing will be available through Sallie Mae.
AOPA reminds members that if offers an alternative financing route through its Flight Training Funds Program. The Program doesn’t require students to use a particular school; even private instructors are eligible.
March 31, 2009"

 

[Colonel Savage]

So they will continue their predatory lending practices through May 8th, but AOPA will continue the practice. This will allow the flight academies to continue to sell this bill of goods to unsuspecting school aged kids, making a mockery of becoming an "airline pilot", allowing the pilot glut to further depress wages and working conditions.

GREAT!!

 

[Voice Of Reason]

So they will continue their predatory lending practices through May 8th, but AOPA will continue the practice. This will allow the flight academies to continue to sell this bill of goods to unsuspecting school aged kids, making a mockery of becoming an "airline pilot", allowing the pilot glut to further depress wages and working conditions.

GREAT!!

I never even heard of Sallie Mae before today...but if they are anything like their cousins Fannie & Freddie, good riddance. The profession needs to be flushed of these Mesa farms and AOPA needs to realize that or disappear.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

A lot of students count on this type of funding. Sad. Aviation is truly diminishing at the roots.

 

[BeCareful!]

I wrote to AOPA years ago to ask them to stop glorifying PFT in the magazine and understand that hard working airline pilots have little in common with their elitist, aircraft owning, $500 cheese burger eating membership. They didn't respond so I demanded that they stop sending me membership applications. They are not our friends, IMO.

 

[The Prussian]

I never even heard of Sallie Mae before today...

If you have had to fund your own education, you have more than likely heard of them.

 

[BoilerUP]

I wrote to AOPA years ago to ask them to stop glorifying PFT in the magazine and understand that hard working airline pilots have little in common with their elitist, aircraft owning, $500 cheese burger eating membership. They didn't respond so I demanded that they stop sending me membership applications. They are not our friends, IMO.

God forbid the Aircraft Owners & Pilots Association market toward *gasp* aircraft owners.

As far as PFT goes though, we're in agreement...but a magazine is a business and as long as the advertising rates get paid those glossy ads will continue to be put in there. Its really too bad that ALPA (or some looser association of professional pilot unions) isn't willing to spend the money to put a glossy ad of their own, showing the realities of the industry and the damage PFT has on the profession, on the opposing page...

Back on point with the original post, Sallie Mae blows. I used to live a mere 5 minutes from their call center in Fishers, IN and when I called because they screwed up my student loan payments for the fourth time in six months, my call went to an Indian call center first and only after sternly asking for "an American agent" did you get to talk to a good midwestern person who 1. you could actually understand and 2. could get the problem fixed.

 

[ualdriver]

Wow, that's surprising. Sallie Mae is the biggest provider of educational loans in the country. They also buy the loans from other banks who make educational loans so that they can "relend" to college students. If Sallie Mae stopped lending or buying loans from banks in any significant way, I think many people would have a hard time paying for college.

I wonder if they're slashing loans for flight training because of flight students having more difficulty than other types of students paying the loans back (forbearances for example).

And that AOPA deal doesn't look that great. First of all it's administered by FIA Card Services, which is a credit card company. The interest rates will probably be astronomical. Plus, you can only borrow 25K. I imagine it would be pretty hard to work through your ratings quickly if that's all one could borrow. Now that borrowing a significant amount of money for this career is a smart thing to do, anyway.

 

[Voice Of Reason]

If you have had to fund your own education, you have more than likely heard of them.

Millions of people had mortgages and never heard of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac prior to the housing dive, now they're household names.

 

[fly4surf]

Is this the beginning of the drive towards MPL?

'but there is a shortage because of the lack of available student loans'

The death spiral continues.

 

[lionflyer]

Is this the beginning of the drive towards MPL?

'but there is a shortage because of the lack of available student loans'

The death spiral continues.

If MPL becomes a reality, it will still be expensive to achieve. The FAA has done plenty of stupid things but I don't see them signing off on this. Most jets and big T-props require 2 PILOTS, not an ATP and a button pusher.

 

[Raoul Duke]

PFT is not the problem.

 

[ACL65PILOT]

Key Loans did the same thing after 9-11 when the pilots getting out of ERAU and the like owed 100K+ and defaulted.

 

[Lear70]

I never even heard of Sallie Mae before today...

Wha...???

Did you go to college?

Did you get a subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford Federal Student Loan?

Sallie Mae is THE government lender for these loans, just like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the primary underwriters for FHA housing loans. Anyone who has a Stafford Federal Student Loan knows who Sallie Mae is.

Incidentally, I have NO problem with anyone cutting funding to "puppy mill" academies and PFT / Gulfstream type companies, but it's a mistake to cut funding to the 4-year Accredited degree programs that have flight departments such as ERAU, UND, MTSU, etc. Those are recognized flight schools that can only be funded in conjunction with four year Bachelor degrees, and THOSE are the kinds of pilots I'd like to see coming up through the ranks.

 

[Perturbed]

Why would anyone lend money to a group of people who are likely to STIFF when times get tough. Go knock on your neighbor's door and try to get a loan for flight school.

If it was a good deal then lots of people would loan the money.

 

[instructordude]

Wha...???

Did you go to college?

Did you get a subsidized or unsubsidized Stafford Federal Student Loan?

Sallie Mae is THE government lender for these loans, just like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are the primary underwriters for FHA housing loans. Anyone who has a Stafford Federal Student Loan knows who Sallie Mae is.

Incidentally, I have NO problem with anyone cutting funding to "puppy mill" academies and PFT / Gulfstream type companies, but it's a mistake to cut funding to the 4-year Accredited degree programs that have flight departments such as ERAU, UND, MTSU, etc. Those are recognized flight schools that can only be funded in conjunction with four year Bachelor degrees, and THOSE are the kinds of pilots I'd like to see coming up through the ranks.

Gulfstream has hired quite a few from the "Academy".

 

[regionaltard]

Mesa Mae.

 

[Way2Broke]

GOOD! They are my highest interest rate! I don't wish them on anyone!

 

[Lear70]

Yeah, I know. Been thinking about taking ONE class, getting a student loan for it, so I could combine them and lower the interest rate on both...

Anyone done that yet, by the way?

9.25% interest, sucks...

 

[hockeypilot44]

Yeah, I know. Been thinking about taking ONE class, getting a student loan for it, so I could combine them and lower the interest rate on both...

Anyone done that yet, by the way?

9.25% interest, sucks...

Wow. My mortage is only 4.7% interest, and that's for a 30-year fixed loan. My student loan is fixed at 2.85%.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

Wow. My mortage is only 4.7% interest, and that's for a 30-year fixed loan. My student loan is fixed at 2.85%.

How'd you swing that? Is that for a college tuition loan or is it connected to flight training. I haven't any debt from flight training, but I'm still paying off my liberal arts education at a much higher %.

 

[BoilerUP]

4.7% for a 30 year means you have a credit score at or above 800...OR you timed your financing perfectly.

 

[AceCrackshot]

Wha...???

[some snipping occured here...]

Incidentally, I have NO problem with anyone cutting funding to "puppy mill" academies and PFT / Gulfstream type companies, but it's a mistake to cut funding to the 4-year Accredited degree programs that have flight departments such as ERAU, UND, MTSU, etc. Those are recognized flight schools that can only be funded in conjunction with four year Bachelor degrees, and THOSE are the kinds of pilots I'd like to see coming up through the ranks.

Why, exactly?

1) Everyone's ATP is the same color, regardless of its origin.

2) ERAU, UND, CMSU etc. are not much better than the "puppy mills" you rightly deride. I've dealt with these graduates also, all of whom were sold an "all of our graduates are above average" bill of goods. The quality spread of their graduates is about the same that I've found from the military, Part 61, Part 141, etc.

3) The market is reacting to the reality of pilot wages and career expectations. It makes no sense to pay 70k for education that will yield considerably less than that, even over a 10-20 year time frame. The ability to pay back that loan is practically impossible.

4) Airlines need to adjust to the training reality. They've been the beneficiary of a HUGE subsidy in the form of a glut of trained pilots, for DECADES. They have just expected this to be around, like the rain. They created training bonds and contracts, and other probably unenforceable contract language to bind and restrain the pilots right of trade (seniority language and other things.)

Personally, there needs to be two or three pilot unions in the U.S. who provide trained pilots for airlines on a bi-yearly basis, more along the lines of other skilled trades unions. This won't happen, for reasons that are obvious to anyone.

Ideally, the union in the short-term would fight cabotage, the MPL, and for airline ab-initio. This would give the airlines incentive to retain trained personnel.

 

[Dornier 335]

somewhat off topic

If MPL becomes a reality, it will still be expensive to achieve. The FAA has done plenty of stupid things but I don't see them signing off on this. Most jets and big T-props require 2 PILOTS, not an ATP and a button pusher.

lionflyer, I wouldn't bet my money on it. MPL has already been introduced at some airlines in Europe like Air Berlin and Flybe and I am afraid more airlines in Europe will follow suit and eventually start here in the US. As far as I understand it, the training syllabus is specifically laid out for that airline, so your b@lls are being held, restricting your move. But hey, your flying a shiny jet, right?

It is obvious that the FAA has been nothing else than a puppet of the airlines or IATA. Few examples: Crew rest for ultra-long flights (AA and CAL), 16 hour duty days/ min rest accidents (AA @ LIT, Comair etc.), caught with their pants down with SWA. When it comes to the individual FAA inspector to show off his flying desk skills by trying to violate you for forgetting to sign or submit paperwork, you know common sense has been lost a long time ago. How many FAA inspectors do you know who are in touch with reality with avarage Joe the Linepilot? All they care about besides the paperwork is to be home @ 4pm. Long days, fatigue, re-routes etc. has no grounds for understanding any more.

 

[lionflyer]

lionflyer, I wouldn't bet my money on it. MPL has already been introduced at some airlines in Europe like Air Berlin and Flybe and I am afraid more airlines in Europe will follow suit and eventually start here in the US. As far as I understand it, the training syllabus is specifically laid out for that airline, so your b@lls are being held, restricting your move. But hey, your flying a shiny jet, right?

It is obvious that the FAA has been nothing else than a puppet of the airlines or IATA. Few examples: Crew rest for ultra-long flights (AA and CAL), 16 hour duty days/ min rest accidents (AA @ LIT, Comair etc.), caught with their pants down with SWA. When it comes to the individual FAA inspector to show off his flying desk skills by trying to violate you for forgetting to sign or submit paperwork, you know common sense has been lost a long time ago. How many FAA inspectors do you know who are in touch with reality with avarage Joe the Linepilot? All they care about besides the paperwork is to be home @ 4pm. Long days, fatigue, re-routes etc. has no grounds for understanding any more.

Yeah I agree. Remember the Jetblue 8+hr transcon proposal? Or the SWA pax still standing on pushback so they could reduce turn times proposal? The FAA doesn't buy everything the airlines cry about. The MPL raises serious safety concerns. How many Regs will they have to change to accomodate the MPL? Like someone above just stated: "the market is responding". The airlines can pay up or shut up.

 

[lionflyer]

And the MPL, if enacted, will not be cheap training. Good luck to anyone who trys to get financing.

 

[Lear70]

Wow. My mortage is only 4.7% interest, and that's for a 30-year fixed loan. My student loan is fixed at 2.85%.

Yep, my mortgage is 5.25% FHA 30-year fixed, wanted to refinance, but only have a 780 beacon score and can't find a bank that will talk to me 30-year fixed under 4.75 without putting a lot of money down (which I don't have), even though I have well less than a 80% loan-to-value (got it in foreclosure several months ago).

The big problem with Sallie Mae loans is you can only refinance once. Ever.

Unless you're consolidating. When I first went to college, it was cheap, only $750 or so a semester for in-state plus books, so I paid cash. My last 2 years is when I did all my flight training and had to take out Stafford Loans, only $12,000, my total training and college was nothing compared to a lot of folks, so I'm lucky there.

But I ended up with two loans, one for the 1992-1993 school year and one for the 1993-1994. The interest was 11.75. I'm not kidding. So when the loan rates hit 9.25 and I got the consolidation letter, I was like "sweet!", not realizing (it was in the very fine print on page 4) that you could only do this ONCE.

Between switching jobs every 2 years after that for 6 years and making minimum payments and putting it in forbearance a couple times (layoffs, 9/11, etc), the loan is up to $25,000 after 15 years.

The only way to get a lower interest rate on your Sallie Mae student loan is to take out a 2nd mortgage and pay it off, or get another Stafford Loan, take 4 classes or so to be considered full-time, then combine those loans.

If I wasn't working, I'd probably be working on my MBA and doing just that right now... Wish Obama had fixed the "no refinance" policy along with all the other free money he's been throwing around.

 

[Lear70]

Why, exactly?

1) Everyone's ATP is the same color, regardless of its origin.

2) ERAU, UND, CMSU etc. are not much better than the "puppy mills" you rightly deride. I've dealt with these graduates also, all of whom were sold an "all of our graduates are above average" bill of goods. The quality spread of their graduates is about the same that I've found from the military, Part 61, Part 141, etc.

OK, if you really believe that, then I'm not even going to try to dissuade you; I'd be wasting both my time and yours.

Puppy Mill = no usable skills other than a wet CMEL.

4 year degree with CMEL = a wealth of knowledge and skillsets including command of the English language, knowledge of history and events, and an overall better customer service foundation than a high school graduate with a wet CMEL.

Simple math.

Government education funding existed to put people through the collegiate education system. Glad to hear its use for other training is being curtailed.

 

[AceCrackshot]

OK, if you really believe that, then I'm not even going to try to dissuade you; I'd be wasting both my time and yours.

Puppy Mill = no usable skills other than a wet CMEL.

4 year degree with CMEL = a wealth of knowledge and skillsets including command of the English language, knowledge of history and events, and an overall better customer service foundation than a high school graduate with a wet CMEL.

Simple math.

Government education funding existed to put people through the collegiate education system. Glad to hear its use for other training is being curtailed.

If I had a nickel for everytime I heard the words "worthless degree" and "Embry" or "UND" from graduates of those institutions, I'd retire early. That's not my assessment of their education, it was THEIRS.

Collegiate flight programs have created the glut of pilots, as much as any other factor. Their job is make money for the state, and they've done a spectacular job of overselling the industry.

The important issue for us, though, is the end result.

How many CPLs and ATPs are available for employment at any given time, and how many positions are there? That is an order of magnitude more important than if one ATP can translate Virgil from the Latin and the other can bearly read a restaurant menu.

Airlines differentiate among candidates, to be sure. However, once hired, the pay is based on longetivity and position, not resume.

For the purposes of making the career viable again, numbers count. The more people vote with their feet, and airlines feel the pain of the withdrawal of subsidy, the more likely the market forces will be in our favor.

Anything that makes getting an ATP harder, is a good thing. That's elitism, but there it is.

 

[Dornier 335]

And the MPL, if enacted, will not be cheap training. Good luck to anyone who trys to get financing.

That's how airlines with their ab inito training make sure you don't leave! LH is a prime example.