Can a poor person become a professional pilot?

[UA-RESURRECTED]

I live at home, only because that allows enough money to fly and whatnot. My parents don't pay for ANYTHING. I have to work 40 hours a week. I drive a 4-cylinder pickup-truck that is 10 years old.

Can I become a professional pilot without my parents giving me money? Anyone else done it????

 

[timeoff]

How old are you?

 

[FN FAL]

Can a poor person beome a professional pilot?

Becoming a professional pilot can make you poor.


Wouldn't it be cheaper to simply go to the rave and jump into the mosh pit and get the crap kicked out of yourself?

 

[kingsize]

I live at home, only because that allows enough money to fly and whatnot. My parents don't pay for ANYTHING. I have to work 40 hours a week. I drive a 4-cylinder pickup-truck that is 10 years old.

Can I become a professional pilot without my parents giving me money? Anyone else done it????

NO.

Wait, that's what the military is for.

 

[ReportCanoa]

Go to the bank and get a loan. Doctors, lawyers, nurses, computer programmers- all pay for their education. Unfortunately, there are too many pilots on the market right now, and your starting pay will reflect that. You may not even see a return for 10 years. But hey, that's life...

 

[JumpCaptain]

It's a tough call. Of course, it will depend on how much you make and where you're doing your flying.

Starting with no time, I'm guessing you could get a comercial-multi-instrument for 25K-35K. Perhaps one of the current flight instructors or FBO guys on here could verify that for me.

It will make a huge difference if you are flying a $60/hr 150 in the midwest or a $150/hr 172 in Hawaii.

A lot of the big FBO's are offering financing options now, so you could just put the whole thing on lone if you really wanted.

 

[JumpCaptain]

Go to the bank and get a loan. Doctors, lawyers, nurses, computer programmers- all pay for their education. Unfortunately, there are too many pilots on the market right now, and your starting pay will reflect that. You may not even see a return for 10 years. But hey, that's life...

Very true.

In the 90's their were stories of guys at the majors making $400K a year and only flying six days a month. Because of that, a lot of people got into flying thinking that that’s the life they would live.

Now, it's ten years later and with all the concessions their are a lot of guys who are tens of thousand of dollars in debt and they only make $25,000 a year at a regional, flying nineteen days a month. So, now the industry is stocked with pilots who are unhappy and looking to get out.

I guess the lesson learned is if you "enjoy" flying, stick with flying just for fun.
If you're obsessed with flying to the point that you dream about it and you know deep down that you will never be happy doing anything else in life, than you will definitely make it happen.

 

[Draginass]

Do yourself and any future family you might have and forget about aviation as a profession. The "profession" is dead. It's just a "job" now, and a very unstable one at that.

If you simply must do something in aviation, go to air traffic control school. You'll make a heck of a lot more money, live at home, and be treated marginally better.

 

[FL420]

I live at home, only because that allows enough money to fly and whatnot. My parents don't pay for ANYTHING. I have to work 40 hours a week. I drive a 4-cylinder pickup-truck that is 10 years old.

Can I become a professional pilot without my parents giving me money? Anyone else done it????

Just curious:
How old are you?
How far did you go in school?
What is the whatnot you are spending your earnings on?
Who pays the rent or mortgage on the house you are living in?
Who pays the taxes on the house you are living in?
Who pays the insurance on the house you are living in?
Who pays for the gas, electricity, water, sewer and trash pickup on the house you are living in?

You, of course, don't have to answer these admittedly personal questions. I am just hoping you don't fit the stereotype of the young person whining about his lot in life while ungratefully sponging off his parents.

Your quote "My parents don't pay for ANYTHING" was like a red flag in the face of this old dad who has been there before.

 

[mcjohn]

Working as a bellman in a fancy hotel paid for all my rating over a 3 year period. No help from others. You could also wait tables in a fine dining restraunt to pay for training.

If I could go back in time I'd probably do the military thing. If you have a four year degree you can become a warrant officer in the army and fly helicopters and not have much more responsibilty than to just fly.

Also, if you join the military with hopes of flying and don't make the cut you can wait till your time has been served, then civilian flight training can still be on the military's bill.

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

I paid for all of my ratings, Pvt, Comm, Milti, inst, CFI (II MEI), ATP, A+P, FE
and 3 Radio Licenses and 3 degrees with NO DEBT, no loans, no help.

How? I worked 2 jobs, sacrificed everything, and worked REALLY hard.

Would I do it all again?

no

CE

(at least I'm not in debt)

 

[banned username 1]

Of course you can. Like anything else, it's a matter of choices that you make. I will admit that the younger you are, the easier it might be. If you have a lot of committments already, you narrow your chances of attaining your goal in a reasonable amount of time.

But the short answer to your question is, yes.

 

[User998]

I was poor when I started flying. I'd venture to guess that the majority of us was poor too. Who has $50-80,000 in spare cash laying around to spend on flight training? I had to finance 100% of my flight training, and I made sure to cut some costs while I was in flight school to (for instance moving in with my parents) to cut down on costs and relieve the need to have a full time job while I was doing it.

Just don't plan on making any good return on your money for a few years on your investment.

If your poor before you start flight training, you'll be poor when you get done with flight training! If your rich when you start flight training, you'll still be poor when you finish flight training. Just the nature of the beast I get.

Bet when you get to do what you love for a living, can you beat that?

 

[DAL737FO]

If I could go back in time I'd probably do the military thing. If you have a four year degree you can become a warrant officer in the army and fly helicopters and not have much more responsibilty than to just fly.

Who sold you that bill of goods? It used to be that a Warrant was just a pilot, or some other specialized field. However now all Warrants are commissioned officers which means they end up being cheap labor. Warrants are Commanders of detachments now.

 

[Amish RakeFight]

hope someone dies and you can collect on insurance and inheritence.......:nuts:

 

[SkyBoy1981]

How old are you?

He's 36.

 

[time builder]

Maybe you should be a truck driver, get used to the traveling man lifestyle. If you're looking for respect as a pilot, it usually lasts about a week, then the UPS driver you're delivering cargo to treats you like a glorified truck driver.
Besides, truck drivers make a lot more money from the beginning.

 

[Lazy8]

I live at home, only because that allows enough money to fly and whatnot. My parents don't pay for ANYTHING. I have to work 40 hours a week. I drive a 4-cylinder pickup-truck that is 10 years old.

Can I become a professional pilot without my parents giving me money? Anyone else done it????

If it's something you really want, then yes. You can do it. Regardless of your age don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.

Keep the truck running, keep working hard, research financial aid options, and start settings goals. I did it

Grove

 

[pilotyip]

No four year degree required for Army WO, join a guard unit, get a aircraft maintenence rating, put in for a flight school slot from your guard unit. Driving helos a will give you a good start on a flying career. This is still a great career. $100K in today's wages is a doable number after 10 years of pursuing your career. Fly because you like to. Good Luck

 

[MTpilot]

Sounds like you have a nice truck!

 

[Caveman]

1. Sign up for a 4 year enlistment in the military branch of your choice.
2. Save as much as you can during your enlistment.
3. Complete as much college as possible using military resources.
4. Use the money you saved and the GI Bill to get your ratings and finish college. Get the ratings first and get paid to fly while you work on finishing your degree.

This isn't a fast track, but it's doable. How long to get to a decent regional? I'm guessing 6-8 years including the military hitch. Hey, you asked how to do it starting from zero dinero. There are other ways that are faster: loans, rich relatives, the lottery, etc. This will work though. Besides, even if it doesn't work out you will have served your country and seen/done a few things most folks will never get to do.

Good luck.

BTW: This was pretty much how I did it, except I kept reenlisting and 4 years turned into 21. I left the Marine Corps with a 2 year degree and a PPL. It took 4 years to get to a decent regional and 5 more to get to a major. I've never owed a dime in student loans or loans for flight training.

 

[bubbers44]

I did it by myself with no money but that was 40 years ago. If you really want to fly go for it. It was tough then and it is tough now. Timing is everything and unfortunately now is not a good time but if you don't try you for sure will not succeed. Everybody thought I was crazy but it worked.

 

[wrxpilot]

Maybe you should be a truck driver, get used to the traveling man lifestyle. If you're looking for respect as a pilot, it usually lasts about a week, then the UPS driver you're delivering cargo to treats you like a glorified truck driver.
Besides, truck drivers make a lot more money from the beginning.

I don't recall him saying anything about getting into it because he "wanted respect as a pilot". What a stupid reason to get into anything.

UA, I certainly believe a poor person can become a professional pilot. I started life from very humble beginnings and am slowly working myself up through aviation. First I got my degree, and then I got into aviation. I wish I would've got into aviation sooner (got my PPL at 27), but oh well. At least I'm able to pay for my training as I go.

I believe that if you truly love aviation as a few do, then you'll never be happy doing anything else. I've been working as an engineer for about 5 yrs, and I absolutely hate it. The actual engineering is cool, but all of the other BS that goes along with it makes it torture. Think Dilbert and you've got it. Aviation may not be what it once was, but I will take flying boxes over this. BTW, this does not imply I will sell out and PFT or fly free either. It just means I want it bad enough that nothing else will make me happy. Just don't do anything crazy like go into debt for $80k just to get your ratings. Way too risky IMO... Good luck!

 

[mcjohn]

wrxpilot, you da man! I started training at the age 27. I'm 30 now. Barely qualified to apply to places (just passed 500tt) but this morning I finally finished my first "professional" pilot resume and boxes are the goal for now. As soon as I get some feedback from a few other pilots out there on the quality of my resume, letter, etc.. Out they go!

Good luck to all aspiring pilots who don't care that avaition isn't what it used to be. If you love to fly then pursue it no matter how late you get started.

I'm excited about my new resume and REALLY appreciate the FI members who helped me polish it up. Off to celebrate!:beer:

 

[jaxpilot]

right now I owe $65,000 to sallie mae (ratings and a few years of private college, stupid mistake). yes it can be done, if I had to do it again I would join the military first.

 

[FN FAL]

right now I owe $65,000 to sallie mae (ratings and a few years of private college, stupid mistake). yes it can be done, if I had to do it again I would join the military first.

If I could have done it over again and knew that I would still have all my legs, arms, eyes, hands, fingers and wouldn't have to crap in a bag, I would have joined the Legion Etranger when I was thinking about it back in 1989.

 

[EMB Skillz]

Dear Kenny,

The best thing you can do, although I used to hate the idea, is go to a school with airline training and get some SKILLZ. People on here will foam at the mouth because you will have a much better job than most of them do, in a much shorter time span. You can get a loan to go to Gulfstream Academy in Florida, and you wouldn't even have to live in your pickup truck.

After you graduate, you will get paid to fly, so dont let anybody on here make you think otherwise. The pay isn't great, but it IS a paying job. What you paid for was the flight training, just like anybody else who goes to flight school. Anyway, after 250 hours it will be an easy transition to flying jets and you will find it very easy to get a job with your airline flying experience. In a few years most of the majors will be hiring again and you will be in a good position. Others who are wasting time in Seminoles will be just moving up to fly a turboprop or RJ.

Student loans can be paid back over time, and they are low interest. The only way to get out of that recycled beer can trailer is to do it this way. Otherwise you will spend the rest of your life at the Waffle House telling yourself that you will find the money someday.

I hope you make it. You will get to look down from your office in the sky like me and wonder what the poor people are doing today.

Go ahead, ask some people on here who know, like PCL_128 and The Russian...both of them are racking up PIC turbine time. The time is now, Kenny.

-Got SKILLZ?

 

[flx757]

So Rhoid. Even after numerous bannings you are STILL not able to come up with any new schtick. SKILLZ is something you sorely lack.

 

[EMB Skillz]

So, another user can't put up a reasonable arguement against GIA. No airline will deny you for attending GIA and they are more likely to hire you as a pilot. Mom and Pop and their rusty old 152 are dead and buried. Real training for airline pilots comes from airlines themselves.

 

[SkyBoy1981]

So, another user can't put up a reasonable arguement against GIA. No airline will deny you for attending GIA and they are more likely to hire you as a pilot. Mom and Pop and their rusty old 152 are dead and buried. Real training for airline pilots comes from airlines themselves.

ROFL. This board is so entertaining.