Can a poor person become a professional pilot?

[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.