Financing...

[Joshrk22]

Hey guys, as I'm adding up the cost of the flight training I intend to endure, the cost is overwhelming. I'm a sixteen year old can't even pay for his PPL let alone the rest of the ratings. How do you guys do it? How does someone go from PPL - CFI? I emailed my local FBO to see if I can work there maybe for reduced rates, not sure how that is going to go though. Any student scholarships out there to help fund a PPL for a high school student?

 

[mcjohn]

Go to college for free with scholarships or grants. Ratings through CFI is approx. 40k unless you find a "special place" Flyin ain't cheap anymore. Just look at it as the student loan and go to a local tech school or something to save money on a degree. Degree is something you need in aviation. At least a two year.
Read this thread:
http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=75474

 

[9GClub]

Hey man,

1.) Do some research (talk to people, make some phonecalls) and see if you can find any local scholarships-- for example, a church near me sponsors a flying scholarship through the "Community Foundation of Frederick County [Maryland]"....... it's basically a philanthropic "organizer" society that oversees a multitude of scholarships and grants. Your particular region may not have one, but then again it might.

2.) Like you already said, do some work for somebody or some group that has what you want. Sometimes they're open to it, sometimes they're not, but they can only tell you "no"-- you don't have anything to lose.

3.) Get to know some pilots and/or aircraft owners. Sometimes they'll let you fly their plane for the price of fuel. Don't count on it. =)

4.) I don't know much about the Civil Air Patrol (CAP), but you might wanna look into that too. Some other folks here know more about it.

5.) Realize-- and you already know this-- that flight training is not cheap. You'll most likely have to plunk down a few grand to get your license. Keep focused on your goal..... money is time, so start skipping those $9.00 movies at the theater.

6.) Look into flying clubs.

Good luck with your training!

 

[navigator72]

40K for a CFI? where are you flying?

 

[Alin10123]

40K for a CFI? where are you flying?

Yea... seriously... that's pretty darn cheap.

 

[600rvr]

This is probably one of the more expensive routes but the one that I chose. Look for accredited flight schools such as Flight Safety. These types of schools are eligible for federal loans. The only cosigner that I had available (and more importantly willing) had good credit but not enough income to get a regular student loan for an FBO type school. In the long run it cost me more but it was that or no flying career for me. These types of schools generally offer better training because they allow you to finance everything and focus solely on your ratings(that means if your lucky, you can find a job and repay sooner). I finished my flight school 3 years ago and after a few low paying jobs I finally landed a gig that pays roughly 40 or so. If you're smart with your money you could potentially pay off your loan within 10 years. If my math serves me that would make you 26ish! Good luck and I'm sure if you PM anyone who has responded they would be happy to give you names and numbers for some schools to help you get started.

 

[av8rbama]

Hey guys, as I'm adding up the cost of the flight training I intend to endure, the cost is overwhelming. I'm a sixteen year old can't even pay for his PPL let alone the rest of the ratings. How do you guys do it? How does someone go from PPL - CFI? I emailed my local FBO to see if I can work there maybe for reduced rates, not sure how that is going to go though. Any student scholarships out there to help fund a PPL for a high school student?

You're under 18, you could join (and be active in) the Civil Air Patrol and earn your private there, there are some flight scholarships there and the planes are cheap if you don't get a scholarship (172 for around $30 dry, prices vary from unit to unit and CFI's donate their time). I got my instrument, SE commercial, CFI and soon II through the CAP. You'll run across a ton of gung-ho weekend warriors that will drive you nuts but if you ignore their quirkiness you can get some cheap flying. After you turn 18, you already have to have a private to fly their planes.

 

[Learsforsale]

Depending on where you are located you could try Chesapeake Proflight at KBWI. They offer a career program and have financing through Sallie Mae. The discounts are pretty good if you are in it for the long haul. Then again, you have to look at the practicality of paying 45K+ for an education that ends up paying $20/hour, with no guarantee on flight hours per month (weather, flaky students ect..)