How much did you spend of flight training?

[labbats]

FWIW I've got a couple degrees but wouldn't trade it for anything. You're more well rounded and have the ability to discuss things beyond aviation.

On the other hand most of my good friends didn't go to college and are doing just fine.

The important thing is to go out and have a great time from age 16-22. All of the captains I've flown with that did nothing but aviation during that time have regretted it.

 

[pilotyip]

No regrets either

FWIW I've got a couple degrees but wouldn't trade it for anything. You're more well rounded and have the ability to discuss things beyond aviation.

Why would you want to talk about anything but airplanes and flying?

 

[ALIMBO]

Im studying aviation management lol its a joke. Everytime I go to class I realize how much more I will never take a job that doesn't deal with flying.

 

[Salukipilot4590]

Im studying aviation management lol its a joke. Everytime I go to class I realize how much more I will never take a job that doesn't deal with flying.

Man I dont think I have ever told you this but...get out of AVM... When youre in a situation like mine...you'll be better off with NO degree let alone an AVM degree. To date I have been laughed out of 2 management positions.

Get a real business degree or something...stay in Carbondale a little longer...get drunk a little more.

I can't believe I didnt listen to the many people who told me not to get this f'n degree...its totally pointless.

 

[Flying Ninja]

I can't believe I didnt listen to the many people who told me not to get this f'n degree...its totally pointless.

I hate to break it to you but most bachelor degrees are pointless. It's not so much the content that matters. The bottom line is that you are able to walk out of college with the ability to think critically, learn how to use your brain, and apply those skills after you get out of college; provided you haven't drank your neurons away by then. Granted some degrees are more challenging than others, but having a degree beats not having one any day. Every company I've ever worked for could care less what you got your degree in, as long as you had one.

 

[pilotyip]

What are you saying?

I hate to break it to you but most bachelor degrees are pointless.

This is a break with the "You must have college degree or you are not as good as me crowd", you will incur the wrath on this site.

 

[jeroom]

Flight training has become progressively more expensive. How much did you spend? If replying please note the year you finished and any special circumstances.

Probably not enough....I am stil figuring out how to land the thing!

 

[surveypilot]

From 1993-1997, I spent roughly $40,000 for my four year aviation degree. About half the cost was the Private, Instrument, Commercial, Multi, CFI, and CFII. About $16k was financed with student loans. I paid about $2000 in cash for my private, and the rest was covered by scholarships. I later picked up my MEI for free. I was working for a company who let me use a Seneca for my checkride, and I had a DPE that I had sent several students to that I talked into doing my checkride for free. I recently completed my ATP as part of a 135 checkride for free. It only cost me the $100 for the written.

 

[Lynxman]

Damn how much has changed since this last was around.

 

[Alaska82]

http://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm
to give people apples to apples comparison you guys should adjust your numbers.
45000 in 2003 at spartan would cost me $52,468.29 in 2009 dollars.
captains that made 250000 in 2000 would need to be making $311,464.87 to have the same buying power in 2009. if you take into account inflation i would guess that most legacy pilots work more today and make less than they did 20 years ago.
pilots have been taking pay cuts for years by not keeping up with inflation.

i think the fo in the buffalo crash made 16000 in 2009 dollars equals $6,145.33 in 1980 dollars. the minimum wage in 1980 was 3.10 per hour 3.10*8=(24.8 day) 3.10*40=(124 week) 124*4=(496 month) 496*12=(5952 year)
so she made 193.33 dollars more per year than someone working for minimum wage in 1980. With the higher taxes these days she probably made less than someone working for minimum wage in 1980.

this is not my flight info account but i wanted to post this info. bottom line we as pilots are getting the short end of the stick.

 

[jetjam619]

$0.................After I left the navy, the VA paid for my flight training through the Flight Benefit Program, I think its under a different name now.

So, for those of you that spent 100g's , a few years of military service would of kept you out of debt. MAYBE???

 

[Brasilia Pup]

$$Mid-20's. But I started flying in 1987, back when a C-152 cost about $25/hour. Yes, the old days of ARSA's, TRSA's and TCA's.

 

[av8rjo]

2002. Between $10 to $12 k.

I was one of the lucky ones. I paid for my PVT & multi, the rest (IRA, COM, CFI, CFII) was paid for by an internship at American Flyers. Of course, this was at the expense of my own labor, but I don't have any loans to pay off.

I can't say enough about the valuable experience of being a CFI for at least 12 months. Numerous lessons learned. It's an eye opener to all the experiences you've never thought of or considered.

 

[airtime4]

Less than $20,000, all prior to 2002. I will not encourage my kids to be associated with aviation. Aviation is not what it was 30 years ago when we started these dreams. You can make good money flying but at what cost. You must decide what is important, QOL or $. For 60% of the pilot group your life on the road is your life...works for some. Time spent away is time you can’t get back no matter how many $ you spend on them. Missing time with your family can never be replaced

 

[Abernathy]

Started in 2000, spent likely around $35,000-40,000 Private through MEI. Mom 'n Pop FBO stuff.

 

[no1pilot2000]

I many cases, having a college degree is a social norm than a necessity. I got my BS agree in 1998 and it didn't benefit me at all. My friend has no college education and is making a good career in the computer field. All of his training was OTJ and some very lucky breaks along the way!!

 

[pilotyip]

see college degree not required to succeed.

I many cases, having a college degree is a social norm than a necessity. I got my BS agree in 1998 and it didn't benefit me at all. My friend has no college education and is making a good career in the computer field. All of his training was OTJ and some very lucky breaks along the way!!

See a college degree is not necessarily required to succeed. There are many ways to develop marketable .skills besides college, to include OJT, military, and tech schools with a 4 yr degree.

 

[EMBpilot]

1998-2000
College, BS, PPL-MEII - 50K

2001-2004
CFI and first year FO - still sinking into credit cards for another 20K

Zero regrets, dream come true.

 

[LearLove]

1998-2000
College, BS, PPL-MEII - 50K

2001-2004
CFI and first year FO - still sinking into credit cards for another 20K

Zero regrets, dream come true.

from your profile and this post - you started CFIing in 2001 I would guess with around 250tt. Nine years later you've got 14K tt and flown 8 diff. types of transport category aircraft??? Yeah right.

 

[CX880]

I many cases, having a college degree is a social norm than a necessity. I got my BS agree in 1998 and it didn't benefit me at all. My friend has no college education and is making a good career in the computer field. All of his training was OTJ and some very lucky breaks along the way!!

It's not about having a degree, it's about using it. I know people that have gone to prestigious universities that still live with their parents because they chose basket weaving instead of finance.