How much money do I need

[comander]

How much cash do I need to get it on, I am a private pilot,but did not get my lisence here in the us, however I plan to continue to become a airline pilot or corporate pilot.
Where do I go to become one, and more or less how much money and time are we talking about? How many hours of flying do I need to get paid to fly?
what happens next how do I get a job to pay my loans?
How do u ppl do it or did it where did u do ur training and how much? thanks. is there such a place where u pay a lot of money but ur almost guarantied a job after finish in?

 

[mayday1]

ah.. lots of questions there...

bottom line, if you go the local FBO route, plan on spending another $25-$30k to get your CFI/II. Go the big academy route, and plan on $40-$50K. Also, take into account living expenses (rent, car payments, insurance, food, etc.). Depending on your time, either route can be accomplished fairly quickly (1yr or so).

You need your commercial to get paid to fly.. although, most likely you'll need your CFI as that will probably be your first job. From there, you'll need to build time to qualify for other jobs - e.g. regionals. Plan on another year or so, depending on your student base.

As for paying back loans, and living off a CFI salary, that's a good question. I'm not sure how people do it. I have a full time job outside of flying with nobody else to help support me. So full time CFI is not a reality for me right now.

 

[Iron_Eagle]

What is a CFI's average salary in California?? I keep hearing this near poverty-line pay stuff, but on salary.com for the southern california area, the averages range from low $40's (25th percentile) to the $80's (75th percentile)...

 

[flyer172r]

However much money you have, double it. That's probably what it will cost.

 

[Bluto]

What is a CFI's average salary in California?? I keep hearing this near poverty-line pay stuff, but on salary.com for the southern california area, the averages range from low $40's (25th percentile) to the $80's (75th percentile)...

Average CFI's in SoCal earn from $14-$18 per flight hour. Salary.com probably counts airline instructors, Flight Safety sim instructors, etc in those numbers. As a CFI in SoCal I never made more than about $15,000 in a year.

 

[cfi on the fly]

The only reason I can keep instructing full time is because I have a wife that makes the majority of the money. If you go to the big academy's you will spend probably 50-60k. If you do this I recommend going somewhere where the majority of your flying will be multi time. You will most likely have to instruct to build the hours, but not for too long if you have plenty of multi time already under your belt. Thats where I am hurting right now-not enough multi.

If you are a real good student and can manage your time well...go the fbo route. If you have a good instructor there is nothing you cant get there that you could get at the big guys schools...and for probably alot less. But then again, you wont have the multi time when you get out and your gonna have to come up with it sooner or later.

Now if you have to support yourself-, no wife, no rich parents....then instructing full time might not be possible once your done with flight school. But there are places in the country that will pay 18-25 an hour. I've never made less than 18 an hour, but that doesn't make any difference if your only getting paid for 15 flight hours a week. You've got to be willing to move to the job if you want the good pay. Make sure you talk to alot of different people to make sure you know what your getting into...the level of committment is astounding and there are no guarantees on the returns.

 

[qmaster3]

How much cash do I need to get it on, I am a private pilot,but did not get my lisence here in the us

Join the Navy/CG reserves, and let the GI Bill pick up 60% of the bill.

 

[comander]

Well thanks a lot for the info, I have to say I am a bit disapointed in my flying future, joining the navy or airforce or army? I think I have to join a officer academy first to be able to fly, I called the airforce like 2 months ago and no response on how I could become a pilot, they only said a bunch of stuff for technological training jobs. Iam not intrested in nothing like that I need to fly.

I thought that if u could get like 50 k u could be ready for a job like flying a atr or something like that,I guess I was wrong. what about If I could get like 80 k and pay it all at once would that help and asure me a future as a pilot?

 

[User546]

what about If I could get like 80 k and pay it all at once would that help and asure me a future as a pilot?

Only if you believe all those marketing reps at the big Flight Academies!

In short answer, NO.. NO.. NO.. NO!!!!!

 

[Flechas]

Well thanks a lot for the info, I have to say I am a bit disapointed in my flying future, joining the navy or airforce or army? I think I have to join a officer academy first to be able to fly, I called the airforce like 2 months ago and no response on how I could become a pilot, they only said a bunch of stuff for technological training jobs. Iam not intrested in nothing like that I need to fly.

I thought that if u could get like 50 k u could be ready for a job like flying a atr or something like that,I guess I was wrong. what about If I could get like 80 k and pay it all at once would that help and asure me a future as a pilot?

Pay as you go wherever you go, if you give them all your money, the will milk you until you run dry. Make sure you find a good and hones instructor.
Where are you located?

 

[comander]

yes Ur right thats what happened when i got my private pilot certificate, well I live at the moment at a small town near pittsburgh pa , but my wife whants to go to washington or maryland in maybe 4 months I, at this moment will go with her where she whants to but in aprox 9 months I need to begin pursuing my dream, of getting payed to fly,this is why I need to know where to do my flight trainig, but it has to be something that will give me something back cause I wont get that amount of money again.

 

[Flechas]

My advise is to either go to a local FBO and work hard to get it, do a lot of self studying, and make sure you are getting the best for your dollar (you can always ask around here, we will let you know if they are ripping you off).
Now, if you want to do the fast track, bite the bullet and go to a good place like Flight Safety, with them at least you know you are not being ripped off, they will get you all your ratings in about 7 months.

 

[comander]

My advise is to either go to a local FBO and work hard to get it, do a lot of self studying, and make sure you are getting the best for your dollar (you can always ask around here, we will let you know if they are ripping you off).
Now, if you want to do the fast track, bite the bullet and go to a good place like Flight Safety, with them at least you know you are not being ripped off, they will get you all your ratings in about 7 months.

Thanks man for ur concern, Yes ive being hearing that flight safety is better than raa I might as well take a chance there , but well still have to wait a little before I jump into the pool. Well im a bit speechless at the moment ,so Thanks for ur advices! I also heard about one in phoenix I dont remeber the name but Ill find out about that one also. I had a bad experience in taking it hour by hour in my local airport back in guatemala so I figured this time here Ill pay all at once and fly fly fly ,but now I really dont know.

 

[Flechas]

No problem, we are all in the same boat and should help each other. You can always ask Bobysamd, he has first hand experience as an instructor in a few places and he always has good advice for those who seek.

 

[minitour]

It really depends.

I'd probably be thinking MESA ab initio. You get the degree, the ratings (except the CFI) and the interview. It's yours to lose.

If you don't want to go that route, I'd probably find a good local guy and start with the instrument rating (anyone know if you can do an Instrument/Commercial SE ride?). Work your way through the CFI/II and start instructing. Add the MEI for some twin time and you'd be on your way.

Of course, you'd need to get hired at a place with enough students to keep ya busy too.

With 80K though...I'd go MESA.

JMHO

-mini