Took My Discovery Flight Today!

[SPilot]

Be especially carefull not to sign one of those contracts that give you $100XX dollar off, but require that you pay all up front, and have a huge list written in small letters with "student must obey regulations in section #1131241414", because one day you'll discover that in some of those regulations, there is a rule that says if you want to cancel, you'll only get refund for 75% of what you DIDNT complete. So if you signed up for 40 hours, but only fly 20 hours, they will only refund 15 hours. Thats pretty much the deal at the flight school where I signed up, and I signed up for 200 hours at once, but didnt pay up front.

Also try to get fixed price on the fuel surcharge, dont allow them to change it once you've signed the contract.

I'd also recommend you select a flight school with a relativly large fleet of similar training aircrafts, so that maintenance wont keep you grounded for a long time if one aircraft have an accident or malfunction.

As for instructor, its all your choice! A school will probably assign you one, but they should not put any restrictions on changing instructor -- you shouldn't even have to give a reason. Taking anoter discovery flight may be a good idea, but sometimes the more "pain in the ass"-instructor will teach you to higher standards.

 

[Goose Egg]

My flight instructor gave me advice when I was training: Don't make something fun your career.

Care to elaborate? Why shouldn't you choose something that you enjoy?

So what should you choose? Something that sucks? I think your career should be something that you find yourself the most motivated to work at, not something that you have no motivation for; something that you enjoy, not something that you dread.

-Goose

 

[kevdog]

Whatever you do, do not look at ads in pilot mags & internet sites that say something like "zero time to airline in 6 months," etc. They are a waste of money and don't do anything more for you. Find an instructor you get along with and feel good flying with. They might move on, but having a few flight instructors for each rating isn't always a bad thing. You should learn something from everyone, good and bad.

If you want to save a little money, try to finish each rating ASAP. Study hard and have fun!

 

[Flying Ninja]

Care to elaborate? Why shouldn't you choose something that you enjoy?

So what should you choose? Something that sucks? I think your career should be something that you find yourself the most motivated to work at, not something that you have no motivation for; something that you enjoy, not something that you dread.

I think John Travolta said it best: Flying is my profession, but acting is my job. I don't think those were his exact words, but the point is valid. I was so passionate about flying and had so much fun with it that I decided to drop a high paying job working for a rapidly growing (stock wise too) company, took out a huge loan, and moved my life into flight training in hopes of doing it as a career. Welp, today, I'm in a huge debt, I don't have a flying job, can't get into it because I can't afford to (thanks to delays at the CAPT program and their incompentence), and have lost my passion for flying.

I'm trying to get that passion back but without the money to support it, there's nothing but despair every time I think about airplanes or hear one (which is to say every 3 minutes thanks to NY Approach). My currency is about to run out and frankly, I don't even know why I want to get it back so that in 6 months I'm back here again trying to figure out how to muster up the money just to keep current. The number of hours logged since I left flight training at the beginning of this year? Zero to-date.

So, I think a lot about what my CFI told me when I told him I wanted to do it as a career these days. Had I listened to him, I'd still be able to fly WHENEVER I wanted and ENJOYED my flights to KACK or KMVY or other destinations on the weekends and still have a bundle of cash. What I've learned from my experience is that flight training outfits is just another money making engine. The people that run it don't care (at least not at CAPT). And most of all, one has to have a TON of cash on hand to sit around to wait for some regional airline to call you so that you can work for $19 an hour for that first year, and then make a morsel more each year while praying that the airline doesn't go out of business or cut your pay scale. Oh, and the time away from friends and family. In my early days of aviation, I gave up everything to do this. Now, I'm broke beyond recognition and the sound of an airplane just pisses me off (every 3 minutes thanks to NY Approach).

So, to answer your question, what should you do? Do something that makes money that affords you the privilege to fly on your terms and enjoy the flying. I used to hate my job, but I also knew that every 2 weeks I got a paycheck that more than allowed me to fly a few hours on the weekends to wash away all that negative energy at the office. And if you read on the forums, there are pilots who have admitted that they lost the passion and that flying is just another job. Well, I rather be making bank doing just another job and enjoy my flying on my terms than to join the misery and enslavement of getting into a regional airline and hope to the Gods (because one just won't cut it) that I might get into flying for a major airline and have a relatively stable career at a good pay.

Why shouldn't you choose something that you enjoy? I enjoy driving but I haven't signed up with the nearest trucking school; although it would have been a lot cheaper to do. Truth is, driving a truck is more attainable and realistic (to me at least) than getting into the airlines. And there are other jobs that are more attainable and still allows you to enjoy aviation. I got friends in certain state jobs that gives them a killer salary and a pension for sleeping on the job or do next to nothing and it cost them very little to get. I guarantee you that you won't find that with aviation far less making a career. I recall watching my King Private DVDs where the opening scene was John King asking what makes airplanes fly. He joked with the answer: money. I just didn't realize how dead serious he was. Money flies airplanes. Your money. And when you're working for the airlines, you're still paying. You're paying with the money they're not giving you. You're paying with your sacrifices away from home.

Any other questions?

 

[wrxpilot]

Congratulations on your first flight experience. Sounds like you had a great one. As for doing it as a career, all I can say is, do it if you have a lot of money to burn getting from where you are to where you want to be. It's mad expensive! For now, enjoy the thrill of flying for fun. My flight instructor gave me advice when I was training: Don't make something fun your career. Even though I never got there, I still think about what he said. And I think he's right after reading this forum and others.

Anyway, best of luck!

Well, it's expensive but you don't have to be rich. Just patient and good with your finances. So far no debt for flight training, and I don't plan on it either.

 

[wrxpilot]

I think John Travolta said it best: Flying is my profession, but acting is my job. I don't think those were his exact words, but the point is valid. I was so passionate about flying and had so much fun with it that I decided to drop a high paying job working for a rapidly growing (stock wise too) company, took out a huge loan, and moved my life into flight training in hopes of doing it as a career. Welp, today, I'm in a huge debt, I don't have a flying job, can't get into it because I can't afford to (thanks to delays at the CAPT program and their incompentence), and have lost my passion for flying

Ninja,

No offense, but you lost your passion because you got burned immediatly. I think you'd feel different if you had been more patient, kept out of debt, and had a backup plan.

 

[kevdog]

I think John Travolta said it best: Flying is my profession, but acting is my job. I don't think those were his exact words, but the point is valid. I was so passionate about flying and had so much fun with it that I decided to drop a high paying job working for a rapidly growing (stock wise too) company, took out a huge loan, and moved my life into flight training in hopes of doing it as a career. Welp, today, I'm in a huge debt, I don't have a flying job, can't get into it because I can't afford to (thanks to delays at the CAPT program and their incompentence), and have lost my passion for flying.

I'm trying to get that passion back but without the money to support it, there's nothing but despair every time I think about airplanes or hear one (which is to say every 3 minutes thanks to NY Approach). My currency is about to run out and frankly, I don't even know why I want to get it back so that in 6 months I'm back here again trying to figure out how to muster up the money just to keep current. The number of hours logged since I left flight training at the beginning of this year? Zero to-date.

So, I think a lot about what my CFI told me when I told him I wanted to do it as a career these days. Had I listened to him, I'd still be able to fly WHENEVER I wanted and ENJOYED my flights to KACK or KMVY or other destinations on the weekends and still have a bundle of cash. What I've learned from my experience is that flight training outfits is just another money making engine. The people that run it don't care (at least not at CAPT). And most of all, one has to have a TON of cash on hand to sit around to wait for some regional airline to call you so that you can work for $19 an hour for that first year, and then make a morsel more each year while praying that the airline doesn't go out of business or cut your pay scale. Oh, and the time away from friends and family. In my early days of aviation, I gave up everything to do this. Now, I'm broke beyond recognition and the sound of an airplane just pisses me off (every 3 minutes thanks to NY Approach).

So, to answer your question, what should you do? Do something that makes money that affords you the privilege to fly on your terms and enjoy the flying. I used to hate my job, but I also knew that every 2 weeks I got a paycheck that more than allowed me to fly a few hours on the weekends to wash away all that negative energy at the office. And if you read on the forums, there are pilots who have admitted that they lost the passion and that flying is just another job. Well, I rather be making bank doing just another job and enjoy my flying on my terms than to join the misery and enslavement of getting into a regional airline and hope to the Gods (because one just won't cut it) that I might get into flying for a major airline and have a relatively stable career at a good pay.

Why shouldn't you choose something that you enjoy? I enjoy driving but I haven't signed up with the nearest trucking school; although it would have been a lot cheaper to do. Truth is, driving a truck is more attainable and realistic (to me at least) than getting into the airlines. And there are other jobs that are more attainable and still allows you to enjoy aviation. I got friends in certain state jobs that gives them a killer salary and a pension for sleeping on the job or do next to nothing and it cost them very little to get. I guarantee you that you won't find that with aviation far less making a career. I recall watching my King Private DVDs where the opening scene was John King asking what makes airplanes fly. He joked with the answer: money. I just didn't realize how dead serious he was. Money flies airplanes. Your money. And when you're working for the airlines, you're still paying. You're paying with the money they're not giving you. You're paying with your sacrifices away from home.

Any other questions?

To the original poster, FlyingNinja is probably the posterchild for why you should not go to programs such as Comair (Delta Connection or whatever it is called now) or CAPT that offer BS at the end of their extremely expensive program. Any school with airline agreement letters framed all over the walls is probably a scam. Any program that offers you a guaranteed airline interview would also fit into this.

With 1,000 hour total and some multi, you should be able to go to a regional airline. My suggestion would be to fly turboprops. These airlines often require even less time than a RJ airline, and upgrade times are usually much faster. 121 PIC time is they key. Airlines look for good people with good instrument skills and knowledge. Their future training is supposed to take care of everything else. Don't let anyone tell you anything differently.

 

[Flying Ninja]

Ninja,

No offense, but you lost your passion because you got burned immediatly. I think you'd feel different if you had been more patient, kept out of debt, and had a backup plan.

No offense taken. I've already had my fill from CAPT. Patient? Well, when you were proactive about your career placement before you graduated and was promptly ignored and delayed by the program...I think I was plenty patient and plenty active in taking ownership for my placement future. But with the low time you come out of CAPT with, you needed them big time.

Kept out of debt? Yeah, that would have been nice but I also wouldn't have been able to try to do it if I went that route.

Backup plan? It's already in progress. I'm back working so that my pay checks can go directly to my lender. After 5 years, I'll be able to move from lettus washing to the grill...and then assistant manager. That's when the big bucks comes in!

 

[kevdog]

No offense taken. I've already had my fill from CAPT. Patient? Well, when you were proactive about your career placement before you graduated and was promptly ignored and delayed by the program...I think I was plenty patient and plenty active in taking ownership for my placement future. But with the low time you come out of CAPT with, you needed them big time.

Kept out of debt? Yeah, that would have been nice but I also wouldn't have been able to try to do it if I went that route.

Backup plan? It's already in progress. I'm back working so that my pay checks can go directly to my lender. After 5 years, I'll be able to move from lettus washing to the grill...and then assistant manager. That's when the big bucks comes in!

With your time you could get 91 jobs such as instructing, flying skydivers, banners, traffic watch, whatever. if you want to fly, don't let a program like CAPT mess with you. This is a tough industry and consider it a big lesson. There will be many more ahead!

 

[Flying Ninja]

With your time you could get 91 jobs such as instructing, flying skydivers, banners, traffic watch, whatever. if you want to fly, don't let a program like CAPT mess with you. This is a tough industry and consider it a big lesson. There will be many more ahead!

Already explored those options where I'm at. You don't get CFI out of CAPT and I don't have money to dump into getting that certification. I tried contacting a few meat missile outfits but nobody replied back to me. Same with banner towing. As for traffic watch, I haven't been able to find who to contact about that around here.

Yes it was a huge lesson. And there will be more I'm sure.