bryris

Jones, what city are you in?

SkyHigh

I shopped, took my time and paid as I went. I often would drive 3 or more hours to a flight lesson to save money. My first 20 hours were in an Aeroncia Champ. A high school friend had a father that let him fly it so long as he bought the gas. The father however did not know that he was also using it for instruction. Later I found a farmer who had a 172 for rent at a big discount. He used a dirt road at his house as an airport. The dirt road runway was short, broad side to the prevailing wind and ended abruptly at an interstate freeway.

I learned how to operate in the mud, under huge crosswinds and if something was wrong i had to figure it out myself. Later I bought a Cessna 150. Then sold it and later bought a float plane and eventually bought a piper apache. Each plane I sold for a profit and ended up getting free flight time, making money with them for instruction and then sold them each for a profit. I never had to put very much into them.

I worked my way slowly through every rating and certification paying my way as I went until I was finished. Once I started to work as a pilot is when it got real expensive.

Skyhigh

rickair7777

CAUTION!


There is a long history in flight training of students making huge deposits up front only to have a near-bankrupt school (which means most schools) use their money to pay to finish the training of a student who is further along. The school then relies on more new students walking in the door and making deposits to fund YOUR training. As soon as enrollments or the economy hiccups, this Ponzi Scheme comes crashing down, and the students find the doors to the school chained shut one day. They are then stuck making payments on a huge loan with little to show for it. Small, medium, and large schools are all at risk.

There is actually no good reason (for the student) to deposit more than $1000 with a school. Even if the school is not a solvency risk, they like to have a lot of your money on hand so that it is harder for you to quit if you don't like the way they treat you. This is also very common...student quits, but the school holds onto his money for a very long time. You will probably have to sue to get your money back. If they have your money, even just $7K, they will usually try to intimidate you into continuing your training.

Flight training by definition involves customers who have little or zero knowledge of the aviation. Unfortunately this dynamic attracts of lot of scam artists who are willing and eager to take advantage of folks. You definitely need to do your research...a good way to do this is to talk some current students and even instructors away from the managers. Students will always air the gripes and many CFI's will do so too, although they mave have a conflict of interest.

Jones14

I live near Salem, IL.

Thanks for the input, guys. I've been feeling relieved lately knowing now that there are some options that don't require debt. It also helps due to how bad things are in aviation at the time, like most of you have said, there's no rush. Lately I've been trying to decide the best way to use my A&P. I think working in an overhaul shop would be a good option if you're also an aircraft owner. Obvious reason being overhauls are the most expensive part of owning a plane, fixed costs wise. The value of the plane plummets when it's near or over TBO and could possibly be talked down further from the asking price. The money saved on the overhaul could be put toward better avionics, P&I, etc. Also, after working 3 years as a mechanic you can become and IA and perform and sign off annual inspections. I think those two things alone would make owning an a/c very feasible.

I've been reading a lot lately too. I bought a book titled "A Buyer's Guide to Aircraft Ownership." Little did I know it was published in 2000, and it's written for Joe Shmo who sees a plane fly by and says "I want one." It covers all the right areas and I've learned a lot, but times (and $$) has changed so any advice on reading material would be great.

Also, soon I'm going to make what I believe will be a great contact. My uncle knows the man who used to own our local FBO (KSLO) and he's been buying, selling and trading planes for like 30 years. I'm sure he will have some good advice and could more than likely branch me out to even more good people in the area.

Thanks again!

crewdawg

I will echo most of the prior posts....don't go into crazy debt to make this happen.

If you want the low down on the military (Guard route) feel free to PM me, I could go on forever about that. Wrenched on jets for a few years, got my school paid for + up through my CFII with <5k in debt myself. The benefits are amazing for school. On the flying side, the pay is pretty dang good and the flying is amazing.

I too have been spending my days on barnstormers looking for a good aircraft but for fun, not so much training (anyone have a good champ/T-craft/C140 they want to sell). Now I am by no means an expert as I am just starting the research process on buying/owning a plane. But I have figured I can run a Champ for 55-60/hr. That includes money that will be set aside for engine and prop overhaul, insurance (slightly more because it's a tailwheel and have little t/w time), hanger, loan, fuel, oil, and annual...etc.

I would guess you could run a 152 for < 40/hr if you don't plan on keeping it long enough to overhaul it. Tie down vs hanger will save you $$$, plus your insurance could be relatively cheap.

Anyway goodluck bro, you've got time enjoy the show.

SkyHigh

I own a Cessna 150 and it is really affordable. I am willing to bet that it is cheaper than most things a young person wants to do. Get a partner or two.

Consider joining the Cessna 150/152 club. They are a big help.

Skyhigh

BARRELL RIDER

All I ever wanted to do is fly also. I still love every approach. After 4 years of college, flight school, risking my life banner towing, single pilot night freight. I was finally qualified for the big time COMAIR. Now after eight years of complete misery with comair I am downgraded to the right seat making about 35k per year. I cannot tell you how terrible life is for a regional pilot. You will work 15 hour days to get paid five hours. The reason your buddies carrier is looked down upon is they agrreed to lower the bar putting us in this mess.

rickair7777

Where this guy and skyhigh screwed up is they simply picked the wrong airlines.

How do you avoid that mistake? I dunno...

SkyHigh

It is also as good idea if you can only pick the winning lottery numbers as well.

Skyhigh