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Hello Everyone!

 

 

My name is Gabriel and I'm new to the site, so if you please, welcome me. (:

 

 

 

Alright so getting on the topic- So i am a senior in High school, and for the passed months I've been wanting to be a 'Commercial Helicopter Pilot' as for me to pursue for my career Job in the working world. I have been doing a lot of research regarding: Flight school, Cost, and the training i'll be getting. but... my main question is regarding the Cost. :mellow:

 

 

Btw, I live in Palos Park Illinois and the flight school i'm most interest in is called, "A&M Aviation Inc." For those who have successfully completed Flight School, I would like to ask if any of you have tried Financial Aid to pay it off little by little after graduate? I have been looking into "Pilot Finance" but I believe they only allow monthly payment instead of waiting until you finished the course (Private license, Instrument rating, Commercial License) so I am kinda screwed. :unsure:

 

So if you may, please help me out and give me some advice of what should I do.

 

Thanks again!

 

Gabriel

 

 

 

 

 

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I don't think that's even possible though. With Flight Schools, there's not much of a loan you can borrow, or a college you can attend to for the help of it. It's either based on Pilot Finance (If Aviation works with them) or scholarships that they may offer.

 

 

Would joining the military pay for the Fight school through the Post 9/11 Gi Bill?

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First of all Gabriel, welcome to the site! And welcome to the wacky world of helicopters. Oh, what an education awaits you!

 

Getting rated (we don't call it a "license") in the civilian world, and then the accumulation of enough experience to actually be employable can be a long, expensive and frustrating road. There are virtually no guarantees that you will ever find gainful employment much less have a career at this. You really have to be dedicated to the point of insanity to want to enter this industry. Does that mean you shouldn't? Oh hell no! If you're as crazy as the rest of us, jump on in!

 

Up until fairly recently, the majority of commercial helicopter pilots were trained by the military. The out-of-pocket costs are less, but the "price" you pay can be dear in terms of committment, time away from your family, etc.

 

That's the bad news up front. There really are no short-cuts, no easy ways to do it. Some people will greatly discourage you from borrowing money for flight training. That's probably good advice. A "flight school" is really just a business designed to take your money. If you should happen to get your ratings along the way, great. If not, that's great too. Either way, they get your money. Most of them are not accredited and don't qualify for the kinds of tuition assistance and grants and stuff you might get from a real college or even technical school.

 

That's not to say it's impossible. A lot of us did it the civilian way. You just have to be very, VERY creative and more than a little flexible. And realistic. Because if you go somewhere and hire on with a helicopter operator as a lineboy or something with the intent of eventually starting training and getting rated, it could be years and years before you ever start making money as a pilot. Which is my story in a nutshell. For me it took seven years from lineboy to pilot. And I was lucky that the company I worked for happened to start a scheduled service using a helicopter that required two pilots. Talk about right place/right time! Because unlike the fixed-wing side, very very few helicopter operators use two-pilot aircraft...and those that do *generally* hire two fully-qualified captains as opposed to one experienced guy and a low-time newbie. Generally.

 

Again, I don't want to be a dream-stealer; there are plenty of them on this planet. But I caution you to DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Before you commit to this, do fully explore what it's going to take to get your ratings, and where you'd like to go once you get them (helicopters do a lot of weird things). Talk to some real, working pilots, not just the CFI's at the flight school that needs your business.

 

Again, welcome to the site! Good luck in your endeavors. And...not for nothing...but there are far worse ways to make a living than being a helicopter pilot. Better ones too, probably, but this is the one I've chosen and it's worked out okay for me :-/

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So half of you guys attended training through the military? I may consider that option if I have no other choice.

 

Here's what I am thinking,

 

I may find a job to work into to save up some cash and hopefully by the end of the year I'll have some to pay in cash and have a little bit to pay off later. I am considering this career very seriously because I've always wanted to fly a helicopter since I was little. Always had the passion to take off from the sky and feel that I have the freedom to roam around from point A to point B. (:

 

But what do you guys think? I also wanted to ask if Aviation Flight schools hire some sort of jobs you can work for like fueling thir aircraft or something etc.

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Always had the passion to take off from the sky and feel that I have the freedom to roam around from point A to point B. (:

 

That's flying alright, but it ain't Commercial flying. In Commercial flying you fly when they want, where they want, what altitude they want, what airspeed they want, etc...

 

Kinda takes the "freedom" out of it?

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Yeah I guess you're right about that haha

 

 

But either way, you're doing your job and that's something most of us should enjoy.

 

Btw, do they still perform the medical test for pilots every year?

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I don't think that's even possible though. With Flight Schools, there's not much of a loan you can borrow, or a college you can attend to for the help of it. It's either based on Pilot Finance (If Aviation works with them) or scholarships that they may offer.

 

 

http://aviator.edu/home/fund-your-education/federal-financial-aid-programs.aspx

 

Again, I wasn't 100% certain until I looked it up. If you go to a regular every day college with a flight program you can use every day government backed student loans. Above is a linked example.

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http://aviator.edu/home/fund-your-education/federal-financial-aid-programs.aspx

 

Again, I wasn't 100% certain until I looked it up. If you go to a regular every day college with a flight program you can use every day government backed student loans. Above is a linked example.

 

Well thank you for researching for me about it. I will sure look into it. And by any college, you mean a university or a school that does pilot training?

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Either save up or ask family / friends for a really generous gift and book a demo flight with the school for an hour. Get the first taste of it with actual hands on flying without the commitment.

You will know by the end of that flight (probably pretty much soon after the start of it) if you have been bitten by the bug to fly.

 

For some the demo flight is a good enough experience but it sounds from your enthusiasm that it'll just be proof that you are making the right choice.

 

Plus the hour is a logable flight hour. Start your log book and get the CFI to sign it.

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So half of you guys attended training through the military? I may consider that option if I have no other choice.

 

Here's what I am thinking,

 

I may find a job to work into to save up some cash and hopefully by the end of the year I'll have some to pay in cash and have a little bit to pay off later. I am considering this career very seriously because I've always wanted to fly a helicopter since I was little. Always had the passion to take off from the sky and feel that I have the freedom to roam around from point A to point B. (:

 

But what do you guys think? I also wanted to ask if Aviation Flight schools hire some sort of jobs you can work for like fueling thir aircraft or something etc.

Think about this carefully and I mean joining the military. IF you make it through officer candidate training, which is rigorous, and IF you get selected to fly helicopters you will be serving the country to do whatever it is they want whenever wherever at a moments notice. Im not saying you wont enjoy it, just know the guys you would be working with are in it to serve and basically slay bodies. If you still feel like this is a viable option than by all means go ahead. Just know they dont care what you really want which is training and flight hours. You will need approx 4 years college, 2 years flight training, and last I heard 6 years active duty for the military to get "theirs". After 8 years education/training/flying/and serving the military, then you can go fly civilian if thats what you want. Just know its a long road. Good luck

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Yeah I guess you're right about that haha

 

 

But either way, you're doing your job and that's something most of us should enjoy.

 

Btw, do they still perform the medical test for pilots every year?

 

For some of us, every six months.

 

You'll need a medical exam and FAA medical certificate as a student pilot; it's required for any pilot position. The only pilot-related flying job that doesn't require a medical is a flight instructor, and only then when teaching pilots who are already certificated.

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Either save up or ask family / friends for a really generous gift and book a demo flight with the school for an hour. Get the first taste of it with actual hands on flying without the commitment.

You will know by the end of that flight (probably pretty much soon after the start of it) if you have been bitten by the bug to fly.

 

For some the demo flight is a good enough experience but it sounds from your enthusiasm that it'll just be proof that you are making the right choice.

 

Plus the hour is a logable flight hour. Start your log book and get the CFI to sign it.

 

 

 

 

 

By demo you mean Introductory flight? I found one as little as, $180 for a 30 minute tour PLUS some ground introductory where you can ask some questions etc.

 

 

If i have no choice...I will do the slow and easier way where i will apply for a job and maybe save up so i can pay it in cash. Maybe not all of it but most of it.

 

 

I'll do what you intended for me. :)

 

 

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I also have questions for those who are already a Commercial Helicopter Pilot, and I would like to ask you how its really like to fly and how stressful it can be most of the time.

 

 

 

1.) Ixcn xcccccccccccccccccccccv

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i would like to ask questions for those who are already a Commercial Helicopter Pilot, and I would like to know how stressful it can be most of the time and the ability to travel around different location to work for a company.

 

 

1.) I understand when it comes to money the salary isn't all great from the start, but like I stated in my previous message, its more of a passion and a career i want to pursue for my future. Regarding all that- Can Pilots like you guys maintain a living, especially if you have a family?

 

2.) I've also heard that you would be moving maybe once-twice a year for a company to work with, so yes I understand that their will be times when i will be away from my family, and times it might be stressful but I am sure I can maintain it myself from it. (:

 

 

Those are my main concerns about me heading at this directions. If you guys want to include things I should know, feel free!

 

Thanks in advance

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Yes, you can afford to live as a commercial pilot as long as you don't develop a drug habit.

 

You should only have to move when you change jobs, which you will. Once you get a reasonable amount of flight hours you can generally stay put if that's what you want.

 

I'm generally talking about working as a pilot in the US. Abroad may be a different story, I'm not qualified to speak about that.

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  • 3 weeks later...

*Update*

 

 

Alright so I went to my local Aviation School located in Bolingbrook. The guy at the lobby gave me a Packet with everything you need to know about their organization and cost.

 

I did a quick math and the cost for my Private License, Instrument rating, and commercial license is about $44,000. But it may add up to $50k-60k if I want 1,000 hours of flight (Considering most company's don't hire you unless you have that amount or more).

 

 

So what I am thinking is- getting a job over the summer so I can save up, so I can spend it on my flight lessons per session. I start August. And planning on attending get twice a week. Maybe 3, not sure let.

 

 

If I attend the Aviation let's say, Tuesday's-Thursdays a week, and the rest of the days I work as my part time. Would it be possible to attend two work stations? That's my plan right now so I can continue to receive money and spend it to obtain my hours.

 

Any thoughts? Would gladly appreciate it!

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I did a quick math and the cost for my Private License, Instrument rating, and commercial license is about $44,000. But it may add up to $50k-60k if I want 1,000 hours of flight (Considering most company's don't hire you unless you have that amount or more).

 

Hi Gabriel,

 

Sorry to tell you but no, this isn’t correct. I suggest you dive into this website and read what you can about what it takes to become a helicopter pilot too include the cost. Specifically, unless you’re rich, paying for the 1000hrs is unrealistic. Furthermore, to become a pro-helo pilot, you’ll need to gain CFII certification to get that all-important, hard-to-get, first time job. That is, attempting this endeavor with just a commercial license is not how its dome (for most of us humans). CFII certification will run in the $60-80K range for about 170-200 hours of flight time…. If not more……..

Edited by Spike
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Isn't every flight school different? I was told the price will range anywhere from $50k-60k.Not 100% sure but that's what he said before when he told us I would need 1000 hours if you want that spot. Everything with the add-ons was $44,000. I can't argue this because I don't have experience, nor knowing how it works. But I'm saying what he has told me.

 

And by Cfii certificate, you mean being an instructor to build the hours faster?

 

 

I am honestly trying my hardest because I know this is something I want to go into. It's just more difficult because I'm young.

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Cfii is what you need to get the ONLY job available to new pilots (teaching new pilots). You need 200 hours to qualify, at roughly $300/hr for instruction that's $60k.

 

The 1000 hours is what you need to get out of teaching and into flying tourists around the Grand Canyon.

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Gabriel, it should go something like this:

 

Do what eagle5 said:

 

Get all ratings and certificates through CFII (you will have somewhere around 200 hours).

 

Next, you have to be hired on at the school you trained, or less typical, another school.

 

Instruct until you have at least 1,000 hours.

 

Then you can apply for the next tier jobs, which are mostly tours.

 

There are no jobs for pilots with 200 hours except to instruct. This keeps training costs as low as possible because of the low pay for flight instructors (I like to think I get paid in hours and experience, the money is a small bonus). It also allows you, the up-and-coming wannabe commercial pilot a place to fill that gap between 200 and 1,000 hours.

 

Do yourself a favor, and commit yourself to the idea that this is the way to make it in the industry. Don't think you will be that one lucky guy who walks into a job with a brand new commercial ticket. If that happens, then great. But if not, you have already accepted the fact that the above mentioned timeline is the way in.

 

Being a flight instructor is awesome by the way, so it's not like you are "taking some crap job" on your way to a real one. I've heard that said before. Thousands have done it before you, and you can do it too. But only if you accept this information as fact as to how it's done.

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Do I need to apply for the Cfii? Or are you saying all I need to do is obtain my ratings with 200 hours to start?

 

 

I honestly have no problem being an Instructor. I'm sure it'd be really fun plus a more learning experience for myself. (:

 

 

I know this may be a stupid question, but do you get paid being an Instructor and building your hours by teaching others? Or is it just a way to increase your hours faster?

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The cfii is a rating you obtain through training. Its the last of five you will need ( private, instrument, commercial, certified flight instructor (CFI), certified flight instructor instrument (cfii)).

 

You do get paid to teach others, but I wouldn't call it a faster way to build hours, just the only way!

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