Training and Options

[SierraEastside]

My name is Hunter, I will be entering my senior of High School this upcoming August. I would really rather not do that, but instead start investing my time in what I think is the best career choice at this point.

 

Reading through a whole lot of these posts it is clear to me that the industry is feast or famine, and that a lot of pilots never make it at all. This was discouraging information. But I still want to do it . That being said , now I'm looking at taking out what I like to call an " El Cap sized loan".

 

Help?

 

Funding from Parents is not an option. Busting my ass to work through school over a long period of time is not favorable. So now I've come to a crossroad of sorts. Do I :

 

A; Bite the bullet and take out a student loan, ( if thats even possible considering the school im looking at?)

 

B;Stay home and cry ? Ice cream Binge?

 

C; Find grants and scholarships?

 

 

In general Im looking for guidance, knowledge of grants and other ways to reduce the cost of training, and anything else that would be helpful (long list, I know)... I want to be as informed as humanly possible about all of my options.

 

 

 

[Lindsey]

You need to finish high school; that's really non-negotiable nowadays. How are you going to pay back a loan? Do*not* rely on being employed as a helicopter pilot to pay it back. Get a decent job and work, build up some savings, and then maybe think about a loan. Live with your folks if they are okay with it. No sense in paying money for rent, bills, etc if you are looking to take out a large loan later on.

 

You're young. I applaud you for wanting to pursue this at such a young age (I did as well, but opted for a college degree first). That being said, don't sink yourself into financial crisis this early in life, before you've gained any marketable skills. You need to be fully prepared to not get a job as a helicopter pilot because this industry IS extremely competitive. Not impossible, but not easy.

 

Explore military options if that is something that interests you. The Army has a good program called Warrant Officer Flight Training that you can read about in the military subforum below. But you absolutely need a high school diploma, and a college degree, while not required, is highly recommended.

 

Good luck.

[eagle5]

In today's world not having a college degree makes it reeeeeealy difficult to succeed in life.I can't imagine how difficult it would be without a high school diploma? Flying for a living is a pipe dream, most will never reach!

 

Finish high school, go to college, get a good job, then consider flying.

Edited July 2, 2014 by eagle5

[JohnLeePettimore]

I am using my VA benefits to pay for my flight training. I don't know how long that option will be available though.

[UgleeBarnacle]

My twin brother's name is Hunter! Anyway...

 

So I'll be entering my sophomore year of college, a decision I was reluctant to make, because at the end of my senior year of HS, I too wanted to drop everything and head straight for the hangars. Parents and VR members steered me in a different direction by getting me to think about a "back up plan."

 

Even if the "get a loan, get trained, start flying, and pay the loan" plan works out, what will happen if something happens? Say, you develop diabetes or "you shoot yer' eye out kid?" Your licenses and hours are only as good as your medical certificate, and without that, no more flying

 

So without a doubt, finish high school. College, while not required to be a pilot, is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. It doesn't really matter what you major in either, as long as you enjoy it and feel confident that it can open doors for you outside of flying. I personally am at Ohio State, and they have an "aviation management" major in their business school. I also saw that I could double with operations management and still graduate in 4 years, so we'll see how that goes! Finances are understandably an option for all of us, but there are loads of scholarships (many aviation specific also!) as well as federal assistance. I'm even working as a Resident Advisor next year (like a den mother for the dorms), so there is free housing. It can be done! Heck, maybe even try a local community college, or learn to be a mechanic as a side hustle or a backup plan.

 

Point being to my rant, flying will still be there, so from somebody who was very recently in a similar situation, try to see past the shiny helicopters and think bigger picture.

 

Best!

[SierraEastside]

Not finishing high school was never an intention, I should have made it more clear that testing out was my idea.

School is really not for me, I go stir crazy, Id be in the sierras climbing every day of my life if I could.

[Flying Pig]

With all of your examples and your screen name.... Fresno? Madera? Bishop?

[ospreydriver]

Either you have to have enough other qualifications to get a job to live on while the flying thing pans out or you have to learn to fly and build time without running into serious debt.

 

Helicopter flying is even more expensive than airplane flying, and the minimums for decent-paying jobs are fairly high.

 

Course of Action (COA) 1: Get a college degree, possibly learning to fly on the side. Get a decent job while you build time. A college degree is almost essential to getting a decent job.

 

COA 2: Join the military. IF you can get in a flying program, e.g. Army WO training, then great. IF you don't like school, all the other branches will make you get a 4-year degree for sure, and do fairly well at it. That doesn't sound like your thing. Alternatively, do 4 years in the military, maybe as a helo crew chief, then either apply for an officer program, or take your 9-11 GI Bill and pay for your flight training that way.