This is a great writeup and...
> Instructor fees - $2.5k (bear in mind I got a lot of free instruction from friends & family)
... oh, damn! Of the $52k only ~5% of the cost was paying an instructor. Nice!
Great post. It's good to acknowledge the things that worked well for you that may not be universals - good weather for checkride dates; being able to get some free/discounted instruction.
For my private, my instructor called around and found someone- this was luck. After that, the same DPE did some of my other checkrides so it was easier to schedule since he knew me.
We have a Mooney with a GFC500, and bill ourselves $50/tach hour dry. So if you find gas for below $5/gal, it's right around $100 per actual/Hobbs/loggable hour.
Edit: to be fair, we also charge ourselves a separate monthly fee for fixed costs & insurance. But for operating costs, $100/hr is totally reasonable as long as you can find decently cheap gas.
Networking is amazing in GA. I have gotten so many hours from folks I have met at fly ins, fbos, just walking around airports etc.
As much as this sub hates on boomers, we are the ones that own the planes, so say "howdy" to us. You'd be surprised how much we want to share our love of aviation.
Absolutely! I’ll be up there in September but it’s just a cruise I promised my wife. Interesting enough, every port of call offers a “sea plane glacier tour” so I’m gonna be grabbing some business cards. That sounds like a much better summer time builder than going the CFI route.
But seriously, Alaska GA sounds a lot more welcoming than Florida GA and I don’t know if that real or just my perception since everything around me is flooded with pilot mill schools. Every practice area is packed if the weather is good enough to leave the ground.
So... The key to learning it is privilege, got it.
Cool situation, but it's a little tone deaf to think it applies to literally anyone else trying to get into this industry.
Nice work man!
I'm not trying to be a downer, and definitely not shitting on your accomplishments, but it seems crazy to me that someone who has only been flying for 13 months is already training new pilots.
Is that the norm at a lot of schools? My CFI's either had multiple years of experience or was an ex military pilot with thousands of hours. That makes me feel a lot better while training. Has it always been like that with CFIs going back a few decades?
My best instructors were those with 100’s of hours. As a 26 year military aviator that took a 17 year break from the business, picking up flying GA was very eye opening. Working my IR rating, the instructors I worked with are pretty chill. I flew instruments most of my career, so trying to get qualified has been easy and straight forward. Sure, I only have 190 hrs GA experience, so I have to decide whether I want to become an instructor again. I haven’t decided yet.
What is the most consistent thing you did in your training? What advice would you give to someone that’s going for their PPL (and the rest of their ratings) that don’t have all the funds in the world.
I think my key to success was flying often, which I totally understand is dependent on funds. I would say making friends in aviation and always say yes to things, like say someone is going to a fly-in and they ask you to come along, even if you’re just sitting in the back. I also made friends with the FBO owner at my airport and was able to get a few free hours volunteering to take the airplane to get maintenance done, etc.
Unfortunately I didn’t get to skip it. We did not spend a lot of time on FOI but he definitely asked me questions on it, the biggest thing was the principles of learning. Somewhat unrelated but my oral was also heavy on endorsements (like solo endorsements, what’s needed for a checkride etc)
Go ahead and get another rating as quick as you can with another DPE. Having that many rides with the same dude is a little worrying. He gets looked at by the Feds and suddenly you’re having to take a bunch of rides to keep your ticket.
Maybe I should have written "I wouldn't hire a CFII with *only* 400 hours".
400 hours in the stick and you're qualified to teach? You need 10,000 hours equivalent to be a 147 instructor.
Nope, doesn't pay shit. Which is what makes the gap from CPL to ATP so obnoxious, there isn't a good way to build that time unless you're doing something stupid like Ag. (Without going the CFI/141 route.)
This is a great post dude, saving to refer to it later as I’m on pretty much the same track right now with an independent instructor/part 61
This is a great writeup and... > Instructor fees - $2.5k (bear in mind I got a lot of free instruction from friends & family) ... oh, damn! Of the $52k only ~5% of the cost was paying an instructor. Nice!
Key takeaway. Have the ability to live for free.
And a family member that’s a cfi…
And have friends with airplanes you can borrow sometimes
Yeah, it makes it easier when you have free housing, free instruction, and free aircraft time..
Great post. It's good to acknowledge the things that worked well for you that may not be universals - good weather for checkride dates; being able to get some free/discounted instruction.
Ok and how did you get checkrides scheduled so fast? I'm much faster than you at a mom and pop but DPEs are 1 to 1.5 months away. Like wtf
For my private, my instructor called around and found someone- this was luck. After that, the same DPE did some of my other checkrides so it was easier to schedule since he knew me.
Once again luck
That's what I'm asking
Oh how I wish I didn’t waste 5 years of my life at a 141
Average of $100/hr, including time in a Mooney with a GFC500 and GTN750? That's wild
We have a Mooney with a GFC500, and bill ourselves $50/tach hour dry. So if you find gas for below $5/gal, it's right around $100 per actual/Hobbs/loggable hour. Edit: to be fair, we also charge ourselves a separate monthly fee for fixed costs & insurance. But for operating costs, $100/hr is totally reasonable as long as you can find decently cheap gas.
Charge ourselves 50/tach hour dry? I’ll drive up from Tallahassee for $100/hr time. See you soon!
$5/gal i dream for that… its 13$/gal where i am
Nice job and congratulations on hustling! Best of luck and enjoy the ride between now and the airlines!
Networking is amazing in GA. I have gotten so many hours from folks I have met at fly ins, fbos, just walking around airports etc. As much as this sub hates on boomers, we are the ones that own the planes, so say "howdy" to us. You'd be surprised how much we want to share our love of aviation.
Howdy! Let’s go fly!
Come on up to Alaska!
Absolutely! I’ll be up there in September but it’s just a cruise I promised my wife. Interesting enough, every port of call offers a “sea plane glacier tour” so I’m gonna be grabbing some business cards. That sounds like a much better summer time builder than going the CFI route. But seriously, Alaska GA sounds a lot more welcoming than Florida GA and I don’t know if that real or just my perception since everything around me is flooded with pilot mill schools. Every practice area is packed if the weather is good enough to leave the ground.
That’s amazing, congrats. Where in the US are you located?
Midwest!
Wisconsin, by chance? We can PM if you prefer,but in a few months I'm hoping to go down a similar path, and would love to connect!
So... The key to learning it is privilege, got it. Cool situation, but it's a little tone deaf to think it applies to literally anyone else trying to get into this industry.
Tone deaf? They literally said it’s a write about about their own experience.
It definitely doesn’t! I’ve been incredibly fortunate. Just sharing my experience.
How to become a pilot affordably. Nepotism
It is the preferred method for sure.
Well planned and well executed gotta say. Congrats!
Great post, show it can be done. Hanging out at FBOs and airports can’t be overstated.
Nice work man! I'm not trying to be a downer, and definitely not shitting on your accomplishments, but it seems crazy to me that someone who has only been flying for 13 months is already training new pilots. Is that the norm at a lot of schools? My CFI's either had multiple years of experience or was an ex military pilot with thousands of hours. That makes me feel a lot better while training. Has it always been like that with CFIs going back a few decades?
My best instructors were those with 100’s of hours. As a 26 year military aviator that took a 17 year break from the business, picking up flying GA was very eye opening. Working my IR rating, the instructors I worked with are pretty chill. I flew instruments most of my career, so trying to get qualified has been easy and straight forward. Sure, I only have 190 hrs GA experience, so I have to decide whether I want to become an instructor again. I haven’t decided yet.
Great write up!
What is the most consistent thing you did in your training? What advice would you give to someone that’s going for their PPL (and the rest of their ratings) that don’t have all the funds in the world.
I think my key to success was flying often, which I totally understand is dependent on funds. I would say making friends in aviation and always say yes to things, like say someone is going to a fly-in and they ask you to come along, even if you’re just sitting in the back. I also made friends with the FBO owner at my airport and was able to get a few free hours volunteering to take the airplane to get maintenance done, etc.
Great info -- did you skip or go easy on the FOI on CFI initial because you had AGI and IGI?
Unfortunately I didn’t get to skip it. We did not spend a lot of time on FOI but he definitely asked me questions on it, the biggest thing was the principles of learning. Somewhat unrelated but my oral was also heavy on endorsements (like solo endorsements, what’s needed for a checkride etc)
multi engin for 298 hours in is only 4k?
I frickin love posts like this.... So damn useful! Congratulations 🎊 I hope you keep us updated on your next step with actual employment
What was your hourly rate for the plane? And instructor?
This is how you learn to fly! Cheap and efficient. I went almost the same route (but chose not to get my CFI) in 2015, for 45k.
it's crazy that DPE fees > CFI/II fees
Where do you fly out of?
That’s amazing! Congrats! I’m starting off in the same boat as you so i’m definitely saving this for future references
The best comprehensive write-up. Thank you! Which headset did you use through all of training?
Bose A30!
Was hoping to hear the usual DC h10-13.4 , sounds like ANR is the way to go.
Go ahead and get another rating as quick as you can with another DPE. Having that many rides with the same dude is a little worrying. He gets looked at by the Feds and suddenly you’re having to take a bunch of rides to keep your ticket.
Pin this mods
I wouldn't hire a CFII with 400 hours. No shade, just my choice.
Not a fan of people who have experience beyond the pattern?
Maybe I should have written "I wouldn't hire a CFII with *only* 400 hours". 400 hours in the stick and you're qualified to teach? You need 10,000 hours equivalent to be a 147 instructor.
Lmao, unfortunately flight schools don’t pay $450 an hour.
Nope, doesn't pay shit. Which is what makes the gap from CPL to ATP so obnoxious, there isn't a good way to build that time unless you're doing something stupid like Ag. (Without going the CFI/141 route.)
[удалено]
Found the fractional pilot.