PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - About to start PPL - should I go through with it?
Old 10th July 2006 | 20:03
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brynnb
 
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 15
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From: Texas
About to start PPL - should I go through with it?

I got the money, I got the physical (took 2 months of paperwork and $500), got a near by flight school, and I got a headset. I'm about $700 invested already and I haven't even taken my first lesson!

I'm starting to doubt that I really want this. For a while I was obsessed with the idea, but anymore I'm afraid I'm going to get bored with it. I'm still very young (17) and I think being a pilot is definitely a possible career choice for me.

The thing that puts me off the most is the cost. Everywhere I look it seems like it's going to be at least $100k to get my commercial license. Is it really worth it? It's such an insane investment for something I may potentially never really use. Even if I do finish a commercial license, I'll be making 20k a year to start with in an industry that's really really shakey.

I'm really hoping the airline industry goes to normal in about 10 years or so - about the time that I'd actually be looking for jobs in it if I go down this path. I guess I'm writing this for advice on what to do. Should I go ahead and start my PPL in hopes that I'll get a commercial afterwards, or should I try to find another career field to be interested in?
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