How did you pay for your licence

[geisha girl]

I am interested in how the average pilot out there pays for their flight training. How does a young guy get the money together at the age of 18-20, enlighten me please.

[High Altitude]

Very good subject...

Whilst it feels like a long time ago...

Worked at the Tunnel Nigtclub (was there during the horse head incident)
Also had a real tough job as a gardener at a girls school,
oh and the typical packen shelves at Coles...

and then there was but mum... for a very wee bit at the end (which is paid back).

Now your gunna hate this but over the years as people come and people go I have seen the following. Its a huge generalisation however in most cases it rings true. Those that have paid for their liscense or who are paying it off certainly do seem more enthusiatic about work...

[Victa]

After Year 12 I took a year off and worked. If you do your homework you can find jobs that will pay about twice the amount of a average GA job.

I worked my arse off, but it payed off. Not only did I earn enough money so I wouldn't have to worry about bank loans, it was also an eye opener. Good life experience...when you start your training, you will then realise that (despite what some of your instructors may think), they really do have one of the best jobs in the world!

I know you probably want to jump right in and start now, but have patience, take a year off and earn some real money and reap the rewards the following year. You will appreciate it a great deal more. :cool:

[compressor stall]

In year 11 and 12 and 1st year uni, during holidays worked in a warehouse with over one million boxes full of confidential files. Would have to fetch whatever files clients wanted that day.

That paid for PPL and night rating.

Second year uni and onwards, had a good part time job in an retail shop selling outdoor gear. That paid for CPL and IR and ATPL.

If you work part time/holiday work over 5-6 years whilst at school and uni it is possible.

I have never begrudged anyone who has had mummy or daddy pay for thier licence. That is their good fortune, but personally, I have preferred to have done it my way for two reasons...it feels sweeter to have that bit of paper, and secondly, I can walk away from flying tomorrow if I want to, and I will not disappoint anyone.

[Slasher]

* Bein a Coles delivery guy paid for my food and paid up to my RPPL

* At the same time I paid the rent by bein a bouncer at a local disco and delivering flyers for a local joint that sold electrical stuff.

* paid for my CPL and NVMC rating and SCPL subjects by bein a "suit" with a house of ill-repute by night (you know, that guy who runs around the place writin down numbers in a book?), and a music/video shop assistant by day. Took off 2 months to do ATPL subjects full time after Id saved enough loot.

* ATPL and CIR paid by flyin jobs I got up North.

There were "other ways" I supplimented my finances but none I should mention here!

[huntsman]

saved half in a real job and took a personal loan for the rest.
should have waited but really hated that job.

[Whiskery]

Go and buy yourself a heavy truck driver's licence. Then look up all the aircraft re-fueller's phone numbers and addresses and tell them you want a job refuelling aircraft at your local lighty airport. Tell them you're prepared to work part time on week-ends if necessary.

Once you get a full time job you can earn good money working weekend shifts and late night call outs for aero med etc,. The great thing about this job is you are ON THE AERODROME and meeting all the aero club guys. This can lead to a bit more work - cleaning aircraft, offices etc,. When you finish your day job, get home and get stuck into the books for your theory exams. I know you'll feel like going out on the turps with you new found aero club mates, but DON'T! You can't afford it because you are saving for a pilot's licence and they already have a job in aviation.

You'll soon have enough money to start your training. Once you get your PPL you may get the odd ferry flight through your new made friends (who will be old mates by this stage!)and the odd test flight.

After you get your brand new CPL you'll then be able to go off and scare yourself witless up in the Territory mustering or doing joy rides around the "Rock".

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Have fun.

[hmm...]

Spent 3 years as a croupier in a smokey casino to pay my way!

Every night I went in there, I thought at least this is going towards something!

[eisle s]

Great topic geisha.
After school I got a job flying a fork lift in a warehouse and saved enough for the ppl then took out a personal loan to do the cpl and ME IR. While I was doing the flying (part time on weekends and holidays) I was still doing the store work to pay off the loan. Was lucky enough,(probably should read persistant) to get my first job on a twin dropping skydivers and the rest took care of itself. Personal loans are expensive when you consider the repaid amount but for me to have saved the amount to complete the training would have taken far too long. I agree with High Altitude, those who have done s@it jobs for ages to save for the flying generally are more motivated to make it happen. Have seen people who have been GIVEN the whole lot up to ATPL only to throw it in because it was too hard to keep looking for work. This is just my experience, Im sure there are heaps of comitted guy/girls out there who didnt pay there own way also.
Best of luck geisha, which ever path you take.;)

[Ash767]

I started work at McDonald's at age 16 to pay for my flying, then I went through McDonald's management training and paid for my PPL and CPL.

I am so glad that I do not have a large debt hanging around my neck.

Flipping burgers paid off for me!

Ash767:)

[Rayford Steele]

1. Boarding officer for cargo ships
2. Put on the white shoes and sold insurance
3. Worked at the local airport doing Unicom, B737 Load Control and Pax Check-in
4. Cleaned Motel rooms

All the above at the same time - no wonder the missus left!

[Charlie Foxtrot India]

I worked in and off in dairy farming milking cows etc for eight years to pay for uni, PPL and hours building. One day I'll work out how many udders and 4am starts it took to get the 200 hours! A scholarship helped pay for the CPL, then I took out a bank loan for the instructor rating which was paid off with four jobs at once, as a supermarket manager on shifts during the week, weekend hire-car chick, relief milking at horrible times of day and night, and about five hours of instructing a week in my "spare time".

While doing all this, my like minded mates were working as barmen, bouncers, hire car reps, schoolteachers, firemen, baggage handlers, panel beaters, hoteliers, check-in at the airport, hangar rats, all sorts of things. All of them self funded, all now in LHS of UK airlines.

But there was one little rich girl among us, who had it sorted by having Daddy buy her a brand new Archer to build her hours in. She was the only one who never made a career out of flying, and became a rich little housewife instead. The Archer gathers dust in a hangar somewhere.

Saved up to start my own GA business working three years in a dairy lab testing milk products, and instructing part-time.

As an instructor, you can really see the difference in motivation between those who have earned it and those who get it on a plate.
Good luck!

[lfalconer]

Great topic.. I've been wondering the same thing for a while now.

In my case, I've been working for 5 years since I left high school. Over the last 12 months I've saved heaps in my current IT job. The hours are terrible.. working 12 hour shifts 4 days a week, 2 of the days 7pm till 7am.

I can't complain though.. it beats stacking shelves. I sold my flashy new car, sold my bike.. no more going out.. no more partying.. no more holidays. I plan to spend everything I have next year on flight training ie. full time ppl/cpl/atpl course.

I know the sacrifice will be worth it.

Good luck to those of us who had to earn $$$ by ourselves!

Regards,

Lachlan

[Rich-Fine-Green]

Same as all the other addicts here;

Worked from 14 years old washing windows at the local bank.

Ran a book grade 11 & 12 (teachers were the best customers) - Winter Carnival paid enough to go solo.

Worked regular 9-5 jobs M-F and on week-ends did anything incl. Pub Bouncer, Factory Hand & Bottle Shop Attendant (most dangerous!).

Knew of a guy in the late 80's who paid for flying by starring in Adult Videos - Alas, I was not born with the same amount of 'natural' talant.

If you want it bad enough you will get it.

One observation I've had about Ma Natures selection of career pilots;

100% of pilots I know who toughed it out themselves have made it.

A number of those I know who were given the money by Ma & Pa have dropped out.

Nothing against those who are fortunate enough - I guess it possibly may mean more to those who do it the hard way.

[Chimbu chuckles]

1st year out of school I worked at Walton's Boatshed fulltime teaching sailing, windsurfing and fixing boats(I'd been there on weekends/holidays since I was about 12)...then 3 months in a glue factory at Brookvale then drove taxis for 4 years...the last 18 months of which I had a CPL and Instructors Rating but could only find part time instructing...then off to PNG and never looked back.

The Boatshed paid about $120 net/week for about 60 hours work. The glue factory paid about $150 net for 40 hours and the taxi paid about $500/week for 80 hours.

Rent on the apartment was $80/week.

From memory an hours dual in an almost new 152 was $55 odd dollars and solo was about $35.

I can only echo the sentiments re those whose fathers paid..my best mate's Dad paid for all his fixed wing and rotary wing...he's now a crew scheduler at a major airline:(

Chuck.

[stormywx]

Worked for a couple of years after school in hospitality, got my CPL and back working a bit now to pay for a MECIR.

I just have to say... I did a course with others at a college, many of whom hadn't left school and those of us who had, already had that "life experience", it can be a really important factor.

[Throtlemonkey]

Spent 6 months a year for 3 years driving tractors on cotton and wheat farms - 12 to 14 hour shifts (night shifts mostly), camped out in sheds the open or if I was lucky shearers quarters, went on to work as a marker and later mixer for Ag planes. dam good money between $700 and $1000 a week when it wasn't to wet to work managed to save enough to get through CPL and MECIR could have saved more but poured a fair bit of it down my throat.

[DXLR8R]

I MORGAGED THE OLD MANS HOUSE AND IM STILL PAYING FOR IT .... WORD OF ADVICE ... IF YOU GET A LOAN, BE PREPARED TO CUT YOUR WAGE IN HALF FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS .... NOT GOOD WHILE YOUR MATES (WHO'S DADDY PAIED FOR THE LICENCE) ARE HAVING A HUGE TIME ON ****** ALL ...

BUT I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING

LATER

[poteroo]

Went to PNG as a 'didiman', (agricultural extension) for 3 years of hard yak on patrol and out in the villages showing them how to run coffee,cacao,tea plantings. Live in rough surrounds, nothing to spend the money on except rare few days in regional centre.

Result = big roll of cash to outlay on PPL, plus buy share in c172 & Victa,plus fly lots,leading on to quick CPL etc...then back to PNG and real flying for a few years.

I guess it doesn't really matter how you did it -the end result is that you really feel that swell of pride in having done it by yourself.

Mining and agriculture are maybe best...because you're out in the sticks, and can save better than if you are in a great social location.

Also...look about for like minded people....maybe buy an aircraft between several of you...and fly the paint off it! I think that there are more ways to do this than everyone thinks!

Anyway, good luck to everyone who's prepared to get off their arse and work!

cheers,

[Piz Buin]

Daddy of course, is there some other way :confused:

[Break Right]

Was very impatient and borrowed the lot!:eek:
Very Very lucky got a part time job straight after gaining CPL IR and almost to the day 10 years later left that job and my dream came through 737 BNE base. Worst part 12 years to pay the loan off but well worth the money I must admit.:D

[BelowTenThousand]

Spent four years in the Australian Navy (age 18 -22), saved up $60000 in that time. That paid for my flying and gave me a great insight into the world-still would do it the same way.

But alas, I now choose not to fly and I wish I had the cash again! :p

Good Luck!

[Sheep Guts]

SKI-MASK SHOTGUN AND A FAST HOLDEN!!!!

Only Jokes People.


I worked in the RAAF for nine years as a Radio Tech, yep left a 60,000 dollar package to work in the bush as a GA pilot. Paid off though, fly Turbines now but no Jets yet. My day will come soon , come on come on:D

[kavu]

good topic

worked offshore for an oil company and saved like mad. 12 hours days for 6 week stints/ 6 week break - including some flight training. did this for approx 6 years before turning back on whole oil industry and finished off the licence. hard work but well worth every cent.

amazing how much juice the flying sucks up.:)

[sprucegoose]

I worked for a catering company for about three years and umpired indoor cricket, which I might add gave me skin thick enough to survive in this industry! My old man also had an education fund set aside for me which I used some of towards the end when I had had enough threats against my life in the indoor cricket centre.

[Tinstaafl]

Couple of other threads about this...

here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=54231), and

here (http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45915)

[exmexican]

Removed the wool from approx 55000 struggling, stinking sheep. Spent the next year getting my fingernails clean. My wage has just increased to about 3/4 of what I used to make as a shearer. Oh well (sigh)

[compressor stall]

-------------------------------
Tinny - for the same reason it is difficult to keep an eye on a lady's face sometimes? :confused:

[geisha girl]

Thanks for the help everyone, the only thing I find strange is the lack of replies from mummy and daddy financed flying training. Does this tell us something about the class system that could exist in the future of aviation?, time will tell.

[aduum]

Just a question to some of you,

Lets say you make it with a large triple figure salary at an airline.

Then your offspring want to take up a career in aviation. Do you pay for their training with your large amounts of $$ or do you make them tough it?

Personally offspring are really an investment for your retirement. The further you push them to excell the better off youll be. Does any one agree?

[Keg]

I paid the first $15K myself while working night shift at the Regent Hotel in Sydney and borrowed the next $12K off the olds.

Interestingly, not a single cadet I've come across in QF has got it for free. Every one of them is paying it back in some shape or form. A couple of them have had their parents make them pay it back with interest! :eek:

[Rich-Fine-Green]

Aduum:

If my offspring get a lobotomy and decide to try aviation;

I will give them every cent and more;

Then get them to sign a direct debit on a monthly basis over 4-5 years.

One of the best things a mother or father pilot can give their litter is advice on the industry. As with 90% of pilots, 20 years ago I was sold a B.S. dream by a flight school - then handed a CPL without a word of advice or direction.

B.T.W. - all industries that offer private education/training sell the dream. Driving training, IT, secretarial, modelling agencies etc all B.S. to get business.

[huntsman]

if my kids want to fly, i'll send them off to the RAAF.
bug ger em, i'll help them but i'm not paying

[sprucegoose]

Would that triple figure salary be something like.....$900 a year? I doubt I would be paying for any flying on that!! Couldn't even pay for the beer.

[shakespeare]

Chased wild horses in S/W Queensland.
Shore a few sheep.
Sheep and cattle mustering.
Bonked the bosses daughter and thought I would try that for a living.

Waxed entire body (excluding head (on shoulders)) and went into the gigolo business for 19 months. Yes, got paid to get laid!
Sounds like something Slasher would do I know, but had a good time. Experience gained has helped CRM principles and engaging F/A's in meaningless conversation.

Beggars can't be choosers as they say!

[Chinook]

Started flying at 16 in NZ .....

Restaurant kitchenhand
Sold my drum kit (pleased the neighbours)
Father Christmas at Woolies

Went to "Varsity .....

Sold souvlakis

Dropped out coz I wanted to fly ....

Sold menswear and measured people for tailor made suits

Joined the army ....

Queen paid me, I paid local flying scholl, had no life

changed armies ....
Finally got a paid fling job.


I feel so cheap.

[Bird Strike]

Chinook

Finally got a paid fling job.

You worked as a gigolo?!? :D

[EI_Sparks]

Now that's how to pay for your PPL :)

[the wizard of auz]

I paid for my licence by shooting Kangaroos, horses,donkeys and camels and selling the meat as pet meat, as well as driving trucks working on fishing boats and operating and repairing most types of earthwork machinery. now I fly for a living and dont earn near as much as I did earning the bloody license.

[aduum]

OK then hearing all of your earning methods another question:

If your parents offered you the cash for nothing would you accept it to complete your training?

And be completely honest :rolleyes:

Thanks.

[Rich-Fine-Green]

No Aduum, I would say 'Thanks anyway, but your idealistic favourite son would rather do it alone'.

(shakes head while lighting Cuban with $50 note)


:rolleyes: :rolleyes:


(Hang on, plastic money doesn't burn too well. How 'bout; Shakes head while lighting Cuban with Airline Job offers).


Actually, Brand-new In-laws offered to fund Instructor rating eons ago but I/we asked for them to go guarantor on a loan instead. I guess my lack of a dowry was part of the promt. In gratitute, I thought about naming my first aircraft after the mother-in-law, but 'Old bird who wanted a lawyer for a son-in-law' won't fit on a Cessna.

(gets down off soapbox - being careful not to scratch halo).


Enough, time for a brew....

[*Lancer*]

Aduum, no! And I know because they did...

I paid for flying by funding the oldies retirement :D

It made the whole process far less troubling, but I was fairly lucky to have them there in the first place. Now I've just got to finishing paying the whole lot off! Oh the horror...

Lancer

[U2]

Yes, I am a 'mum and dad paid for me' pilot, but let me tell you this:

Sister go to UNI for 4 years

A medical student will get youth allowence, aus study, low income benifits card, rent assistence and hecs loan.

Friend lives at home for free and eats for free while on the dole, until they can make money in music business.

Everyone at the start of their career needs assistance.
If you were a parent you would support the onces that mean something to you. Even if you are trying to teach them a lesson you would help them in times of need.

Borrowing money from relatives is no different from accepting free holiday, vehicles, child care, in between jobs, accomodation, food,
advice, etc.

Borrowing money too get ahead is no different to going on the dole, social services, health benefits, hospital benefits, youth allowence, welfare benifits, rent assistence, etc. It all adds up. The system is designed to help those on the bottom step to get up to the second from the bottom step.

What matters is what you do with you qualification once you got it.


U2

[Keg]

If your parents offered you the cash for nothing would you accept it to complete your training?



I'd accept the money in a blink- as would 99% of under 20 year olds- and I reckon you're kidding yourself if you didn't.

I'd also make damn sure that it was paid back in some way or form. Pay for a trip o/s, put it toward a car, etc, etc. ;) :p

Again, so would probably 99% of them!

My kids will work for their money when they are in school if they wan't to fly. If they need a loan to knock over the CIR, the instructors rating or something that then makes them employable, they too would be loaned the money!

[Nigel Osborn]

I found the cheapest way was to join the navy 40 years ago and let the tax payer pay for my training! Plus I got paid pretty well to learn and didn't need to take 1 cent ( or penny) from my folks.!:D :D :D

[Pinky the pilot]

Worked 12hrs a day 7 days/week for anything up to 9 weeks straight then 10 days off for a seismic survey crew in far sw Qld back in the 80's, making up multiple shot explosive charges to put down shotholes.
Daytime temperatures varied from near freezing in July/August to over 50c in January.
Earned more than I ever have as a Pilot.
Makes you wonder sometimes if it was all worth it.

Course it bl**dy well was!!!!!!!!:D :D