Seeking an honest opinion on completing CPL...
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my thought too ad astra
with absolutely no question about your work ethic or drive in any other aspect of your life, 50 hours in 8 years is simply not enough passion for this one. you and your marriage will be sorely tested.
since you asked for opinions, mine is go finish your ppl and be happy.
or, go and do it anyway. 28 is not too old. you'll never know otherwise.
with absolutely no question about your work ethic or drive in any other aspect of your life, 50 hours in 8 years is simply not enough passion for this one. you and your marriage will be sorely tested.
since you asked for opinions, mine is go finish your ppl and be happy.
or, go and do it anyway. 28 is not too old. you'll never know otherwise.
Just dont cripple yourself financially, have seen too many young blokes do it to themselves and I know some still playing catch up 10 years later.
I chose the option of not rushing, building up wealth in my previous field and doing the flight training in time off, all done debt free. Met alot more people along the way which made slotting into a job later in life alot easier, not to mention alot more time to fly around exploring this country and others at my leisure.
I didn't finish the CPL until 28, played around in GA for three years, then moved onto a prop for four both here and abroad then jumped on the airbus. Id say age was on my side, I remember my prop interview in the UK, they were more interested in my previous life before flying where I had quite a few people under my belt.
I chose the option of not rushing, building up wealth in my previous field and doing the flight training in time off, all done debt free. Met alot more people along the way which made slotting into a job later in life alot easier, not to mention alot more time to fly around exploring this country and others at my leisure.
I didn't finish the CPL until 28, played around in GA for three years, then moved onto a prop for four both here and abroad then jumped on the airbus. Id say age was on my side, I remember my prop interview in the UK, they were more interested in my previous life before flying where I had quite a few people under my belt.
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Uhh can one even do a CPL under FEE-HELP?
I was of the understanding that could only be done under HECS...
If you can't support a family under your current wage minus flying training costs, you won't have much of a chance of supporting one on a GA wage. Have a think about that...
I was of the understanding that could only be done under HECS...
If you can't support a family under your current wage minus flying training costs, you won't have much of a chance of supporting one on a GA wage. Have a think about that...
Join Date: Nov 2013
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niss200sx
Here's my take on your situation for what it's worth.
If I had my time again I wouldn't change my decision to pursue my CPL and a career in aviation, despite the HUGE commitment my training has been over the last 3 years...and I'm still not finished yet!
I've wanted to be a pilot since I was 16 and knew the moment I took my first lesson in my late 20's that I absolutely had to do this everyday.
Over these years I have made many sacrifices in order to keep my training moving forward, training once per week on the weekends and studying after work was the only way I could make things happen. It wasn't practical or possible for me to train full-time. Consequently the learning process has been very slow and my experience of flight training has not been as timely and smooth as some of the lucky people who can afford to train everyday and finish their CPL in 8 months or so.
I still consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to train in the first place though, and through sheer determination (and lots of support from my family) have almost made it to the end of a very long road.
I don't know the specifics of your story or life, but I do know how hard it can be to keep training in your spare time around a full-time job, family and other commitments outside of aviation. Many times I have wondered why I have kept going with my CPL and if I should just give it away when it becomes really hard to fit the commitment of training in around your everyday life. The fact that you only have very few hours over 8 years just tells me you had more obstacles than I did. I don't think it's fair for people to tell you that you aren't committed enough.
Here's the thing. In today's market there really isn't a need anymore to do things the way I have done it. Luckily there are plenty of schools around the country who offer full-time flight training funded by VET FEE-HELP. Provided you can survive by taking on full-time education, this is by far the best way to go about it. There is just no comparison between training full-time or part-time in terms of learning and enjoyment in my opinion. The added major benefit is that all the financial stress is removed from the picture.
There are courses out there which can take you from zero hours to CPL, MECIR and ATPL theory subjects (frozen ATPL). Like everything though it pays to do your research as thoroughly as possible and make your choices wisely.
Many people simply don't understand how VET FEE-HELP works or think it's somehow different from the 1000's of people with degrees out there who financed their education in the same way. All of who manage to get jobs and survive at the end of their studies. I suggest you take a look at the 2014 FEE-HELP booklet and see how it all works.
To give you an idea though here are a few example annual salaries with and without an education loan deduction, regardless of the amount borrowed:
Annual Gross Weekly Net without HELP Weekly Net with HELP
$40,000 $671.23 $671.23
$60,000 $923.85 $871.85 ($52 less pay)
$80,000 $1177.46 $1077.46 ($100 less pay)
$100,000 $1413.08 $1260.08 ($153 less pay)
All the best with your decision!
Here's my take on your situation for what it's worth.
If I had my time again I wouldn't change my decision to pursue my CPL and a career in aviation, despite the HUGE commitment my training has been over the last 3 years...and I'm still not finished yet!
I've wanted to be a pilot since I was 16 and knew the moment I took my first lesson in my late 20's that I absolutely had to do this everyday.
Over these years I have made many sacrifices in order to keep my training moving forward, training once per week on the weekends and studying after work was the only way I could make things happen. It wasn't practical or possible for me to train full-time. Consequently the learning process has been very slow and my experience of flight training has not been as timely and smooth as some of the lucky people who can afford to train everyday and finish their CPL in 8 months or so.
I still consider myself lucky to have had the opportunity to train in the first place though, and through sheer determination (and lots of support from my family) have almost made it to the end of a very long road.
I don't know the specifics of your story or life, but I do know how hard it can be to keep training in your spare time around a full-time job, family and other commitments outside of aviation. Many times I have wondered why I have kept going with my CPL and if I should just give it away when it becomes really hard to fit the commitment of training in around your everyday life. The fact that you only have very few hours over 8 years just tells me you had more obstacles than I did. I don't think it's fair for people to tell you that you aren't committed enough.
Here's the thing. In today's market there really isn't a need anymore to do things the way I have done it. Luckily there are plenty of schools around the country who offer full-time flight training funded by VET FEE-HELP. Provided you can survive by taking on full-time education, this is by far the best way to go about it. There is just no comparison between training full-time or part-time in terms of learning and enjoyment in my opinion. The added major benefit is that all the financial stress is removed from the picture.
There are courses out there which can take you from zero hours to CPL, MECIR and ATPL theory subjects (frozen ATPL). Like everything though it pays to do your research as thoroughly as possible and make your choices wisely.
Many people simply don't understand how VET FEE-HELP works or think it's somehow different from the 1000's of people with degrees out there who financed their education in the same way. All of who manage to get jobs and survive at the end of their studies. I suggest you take a look at the 2014 FEE-HELP booklet and see how it all works.
To give you an idea though here are a few example annual salaries with and without an education loan deduction, regardless of the amount borrowed:
Annual Gross Weekly Net without HELP Weekly Net with HELP
$40,000 $671.23 $671.23
$60,000 $923.85 $871.85 ($52 less pay)
$80,000 $1177.46 $1077.46 ($100 less pay)
$100,000 $1413.08 $1260.08 ($153 less pay)
All the best with your decision!
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I know you can do flying training with FEE-HELP. But I've only seen it for very specific courses, like instructor/instrument ratings. Who offers the whole lot on FEE -HELP?
Qualifications - Study Assist
A quick search on the study assist website shows that FEE HELP is not available for any Cert I-IV. Which I believe is up to CPL? I don't know a lot about the topic and that is probably the limit of my understanding.
Qualifications - Study Assist
A quick search on the study assist website shows that FEE HELP is not available for any Cert I-IV. Which I believe is up to CPL? I don't know a lot about the topic and that is probably the limit of my understanding.
Last edited by Nomde plume; 15th Jan 2014 at 06:14.
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There are various courses available at Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma level which are covered under FEE-Help, in conjunction with a University.
The majority of these take you from nothing, to CPL and MECIR or Instructor Rating.
In most cases you're required to complete an Undergraduate (Bachelor) degree in conjuncton, however if the University accepts previous study etc, then it is possible to enrol in the 'Postgraduate' Certificate or Diploma, without needing to complete another degree.
This means that instead of taking 3 to 4 years, it can be completed in 12 months.
Pretty unlikely that someone 18-21 would be accepted to a Postgraduate course without the associated Undergraduate degree.
Hope this info helps.
As for me, I've accepted the offer and will see where this all takes me. I'm not going in to it with my eyes closed,
As others have said, we only get one chance at life.
The majority of these take you from nothing, to CPL and MECIR or Instructor Rating.
In most cases you're required to complete an Undergraduate (Bachelor) degree in conjuncton, however if the University accepts previous study etc, then it is possible to enrol in the 'Postgraduate' Certificate or Diploma, without needing to complete another degree.
This means that instead of taking 3 to 4 years, it can be completed in 12 months.
Pretty unlikely that someone 18-21 would be accepted to a Postgraduate course without the associated Undergraduate degree.
Hope this info helps.
As for me, I've accepted the offer and will see where this all takes me. I'm not going in to it with my eyes closed,
As others have said, we only get one chance at life.
