How did you pay for your licence
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How did you pay for your licence
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.
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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...
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...
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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* 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!
* 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!
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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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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
I am so glad that I do not have a large debt hanging around my neck.
Flipping burgers paid off for me!
Ash767
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How many jobs can you have to pay for the flying
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!
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!
Moderator
Happy memories
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!
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!
Last edited by Charlie Foxtrot India; 21st Aug 2002 at 13:39.
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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 $$$ by ourselves!
Regards,
Lachlan
In my case, I've been working for 5 years since I left high school. Over the last 12 months I've saved heaps in my current IT job. The hours are terrible.. working 12 hour shifts 4 days a week, 2 of the days 7pm till 7am.
I can't complain though.. it beats stacking shelves. I sold my flashy new car, sold my bike.. no more going out.. no more partying.. no more holidays. I plan to spend everything I have next year on flight training ie. full time ppl/cpl/atpl course.
I know the sacrifice will be worth it.
Good luck to those of us who had to earn $$$ by ourselves!
Regards,
Lachlan
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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.
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.
Grandpa Aerotart
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.
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.
Last edited by Chimbu chuckles; 19th Aug 2002 at 07:56.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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
BUT I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING
LATER
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,
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,
