How the h**l can I afford Pilot Training?

Question

I have decided that I will become a Commercial pilot, i've been look up on line and my family cannot afford the costs, and i don't know what else to do? + i live in the uk and want to train in the us or canada (much cheaper there), i also canadian citizenship

Answer 1

You'll have to pay for the ppl.

If you got an instructor's rating, you could be paid to instruct in light aircraft.

One way of getting hours for this would be to become an unpaid (but getting hours) tug pilot at a gliding club

Answer 2

join the military, serve you country for a few years, you will recieve  free training,leave VERY employable

Answer 3

I know this is not going to be a popular answer, but.....you could always join the Air Force (or your Country's equivalent). If you qualify, they will train you. After you serve your time, you will have experience, and be able to easily find a job as a commercial pilot.

OK: The military may require a degree (at least in the States), but if you qualify, they will pay for that too.

Answer 4

a friend of mine became a commercial pilot recently.(with easy jet)

he joined Air Force (RAF) first, had a training with super fast jets free of charge while getting paid.

he served several years in RAF, resigned and joined a private air line as a trainee commercial pilot.

even if it takes some time, that way is much better

Answer 5

That's a common problem, but it's nothing different than asking how to pay for med school or law school or any kind of advanced degree.  Flight training is a specialized education that uses expensive equipment and fuel.  There's the ongoing college or not debate, but just because people can get airline jobs without college (that's getting harder to do now) doesn't mean that there isn't any kind of educational requirement.

Finance flight training the way everybody finances college.  If it's something you really want to do, there isn't any way around the costs unless you go into the military and let the government pay for your training.

Answer 6

The problem with everyone on here telling you to "join the military" is that they are not telling you that the military requires you to have a 4 year college degree before they would even consider you for a flight program.  So pay for flight training, pay for college.......unless you get yourself a scholarship, you are going to pay.

Answer 7

That's the one problem with flying-$.

You can save your money, apply for a scholarship, or get a loan. If you wanna train in the us go to www.aopa.org cause they have lots of information and resources. Good luck and enjoy flying!!!!!

Answer 8

Can you get a Gov Grant or is there any assistance locally offered by the UK?

I think you have to become a regular pilot and then go Commercial. Mainly cause you need a lot of flight time hours.

If you train in the US, head for Southern California. Long Beach area, around there.

Answer 9

One thing you can do while training for your private pilot's certificate is ask your school if you can wash the aircraft in their fleet for lessons in exchange. I have a friend in flight school who does so. I asked my school but they won't let me, so this may or may not work. Part 141 schools also provide student loans.

You can get a part-time job if you don't already have one (that's what I'm going to do when I'm old enough, and I'm going to help out around the grocery stores when I turn 14). Try to take advantage of as much as possible.

Answer 10

The same way everybody else did it.  Get a loan, work a LOT instructing once you get that rating, eat lots of ramen noodles and mac and cheese while you're doing your training, continue that diet for the first year or three while you work your way up flying for a commuter, make steep student loan payments for several years after that.

Nobody said it would be easy or cheap.

Answer 11

--Educational loan from a bank.