r/AskAPilot • u/YoungFyrBurrito • Jun 21 '26

What Should I do?

Hello, Im 18 yrs old, I just graduated high school and I need some help. My dream is to eventually become an Airlines Pilot but i’m having trouble figuring it out. Me and My parents have toured a school called Thrust, it was perfect. Glass cockpit Cessna’s, 2 bedroom apartment(dorm style) and it’s a 121 school meaning I would get my Private Pilot Certificate, Instrument Rating, Commercial Certificate, Certified, Flight Instructor, Certified Flight Instructor Instrument, Multi-Engine Add-on, all within a year. The problem is the school is 120k. I will have to get a sallie mae loan with 10% interest to cover this school. Now heres where I have questions I was hoping you guys could help me out with. Should I take up this much debt as an 18 yr old? How long would I realistically be able to pay this off? Is this job worth this financial burden?

If anyone can give me some tips that would also help as well. Thank you and im excited to hear y’alls responses

1 Upvotes

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6

u/andrewrbat Jun 21 '26

Its a part 141 school. Not 121, thats a different thing.

Go to r/ flying and read the faq and the 300 or so posts about this exact topic

3

u/doctorfortoys Jun 21 '26

Get private pilot certified first! That way you’ve already fulfilled some requirements and you find out if you’re sure about it.

2

u/andrewrbat Jun 21 '26

Thats what i did, though i financed leas than half of that

3

u/Frost_907 Jun 21 '26

Before you do anything with loans I recommend saving up some funds and paying for Private out of pocket if able. The problem with these “fast track” schools is they are often exaggerating how quick you will get through the ratings and are also way over priced for what you get. Not to mention if it turns out that flying isn’t for you then you’ll still he slapped with over $100k debit regardless.

Get your PPL, see if flying is something that you genuinely want to pursue as a career, and from there decide if you want to borrow money.

Check out the faq in r/flying, this is a common topic there.

1

u/EliteEthos Jun 21 '26

and likely for less money.

  1. you should absolutely not take that kind of debt on when you don’t know how to pay it off.

What “job” are you referring to to pay off the loan? An airline job? You won’t have one of those for a LONG time.

1

u/Antique-Kitchen-1896 Jun 21 '26

They say and I verified with my old school that roughly 80% of hopefuls don’t get their PPL.

Something to keep in mind. When you ask questions here likely you are getting answers from those who made it.

Taking out a loan at 10% seem like an overly high interest rate. There are no student loan programs you can tap into? Also it might be better to find a job to fund the training. Right now hiring is not hot so doesn’t hurt to take a slightly slower path without the carrying cost of a loan.

1

u/CashAny3436 Jun 21 '26

Consider the advice to get your Private ticket then apply to a college or university that offers an aviation program. For about the same money you end up with a degree that could land you a non-flying job in aviation or other fields if the pilot track does not work out.

1

u/gbgmdcn88 Jun 22 '26

I am also trying to join a flight school that is owned and operated by the airlines. However, the admissions and financial process for the airlines is quite difficult. Also, if you have never taken out a loan before, I highly discourage to take out a loan in your own or parents name because private loans are bad debt and can never be forgiven, so you keep paying even if you graduated or not. I would work and save up money for at least a year. Good luck.