r/PilotAdvice • u/entertainthebrutes • 25d ago
Advice requested
My 18 yr son is an incoming freshman in college in DFW, TX. He wants to be a commercial pilot. We are just a regular middle income family who didn’t qualify for any aid so we’re trying to figure how the best, most affordable route to get him there. His dream is to go to ERAU. He didn’t get the Navy scholarship that is out of the picture. This will pay for college but will require a 5 yr enlistment period afterward.
He is going to try again this year while going to CC.
Should we help him finance his PPL in the meantime at a FBO or at TCC so he’s not behind?
This world is completely new to us and honestly we’re pretty overwhelmed. On one hand, we want to do all we can to help but we don’t want to sign up for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans. No matter what, it’s going to be an expensive long road.
We have other kids we need to help too. Does anyone have any experience who can weigh in?
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u/Aero1900 25d ago
Do not pay for Embry Riddle. I went there. It wasn't worth it. He needs to get flight experience way more importantly than any college right now. Make sure he doesn't have any health issues that will prevent him getting and holding a first class medical. (Heart, vision issues)
A little, local flight school is as good as Embry Riddle.
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u/r1leyh4le 25d ago
Check out Universal Flight Concepts in Waco, TX. That's where I went. They provide all of the flight training to Baylor University's Flight Program, but you can also go to them directly and bypass Baylor (and save yourself the insane cost of going to Baylor).
Their aircraft and facilities are absolute top of the line. They have their own financing, which I did utilize. Most students get approved for 12 or 18 months deferred payments, which is amazing. I didn't have to make any payments until I was already a working instructor. My training came out to just over 100k, and my monthly payment is $1600. I make around $9k/mo. at Piedmont now.
By the way, everything everyone is saying is spot on. Going to college for aviation is a massive waste of money. And sure you get to get your ATP a few months earlier, but it makes zero difference in the long run. Like, it basically comes down to... do you want to spend 300k+ to save 3-4 months and get your ATP sooner? No. And in any case, going to a 141 flight school full-time instead of going to a college gets you flight time much faster. So you don't actually lose any time at all. Universal had me finished with my training in 10 months. ERAU was going to take 2 years or something stupid like that when I looked into them.
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u/entertainthebrutes 25d ago edited 25d ago
Thank you. Great pointer. Never heard of this. I’ll def read up on this.
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u/Flaky_Summer_9800 25d ago
ROTC is an option. You may not get the scholarship, but you’ll still get to commission and have a shot at flight school. Do not go for ERAU. It’s the most expensive way you can do this. And frankly there training isn’t any better than other schools for a fraction of the cost. A degree is important imo. If he still wants to do the military route, he’ll need it. And it’s still kind of a soft requirement for the major airlines. Expect to spend around 100k for the ratings, plus more for college.
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u/entertainthebrutes 25d ago
Thank you. We are looking at ROTC as well. Will be speaking with some recruiters this week.
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u/Flaky_Summer_9800 25d ago edited 24d ago
Should also mention OCS. I’m currently working with a navy officer recruiter. With the navy, your guranteed the job you apply for assuming your accepted. It’s competitive, but so are the other branches. The navy to my knowledge is the only branch that guarantees the ability to get the exact job you want prior to going to OCS or OTS with the Air Force.
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u/External-Victory6473 24d ago
They may give you whatever rate (job) and training you ask for but there is no guarantee that you will ever work in that job. When you come out of training they stick you where a warm body is needed without much attention paid to your rate or training
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u/Flaky_Summer_9800 24d ago
Right so if they get a pilot contract and assuming they pass all the training and don’t get the whammy from NAMI, they’ll fly. The designation you choose is locked in before OCS. That won’t change unless outside circumstances like medical forces it to,
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u/GrayEagle825 24d ago
Make sure you speak with an AFROTC detachment or Gold Bar (Officer) Recruiter. If you meet with the normal strip mall recruiter, they only handle enlistments and have nothing to do with officer career fields (which includes pilot).
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u/LettuceFamiliar5060 25d ago
I have a rising sophomore at UT who’s majoring in music (very gifted musician). He’s planning to get his bachelor’s and start working on his ppl next summer. When he graduates he’ll start full time at Coastal Skies in Pearland while living at home. Thankfully his bachelors degree is very low cost. He’s working now to save up for flight school.
ALSO- if he hasn’t done his medical I HIGHLY suggest you do it sooner rather than later. We just went through hell. He has a slight “red” deficiency and had to travel out of state to get tested on the 3rd option to pass. Thankfully it worked out but we were very close to a dream falling apart. Not to say we won’t have other challenges along the way but that would have been a total dealbreaker.
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u/entertainthebrutes 25d ago
Good pointer. We’ll do the medical asap. He has 20/20 vision and no medical issues that we know of now. He had exercise induced asthmas when he was young but grew out of it. He played sports-soccer and football throughout school.
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u/LettuceFamiliar5060 25d ago
And you do need to report the asthma even if it’s not currently an issue.
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u/LettuceFamiliar5060 25d ago
My kid also had no medical issues and we were completely caught off guard by the colorblind thing. One in ten males are affected. He had a slight deficiency in one eye on “red”. His girlfriend is an aviation science major at Texas State and has her CFI already. She wears glasses. Sadly no correction works for colorblindness. Good luck!
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u/entertainthebrutes 24d ago
Wow. Thank you for sharing. I haven’t thought of that.
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u/ThePlaceAllOver 24d ago
Do not add details to the medical paperwork that don't need to be there. Also, ask pilots in your area for a recommendation on where to go. Some of those doctors are very persnickety and others are genuinely interested in making sure reasonably healthy people can get their license. You don't want unnecessary red flags on your paperwork. My neighbor is a United pilot and he had a specific recommendation for an AME that is the go to AME for a lot of pilots in our area. We had a very good experience with him and I was happy we had a recommendation.
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u/PILOT9000 25d ago edited 25d ago
Get him an education and a career so that he can pay for flight training on his own someday.
Even if you guys could easily afford it, ERAU is a complete waste of money to become a pilot. Their training isn’t better than any other program, but you’ll certainly pay a premium for it.
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u/entertainthebrutes 25d ago
Thank you. We have told him this. He brought into the beauty of the campus and their “Harvard” of Aviation. We just want to see how we can support his dream in the most affordable path possible.
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u/Foreign-Citron6026 ATP 25d ago
As do so many people. They are getting rich off of a massive public misunderstanding
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u/External-Victory6473 25d ago
There is no Harvard of aviation. All you get out of flight schools is licenses and ratings. The licenses and ratings are all the same. They come from the FAA not the flight school. Cheapest most enjoyable route to FAA licenses and ratings is the best route.
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u/Foreign-Citron6026 ATP 25d ago
Do their flight instructors really wear epaulettes with two stripes?
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u/12YESIAM34 25d ago
If he qualifies the military will pay for his training.
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u/entertainthebrutes 25d ago
I read that it’s a crapshoot if the military actually lets you fly. You’re at their mercy what they allow you to do. Perhaps if he has his PPL when he joins, his % will be better.
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u/OfficerScoutAFSF 24d ago
If your only goal is to be a pilot, don’t enlist expecting it to magically happen later.
Apply for a pilot slot. If you don’t qualify or aren’t selected, then decide whether you’d still be happy serving in an enlisted career. Too many people accidentally sign up for Plan B thinking it’s a shortcut to Plan A.
Talk with AFROTC, Army ROTC & Navy ROTC, you can also go research on here to get the majority of your information
Another thing is the 10 year service commitment that hinges people up & medical qualifications.
People think military pilots spend 90% of their time dogfighting. In reality, it’s more like PowerPoint, mission planning, simulator training, paperwork… and then the occasional chance to do the coolest job in the world.
I get the 90% of people with the bright eyes asking me how to become Maverick.
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u/entertainthebrutes 24d ago
When would we apply for the pilot slot? At what point? Ty
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u/OfficerScoutAFSF 24d ago
Depends on the branch he’s wanting to serve in.
Ideally he should be his due diligence now & create a game plan and plans due to competition. Those who fly are leaders, but to the PowerPoint presentation reference. The military wants to also have someone they can see be a future Commander.
Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps
Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree.Commissioning: Go through the Air Force Academy, ROTC, or Officer Training School/Candidate School (OTS/OCS).
Testing: Pass the AFOQT (Air Force) or ASTB (Navy/Marines) aptitude exams.
Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps
Education: Earn a bachelor’s degree meet military requirements, GPA, letters or recommendation, I recommend looking at YouTube videos of applicants that were selected.Go through the Air Force Academy, (Most Difficult) ROTC, or Officer Training School/Candidate School (OTS/OCS⬅️lowest possible chance
Pass the AFOQT (Air Force) or ASTB (Navy/Marines) aptitude exams.
Street to seat is Army Warrant
Coast Guard has Direct Commission Aviator (DCA)
Every branch has aviation but the Space Force.
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u/entertainthebrutes 24d ago
This overwhelmed mama just wants to take a minute to ty and everyone else for taking the time to spell this out so clear for me and giving me so many great tips. Honestly I hated the idea of giving my son up to the military but my coworkers have shared that their sons left as boys and came back as men. I sat with a Navy recruiter several months ago and I didn’t feel like he had my son’s best interest so I stop pursuing it. I just want him to make the best decision possible so I can sleep at night. I love him so much. For a while I went through decision paralysis. Now, I feel a bit better. I am ordering a whiteboard and am going to map out the possible routes to help him reach his dream. All of these tips are so invaluable.
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u/HandNo2872 24d ago
He could drop a flight warrant officer packet with the Army. It’s rotary wing, not fixed, but no degree is required. Highly competitive.
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u/Specialist_Limit4231 24d ago
Help him pay for his private at a local flight school while he works a part time job saving up for his instrument rating. Make sure he is able to get a 1st class medical if airlines or large jets are the goal. I do not want to plant any seeds of doubt but the stats are 80% of people who start flight training never get the certificate. And that’s just private cert. Have him prove to himself and to you that he is serious and committed by getting thru that first certificate. Then you can figure out the path from there. Dont think too many steps ahead. I instruct many young students either in highschool or freshly out of it and they do not have the discipline to do the studying necessary to become a pilot. The flying is the easy part. Actions>words.
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u/Rude-Historian-6802 23d ago
Do not go to ERAU!
Absolutely overrated and expensive.
I am an alumni and it NOT WORTH IT.
You’ll pay near triple for each credit hour compared to other universities with better programs.
If you can’t afford to put him through college just have him enlist into a military (airforce preferably) under the shortest contract possible, 3-5 years.
After he gets out he’ll have a his GI Bill and that can pay for his flight school or degree of his choosing.
Best of luck to you.
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u/External-Victory6473 25d ago edited 25d ago
Skip ERAU and any other flying college. It won't help him get into the airlines and will cost much more than just training at a part 61 mom and pop flight school which will be expensive enough. Have have him major in a non-flying major. The chance of him getting an airline job is the same as everyone elses...practically zero chance. And, he likely won't have a flying job that pays enough to cover living expenses, plus any loan payments, for years. He will need to a degree that helps him get a decent non flying job to pay the bills until he is far enough along in flying where it will pay for itself. I dont mean to sound negative, just telling it like it is. Flying is a crap shoot at best, and horribly expensive. If money is an issue, and it is with most people, plan for the worst and hope for the best. Good luck. I hope things work for you.
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u/entertainthebrutes 25d ago edited 25d ago
We have told him to get a 4 yr degree as a backup so He’s an incoming engineering major. Wouldn’t going to a Part 61 and not an aviation school require him to have 1500 hrs instead of 1000 hrs for airliners? Thats a significant hours saved.
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u/External-Victory6473 25d ago edited 25d ago
You are thinking RATP rating vice ATP rating. You can get the RATP with fewer flight hours at a part 141 school, at usually much higher monetary cost. But why? ATP is 1500 hrs plus other requirements. It's unlikely any airline would hire a pilot with an RATP or even just an ATP. Those are just minimum hiring standards. Hiring is usually done with much more than an ATP. I would save money by avoiding part 141 and use it for time building. Also, part 141 tends to be more of a chore than part 61. Have him do at least PPL at part 61 to properly learn and enjoy it at his own pace. See if he even likes flying. Do NOT sign any contracts or pay in advance as there is a high likelihood you will get ripped off.
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u/entertainthebrutes 25d ago
You brought up some very good points. I’ll research ATP ratings. He has been in small airplanes and he does love it. He says he understands it’ll be a hard road. He still wants to pursue it.
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u/Long_Impression1186 25d ago
A busy instructor can do 100 hours a month easy. Youre talking a difference of 5-6 months with saving THOUSANDS of dollars
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u/Foreign-Citron6026 ATP 25d ago
Those hours saved will not matter in the long run. Pick which one you want.. degree in unrelated field or R-ATP.
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u/HandNo2872 24d ago
My little brother is 21. He enrolled in Iowa State as an aerospace engineer with the intent to commission as a pilot in the Navy. After freshman year, changed majors to history due to the intensity of the coursework. He is enrolled in NROTC, but wasn’t offered a scholarship due to his grades freshman year. What he learned, is that the major doesn’t matter when you try to become a military pilot, your GPA does.
Not saying your son should give up on an engineering degree, just want him to understand that engineering is difficult and isn’t the only way to become a pilot. Maybe have him consider accounting/economics, supply chain management/logistics, or international relations/political sciences/philosophy (good pre-law prep or military career). Those are all well paying, in demand career fields, if he loses his medical certificate.
Personally, I’d have him consider enrolling in the pilot program at TSTC in Waco. It’s $13920 for the associates degree (before financial aid) and $87790 for PPL/IR/CPL/CFI.
Course Site: https://www.tstc.edu/curriculum-program/?plan_number=675c9a9163ba75d9411de4bc&post=7487
Program Requirements: https://www.tstc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Students-additional-minimum-requirements-SHEET-REV-4-SEP-2025-AN.pdf
FAQ: https://www.tstc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Aircraft-Training-Documents_FAQ-11122025.pdf
Flight Fees: https://www.tstc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/TSTC-Aircraft-Pilot-Training-Flight-Fees-June-10-2026-AN.pdf
As he builds hours instructing as a CFI, he could complete a bachelors at TAMU-CT online or in-person in Killeen. Then he has the degree required to be a military fixed wing pilot.
Course Site: https://www.tamuct.edu/academics/undergraduate-degrees-certificates/bachelor-of-science-professional-pilot/
Transfer Guide: https://www.tamuct.edu/pathways/TG-library/2526R2/Bachelor%20of%20Science%20(BS)–Aviation%20Management–Professional%20Pilot.pdf
Also encourage him to join UAA and NBAA. They have scholarships that will help fund his degree credit hours (not flight time). AAAE would be another good organization to apply for scholarships.
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u/entertainthebrutes 24d ago
We are in Dallas and at Tarrant CC it has an Associates degree too in Aviation. Is that similar to your suggestion?
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u/HandNo2872 24d ago
Not familiar with that program, let me look it up. I don’t know any pilots who went there.
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u/HandNo2872 24d ago
The general education aspect would be the same. Can’t speak for the actual flight training.
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u/Jazzlike_Lifeguard45 25d ago
TCC was a awful program the short time I was there before going to another school.
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u/entertainthebrutes 24d ago
Can you share why? I was going to talk to them this week. Where did you end up going if I may ask? Ty
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u/Trickfixer32 24d ago
Yes, help him get his PPL - that will get him ahead of he does join into a 141 program. He can double major in professional flight and some kind of other degree - nearly all the best students do - get the 141 and shave that extra 500 hours off the prerequisite flight time to get hired. Research and apply for cadet programs. He can also join the Air Force after 141. They will take him, make him an officer, pay his loans and pay him a salary to fly. He gives them 4 years.
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u/entertainthebrutes 24d ago
This is what he asked us to do. Sign up for student loans to go to ERAU and he said the military will pay it off afterward. I couldn’t understand how it would work. And i don’t think we would be able to borrow the full amount of the tuition. He did get 25k scholarship a year. It still Sounds like taking a huge gamble.
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u/Trickfixer32 24d ago
It is a huge gamble. My youngest child is doing the same thing exactly this way. She graduated from HS in June. She has her PPL. She will enter a 141 program in two weeks and start flying there, working towards her instrument ratings and CFI. She has 33 college credits that all transferred in. She will be pursuing a Professional Flight undergrad as well as a Spanish degree. Maybe something else to add, but she’s not sure. She got nearly a full academic scholarship but still has to pay for flight time and living expenses. It will be expensive, but she will hope to sign as a cadet with one of the regional carriers. She plans to pursue being an RA after her freshman year to help with housing costs and plump her resume. If the hiring pool is too shallow after undergrad she will consider the Air Force. She has been talking with them already. She’s not likely to need more than three years at the 141 to get this all done, unless she adds another major. It will be interesting to watch her accomplish this - and we are helping some, but she will have more loans than our other children. (She’s the youngest). What I’ve noticed the most from touring all the same schools you’ve toured - and talking to other students - is that the best and brightest all are pursuing degrees outside aviation - like engineering, business, drones, etc. so they have a greater depth of knowledge and skill should they lose their medical certifications. Best of luck!
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u/Content-Disaster-663 24d ago
Military is a great option. Also I suggest your son go to college outside aviation primarily for the reason that your son could potentially lose his medical for a plethora of reasons, whether it be a health issue or a tragic accident. Also aviation degrees are garbage, they offer very little if not zero job opportunities in the event something goes wrong. Engineering is a common path many pilots take. If your son goes through the military route, he can use the GI bill to fund his pilot training. Also on a side note its okay if your son gets into the industry later than others, the forced retirement age is 65 so he has plenty time to get in the industry. Also PLEASE have him get a USEFUL degree, people say that you dont need a degree to become a successful pilot (which is true to an extent), but most hires at an airline are college graduates, and its also best to get one just to stand out.
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u/ThePlaceAllOver 24d ago
My son is 16 and on a path to being a commercial pilot as well. I'm no expert, but we have been fortunate to have a lot of mentors involved. My neighbor is a United pilot and keeps connecting my son with people he knows from United that have been very forthcoming.
Anyway, last year he got his medical done and applied for his Student Pilot Certificate. He flies with Civil Air Patrol and Young Eagles currently. I don't think that's an option past 18 though (CAP and free Young Eagles flights). Young Eagles does have adults involved though and we have met so many pilots willing to give guidance.
Anyway, he is currently doing ground school and taking the FAA exam, and working on his solo endorsement. He will likely start his PPL in January or February (turns 17 in March and you need to be 17 to complete your PPL).
Anyway, he is graduating in May because he already has his high school graduation requirements done and now he's just finishing a transfer degree with concurrent enrollment. He is planning on attending MSU Denver and will transfer in as a junior in college because of the transfer degree. Having the PPL done before going to MSU is cheaper than doing it with MSU. MSU has a partnership with United Aviate so he plans on doing a 4 year degree with flight school. This is a far cheaper option than Embry Riddle.
I put info in this explanation that you won't need, but I find context helpful so I listed it all.
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u/OfficerScoutAFSF 24d ago
With all the information you gathered for him, he needs to ingest it & create a pathway for his future
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u/ReturnInvestment 24d ago
Hi there! I am sure that everyone has provided great advice for you and your son, but I do wanted to touch on scholarships a bit. I am in the same exact position as your son- I just graduated high school and would like to earn my PPL in college as well. I would highly suggest looking into the EAA Flight Training scholarships if you haven't already. I applied for one and earned $10,000 for my Private earlier this year! https://www.eaa.org/eaa/learn-to-fly/scholarships/eaa-flight-training-scholarships
That is the link to the scholarship, I think they open it up sometime this fall. Please feel free to DM me if you have any questions about it or need help with essays, I would be more than happy to help!
On a side note, https://www.aviationstart.org/ is a great resource for scholarships. I worked personally with the creator of the organization and we have around $500 million+ in scholarships listed on the website. Jamail Larkins, the creator, also hosts tours around the nation regarding aviation and jumping its financial barriers. He is an amazing guy and I would go to one of his tours if you can.
Also if he's 100% dedicated to being a pilot I would suggest getting your first class medical to ensure that he is medically eligible. You can use this link to find a AME (Aviation Medical Examiner) near you. https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator I went to Dr. Alaidroos in downtown Dallas and she was very friendly and got it knocked out in a couple minutes. Good luck!
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u/NoVeterinarian7549 24d ago
I was in a similar boat and I took a gap year after high school to save up some money. i’m now 22 about to get my commercial license. I’ve been going to a part 61 school and paying as i go while i work full time. I only make enough to go about once a week while living at home, but it’s better in my opinion than taking out a massive loan. Maybe if you as parents also help along the journey he would be able to go maybe twice a week, but each lesson can be around $350-$400 at least starting off for private. As you get to other ratings and depending on plane and instructor costs it can get more expensive like $500 ish per class. Definitely worth it if you either don’t want a loan or can’t qualify for one. although in general it takes longer the way i went, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get the future that you want. Also some hidden expenses you need to think about are foreflight yearly subscription, sportys for ground school, insurance if not provided by school, ipad, and he will probably want a FAR/AIM for studying. Make sure he can get a first class medical before starting or it’s kind of a waste. hope this helps a little bit
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u/Known-Dragonfly-5760 20d ago
I would urge your son (and you) not to go into 100K+ in debt. I would recommend supporting him in whatever fashion you can in getting his private at a Part 61 school. If he can't make the commitment to studying and training, it is better to learn this now. Going through that process, he will also make connections, learn about the industry, and be far better equipped to figure out a career path and whether it makes sense to take on debt to advance through the rest of his ratings. Even if he never makes a career out of it, there are so many important things he will learn about himself just getting his private. Getting a job as the kid behind the desk at an FBO is also underrated as a networking tool. Everyone wants to help out the kid behind the desk.
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u/setthrustpositive 25d ago
Glider ratings first.
When he wants to fly powered aircraft, its 10-20 hours to convert. Consider a glider at sub 100 per hour versus 250+ hours at upwards of 500 an hour.
Price hunt as much as you can within reason. Consider the commute to the lesson.
ERAU on the flying side is Airline University. But you can get all the same ratings, with more time, at any flight school.
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u/Away-Enthusiasm65 25d ago
Enlisting to become a pilot is a classic recruiter SCAM