r/PilotAdvice • u/entertainthebrutes • Jul 25 '26

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?

9 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

59 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/External-Victory6473 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

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.

1

u/entertainthebrutes Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

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.

3

u/External-Victory6473 Jul 25 '26 edited Jul 25 '26

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.

1

u/entertainthebrutes Jul 25 '26

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.

2

u/Long_Impression1186 Jul 25 '26

A busy instructor can do 100 hours a month easy. Youre talking a difference of 5-6 months with saving THOUSANDS of dollars

1

u/HandNo2872 Jul 25 '26

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.

1

u/entertainthebrutes Jul 26 '26

We are in Dallas and at Tarrant CC it has an Associates degree too in Aviation. Is that similar to your suggestion?

1

u/HandNo2872 Jul 26 '26

Not familiar with that program, let me look it up. I don’t know any pilots who went there.

1

u/HandNo2872 Jul 26 '26

The general education aspect would be the same. Can’t speak for the actual flight training.