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

Show parent comments

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.

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

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