How can I convince my dad to let me enter flying school
Posted by Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 37 comments
So basically my dad's 63 (im 18) so he barely knows how the schools and college systems work cause he grew up with different ones, so when it comes to a flying academy IE not a college he's very skeptical
I'm prepared this summer to try to convince him to let me leave college for 1 semester and try out the 4 month ground school
Now money isn't a problem at all or anything else, it's just that he thinks a business degree is good since that's what my cousins did
Is there anything I can tell him to help my case?
Anthem00@reddit
Sorry. You obviously don’t know what you are doing. If you are going to an in person 4 month ground school - I’m going to side with him. Send $239 or whatever it is and get the online ground school from pilot institute, king, sportys, gold seal or whatever.
But you don’t need to convince him either. You could get a job and fund your flying classes yourself while still in school.
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
In my city there are no menial jobs but anyways I could get some money for online courses
But that's not the idea, my college tuition is 24k a year so I don't want to start with my bachelors just to tell him I don't want to continue half way through
It's much better to decide now
bisquick__@reddit
What city do you live in that have no entry level jobs
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
There are entry level but those make 200-300$ per month maximum and with 8-14 daily hours so not really worth it
Conscious_Peace_9138@reddit
200-300 a month max? working once a day?
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
Daily 8-12 hours
Maybe per hour is 1$ not sure, these jobs are like delivery driver, Starbucks, McDonald's
I don't thinks there's a minimum wage thing like in the US
Mispelled-This@reddit
Minimum wage in Cyprus is €1000 per month.
Conscious_Peace_9138@reddit
$1 per hour? Where are you from?
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
Cyprus, idk if its only my area that's like this but probably
artnium27@reddit
The point is that you should get the bachelors anyway. Most pilots have college degrees now, and you will not be competitive if you don't have one.
As well as the fact you need a backup. You cannot guarantee your entire livelihood on something that can be taken away by one medical event.
Get the degree and do the online ground school.
theupside2024@reddit
You don’t need 4 months of ground school. Find an instructor and start taking flying lessons. The ground instruction should be taken in conjunction with flying. It makes so much more sense that way. You can be in college and take flying lessons at the same time. In one summer you could get your private pilot license.
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
I think for that in my area you need to get a private instructor
The system my flight school has is, 4 months ground school, after that a period (not sure how many months) for ppl, and then cpl
So it's in steps
theupside2024@reddit
You’re in the united states?
NlCKSATAN@reddit
So you have college paid for? Id just get the degree bro. Do flight school on the side or after you finish school.
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
I'm doing freshman now, in my country basically it's like grade 13 so technically I haven't started with my bachelors, if I don't do flight school I start a business major next year but that's 2-3 years
And my dad's method of thinking is I'm not allowed to focus on 2 things, just do 100% in 1 thing
ReadyplayerParzival1@reddit
Flying and college are each a ton of work alone, while both can be done I would suggest to focus on college first so you’ll have a solid degree and then you can move on to flying once you have a degree that is paying the bills and is a fall back.
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
Is having a degree that important to get a job? From what I've heard most people in the area (Easa system) just go straight to flight school
And concerning money it's not a problem there's a good amount of savings and not alot of bills
ReadyplayerParzival1@reddit
Having a good degree is always important, in the us, or abroad as you have indicated. It’s more so that if your medical certificate gets revoked for whatever reason you have a fall back. Also flying is really really really expensive. In the states it’s around 70-120k depending on how you do it. In the easa system the hour requirement is smaller to become an atp equivalent but it will still be many 10’s of thousands of euros.
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
I talked with the academy full ride from ground school to cpl is around 80k USD
I understand the idea that I should have something to fall back on but I really can't see myself doing 3 years of college in something I'm uninterested in
MostNinja2951@reddit
Don't expect to do any better as a pilot then. Like every job there are boring and frustrating parts and those are usually the majority of the time. If you're only able to do a job when you're enjoying it you're going to fail.
vtjohnhurt@reddit
This is crazy/dumb approach to PPL written ground school. Ground school is not a big deal. For a reality check consider that this 3-day course covers the same material http://fly.scripts.mit.edu/mitflyingclub/category/ground-school/
ltcterry@reddit
"I want to go to flight school to become an airline pilot instead of going to college" is not a very good plan for most people. Learning to fly is a lot more work than most people expect. More than they've done in HS or college in many cases.
There's an 80% drop out rate. That likely includes you.
John and Martha King got rich and famous teaching ground school in two 8-hour weekend sessions with the test on Monday. If you need four months for Private Pilot ground school you are not a good candidate.
If "money isn't a problem at all" why don't you just continue the business degree and learn to fly on the side? There's zero rush to finish and run head long into the massive, growing backlog of people who can't find their next, or even first, job.
Fit-Bedroom6590@reddit
Have him call me; my path high school, active duty navy, submarines, college plus flying, then all flying, 37 year major airline. If you understand and if he understands the seniority system it will make better sense to him. Son went to college sucked, he was best at goofing off all day at the airport turned into a career, flew my plane started with a commuter which merged into a major the month after he was hired at 19. Lots of ATR time, He picked up his 767 ATP on 21st birthday same night flew a trip to LHR. There are many ways to achieve goals and objectives; none are wrong, some are way better then others. But never forget seniority rules. Have your dad take a introductory flight with an enthusiastic pilot he might even want to participate. If are persuasive and you can talk him into a reasonable plane take it to college and when you graduate sell it get your/his money back precisely what I did. Leave plane and flying magazines around for him to read. Lastly you will always need a tad bit of luck but you make your own luck it is called perseverance. You will never get there if you don't start, so make a plan fly the plan.
Anthem00@reddit
OP is not based in the us. Though he is using usd as a cost basis.
To the OP - the majority of people here are us based. It would help if you identified where you are so that the respondents could better tailor their responses. Or not jump to things that are US centric.
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
Cyprus
Conscious_Peace_9138@reddit
Get the degree first
bhalter80@reddit
Their money their rules. Does he push for business because of the money it will make you, the prestige it will earn you, the quality of partner you'll get or because if what he'll get telling his friends that you're a business analyst that hasn't been seen in a decade working at a major investment bank? If you can answer what he cares about you can make an argument that being a pilot is even better for those things that a business degree
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
He doesn't care about any of that, the whole idea is I can do whatever I like we just agreed together business is better based on my cousins doing good in it
bhalter80@reddit
So he agreed and you capitulated and now want to go do the other thing…. Kinda dug your own grave on that one.
Think about why aviation is better, including life satisfaction because if you aren’t happy you won’t make it as far in business…..and make that argument
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
The whole conversation was about 10 minutes anyways since it was the last 5 hours I could choose my wanted "major" on the college admission so nothing serious but yes I get you
xonk@reddit
You're always one medical condition from flying no longer being a viable career. Take the tens of thousands of dollars he's willing to pay for your college and have a solid plan B. You can come up with a couple hundred dollars on your own and finish ground school this summer.
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
I was considering that but I have a college class in summer + the course is 4 months long so by the end of it I would be starting the first semester of college which is a pain
xonk@reddit
Do it online.
https://www.sportys.com/learn-to-fly-course-private-pilot-test-prep-online-app-and-tv.html
jackrabet@reddit
if your job is something you Love, you'll never have to Work a day in your life ?
Remote-Tumbleweed762@reddit (OP)
Yes that's the whole idea, i don't want to spend the next 40 years in an office doing some fuckass charts
jackrabet@reddit
Having spent 35 years in offices myself, you are making a wise choice !
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
So basically my dad's 63 (im 18) so he barely knows how the schools and college systems work cause he grew up with different ones, so when it comes to a flying academy IE not a college he's very skeptical
I'm prepared this summer to try to convince him to let me leave college for 1 semester and try out the 4 month ground school
Now money isn't a problem at all or anything else, it's just that he thinks a business degree is good since that's what my cousins did
Is there anything I can tell him to help my case?
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