Flight school or college
Posted by rickWente@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 28 comments
I’m a 21-year-old active duty Army soldier with a long-time dream of becoming a fixed-wing pilot. I’ve wanted this since I was a kid, and now I finally have the chance to start making it happen.
I have a few months left on my contract and I’ve been saving money. I recently got quoted about $11k for a Private Pilot License (PPL) at a local flight school.
Now I’m stuck overthinking my next move.
I’m trying to decide if I should:
• Pay out of pocket and get my PPL before I leave the Army, then go to college afterward for the rest of my ratings
OR
• Wait and use military benefits like the GI Bill or other programs to help cover training/college and flight hours
I’m not sure if there are Army programs that could help with flight training while I’m still in.
I really want to get my PPL ASAP, but I also don’t want to make a financially dumb decision if there’s a better route available through the military or college.
Mrs_Fagina@reddit
PPL to make sure you like it. Get a 1st class medical.
GI Bill as much as you can (not the annual, do 141). Get a degree to go with it.
You’re behind thousands of applicants right now. Hiring will scoop a bunch of them up, but you’ve missed a good portion of the hiring spree until likely 2030 and beyond.
Post peak retirements and backfills later this decade no one knows what the annual hiring figures will look like. You need to set yourself up with a solid foundation/backup plan debt free.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
So my best best is do my ppl and then do college with my gi bill?
Mrs_Fagina@reddit
Yea that would be my recommendation. You’re not racing anywhere in this market. Build a foundation with a solid degree.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the advice i will try to go to college when im out, imma just do my PPL and thinking of going UND, the only think in my mind is that i seem in different post that some university’s dont care that you had a PPL before hand and want you to start over
Headoutdaplane@reddit
Check for flight schools on base..a lot of joint bases have them and they are cheaper than on the economy.
Also, if you are planning on filing for disability, just know that the FAA and VA share medical records. You don't want something that will disqualify you from a medical.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
there's no flight school in base, and i do not have any disabilitys
ltcterry@reddit
$11k for Private is incredibly unrealistic. Particularly at a Liberty partner.
That price is probably based on the FAA’s 40-hour minimum rather than the 70-75 hours required in the real world.
80% of people who start Private don’t finish.
Be aware the last few years have seen twice as many Commercial Pilots and instructors produced as needed. Getting a first job has become extremely competitive. Many will never get a job.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
I guess i gotta lock in
liftloom@reddit
Have you considered applying for warrant officer school to become a pilot in the army? Most army pilots fly helicopters but you still start on fixed wing.
ltcterry@reddit
Backwards. And the Army and Army Reserve just got rid of thousands of pilots.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
Becoming a warrant its a drag and more because i only have 9-10 months left, not enough to submit a packet, aswell as i want to become a pilot asap. Or maybe i can reenlist for a year more and do my packet but i dont want to commit to the enlisted army haha
Sudden_Document_1691@reddit
Most army pilots do not learn fixed wing before helo training. That would be Navy, Marine and Coast Guard.
liftloom@reddit
Idk, going off of my friends who went through army flight school (I’m also a vet). They all started on fixed wing. Maybe things changed.
Sudden_Document_1691@reddit
Per Google, helo guys only go to helo training. I was a Marine helo pilot and went to fw then helo training. Difference is we had 2 paths to go down, fw and rw. There is a small amount of Army fw so no need to learn it.
liftloom@reddit
Ah ok makes sense. Regardless for OP - if you like the military, I would try to go the officer route in any branch and fly that way!
Sudden_Document_1691@reddit
It is a good way to go. The only difference now vs my time is the commitment is a lot longer. When I got out I had 200 hrs me fw that I got on my own 123 fw turbine turbine time in t-34, about 2100 jet ranger time due to being and instructor and 950 hr medium lift helo time. Was hired at ASA but chose a different path. The guy I was hired with with the same qualifications I had is now a 777 FO with fedex. Our commercial fw instructor, a coast guard helo pilot, is a 777 CA with fedex.
Bravo-Buster@reddit
GI bill.
Take ground school now on your own dime. $300 at Sporty's and get that out of the way in advance.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
Roger 🫡
Fit_Midnight_3927@reddit
Dude if I could go back. I was offered to submit my packet. Shoulda coulda. Im telling you. Get paid to learn how to fly.....getting out at this moment to pay for flying when you.could stay and get paid to learn and not only ,but in your own time go fly fixed hours.....idk. There are tons of rotor transition schools. If I could rewind. Id submit my packet and go. You want have to worry about a place to live and what school to look at going to. I get the military can be miserable, but what's more miserable is figuring out life and flight school.
Im telling you it's rough out here for civilian pilots right now.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
So i should sign another contract? And drop a packet?, i only have 9-10 months left, i have started my packet and have no college neither i have a ppl
Fit_Midnight_3927@reddit
I can't really speak to how you feel as to wanting to get out of the army right now because I've been in your shoes and I understand that at times it can be very hard and tough to deal with day-to-day.
I was in the same boat in the Navy. I went to the Army and I wanted to be a Green Beret. I didn't want to be in the Navy. I didn't want to be a Navy Seal. In fact, I was really freaking fit, like ridiculously in shape and I asked to be a Green Beret my asvab scores met the criteria and qualification, but they came back to me and was like "Hey, we're having two warrants and some enlisted." I forget his rank," come in and talk to two other people about becoming warrent officers and we'd like you to put in a flight packet." I was like, "okay, that's fine. But I really just want to stick to being a Green Beret " because,I was used to being a trigger puller essentially and I just wanted to advance and step up.
Well, I got burnt out at the end and now I'm kind of kicking myself in the butt because I'm going through school and I had the opportunity to go to flight school get paid, have housing, have a job and not have to worry about poor quality flight training schools that I honestly had no clue about knowing outside of the military. So you're kind of taking a risk.
I believe you only need 750 hours to get your restricted ATP or some kind of ATP , that's quality Flight Training to a degree that they're going to give and stick to a criteria. Versus getting out ,having to find a school that's trustworthy, a college or something like that that you can get through with the GI bill. It's tough out here right now man. Like super tough. You can do anything you put yoir mind too, but having the military flight hours helps with getting jobs too, because it's a click type mentality sometimes. Kinda like being from the same neighborhood and being on good terms.
I called a guy they other day and was seeing what I could get out of him for info and hours. He asked did I fly in the military. I said no. His tone slightly changed for a bit and it felt like the conversation was cut short because I'm civilian trained. Now that isn't always the case.
Like I was saying you have the opportunity to be taught through the Amry and save money and that's what I would do at least try to shoot for that and go reserves if possible.
Good luck though.
I wish someone would chime in. I know there were people in your shoes. Ive talked to them in person.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
You would recommend to reenlist to start my packet?
Fit_Midnight_3927@reddit
That's tough. Cause in the Navy. If you dont get in writing what you want. Re-enlisting could be a mistake. Go to your C.O. and tell him your plans and what you would like. Figure a plan out that way.
FishrNC@reddit
Always choose college over flight school. After you've graduated and are employed, they go for PPL. And see if there are GI benefits for both.
rickWente@reddit (OP)
Should i get PPL before college?
BeeDubba@reddit
Check on credentialing assistance. I used it for a few ratings before I got out.
IHGrewardsking@reddit
There should be a wiki on how to apply GI bill and flight training, this question comes up once a month. If not, just search up in this thread about it, plenty of people have done both of your routes
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I’m a 21-year-old active duty Army soldier with a long-time dream of becoming a fixed-wing pilot. I’ve wanted this since I was a kid, and now I finally have the chance to start making it happen.
I have a few months left on my contract and I’ve been saving money. I recently got quoted about $11k for a Private Pilot License (PPL) at a local flight school.
Now I’m stuck overthinking my next move.
I’m trying to decide if I should:
OR
I’m not sure if there are Army programs that could help with flight training while I’m still in.
I really want to get my PPL ASAP, but I also don’t want to make a financially dumb decision if there’s a better route available through the military or college.
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