Mom and wanting to be a pilot
Posted by InternationalWar1379@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 10 comments
I’m a 24 year old mom to a 3 year old boy.
I’ve always dreamed of being a pilot, and i started that journey 5 years ago. I was 19 and not putting my head severely in the books, then got pregnant and just kind of assumed yeah that pilot dream is over.
Years pass and I have the urge to try again! I’m 4 hours back in a part 61 on a Hawai’i island doing two flights a week. I work two jobs, and raise my son. I have a great support system and my fiance is amazing.
I schedule my time to be able to study at work during times, and at night.
My flights are at 5:30am, but because of the crosswinds here it’s hard to get any evening flights in lately.
Is 2 flight a week enough for me to excel in schooling? It’s about 275 for wet rental and 65 for CFI an hour. Based on my flights and the rate.. would I just be spending way too much here? I have a college fund I just started to use of 90k. Very thankful for that.
We thought of the idea of relocating to the mainland after my PPL (due to contract in lease of rental etc we’d have to wait), but this would be to get my ratings and then move back here to be able to fly and get paid to reach hours to go airline.
This has always been a dream of mine but it’s hard to know wed be taking our son away from home and his family here.
Has anyone ever gotten their PPL and ended at that then did their 4 year degree on something else? Is it even worth the money to get PPL? I would love to just know I got there and can fly.
Or has anyone been in a situation like this and went for it and had a great outcome? How does schedule look like when finishing to commercial, and basing on the island?
laviator13@reddit
I know your question is not specific to being a mom and pilot necessarily, but if you’re on Facebook, Pilot Moms is a great group and also Female Aviators Sticking Together (FAST). Tons of experienced women in aviation in those groups.
I agree with another person who said that rental rate is expensive but makes sense for Hawaii. Flight training in general is not cheap, but I think you could find better rates in the contiguous 48. Totally understand that moving (especially that big of a move) is not an easy thing to do. I also believe Hawaiian used to give preferential hiring to locals in Hawaii/people willing to live in Hawaii but not sure if that’s still a thing with Alaska now. You’re still awhile away from being eligible there, but just throwing it out there that it’s a possibility to move back later!
org000h@reddit
I flew once every other week on average. 1 year to a recreational (light sport) license. A year after that for my PPL. Side quests for aerobatics and seaplanes and whatnot for a year or two. Covid. Then a year for multi-instrument. Then CPL the year after that. Year after that i picked up my instructor.
Still averaging a flight every other week. Roughly 50 hours a year.
Take as long as you need.
If given the opportunity, take a week or two off and smash through some hours and/or exams too.
WoodDragonIT@reddit
I won't say it can't be done, but it's going to take much longer than you think. My first CFI was married with three kids. The stories I heard from her and her first CFI made it clear she put her husband on notice that while she was training he had to pick up all the slack. Her CFI for PPL was even afraid to cancel a flight with her because he was sick. Her dedication was that intense. She got her hours in 18 months working the max allowed for CFIs. So it's possible but it takes prioritizing flying over everything else. At least until you get hired as a pilot. Good luck.
saml01@reddit
Husband is the real hero.
laviator13@reddit
Grateful for the thousands (if not more) of wives/moms/women who do this for their husbands who are pursuing aviation!
warwolf09@reddit
275 wet rental? What are you flying a SR20? That’s expensive! Well i guess Hawaii…
CaptMcMooney@reddit
awesome, glad you are doing what you love.
think it might be a bit cheaper on the mainland but then you wouldn't be living in hawaii. Is college in hawaii still reasonable? I remember tuition there being REALLY affordable.
my experience, I found 2 flights per week to be sufficient, heck some weeks, one felt perfect.
yes, i'd get my degree in something other than aviation why put all your eggs in one basket.
no experience flying in hawaii so can't really help there
ltcterry@reddit
Years ago I was at a German university for a year. One of my American classmates said her mom complained, “it will take me eight years to get a four-year degree.” My friend asked her, “where will you be in eight years if you don’t do it?”
This is not a great time for hiring at the entry level. At the higher levels “it’s business as (historical) usual.”
Although there’s a surplus and overproduction of entry level pilots, the only people getting pilot jobs are, if you’ll excuse the simplicity, pilots.
Where is the balance for a training timeline? What’s right for you? Not easy questions.
I think it would be a financial mistake to move for accelerated flight training. The training is expensive. So is a round trip move. And lost wages. Stay local. Train part time.
I shared similar thoughts the other day that included some FAA stats on record setting over production and someone commented “you don’t know what you’re taking about, there are 40,000 airline pilots retiring over the next 20 years!” An astute person quoted from an excellent video I had shared “but there are 50,000 new Commercial Pilots in just the last three years!”
This place is full of “I spent a zillion dollars at X and have ‘applied everywhere’ for over a year” posts. Be smarter than those people.
“You’ve got to be in it to win it,” but you need to be short term tactically smart if you want to win the strategic battle. Life sucks if you are broke, in debt, and unemployed.
Don’t be in a rush. Don’t quit. “Where will you be in eight years if you don’t…?” Please be smart about it. Work. Be frugal. Save. Fly. Raise that kid to be a great adult!
Mad_Rooster_7164@reddit
Think about the medical first. Do you have any previous issues like heart issues? Diagnosed with ADHD or taking antidepressants or ADHD meds? Things like that will make it more difficult and you need to be prepared for the process.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
I’m a 24 year old mom to a 3 year old boy.
I’ve always dreamed of being a pilot, and i started that journey 5 years ago. I was 19 and not putting my head severely in the books, then got pregnant and just kind of assumed yeah that pilot dream is over.
Years pass and I have the urge to try again! I’m 4 hours back in a part 61 on a Hawai’i island doing two flights a week. I work two jobs, and raise my son. I have a great support system and my fiance is amazing.
I schedule my time to be able to study at work during times, and at night.
My flights are at 5:30am, but because of the crosswinds here it’s hard to get any evening flights in lately.
Is 2 flight a week enough for me to excel in schooling? It’s about 275 for wet rental and 65 for CFI an hour. Based on my flights and the rate.. would I just be spending way too much here? I have a college fund I just started to use of 90k. Very thankful for that.
We thought of the idea of relocating to the mainland after my PPL (due to contract in lease of rental etc we’d have to wait), but this would be to get my ratings and then move back here to be able to fly and get paid to reach hours to go airline.
This has always been a dream of mine but it’s hard to know wed be taking our son away from home and his family here.
Has anyone ever gotten their PPL and ended at that then did their 4 year degree on something else? Is it even worth the money to get PPL? I would love to just know I got there and can fly.
Or has anyone been in a situation like this and went for it and had a great outcome? How does schedule look like when finishing to commercial, and basing on the island?
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