Advice for aspiring commercial pilot
Posted by AdGlass2529@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 8 comments
Hello! I am not the aspiring pilot but my boyfriend is and we've been looking into schools for him. I don't know much about aviation so I am feeling pretty useless but still want to try and who better to ask for help than the professionals.
We are both wanting to go back to school (in our mid 20s) and we are ideally trying to pick a spot that will work for both of us. I am learning game design/animation which I already have a foundation in so worse case I want him to be able to start first and I can progress my skills wherever we end up.
With that said are there any good learning programs for becoming a commercial pilot near Seattle, WA, Portland, OR or San Francisco, CA? I ask there specifically because there are better options for me on the west coast but it seems there are better options for him in the middle of the country/east coast but not really sure if that's accurate. Also looking at Boston, MA area as a possibility. But please share experiences with other places/schools even if they're not in those areas. What are the thoughts on ATP? That's always the first one popping up when I look up schools and boyfriend has also researched them a little. Are there similar schools like ATP?
What does schooling for pilots actually look like?
Do aviation schools do finances similar to your standard college or how does that work?
And any general information that you wish you knew when first starting out.
Just want to help him the most I can so I'd appreciate everyone's opinions, suggestions, encouragement, advice, ect. Thank you in advance!
jhj0604@reddit
IVE SAID THIS BEFORE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SAY THIS
SMALL PART 61 WEBSITE WITH A SHITTY WEBSITE AND GOOD GOOGLE REVIEW
TxAggieMike@reddit
You want to become a pilot? That’s great! Most of us at r/flying have been in your shoes before.
Please browse through our FAQ as we have amassed a large amount of material and wisdom over the years about how to become a pilot, whether you’re considering flying as a career or just as a hobby. We’re sure to have address nearly any concern you might have about the process.
In the event that you have any specific concerns we haven’t yet addressed, please feel free to post a question about your situation.
Good luck and have fun!
Please read what u/RaisetheDed has to say about Paying for Flight Training With Loans/Debt
Please read what our friend, u/RaiseTheDed, has compiled about Flight Training at ATP.
https://www.sportys.com/learn-to-fly-book.html
EliteEthos@reddit
Jesus.
Read the FAQ. It was created for you to read.
ltcterry@reddit
ATP - Avoid The Place.
Any decent local school can do anything a pilot mill can, cheaper and better.
There’s a massive surplus of over produced entry level pilots. Record setting levels of new pilots. There is zero need to rush or pay a premium.
Training a couple days a week alongside a full time job is more than adequate and will yield good results.
Necessary_Topic_1656@reddit
There are plenty of threads here... but
loans are generally not recommended. They are private unsecured loans, lenders consider them high risk and youi'll most likely have a high interest rate.
Even after completing training and getting all of his flight instructor certificates there is no guarantee of him getting an instructing job to start on his journey on being a commercial pilots. the subreddit here has plenty of stories of pilots who just finished their training and cannot get their first job to get started. to start paying off those loans.
ATP pops up but that is because they can pay for search engine placements. they advertise quick and fast zero to hero in record time... but the reality is they get you to the point where you have instructor certificates, but you are in the same boat of everyone else looking for a job...
avoid debt trying to transition into a career in aviation. the road is uncertain, but if you stick with it - once you make it - it does finally pay off...
it took me 15 years as an airline pilot before i made more than $35k / year as an airline pilot and there were lots of times where i thought i was going to quit because i just wasnt making enough to pay the bills and i had to rely on my sugar momma wife to support the family during those times.
Ok_Yam_5591@reddit
Tell him to check out some of the local part 141 flight schools there might be some in the local area, the curriculum is pretty good hell get a degree in aviation with also doing his flight training, all in flight school is really expensive in the ballpark of 75-120k especially in the west coast id recommended having some sort of safety net as well since it’ll be hard to work full-time and do this. I wouldn’t do ATP their fast track program is super cut throat most of the things they market are fabricated that you’ll be a commercial pilot in 7 months, they also kick you out if you have more than 2 stage check/ check ride busts
RaiseTheDed@reddit
ATP isn't the school you think it is. Read my post here: https://raisetheded.blogspot.com/2026/04/on-topic-of-atp-flight-school.html
Their marketing budget is massive. Smaller schools are better.
And yes, there are plenty of flight schools around, everywhere in the country. Bigger cities will always have more expensive training.
I would highly recommend not taking a loan for flight training. Read my post here on why: https://raisetheded.blogspot.com/2026/04/on-topic-of-unsecured-flight-training.html
Also read the subreddit's FAQ: https://www.reddit.com/r/flying/wiki/index/
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Hello! I am not the aspiring pilot but my boyfriend is and we've been looking into schools for him. I don't know much about aviation so I am feeling pretty useless but still want to try and who better to ask for help than the professionals.
We are both wanting to go back to school (in our mid 20s) and we are ideally trying to pick a spot that will work for both of us. I am learning game design/animation which I already have a foundation in so worse case I want him to be able to start first and I can progress my skills wherever we end up.
With that said are there any good learning programs for becoming a commercial pilot near Seattle, WA, Portland, OR or San Francisco, CA? I ask there specifically because there are better options for me on the west coast but it seems there are better options for him in the middle of the country/east coast but not really sure if that's accurate. Also looking at Boston, MA area as a possibility. But please share experiences with other places/schools even if they're not in those areas. What are the thoughts on ATP? That's always the first one popping up when I look up schools and boyfriend has also researched them a little. Are there similar schools like ATP?
What does schooling for pilots actually look like?
Do aviation schools do finances similar to your standard college or how does that work?
And any general information that you wish you knew when first starting out.
Just want to help him the most I can so I'd appreciate everyone's opinions, suggestions, encouragement, advice, ect. Thank you in advance!
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