Best route for instrument Rating to CFI

Airline Pilot Questions & Answers
1

Hi, I’m 21 with my PPL with 75 Hr and 6 hr Cx and I want to get all of my licenses all the way to CFI. I have two options, first would be to stay at my local flight school and finish in 1.5-2 years, pros would be that I would qualify for R-ATP which I will need only 1000 Hr to get hired, also I only need a $35k loan since the rest is covered by financial aid and federal loans and I won’t have the pressure to start paying after 6 months since I can defer until I graduate from college in 2023. I would also get to stay in the comfort of my home and would also receive tuition reimbursement just like ATP flight school. finally, I would be able to work part-time while flight training. *CONS is that it takes much longer than ATP, and I’ve been told that seniority is all about time, the faster I get to the airlines the better and 2 years seems long to me, although I will get hired with only 1000 hr :thinking:

The second Option is ATP flight school. With ATP they advertise I would finish in 6-7 months. Pros would be that I will finish in less than half the time than in the other place, and cons are that I need a $75K loan( which it was already Approved last night) with a high interest rate compared to the other flight school since I would I apply for a student loan instead. more cons are that I would have to start paying after 6 months of completing my training and be away from family and home. I’m willing to make sacrifices but I’m still undecided wich route is better for me. Any opinions?

2

Jasson,

These are decisions that only you can make. I see the value in your first option, but I can also tell you that airline captains at the majors easily make $300k or more per year. So two years difference could be $600k in lost earnings potential.

Chris

3

Thanks Chris for your opinion. Is a difficult decision, both ways will lead me to the same place but at different times.

4

Jasson,

I’m with Chris, this are big-boy decisions that only you (and perhaps your family) can make. I do want to clarify something. You say that you could continue at your local flight school, would qualify for reduced hours and would have access to fed loans and aid. I therefore am assuming that this local flight school’s training is somehow attached to a college or university program? If that’s the case if it’s only a 2yr program you’d only be eligible for a 250hr reduction allowing your to earn your R-ATP at 1250 not 1000. Not a huge difference but it’s something to consider.

Adam

5

Yes Adam, I’m doing my training through my university (online), and is 4 year program, for a bachelor degree and flight training, I already have my PPL , and have 48 Hr credits. I could stop taking classes for my bachelor for 6 months while at ATP, and then continue after.