Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
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Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Deleted personal information and posts. Please do not ask for funding help through any money raising service here, trust me. If you want to fly, get off your computer and talk to real people. Work for it & save your pennies. But if I can suggest something, don't go into debt and make sure you have the money to complete before you start. Having come to 98% and running out of cash is a real bummer. Have a great season!
Last edited by doan_1 on Fri May 01, 2015 4:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Not sure if this has occurred to you or not, but even if you do finish your CPL, do you think you're going to be in a better spot? If you're this hard up financially you got to look at getting your head above water before going further. You already have hinted at what you need to do - get a trade. And contrary to what the corporate people would like to tell us, there's still a lot of work out there for anyone with a strong back. Right now, you have no mobility even if you had your CPL, which is the trouble I'm finding with hiring people. No one can afford to move to work. Moving is a big financial hit, when you got to put down a damage deposit, set up all your other bills and pay for gas to transport yourself. For any new pilots I'd recommend that when you're job searching you'd better have $5K in your pocket so you can take advantage of any offers. Also remembering that its going to be very lean when you start a new job until you get your first paycheck in hand.
Not sure why I have to give other people's children lessons in life.
Not sure why I have to give other people's children lessons in life.
We can't stop here! This is BAT country!
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
So, what do you actually still need to do for your CPL? Have you done your flight test yet? How much instrument time do you need?
Pacific Sky has a $30/hr sim (+$65/hr for instructor), which is the cheapest way of getting instrument time. Up to 10 hours of sim time counts towards the dual requirement of the CPL.
Pacific Sky has a $30/hr sim (+$65/hr for instructor), which is the cheapest way of getting instrument time. Up to 10 hours of sim time counts towards the dual requirement of the CPL.
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Deleted personal information/story.Shiny Side Up wrote:Not sure if this has occurred to you or not, but even if you do finish your CPL, do you think you're going to be in a better spot? If you're this hard up financially you got to look at getting your head above water before going further. You already have hinted at what you need to do - get a trade. And contrary to what the corporate people would like to tell us, there's still a lot of work out there for anyone with a strong back. Right now, you have no mobility even if you had your CPL, which is the trouble I'm finding with hiring people. No one can afford to move to work. Moving is a big financial hit, when you got to put down a damage deposit, set up all your other bills and pay for gas to transport yourself. For any new pilots I'd recommend that when you're job searching you'd better have $5K in your pocket so you can take advantage of any offers. Also remembering that its going to be very lean when you start a new job until you get your first paycheck in hand.
Not sure why I have to give other people's children lessons in life.
Last edited by doan_1 on Fri May 01, 2015 4:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
You missed my point. By mobile, I'm asking if you can move to another location to start a job? If the answer is no, then getting your CPL done, isn't going to improve your station in life. You'll then have spent money and time doing that, and find yourself without a job again. While I can appreciate the enthusiasm and effort, you got to have a different set of priorities.I am perfectly mobile,
Don't reinforce failure.
We can't stop here! This is BAT country!
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
No, I still need the flight test. I ran dry last year just shy of getting my recommend. 2.6 hours of Instruments and the 200 total. But the part that'll cost is all the basics I'll need to get back to flight test standard after being grounded for over a year (minus a check ride last August at the flying club). That's where the 152 would come in. Spend 10 hours up by myself pounding out steep turns, forced approaches, VOR intercepts, etc... But all the other check boxes have been filled. The SIM is a good idea too though. I'll look into it. Ironically I did most of airtime with Vital (YCD) and they don't have a SIM, so I have never actually tried one!CpnCrunch wrote:So, what do you actually still need to do for your CPL? Have you done your flight test yet? How much instrument time do you need?
Pacific Sky has a $30/hr sim (+$65/hr for instructor), which is the cheapest way of getting instrument time. Up to 10 hours of sim time counts towards the dual requirement of the CPL.
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Shiny Side Up wrote:You missed my point. By mobile, I'm asking if you can move to another location to start a job? If the answer is no, then getting your CPL done, isn't going to improve your station in life. You'll then have spent money and time doing that, and find yourself without a job again. While I can appreciate the enthusiasm and effort, you got to have a different set of priorities.I am perfectly mobile,
Don't reinforce failure.
Gotcha, thanks for clearing that up. I can move and relocate. I mean I can live out of a suite case and put my stuff into storage in my brother's garage/attic easily enough once hired, so I can reduce my moving costs to fuel and food to get me there. My training CPL time was done in Arizona through Vital's desert camp last year where I lived in a decrepit old motor home on the Parker (Avi Sequilla; P20) airport, studying on a broken old table and with almost no internet access for help. As far as the first job not paying much, if it's at least close to what I am making now I would be OK for a season or two as long as it was a stepping stone and not a rut.
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Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Where are you going to live when you move to your new job? In a tent?
We can't stop here! This is BAT country!
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
No, but for a damage deposit I'll use the one I have with my current landlord. I mean moving around, this would not be my first rodeo. I know how this all works. I'm not 18 moving away from home for the first time. I'm just saying living on limited means does not phase me, and once the CPL (the big first thing needed before the rest is an option) is done then every cent I can save will go toward the first job hunt next season.Shiny Side Up wrote:Where are you going to live when you move to your new job? In a tent?
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
I was in a similar situation to you. I had two maxed out credit cards, a line of credit and a personal loan by the time I finished my CPL in 2012. A few weeks later I started my first job flying and started paying it off. I will have it all paid off by the end of this float season.
I don't advocate people taking on debt but it's what I had to do to get it done and I have no regrets. If you are really serious about this you'll find a way to get it done. Can't get a line of credit? Family member to co-sign it for you?
Is your goal to get a float job? Make sure you know exactly what your job prospects are at the end. With a 7 hour float rating consider yourself lucky to get hired as a dockhand and maybe fly the following year. Pay? Somewhere around $2000 a month, maybe more maybe less. Also if you finish your CPL and rating soon you'll be too late for this season and sitting until spring 2016.
No disrespect but I don't feel bad for you because i've been there and I made it work.
I don't advocate people taking on debt but it's what I had to do to get it done and I have no regrets. If you are really serious about this you'll find a way to get it done. Can't get a line of credit? Family member to co-sign it for you?
Is your goal to get a float job? Make sure you know exactly what your job prospects are at the end. With a 7 hour float rating consider yourself lucky to get hired as a dockhand and maybe fly the following year. Pay? Somewhere around $2000 a month, maybe more maybe less. Also if you finish your CPL and rating soon you'll be too late for this season and sitting until spring 2016.
No disrespect but I don't feel bad for you because i've been there and I made it work.
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Deleted
Last edited by doan_1 on Fri May 01, 2015 4:36 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
+1. I can't add much to SSU's wise comments.Shiny Side Up wrote:Not sure if this has occurred to you or not, but even if you do finish your CPL, do you think you're going to be in a better spot? If you're this hard up financially you got to look at getting your head above water before going further. You already have hinted at what you need to do - get a trade. And contrary to what the corporate people would like to tell us, there's still a lot of work out there for anyone with a strong back. Right now, you have no mobility even if you had your CPL, which is the trouble I'm finding with hiring people. No one can afford to move to work. Moving is a big financial hit, when you got to put down a damage deposit, set up all your other bills and pay for gas to transport yourself. For any new pilots I'd recommend that when you're job searching you'd better have $5K in your pocket so you can take advantage of any offers. Also remembering that its going to be very lean when you start a new job until you get your first paycheck in hand.
Not sure why I have to give other people's children lessons in life.
Last edited by Rookie50 on Thu Apr 23, 2015 4:35 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Since this is mostly a financial question I would recommend posting on a financial forum rather than an aviation forum (you could give Mr Money Mustache a try). That being said, I believe that even in a place like victoria you should be able to get your living expenses down to around $20k/year or less by living frugally with room mates and such. I don't know what your loan situation looks like, but anything above minimum wage will cover basic living expenses and will leave you small amount to get a bit of flying in, even if it's only a couple hours a month. If you feel comfortable posting a more detailed account of your finances then it may be possible to give more specific advice.
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it." -George Bernard Shaw
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
I agree that this is mostly a personal finance type post that a flying one. At the end of the day you need to start getting some more cash flow.
If I were you, I'd probably get a second job (perhaps work in a bar/restaurant as the tips can go far as cash) and spend the next 6 months living frugally trying to pay down some (all) of your debt and create a bit of a cushion financially (5-10k or so). Once you're in that position you can then look at getting back into the flying. In the mean time you can study, practice VOR intercepts for free on your own simulator (don't need to do that in an airplane) "hangar fly" and perhaps hang out at the airport coffee shop networking. Once you are in a better more stable position get back into it. Try and do it all at once - stay fresh and then the hard part is finding that job and moving out to it.
Good Luck..
If you look at reddit take a look at the following:
http://www.reddit.com/r/frugal
http://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/
If I were you, I'd probably get a second job (perhaps work in a bar/restaurant as the tips can go far as cash) and spend the next 6 months living frugally trying to pay down some (all) of your debt and create a bit of a cushion financially (5-10k or so). Once you're in that position you can then look at getting back into the flying. In the mean time you can study, practice VOR intercepts for free on your own simulator (don't need to do that in an airplane) "hangar fly" and perhaps hang out at the airport coffee shop networking. Once you are in a better more stable position get back into it. Try and do it all at once - stay fresh and then the hard part is finding that job and moving out to it.
Good Luck..
If you look at reddit take a look at the following:
http://www.reddit.com/r/frugal
http://www.reddit.com/r/personalfinance/
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Posthumane wrote:Since this is mostly a financial question I would recommend posting on a financial forum rather than an aviation forum (you could give Mr Money Mustache a try). That being said, I believe that even in a place like victoria you should be able to get your living expenses down to around $20k/year or less by living frugally with room mates and such. I don't know what your loan situation looks like, but anything above minimum wage will cover basic living expenses and will leave you small amount to get a bit of flying in, even if it's only a couple hours a month. If you feel comfortable posting a more detailed account of your finances then it may be possible to give more specific advice.
TO ALL THOSE LOOKING INTO FLIGHT TRAINING. DON'T BE ME! DEBT IS BAD!
Last edited by doan_1 on Fri May 01, 2015 4:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
These questions aren't asked, but for anyone else reading, here's what I did, as basic principles, for years and years, until eventually my business became sustainable. All of this, I learned the hard way, (digging out of debt) but it built a lifetime foundation. Had no help -- either. Just hard work.
Take whatever useful, discard the rest.
Rent -- basement suite only, and preferably a roommate. Consider trading fixing up the place for better rent. I got in trouble, moved from a really nice Kits place to a dark, dumpy basement suite. But was 1/3 the rent. Was tough to do.
Car -- never, ever buy new. I still resist buying new, at a very different life stage. Pay it off fast, or it's likely too expensive. My last car I bought, like new, off lease, half the price.
Credit cards -- cut up.
Lots of KD, Raman noodles for dinner, and no eating out. Ever. I'm not kidding.
Work 2 jobs. Ton of US tourism demand in Victoria, btw this year. Tons. Means restaurants ect are likely hopping.
When It came to working -- both for others and for myself --- I made a decision early on. I'm not the brightest, best educated, or best connected out there (or the most naturally skilled pilot by any means, lol) -- but I decided no one would outwork me, as a principle.
Whatever I did, from mopping floors and scrubbing toilets, on up -- I determined how to apply myself and continually study how to improve my results. You do that -- most won't -- it's remarkable what can happen.
This isn't advice, cause that wasnt asked. It's what I did.
Hopefully this helps someone. If I wasted your time, just ignore it.
Take whatever useful, discard the rest.
Rent -- basement suite only, and preferably a roommate. Consider trading fixing up the place for better rent. I got in trouble, moved from a really nice Kits place to a dark, dumpy basement suite. But was 1/3 the rent. Was tough to do.
Car -- never, ever buy new. I still resist buying new, at a very different life stage. Pay it off fast, or it's likely too expensive. My last car I bought, like new, off lease, half the price.
Credit cards -- cut up.
Lots of KD, Raman noodles for dinner, and no eating out. Ever. I'm not kidding.
Work 2 jobs. Ton of US tourism demand in Victoria, btw this year. Tons. Means restaurants ect are likely hopping.
When It came to working -- both for others and for myself --- I made a decision early on. I'm not the brightest, best educated, or best connected out there (or the most naturally skilled pilot by any means, lol) -- but I decided no one would outwork me, as a principle.
Whatever I did, from mopping floors and scrubbing toilets, on up -- I determined how to apply myself and continually study how to improve my results. You do that -- most won't -- it's remarkable what can happen.
This isn't advice, cause that wasnt asked. It's what I did.
Hopefully this helps someone. If I wasted your time, just ignore it.
Last edited by Rookie50 on Thu Apr 23, 2015 6:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Well if you're flexible and a hard worker there is a lot of reasonably well paid manual labour out there, for example:
http://nanaimo.craigslist.ca/lab/4989891234.html
http://nanaimo.craigslist.ca/lab/4988676313.html
http://nanaimo.craigslist.ca/lab/4989891234.html
http://nanaimo.craigslist.ca/lab/4988676313.html
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Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Doan
I hope you can get out of your situation and get ahead. Others have pointed out what you need to do so I wish you good luck on your quest.
To all aspiring CPL's.
Don't be this guy. I paid for all my training as I did it and graduated with a CPL and FI rating debt free and with some money in the bank so that I could comfortably survive the first year of poor pay. By the end of the second year instructing I was a class 2 and making quite reasonable money.
I hope you can get out of your situation and get ahead. Others have pointed out what you need to do so I wish you good luck on your quest.
To all aspiring CPL's.
Don't be this guy. I paid for all my training as I did it and graduated with a CPL and FI rating debt free and with some money in the bank so that I could comfortably survive the first year of poor pay. By the end of the second year instructing I was a class 2 and making quite reasonable money.
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
DeletedRookie50 wrote:These questions aren't asked, but for anyone else reading, here's what I did, as basic principles, for years and years, until eventually my business became sustainable. All of this, I learned the hard way, (digging out of debt) but it built a lifetime foundation. Had no help -- either. Just hard work.
Take whatever useful, discard the rest.
Rent -- basement suite only, and preferably a roommate. Consider trading fixing up the place for better rent. I got in trouble, moved from a really nice Kits place to a dark, dumpy basement suite. But was 1/3 the rent. Was tough to do.
Car -- never, ever buy new. I still resist buying new, at a very different life stage. Pay it off fast, or it's likely too expensive. My last car I bought, like new, off lease, half the price.
Credit cards -- cut up.
Lots of KD, Raman noodles for dinner, and no eating out. Ever. I'm not kidding.
Work 2 jobs. Ton of US tourism demand in Victoria, btw this year. Tons. Means restaurants ect are likely hopping.
This isn't advice, cause that wasnt asked. It's what I did.
Last edited by doan_1 on Fri May 01, 2015 4:41 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Re: Last hope from a desperate aviatior-in-training
Big Pistons Forever wrote:Doan
I hope you can get out of your situation and get ahead. Others have pointed out what you need to do so I wish you good luck on your quest.
To all aspiring CPL's.
Don't be this guy. I paid for all my training as I did it and graduated with a CPL and FI rating debt free and with some money in the bank so that I could comfortably survive the first year of poor pay. By the end of the second year instructing I was a class 2 and making quite reasonable money.
Pay cash later, too, for everything you can. Don't let the bloodsucking leech banks own your life.
I can't express it with too much more sensitivity.