Question : shuld i take flying lessons?
I am 18 and living with my parents. I am bout to start full time work as college finishes in a few months. I should have quite a bit of money to spare as I do not yet have the burden of a mortgage etc… Is it worth training to be a pilot whilst i have this excess money? Can you only get a job as a pilot with a commercial rating certificate, how much does this cost?

I could afford the £5,500 it would cost to get my PPL by this time next year, but i am unsure about being able to afford to maintain it once i move out. Hence making it a career so that i get paid to fly.

I am just weighing up my options, any advice would be helpful thanks.
commercial mortgage training

Best answer:

Answer by barrych209
Indeed flying is expensive!! In the US (and I suspect it’s true where you are also!), if you want to earn money as a pilot, you need a commercial license. And, (at least here in the US), it makes LOTS of sense to earn your private pilot’s license, get instrument rated and then to commercial training (in that order). The Federal Aviation Regs in the US are very clear: you can’t earn any money as a private pilot. Period. For me, my instrument rating cost about $ 5,000 and my commercial was more than double that (but that was because I generally need/want MANY more hours than is required and I was older than many commercial pilot students — I was 45!). Don’t use me as an example for that.

Now, you mentioned 5500 (pounds?) for your PPL… you may be able to shave down the cost a bit if you shop around the flight schools in your area. And, if you do the ground work on your own, that might help cut costs as well.

Of course, there are always loans, grants, scholarships, etc. that you could investigate!

If you want to fly, do your most to make it happen. Flying *is* a blast!!