For all the folks wanting to get into aviation, do NOT do this job, or put your self in tons of debt for training, solely due to the possibility of making lots of money. Do it because you love it, and the money *can* be good on top of that.

Unemployed, living at my parents house, driving around a $5000 car, man I’m ahead of the game!

I'm 42, and I'm starting, thanks to you. Wish me luck; I'll keep you in the loop. Great video, by the way!

Hey Trent! Once again you have provided an excellent resource for folks looking to get to CFI quickly and efficiently. I really enjoyed how you emphasized the fact that if a person wants it badly enough, they will make the necessary sacrifices. These are the facts! Live below your means! I’m a student pilot working on my private pilot certificate. I work as a substitute teacher, a banquet worker at two hotel properties and as a suite attendant at an event center. It’s a grind for sure but it’s worth it! Thanks for making these videos and sharing your journey with us!

Love the "real talk", Trent! We all gotta be honest with ourselves about what we want and what we're willing (or unwilling) to do to get it.

Trent, I've been following you for a while, I love how direct you are in this one. Thanks for the info!

Thank you for always bringing things on this subject into perspective with such detail, Trent! Love your videos, man. Keep them coming!

Trent, I appreciate your channel. I am a bit beyond age limits for a traditional 2.0, but I get new ideas from your videos every time I watch one. Thanks

Thanks for this gem Trent! Great info and inspo ❤

Love the video Trent. In my first week I had four lessons and been studying My ass off at home. Love the straight forward talking points

Thank you Trent, I'm glad you mentioned Security it's great a way to study and get paid if you get the right post. Currently, I'm working overnights and reading the private pilot book then play flight sim when I get home. Hoping to have enough saved by the end of the year to enact your plan, you have been a great inspiration!

Absolutely motivational, thank you! I thoroughly enjoyed it

Great advice! Thanks man!

Thanks for the video. Thanks for the comment about your training center & accelerated cfi. Confirms my thought process.

GREAT video Trent. Thank you.

Preach brother! Everything you said is 💯

Thanks for the information!

Hey Trent, I would love to see a video about independent CFI as that is what I am looking into doing. Love your Chanel and content!

Thank you so much! I’m really excited to be a CFI and rack up some hours, but at the same time it seems almost like an impossible feat with me being so new and freshly exposed to all the knowledge in aviation

Nice work brother!!!

Always great advice, no BS

Good info, thanks 🤙

Your best vid yet!!

Love this attitude!

Great video!

Thanks for making this video

Great vid!

Hi, Trent. I moved to Colorado to make my dreams of becoming a professional aviator come true. The job I took fell through, and I've sent over 100 applications for server jobs, but there just doesn't seem to be any need right now. I'm upside down on my car because of a car accident a couple of years ago, so that's not an option. I have a wife and 3 dogs. We live in the most inexpensive place we could find ($1500/mo), and we don't eat out at all. I've canceled nearly all subscription services and sold everything I have of value besides aviation equipment/flight sim stuff. We have definitely hit a big rough patch, but I will still do my best to follow your advice. This has been a dream I've had for my entire life, and only recently did I convince myself I'm worth the effort, and you are an inspiration.

Step 1 : Have lots of money. Step 2 : See Step 1

Hay Trent been loving the videos. Greatly interested in seen a video on Independent CFI. As a traditional CFI would be a drastic pay cut for me to support my family on.

Hi Trent, I'm Keilyn, a huge fan of your KZfaq channel. Thanks for creating such valuable content. I wish I'd known earlier before college. Despite wanting a career in aviation with the armed services, I couldn't get into their academy, so I pursued college instead. It's essential to mention before starting flight training the importance of obtaining a first-class medical and addressing any issues early on to avoid costly setbacks. I'd love if you could make a video on the cheapest way to get a CFI, or direct me to one if it already exists, as I'm currently working towards my CFI and CFII amidst some financial challenges. Keep up the excellent work!

Thanks for this video

Been watching since video 1. Just took my faa written with a pretty good score. Trying to figure out how to tow a family of 7 through the pain without them feeling it. Thanks for your inspiration Trent!

Spot on. Get it done. Trent talks about cargo. The regionals are always hiring. Then cargo is a great option. You’re carrying the water Trent. Thanks!

Long time viewer of your channel, never commented..You nailed this one on this head! All great advice!! I went full tilt and moved to south AZ hoping to be sidewalk to CFI in about 6 months. Quit nursing. Started 4 weeks ago and ppl checkride tomorrow! For anyone else in the same boat you should interrogate part 61 schools on: Weather, dpe availability, in house maintainence (it doesnt matter if the school has 20 planes if they're always down waiting for maintainence), cfi availibility, knowledge with how to work with accelerated students and a rough syllabus to reflect that, how long does it take to get the training area? Are you spending 1 hobbs hour just getting to the training zone? Phoenix area had this problem. ATP students fly from the next city over just to come to my airport to BEGIN practicing haha. Don't go ATP ever, you can emulate their exact structure for literally half the cost and even get a few more ratings than they give you. Seniority is everything in the airlines so get there ASAP

And that is what i'm working on- Figuring out how to make it happen! 🙌

I love your videos and enthusiasm, the problem with that is, if any flight school will hire a CFI without a commercial license, meaning, they want you to spent $60k plus in their school to get to 250 hrs. Also I have a question that no flight school have answered so far, “How many hrs you allowed to fly as CFI per FAA regulations” is not a limit of 100 hr per month or 1000 hr per calendar year. I’m almost 39 years old and I’m still chicken out as finding a great school not easy, at least I’m lucky to live in Southern California, besides the weather there are tons of opportunities in aviation. Thank you Trent🎉 keep going

Thanks for making these videos. I’m thinking of buying a plane for my training, and leasing it to a flight school

First! 47 yrs old this year and wanting to transition into aviation, even with a couple of the airlines freezing hiring right now

Just another evening class with Professor Trent. Nice. I heard saying something about doing instrument hours while waiting for the PPL check ride. So, some overlapping in the hours is possible? If so, can you explain or tell me where I can find more information on this? Thanks again for educating us all. Be safe up there.

Great advice for not only this career path but pretty much any. Devote yourself, make sacrifices, exceed tough goals, and the fruits of your labor will more than likely set you up for success. Short term sacrifice for long term success! I worked at a car wash making minimum wage for 3 years before I finished my maritime training and stepped into my first six figure job.

Thanks for the videos, Trent. Really great tips. Would like to know your idea about converting ICAO CPL, IR, and CFI to FAA license, and your suggestions about which state or city would be the best option to do so.

Hi Trent, as usual, thanks for the video. I remember telling you in previous comments that I was living in a semi-truck, slashed expenses to basically just the cost of my grocery store food, and making pretty good money driving for a large trucking company and training new student drivers. I saved money and built my budget. Guess what I just did? Blew that all up, got an office job (and took a pay cut) at my trucking company. Now, I dispatch a fleet of truck drivers, out of Columbus, Ohio. Why did I do that? Partly because of you. And partly because of Pilot Kaity. I have roommates and an ugly cheap @$$ car that I fix myself. But now, I have access to doctors and aviation medical examiners so that I can start that process. And I have access to a light sport training airport about 45 minutes away, on a grass strip, flying Piper Cub taildraggers. It’s a family-owned outfit that spends $0 on ads, fixes their own planes, operates out of what used to be a cornfield, and has everything paid off. It’s a hell of a deal. However, they suck at one thing. They have DPEs. They have two dozen Piper Cubs, huge for their student counts. But they just don’t have enough CFIs. It’s hard as hell for them to get light sport CFIs. They only have 2 CFIs there, and they need CFIs, real bad. So what does that tell me? It tells me that I’ll have a light sport CFI job getting tons of hours as soon as I can hit 150 hours and qualify. They’ve got a shit ton of demand. And I can make it work. I can work my regular trucking dispatch job and cover the weird hours, waking up crazy early in the morning and getting off early. Then, I can zip off to the airport and train and build hours, on weekday afternoons, when their demand for CFIs is down. And in my spare time, I can work with them to learn Instrument and Commercial, as they also train that, and have access to DPEs for that. An old steam gauge plane, but do I care? Not really. And I’ll have the money in the bank to knock out my multiengine rating, when ready. So let’s go!

"If you're gonna be a troll, knock yourself out because I'll probably just delete your comment anyway." 😂😂 Love the videos Trent! I'm going into aviation as my second career but I'm under 30. Your videos help a lot. Luckily I have home equity that I'll tap into and do similar and get it knocked out as fast as I can! You're killing it!

Hello Trent and thanks for the motivational videos! I too am 53 and looking to embark on career 2.0 in aviation after 25 years in IT Support. It's interesting that you mentioned HELOC as a means of financing flight training. My father is a former military pilot from the Vietnam error that unfortunately suffered an injury that ended his flying career. I talked to him a few weeks ago about my ideas about becoming a pilot myself and that I'd been racking my brain over how to pay for the training and he mentioned the HELOC idea. I was like . . . 😮! My wife currently works full time and I'm estimating that we could get by on her income alone for 4-6 months ( with some belt tightening ) until I could get to CFI status and start bringing in an income again. It's like you say, if you want it bad enough you can probably figure out a way, the only question after that is can you execute?! One question I have perhaps for those already past the 1500hrs / ATP part and on to a regional job, is it a reasonable goal to believe a person can go from the proverbial "zero" w/ not even a PPL, to "hero" as Captain at a regional carrier in five years? I live in Houston, TX and I personally don't necessarily want to go to a major airline as I feel like being able to work in base for a regional carrier like SkyWest would give me the financial and just as importantly the lifestyle balance I am seeking.

Look, I will tell you how I'm affording to do this, I went and got a CDL last year and got a job doing touch freight (unloading my own trailers) making $41 an hour (in Ohio). I bring home after taxes $2,200 a week, I work 6 days a week at 12+ hours per day and then I go directly to my local FBO and take lessons every single day (weather permitting). If I can do this, anyone can, you just have to have the dedication to do so. Are you ready to get the minimum amount of sleep possible? Are you ready for back breaking work? If you can't do this then don't try this path but if you have that motivation then take this path. If you can follow this path then what Trent says will be easy.

That’s a hell of a “cold shower” we all needed to hear! Sitting on a couch and coming up with another excuse for not being a pilot definitely WON’T take you anywhere. Commitment, Clarity and Consistency WILL. Thanks, Trent! 👏

Always educational, informative, and helpful. Every time you post a video I watch it. You are absolutely right about making sacrifice to become a CFI. Drive, Determination, and desire = success - Brian Tracy (secret to success). Thank you, brother.

I start flight training in 3 months, going the part 61 route and cash flowing the entire thing. Not necessarily looking to knock it out super quick. For me I figure I can get it done in 3-4 years (ATP) and looking forward to enjoying the journey. I’ve been driving semis for the last decade and I’m ready to start my pilot journey.

I've enjoyed the channel so far as I am looking into flight schools right now. I'm a little confused on the part 61 vs 141 school. Say you attend a part 61 and get your PPL but you just didn't like that school, can you enroll in a different part 141 school for your IR? Would all of your flight hours remain? What about switching schools in the middle of your PPL? Would you need to find a different 61 school in order to keep your progress?

Would love to see a video on independent vs school based CFI.

Solid plan. Took me 1 year to get ppl under 141, self paced, working full time m-f, then studying or flying for the next 8hours of my day. I burnt both ends of the matchstick and it was tough! But if you want it bad enough!! You do whatever it takes to make it work. 😎

Trent, excellent video. A question I have for you is if you had one dedicated instructor for your flying during those 5 days per week or if you just flew with any instructor available. The reason I ask is that I've been told by various student pilots that they prefer flying with one specific instructor because that instructor knows what your skill level is every step of the way. What are your thoughts on this and do you think it's necessary, or even possible, to use one flight instructor for all of your training?

Hey Trent! Based on this video you said to use good seal for the ppl written exam but you mentioned an older video to look at and in that video you recommended to use sportys for the ppl written exam. You do however say to use Sheppards air for all the other written exams. So gold seal or sportys for the ppl written exam? And how long should it take me to just pass that ppl written exam if I study full time (10-12 hours a day) Thank you Trent!

This outlook can be applied to anything in life. We have the choice to do whatever we dream but you have to be willing to make sacrifices and put your ego aside.

Trent, I have a similar story to yours. I own a business which is my primary source of income and am working towards getting that unicorn Part 91 jet gig. I just got my IR done and now training for commercial and then immediately CFI, MEL. I don't really want to work for a flight school and want to be an independent CFI like you. Will you make a video about what that's like, how you get your students, what you charge, etc? Thanks for all the great info!

This is the best video. This path is tough. Flying is hard. Paying for it is hard. Keeping yourself in top physical condition so you don’t lose your medical is hard. It’s all hard. Don’t do it for ONLY the money, because if you don’t love aviation you will quit as soon as it gets hard. And it’s always hard!

Thx as always for the quality content! I actually had my 141 flight school switch me to a part 61 program, and switched to online ground school to save costs. Now to get the $50k :) Will you be going to Sun'n'Fun next month?

i like how blunt you are being

Great video Trent! Career 2.0 here with family. Roomates is out of the question and even if I downsized, housing costs have rocketed..so staying put for now. Questions - 1. With regards to instrument rating, do you recommend completing the 50 X Country flights or can I complete maybe 40 of those and keep the rest 10 to plan IFR planned X countries? 2. Lightsport CFI - does this involve teaching aerobatics? And isn't it a steep learning curve to go from C152 to a Tailwheel Champ type aircraft?

Hey Trent! Would really like to see that independent CFI video. I'm in a situation where that sounds pretty ideal for me. I'm a husband and father of two young children. Currently living thousands of miles away from them working on my commercial.

Hey Trent! My name is Nathan hopper and You inspired me to go the part 61 route, and I just spent the last five months going from no ratings to CFII. I am currently instructing at a Part 61 school, and have been hustling in every way that I can to get students. Last month, I got 118 hours, but I've been struggling with the fact that maybe I need to be doing more grounds with my students. I know that you take the approach of making your students self reliant on the ground knowledge, but I was wondering how you balance that? Like what resources do you tell your students to use? That way you can limit the amount of grounds and maximize the amount of flying time that you receive? Thank you so much for all your help, you're truly amazing!!

Thank you for this. I'm a union pipewelder and changing careers immediately

I’m curious, could you share which type of flight simulator you use for practicing instruments? Your insights would be greatly appreciated. Keep up the great work!

CFI in 90 days. Is it possible? Yes! Is it realistic? Only for a very, very, very small number of people! I think videos like this do more harm than good. Most students will expect something extraordinary like that and are likely to give up because, in reality, it can take three months just to get your first check ride (like I did). Be prepared to play the long game and endure a lot of frustration. This attitude will take you much further. Also, don’t forget that the person in the video might be an extraordinary success, but not everything they do will be feasible for the average person. I have a six-year engineering degree, and it wasn’t easy at all, not even close to three months.

I lucked out with my part time job for the rest of my flight training. Working at the FBO next door to my flight school in the early mornings

Thx Trent love your insight. I’m looking to get my commercial cfi and multi. If that’s something you’d be interested in helping with let me know or if you have another recommendation. I’ve got my own plane ASEL

HELL YEAH!!!

Trent: 1 other idea/aspect is to put off ME training (not written) until a person can either afford it; or a job offer is conditioned on getting an ME rating..which could justify just paying on a credit card & knocking out those 25hrs? In a couple weeks.

In 2020 I got my ppc/ifr/comm, 2022 got 2 cjo’s and current 121 FO. THIS VIDEO IS 100% SPITTIN FACTS!!!

Hey quick question? Since I was a kid my dream was to be a pilot but I ended up being a truck driver for the past 21 years and in the search online I came up with building a business online building a ecom or affiliate marketing and I watch a KZfaq video where you had experience online world but are now in your career 2.0 as a pilot .My question is what is a better option to try to start an online business or go in the pad of being an airline pilot and my question is because I have a family and it is hard to start something new and I want to know with your experiences in both worlds. If you can go back in time with your experiences what is the best option in your opinion? And thank you for your time.

Hey trent Great content, Just a question if I take all my license and certifications from a canadian school can I convert them to USA licenses easily.

The CFI-S route really intrigued me since I saw that interview. I'm not sure I could accomplish this certificate, but I think I'd like to at least try to start getting paid earlier while still working on my "normal" route to CFI-A (traditional CFI).

For Veterans who use the GI Bill they have to train at a 141 school to qualify for benefits. They can do Part 61 for Private since the GI Bill does not pay for it. I wish I took your advice 5 years ago! I’m 58 and working on my Commercial.

Thanks for the video! Btw can i get ir and cpl written test before i went to flight sch ool?

Hi Trent, the ground school site you recommended is that valid for in australia. if not do u know who to go with

Hi Trent. Are People with bachelor degrees more likely to get hired by the airlines then people with no degrees or do they just look at your hours? My son is trying to decide if he should get a degree w his pilot license. Or just focus on building the hours to get there as soon as possible. Thank you in advance.

Hey Trent, do you think it might be more cost effective to buy an airplane and do the training it rather than attending a part 61 school?

Hey Trent, I'm curious what your aircraft and instruction rates were while flight training to come up with the $50K total cost?

What factors does one need to consider when looking into purchasing a training aircraft?

I am about your age, would like to go that route. I am currently in Denver Colorado, started my training at a part 141 school with a Salie Mae loan . No kidding very very expensive. I wish I had a disposable 50k . I would definitely come and join you for training where you are. Unfortunately these major pilot financing institution are more than ready to throw money at expensive part 141 schools and not at any other type of training program. Trying to go all the way to Airline. I am about 30 hours in on my PPL at Rocky Mountain Airport with Mcair Aviation.

Some need to consider part 141 for some of the time. IE if they are Using Military/Veteran benefits. I do not know of a Part 61 school that accepts the GI Bill.

Trent! Love your content as always. Currently in 1st class med deferral limbo. Keeping my fingers crossed with my measly 12.6 hours. Going to focus on Gold Seal ground school and then Sheppard Air exam prep while I’m waiting. I really want to continue flying as much as possible, but I’m a bit conflicted not knowing if I’m going to be approved. What do you recommend?

In your video, you mention not taking a 135 job because you build time faster as a CFI. A lot of the forums about people being hired or not hired into regionals are mentioning the lack of turbine time and TPIC have really hurt them. Do you think that is something to consider?

Well, 17 years in the military and I guess I am going to get a court martial. I will try to quit, but I am pretty certain they aren’t going to accept my decision. Kidding of course.

A friend of mine got his private, instrument, commercial, CFI and CFII, and multi rating, built his hours teaching and spent less than 60K. Started working for a regional right after his 21st birthday.

I didn't realize captain upgrades came that fast. That's kind of scary.

Trent, are you only charging $25/hr or is that net income? Most independent CFIs that I have found charge $40+/hr.

I been flying 3x a week, going to bump it up to 5x a week. Working on my commercial.

Do you think it’s a good idea to transition to instruction with only 90 calendar days in a cockpit?

I’m currently a survey pilot who is about to go back to instructing because the hours are just not comparable. Pilots at my company average 40 hours a month of flying. Pipeline guys get more hours, but I value my life, so that’s not in the cards for me.

Trent, I am an active 65 year old who has driven all kinds of vehicles on land and water and looking for a retirement career in aviation. I know I am too old to be and don't want to be, an airline pilot but, what can I do other than PPL?

Adapt and overcome

Great info, but I think the 90 days is a little stretch for most people. That would be 2.8 hours a day every day for 90 days to get to 250 hours, assuming you could take the CFI ride right at the CPL minimum of 250 hours. Just not realistic for most people.

Is part 91 still faster than part 141 if you can get commercial in 190 hours with part 141? I’m planning to finish PPL 141, do you think I should still switch to part 91?

As a 55 year old man I find this very interesting

✅ cash on hand already ✅ quitting my job ✅Sold a lot junk ✅ expenses low ✅studying and taking written exams Seems like im ready

Do the aviation community a favor: don’t become a CFI if you don’t have a passion to actually teach. There are already too many CFIs from “puppy mills” who are just rolling the Hobbs.

What about financing the training?

Airlines are freezing hiring now. And the shortage of DPE’s doesn’t help neither.