John, an airline pilot, discusses pilot training costs, age, family impact, and career alternatives in 2026. He speaks from experience.
What the video covers
Written in our own words. It only describes what the video shows and says.Early direction and first flights
John introduces himself as an airline pilot with over 25 years of experience, including military helicopters, federal law enforcement aviation, instruction, and airline flying. He says he will be direct. From a hotel view in Los Angeles, California, he points out the north side of an airfield and a landing aircraft. He had little direction as a teenager, barely graduated high school with a D average, attended community college, worked as a cashier, and took classes without a clear goal. He became interested in aviation through pilot video games, considered joining the military, and was encouraged by his father to try flying at a local airport. A flight in a Cessna 172 and a Robinson R-22 hooked him.
Costs, age, and the 2026 market
John describes pilot training as a major financial investment. He took out a loan of about $50,000 and says he did not budget it correctly because he focused on flying helicopters, surfing, and chasing girls. He says he could have obtained helicopter licences, airplane licences, and instructor ratings if he had handled money better. He says he now sees training loans of up to $105,000 for the flight training alone, and degree programmes can cost amounts close to medical or legal training. He says the pilot shortage is over and competition is high. He states that, being over 45 and starting fresh, he would not begin the path now because low time and age would require catching up. He suggests that people over 40 with money might instead become private pilots and enjoy flying without needing the job.
Family, instruction, and career value
John says he and his wife have two children, an eight year old and a two year old. He says commuting to his domicile can keep him away from his children, and that seniority can help him obtain days off. He recalls that student pilots may not receive full honesty from instructors about whether their skills are sufficient. He says his own instructor told him he needed to study more because he might otherwise struggle with oral questions from a designated pilot examiner. He notes that civilian instructors may be focused on building time and moving to the next job, and that some may keep a student who is not progressing, although he calls that very rare. He taught TH-67 students in the Army and says only two of more than 100 did not get it. He says flight schools will not tell student pilots up front whether they may hire them later, and that an overabundance of certified flight instructors means students must network. John says he left Customs and Border Protection, a secure federal job making over $150,000 a year, to pursue the airlines. He says he was on first year pay for two years because he moved from one airline to another, and that fourth year pay at a major airline is significantly different. He says the airline job lets him be fully home when he is home, unlike his previous command duty officer role, where he worked almost 75 to 80 hours a week. He says costs will rise, people will get older, flexibility is needed, and enjoyment of the journey matters.
