{"id":17651,"date":"2016-05-18T13:15:07","date_gmt":"2016-05-18T11:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/?p=17651"},"modified":"2026-06-11T13:16:04","modified_gmt":"2026-06-11T11:16:04","slug":"part-12-e100-000","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/part-12-e100-000\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 12: \u20ac100.000"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The story behind this series: We’ve all had a crazy childhood dream and mine was becoming an airline pilot. Many young people who aspire a flying career are unaware of the content of flight training and the preparations which are needed. On November 23rd, 2015 I started my ATPL(A) training. Time to realize my childhood dream. I’d like to take you along on an adventure and I’ll happily answer all your questions on the way. Let’s do this!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

May 18, 2016 \u2013 Becoming a pilot is a financial risk. In Europe, you\u2019ll pay around \u20ac100,000 for the training itself, but no job is guaranteed. Many pilots say\u00a0we should graduate during a good period for hiring, but the risk of not finding a job is still present and we cannot avoid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The purpose of this blog is to show you every step I go through to become an airline pilot. And so it is quite obvious that have to tell you more about the financial aspect of training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I made a chronological list which exists of all the costs I have made so far and will make in the future. Every school has different pricings, every person has a different lifestyle, but it all comes down to this: becoming a pilot isn\u2019t something you just do for fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Physics refresher: \u20ac363<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I was still studying in high school I decided to give up one of my holidays to study physics. It was necessary for me to follow a physics course to refresh my memory for the entry exam. The course is not mandatory, but it helped me out a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical examination: \u20ac378,86<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As part of the entry exam, we have to be checked in a medical institution. This is in order to get the Medical Class 1. An expensive examination, but an important one of you want to become a pilot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entry exams: \u20ac350<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, the entry exams aren\u2019t free either. Conclusion: if I wouldn\u2019t have passed the entry exams, I would\u2019ve lost \u20ac1091,86. I\u2019m still happy to say I passed, but the big invoices were yet to come.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The loan: \u20ac100.000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like most of the other students, I have a loan of \u20ac79.000 with the bank. The loan is an account which starts at \u20ac0 and can go to minus \u20ac79.000. Whenever the account goes into minus, we pay interest. It is, however, possible to deposit money in the account so you do not go below \u20ac0. Unfortunately, we all end up in the red zone after some time (unless you win the lottery or something).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once I graduate, I have 20 months to find a job before I have to start paying back the money from the bank. Some students take only a few weeks to find a job, for some others it takes years. The only thing I can do is make sure I am ready for the interviews when I graduate so I do not waste any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A loan isn\u2019t free and can cost a lot of money. To give you some idea of what to expect, the total cost of my loan will be around \u20ac100.000 (79.000 + interest) after 9 years of monthly payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal contribution: \u20ac18.500<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

My training cost is \u20ac97.500 and I cannot cover that with the loan I have. That\u2019s because a personal contribution is expected to show you have the necessary means to pay for training.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u20ac97.500 is split up into multiple invoices which need to be paid at certain stages of training. Our theoretical training comes down to about \u20ac10.000 and once we go to the US, multiple invoices of \u20ac17.500 will need to be paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in Belgium: \u20ac2.000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m sharing an apartment together with two colleagues, but also our living costs are evenly split. We spend around 20 days a month in the apartment meaning that with \u20ac200-\u20ac250\/month we should be safe. That all comes down to a bit less than \u20ac2000 in eight months, but let\u2019s round up just to be sure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rent: \u20ac1.600<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hunt for cheap housing wasn\u2019t an easy one, but we found the solution. Most students rent a room at about \u20ac450 per month and that\u2019s just too expensive in my opinion. That\u2019s why I decided to rent an apartment with my two friends as an alternative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re paying about \u20ac600 per month which makes renting an apartment a great deal if you have people to share it with. \u20ac200 per month per person comes down to \u20ac1600 throughout the eight months of theory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living in the US: \u20ac2.000<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we go to the US for the practical part of our training there are some costs as well. We\u2019ll only be there for five to six months, but I decided to keep an extra margin for possible trips!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last few months: \u20ac1.500<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After our return from the US, we will complete the rest of our training in Belgium. Flying in Antwerp, briefings in Brussels and then into the jet simulators! The costs made during these last few months consists mostly out of transportation and living costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u20ac363,00 \u2013 Physics refresher
\u20ac378,86 \u2013 Medical examination
\u20ac350,00 \u2013 Entry exam
\u20ac100.000 \u2013 Loan
\u20ac18.500 \u2013 Personal contribution
\u20ac2.000 \u2013 Living in Belgium
\u20ac1.600 \u2013 Rent
\u20ac2.000 \u2013 Living in the US
\u20ac1.500 \u2013 The last months
______________________________ +<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u20ac126.691,86<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please note that the numbers I used are rough estimates, but it does give you an oversight of what to expect. If everything goes according to plan I will graduate in May 2017. Then it\u2019s time to find a job and pay back the loan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An expensive training<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStudent pilots are rich\u201d\u2026 a wrong statement which is believed by many people. Most people do not have a spare \u20ac100.000 and that\u2019s no different for student pilots and their parents. But what\u2019s the reason for the high cost of flight training? There\u2019s more than one to be honest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s make things simple: flight schools are seen as a private education meaning that the government does not provide any support. All costs made by the school are paid by the students which is already quite a lot of money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flying itself isn\u2019t cheap either. Fuel, taxes, maintenance, personnel (instructors, examiners, planning)\u2026 a big list of matters increasing the cost of training significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many years there have been discussions with the government about possible financial support, but it seems like that will not happen in the near future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Type rating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My training will end up costing me somewhere around \u20ac130.000, but that\u2019s not where the story ends. Once you\u2019re hired by a company you might have to pay for your own type rating, a specific training for the airplane you will be flying. Some airlines pay for this training, others don\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A type rating will cost you between \u20ac25.000 and \u20ac35.000 depending on the airline and the airplane. Once you\u2019re finally in the right seat, you might have \u20ac160.000 of debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I always say that my dream goes beyond a loan at the bank, but we have to stay realistic and think about all the risks involved in becoming an airline pilot.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The story behind this series: We’ve all had a crazy childhood dream and mine was becoming an airline pilot. Many young people who aspire a flying career are unaware of the content of flight training and the preparations which are needed. On November 23rd, 2015 I started my ATPL(A) training. Time to realize my childhood dream. I’d like to take you along on an adventure and I’ll happily answer all your questions on the way. Let’s do this! May 18, 2016 \u2013 Becoming a pilot is a financial risk. In Europe, you\u2019ll pay around \u20ac100,000 for the training itself, but no job is guaranteed. Many pilots say\u00a0we should graduate during a good period for hiring, but the risk of not finding a job is still present and we cannot avoid it. The purpose of this blog is to show you every step I go through to become an airline pilot. And so it is quite obvious that have to tell you more about the financial aspect of training. I made a chronological list which exists of all the costs I have made so far and will make in the future. Every school has different pricings, every person has a different lifestyle, but it all comes down to this: becoming a pilot isn\u2019t something you just do for fun. Physics refresher: \u20ac363 When I was still studying in high school I decided to give up one of my holidays to study physics. It was necessary for me to follow a physics course to refresh my memory for the entry exam. The course is not mandatory, but it helped me out a lot. Medical examination: \u20ac378,86 As part of the entry exam, we have to be checked in a medical institution. This is in order to get the Medical Class 1. An expensive examination, but an important one of you want to become a pilot. Entry exams: \u20ac350 Unfortunately, the entry exams aren\u2019t free either. Conclusion: if I wouldn\u2019t have passed the entry exams, I would\u2019ve lost \u20ac1091,86. I\u2019m still happy to say I passed, but the big invoices were yet to come. The loan: \u20ac100.000 Like most of the other students, I have a loan of \u20ac79.000 with the bank. The loan is an account which starts at \u20ac0 and can go to minus \u20ac79.000. Whenever the account goes into minus, we pay interest. It is, however, possible to deposit money in the account so you do not go below \u20ac0. Unfortunately, we all end up in the red zone after some time (unless you win the lottery or something). Once I graduate, I have 20 months to find a job before I have to start paying back the money from the bank. Some students take only a few weeks to find a job, for some others it takes years. The only thing I can do is make sure I am ready for the interviews when I graduate so I do not waste any time. A loan isn\u2019t free and can cost a lot of money. To give you some idea of what to expect, the total cost of my loan will be around \u20ac100.000 (79.000 + interest) after 9 years of monthly payments. Personal contribution: \u20ac18.500 My training cost is \u20ac97.500 and I cannot cover that with the loan I have. That\u2019s because a personal contribution is expected to show you have the necessary means to pay for training. The \u20ac97.500 is split up into multiple invoices which need to be paid at certain stages of training. Our theoretical training comes down to about \u20ac10.000 and once we go to the US, multiple invoices of \u20ac17.500 will need to be paid. Living in Belgium: \u20ac2.000 I\u2019m sharing an apartment together with two colleagues, but also our living costs are evenly split. We spend around 20 days a month in the apartment meaning that with \u20ac200-\u20ac250\/month we should be safe. That all comes down to a bit less than \u20ac2000 in eight months, but let\u2019s round up just to be sure. Rent: \u20ac1.600 The hunt for cheap housing wasn\u2019t an easy one, but we found the solution. Most students rent a room at about \u20ac450 per month and that\u2019s just too expensive in my opinion. That\u2019s why I decided to rent an apartment with my two friends as an alternative. We\u2019re paying about \u20ac600 per month which makes renting an apartment a great deal if you have people to share it with. \u20ac200 per month per person comes down to \u20ac1600 throughout the eight months of theory. Living in the US: \u20ac2.000 When we go to the US for the practical part of our training there are some costs as well. We\u2019ll only be there for five to six months, but I decided to keep an extra margin for possible trips! The last few months: \u20ac1.500 After our return from the US, we will complete the rest of our training in Belgium. Flying in Antwerp, briefings in Brussels and then into the jet simulators! The costs made during these last few months consists mostly out of transportation and living costs. Summary \u20ac363,00 \u2013 Physics refresher\u20ac378,86 \u2013 Medical examination\u20ac350,00 \u2013 Entry exam\u20ac100.000 \u2013 Loan\u20ac18.500 \u2013 Personal contribution\u20ac2.000 \u2013 Living in Belgium\u20ac1.600 \u2013 Rent\u20ac2.000 \u2013 Living in the US\u20ac1.500 \u2013 The last months______________________________ + \u20ac126.691,86 Please note that the numbers I used are rough estimates, but it does give you an oversight of what to expect. If everything goes according to plan I will graduate in May 2017. Then it\u2019s time to find a job and pay back the loan! An expensive training \u201cStudent pilots are rich\u201d\u2026 a wrong statement which is believed by many people. Most people do not have a spare \u20ac100.000 and that\u2019s no different for student pilots and their parents. But what\u2019s the reason for the high cost of flight training? There\u2019s more than one to be honest. Let\u2019s make things simple: flight schools are seen as a private education meaning that the government does not provide any<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":17652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[177],"tags":[176],"class_list":["post-17651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-flight-training","tag-road-to-the-right-seat"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17651"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17651\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17654,"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17651\/revisions\/17654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/v1-training.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}