Since I was about 6 years old, I had the bug to fly airplanes and 27 years later it has not diminished at all, as a matter of fact it has grown exponentially to the point where I have logged over 1,000 hours of simulated flight time on VATSIM (online virtual air traffic network) and 400 hours as a certified controller on VATSIM.  Recently I have decided to take all of that knowledge and start the actual FAA Private Pilot course at a local flight school.  It comes as no surprise that becoming a pilot is not the cheapest thing to do.  My ultimate long term goal is within the next 5 years to acquire a Private Pilots License (PPL), an instrument rating, Commercial Pilot License (CPL) and Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI & CFII).  At that point I can train other aspiring pilots to chase their dream just as I do with aspiring creative professionals.  At my current plan, obtaining 1 certification per year is a reasonable goal factoring finances and time requirements.

Now to the core reason of this post.  After numerous colleagues have had success using crowd source funding (Kick Starter etc) to launch a business, product or project I am testing the waters if it can be done with flight training as well.  For those of you who might not be aware of this new hip thing called crowd sourcing, ultimately an individual or business posts a product or project they are trying to fund and individuals contribute various amounts.  If the “goal” is reached by the collection of donors, it will get funded.  What’s in it of the donors?  Depending on the amount donated there are “rewards” given to those people.  Here is an initial layout at what crowd sourcing flight training would look like.  Please give me feedback on donation/rewards and if you would be interested in supporting something like this.  If there is enough interest, I will post this to a site like Kick Starter to start funding.

Goal: $5,000 to obtain PPL by the end of 2013 (approx$7,500 cost however I have already started working towards my PPL).
Extended Goal: $40,000 to fast track to CFI & CFII ratings (with full funding these ratings could be achieved in approx. 12 months instead of 5 years).

Donations and rewards:
$150 – Funds 1 hour of flight training towards a PPL certificate.  In return all donors will be able to ride in scheduled flights in 2014 to destinations like Austin, South Padre Island, Dallas, Galveston and a Louisiana Casino trip.  For every hour you donate, you will get an hour of flight time on a scheduled flight exclusively for donors. (30 available).

$1,000 – Funds a block of training time.  In return each donor will receive 5 hours of private flight time for yourself and two additional passengers.  5 hours of flying approximately will cover a round trip 250 miles each way, about the distance from Houston to Dallas. (5 available).

$10,000 – Funds a complete underwriting of a PPL certificate.  In return you will receive 25 hours of private flight time for yourself as well as two additional passengers.  Let’s go fly to a concert or have a fancy dinner in another city!  (1 available).

$40,000 – Funds a fast track and complete underwriting of all certificates up to CFI & CFII.  In return you will have the option of a) receiving your own PPL at no additional cost (I will cover aircraft rental and myself as an instructor.  Only course supplies and FAA fees required) and an instrument rating with no instructor fees. b) receive 72 hours of private flight time over 3 years (2 hours accumulated per month after receiving CFI & CFII.  Hours roll over month to month with options for less hours in higher performance or larger aircraft including multi-engine). (1 available).

Please contact me using the contact form on the left side of my website or through other channels if you have comments, suggestions or interest.  You may also comment below as well.

Additional information/FAQ:

Q: What if only part of this is funded?
A: If a minimal funding is not reached, no money is collected from the donors.  At this stage I believe the minimum goal will be close to $5,000 which will add to what I have already done and allow me to complete my PPL in a short amount of time.

Q: What happens if you get way over funded?
A: That would be amazing first off.  If for any lucky reason that should happen, I would just sweeten the rewards for everyone based on how much additional funding was received.

Q: What does it take to get a Private Pilots License?
A: Even though the FAA only requires 40 hours of flight training with an instructor, most students need 60 to complete.  Minimum of a 3rd class medical certificate from an FAA approved doctor, pass a FAA Written Exam and a FAA Practical & Oral Exam as well as books, study guides and charts etc.

Q: What can I do with a PPL?
A: I can fly single engine aircraft in good weather conditions under VFR (visual flight rules) conditions.  Ultimately that means as long as I can stay away from the clouds I can fly.

Q: What is this instrument rating you talk about?
A: This allows me to fly in the clouds and into busy airspaces under IFR (instrument flight rules). Simplified, this means I can fly in the clouds, poorer weather conditions and air traffic control manages separation between myself and other aircraft at all times.

Q: I am thinking about funding all the training up to the CFIs, but I don’t get that commercial rating, what is that for?
A: As the name implies, I will be able to fly for compensation.  This is very strict training which focusses heavily on regulations and safety to carry passengers and cargo for commercial use and is required before becoming a CFI which is a type commercial pilot.

Q: What exactly do those CFI things mean again?
A: CFI stands for Certificated Flight Instructor and allows me to train people seeking their PPL and CFII stands for Certificated Flight Instructor Instrument so I can train people seeking their instrument rating.

Nicholas Rizzo Photography
www.nicholasrizzophotography.com
Twitter: @RizzoPhoto
Facebook: Nicholas Rizzo Photography Page

Rizzo Media Factory LLC
Twitter: @TheMediaFactory
Facebook: Rizzo Media Factory Page

- Final Cut Pro 5 Level 1
- Final Cut Pro 6 Level 1
- Final Cut Pro 6 Level 2
- Final Cut Pro 7 Level 1
- Final Cut Pro 7 Level 2
- Soundtrack Pro 3
- Color
- Aperture 3
- Final Cut Pro X Level 1

In a couple of weeks I am taking my Final Cut Pro X Level 2 then shortly after that the Motion 5 test. Anyways… back to some editing on the next project.

Upcoming:
More pictures from this walk as well as a tutorial on black and white post production.

Nicholas