Help Alex get through flight school
Donation protected
Hello,
My name is Alex, and I'm raising funds to keep my aviation training on track to achieve my goal of becoming a career pilot. I'm truly ecstatic that I have found something that I'm this passionate about! Every steppingstone I have crossed throughout this process has been extremely fulfilling and has been fueling my passion and excitement to continue learning. Here is a little back story to get you up to speed as to where I’m at now and why I'm reaching out for your support.
Looking back three years, I felt stuck in my career as a bartender. I was constantly questioning if I wanted to still be bartending five or ten years down the road. After much contemplation of a new direction, I kept coming back to aviation. Afterall, my father was a pilot in Vietnam and his father was a pilot in World War II. With the idea of being a third-generation pilot in mind, I booked a discovery flight.
The second I arrived at Erie Airport for my flight, I was eager with excitement. That liberating sensation I got as we climbed into the sky is a memory I will never forget. After the flight, I had no doubt that I had found my new direction. I immediately started looking into flight schools, signed up for a ground course and started learning.
I worked out a schedule that had me flying 2-3 days a week, working 3-4 days a week, and studying in between. After a couple months, I passed the Private Pilot License knowledge test. A month after that, I did my first solo flight! This was one of the best days of my life! The following two months were disheartening as winter was fully setting in and my flight lessons were constantly getting cancelled due to winter storms. Come January, the weather seemed to start coming around and I was getting more training in. I was finally prepared to take the check ride for my private pilot license. Unfortunately, finding an available FAA examiner was quite difficult! But finally, I found one and got my check ride scheduled for mid-March. After many weeks of intense studying and flight training in preparation, all my hard work paid off, I officially received my private pilot license! The first step towards my new career was behind me!
I immediately jumped into training for my instrument rating. Learning about approach/departure procedures, navigating solely by reference to flight instruments and charts, minimum in route altitudes, etc. has left me eager to continue expanding my aviation knowledge. This rating has also significantly increased my flying skills and confidence in the cockpit.
Over the past year, flying has changed my life in so many positive ways! I finally feel like I have direction and goals that I must attain! But unfortunately, it came with financial constraints. My bartending jobs have not been providing me with enough funds to support the expensive training. I have been forced to dip into my savings and have reached my limit.
As many people in my life know, I'm a very independent and self-sufficient person. I will only ask for help when in a position of true need. Unfortunately, if I’m not able to come up with funding, I will be forced to put my training on hold to save money. This will ultimately put my training in a state of regression. Flying is a skill that must be practiced consistently for proficiency and to progress. Prolonging my training is simply not a viable option.
I have reached a point where I am in true need of your help. I am very close to completing my instrument rating. After that, I must complete my commercial rating and get my CFI certificate. At that point, I will be able to get a job as a flight instructor to build the hours required to apply for a job at a regional airline. I feel so close yet so far at the same time. You now know my predicament at hand.
I truly want to thank you for taking the time to read my story and understand my situation. I'm deeply determined to move forward and achieve my goals, but I need your help. I have created an Instagram page (@come.fly.with.alex) to share my progression throughout my journey. This page will allow me to give you updates on my training and share my flying adventures. Any contributions, big or small, are greatly appreciated and will go directly towards plane rentals for lessons, instructors and required testing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.
Deepest Gratitude,
Alex 
My name is Alex, and I'm raising funds to keep my aviation training on track to achieve my goal of becoming a career pilot. I'm truly ecstatic that I have found something that I'm this passionate about! Every steppingstone I have crossed throughout this process has been extremely fulfilling and has been fueling my passion and excitement to continue learning. Here is a little back story to get you up to speed as to where I’m at now and why I'm reaching out for your support.
Looking back three years, I felt stuck in my career as a bartender. I was constantly questioning if I wanted to still be bartending five or ten years down the road. After much contemplation of a new direction, I kept coming back to aviation. Afterall, my father was a pilot in Vietnam and his father was a pilot in World War II. With the idea of being a third-generation pilot in mind, I booked a discovery flight.
The second I arrived at Erie Airport for my flight, I was eager with excitement. That liberating sensation I got as we climbed into the sky is a memory I will never forget. After the flight, I had no doubt that I had found my new direction. I immediately started looking into flight schools, signed up for a ground course and started learning.
I worked out a schedule that had me flying 2-3 days a week, working 3-4 days a week, and studying in between. After a couple months, I passed the Private Pilot License knowledge test. A month after that, I did my first solo flight! This was one of the best days of my life! The following two months were disheartening as winter was fully setting in and my flight lessons were constantly getting cancelled due to winter storms. Come January, the weather seemed to start coming around and I was getting more training in. I was finally prepared to take the check ride for my private pilot license. Unfortunately, finding an available FAA examiner was quite difficult! But finally, I found one and got my check ride scheduled for mid-March. After many weeks of intense studying and flight training in preparation, all my hard work paid off, I officially received my private pilot license! The first step towards my new career was behind me!
I immediately jumped into training for my instrument rating. Learning about approach/departure procedures, navigating solely by reference to flight instruments and charts, minimum in route altitudes, etc. has left me eager to continue expanding my aviation knowledge. This rating has also significantly increased my flying skills and confidence in the cockpit.
Over the past year, flying has changed my life in so many positive ways! I finally feel like I have direction and goals that I must attain! But unfortunately, it came with financial constraints. My bartending jobs have not been providing me with enough funds to support the expensive training. I have been forced to dip into my savings and have reached my limit.
As many people in my life know, I'm a very independent and self-sufficient person. I will only ask for help when in a position of true need. Unfortunately, if I’m not able to come up with funding, I will be forced to put my training on hold to save money. This will ultimately put my training in a state of regression. Flying is a skill that must be practiced consistently for proficiency and to progress. Prolonging my training is simply not a viable option.
I have reached a point where I am in true need of your help. I am very close to completing my instrument rating. After that, I must complete my commercial rating and get my CFI certificate. At that point, I will be able to get a job as a flight instructor to build the hours required to apply for a job at a regional airline. I feel so close yet so far at the same time. You now know my predicament at hand.
I truly want to thank you for taking the time to read my story and understand my situation. I'm deeply determined to move forward and achieve my goals, but I need your help. I have created an Instagram page (@come.fly.with.alex) to share my progression throughout my journey. This page will allow me to give you updates on my training and share my flying adventures. Any contributions, big or small, are greatly appreciated and will go directly towards plane rentals for lessons, instructors and required testing. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.
Deepest Gratitude,
Alex 
Organizer
Alex Basinger
Organizer
Albuquerque, NM