Opinions pls
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Opinions pls
I would like to know if this is the right way to become a airline pilot. I am a Senior in High School ... 17 years old.
My plan is:
Once I graduate High School in June go straight to Flight School and ignore College for now... most likely go to Flight Safety in Florida.
After completing the prof pilot program and CFI come back to my home and instruct in a Flight School. While I am instructing I would attend College and get a degree.
I think by doing this I can obtain a lot of hours and will be ready for a job immediatly after I finish College.
Ive thought of this and I feel this is the right way to go...Most of the people I have talked to think its a good idea but some have also told me to go to College first.
I would like to know your opinions on this. Thanks
My plan is:
Once I graduate High School in June go straight to Flight School and ignore College for now... most likely go to Flight Safety in Florida.
After completing the prof pilot program and CFI come back to my home and instruct in a Flight School. While I am instructing I would attend College and get a degree.
I think by doing this I can obtain a lot of hours and will be ready for a job immediatly after I finish College.
Ive thought of this and I feel this is the right way to go...Most of the people I have talked to think its a good idea but some have also told me to go to College first.
I would like to know your opinions on this. Thanks
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Seattle
Posts: 3,197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A lot depends on how much money you have for schools right now, how much you will be able to earn while attending schools, what kind of airline job you want, and how long you are willing to wait for it.
If you have the $$ for a "professional pilot" program, you might be able to afford (and get scholarships, grants, loans, and other financial aid for) a real college or university that includes a flight program. Embry Riddle may come to mind first, but other colleges and universities (e.g., Purdue) have nationally-recognized flight programs.
Another option is the military via ROTC or other programs. If you don't have enough $$ for college, you might be able to get a ROTC scholarship or find another program (e.g., USMC PLC program with aviation guarantee).
Either of those options will provide you with alternate means of earning a living in case your airline pilot plans go sour.
If you have the $$ for a "professional pilot" program, you might be able to afford (and get scholarships, grants, loans, and other financial aid for) a real college or university that includes a flight program. Embry Riddle may come to mind first, but other colleges and universities (e.g., Purdue) have nationally-recognized flight programs.
Another option is the military via ROTC or other programs. If you don't have enough $$ for college, you might be able to get a ROTC scholarship or find another program (e.g., USMC PLC program with aviation guarantee).
Either of those options will provide you with alternate means of earning a living in case your airline pilot plans go sour.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Right now I was looking at a Physics major at a State University which shouldnt be expensive. My main question is should I go into the Prof Pilot Prog and come back attend college and instruct at the same time or just go get the degree and get the hours and training after? Let me know.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Andover, Hampshire
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IcarusGR, ............Learn to walk before you can run........I would suggest that you go to college and get some relevant courses under your belt such as mathematics, physics etc. Then, if you can afford it, go to Professional Flight School and get your license(s), and once you have your license(s), get a job where you can build up your hours. THEN consider getting your instructors license. It takes time and experience to become a really good instructor. For my money the best type of flying is military flying so consider a career in the Military. You might be pleasantly surprised at the incentives offered to potential aviators within the Military network.
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Australia
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are pros and cons to doing it either way. I did uni first then flight training. In my case i find that I'm a lttle older than other guys with the same hrs so that was one disadvantage. At the same time though I met some great contacts at uni and had a lot of people give me the real story about the aviation industry rather than the sugar coated version that the flight schools sell.
If I were in your shoes? Try for every possible cadetship/scolarship there is- then the armed forces (your government will be spending like no other on defence) if neither of these work College then flying. Why College and THEN flying? Because in your country a degree is neccesary to gain entry into an airline. In my country its worth..well...umm. I'll get back to you on that one.
If I were in your shoes? Try for every possible cadetship/scolarship there is- then the armed forces (your government will be spending like no other on defence) if neither of these work College then flying. Why College and THEN flying? Because in your country a degree is neccesary to gain entry into an airline. In my country its worth..well...umm. I'll get back to you on that one.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Avon, CT, USA
Age: 68
Posts: 472
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
IcarusGR,
Do both, college and flying. I did it, so can you and I held down a part-time job to pay for flying.
I had my PVT in high-school, Commercial, Instrument, Mutli-engine, and CFI by age 20, second year in college. In the old days you only needed 160 hours for a Commercial, nowadays it’s 250 total hours. I got my CFII, Multi-engine Instructor in my third year in college. I instructed for almost two years, completed my degree and then moved into the right-hand seat on a Lear Jet and then onto a Hawker 700 series. Some of it was luck, but I had made a major airport/school move that positioned me for the jet jobs.
I was a full-time student (business) and took lessons in between classes and on weekends. When I became an instructor that’s when I instructed, also, I never took a summer college class as to allow full-time instructing during that peak busy season.
If flying is your passion then go ahead and pursue it, but do get a college degree as employers do look for it, you can fall back on it if you need to.
Do watch carefully the situation with United Airlines and US Airways, if these companies cease to exist there will be thousands of unemployed FIXED WING pilots looking for jobs. The market for pilots could be severely depressed for years.
You did state in your post that you wanted to become an airline pilot. What is your motivation to do this ? I hope it’s not entirely for a big salary , $300K to fly a B-777 does sound good but check out what Southwest or AirTran pays their pilots (perhaps they peak out at 100K after 10-15 years). There is a lot of pressure for airlines to change their business models to become no frills and fly B-737’s point to point.
Perhaps you should look into helicopters. I believe these are more fun to fly than airplanes and are used for some really interesting activities. S-76 corporate helicopter captains can make over 100K and some copilots are making 65K.
If you are in the upstate NY area check out the FW & RW flight schools at HPN (White Plains, NY) or DXR (Danbury, CT). Tell them you want to become a CFI and ask if they hire their own graduates. Both of these airports have plenty of activity, if you worked there and did a little networking you could find yourself as a jet co-pilot for an air taxi or corporate outfit.
Best of Luck
Do both, college and flying. I did it, so can you and I held down a part-time job to pay for flying.
I had my PVT in high-school, Commercial, Instrument, Mutli-engine, and CFI by age 20, second year in college. In the old days you only needed 160 hours for a Commercial, nowadays it’s 250 total hours. I got my CFII, Multi-engine Instructor in my third year in college. I instructed for almost two years, completed my degree and then moved into the right-hand seat on a Lear Jet and then onto a Hawker 700 series. Some of it was luck, but I had made a major airport/school move that positioned me for the jet jobs.
I was a full-time student (business) and took lessons in between classes and on weekends. When I became an instructor that’s when I instructed, also, I never took a summer college class as to allow full-time instructing during that peak busy season.
If flying is your passion then go ahead and pursue it, but do get a college degree as employers do look for it, you can fall back on it if you need to.
Do watch carefully the situation with United Airlines and US Airways, if these companies cease to exist there will be thousands of unemployed FIXED WING pilots looking for jobs. The market for pilots could be severely depressed for years.
You did state in your post that you wanted to become an airline pilot. What is your motivation to do this ? I hope it’s not entirely for a big salary , $300K to fly a B-777 does sound good but check out what Southwest or AirTran pays their pilots (perhaps they peak out at 100K after 10-15 years). There is a lot of pressure for airlines to change their business models to become no frills and fly B-737’s point to point.
Perhaps you should look into helicopters. I believe these are more fun to fly than airplanes and are used for some really interesting activities. S-76 corporate helicopter captains can make over 100K and some copilots are making 65K.
If you are in the upstate NY area check out the FW & RW flight schools at HPN (White Plains, NY) or DXR (Danbury, CT). Tell them you want to become a CFI and ask if they hire their own graduates. Both of these airports have plenty of activity, if you worked there and did a little networking you could find yourself as a jet co-pilot for an air taxi or corporate outfit.
Best of Luck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: New York
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well I always wanted to be a pilot ... too say the truth I dont mind working for free . Regarding the degree , I will definatly get one. Thanks for the info .. I will make my decision soon whether I should get my Liscenses and then come back and attend college and instruct at the same time at a local school.
. Regarding the degree , I will definatly get one. Thanks for the info .. I will make my decision soon whether I should get my Liscenses and then come back and attend college and instruct at the same time at a local school.
Join Date: Feb 2000
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you come on to the forum looking for advice, all the lads then take their time to respond in personal terms to your request ......then you turn around and say you'll work for free.....I'll tell you one thing sonny boy....NOBODY wants to work for FREE so understand that now, it only demeans the profession...any profession!!!!! You might consider going straight into management for let's say Southwest or Ryanair or Aer Lingus or Easyjet..........they'll always be a job for you there......
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: UK
Posts: 438
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think you get the msg about the working for free thing...
If you can afford to do it then I would go flying first...you're right, you'll have more hours that way and be able to go to an airline straight after college. Age will be more on your side too as you won't need to waste more time in the wilderness building hours. Also, if for some reason you decide not to pursue a professional flying career after college, you can go straight into a "conventional" job but keep instructing as you wish as a hobby.
Also, you'll be the coolest person in your class if you work as a flight instructor while everybody else is pouring lattes or flipping burgers.
If you can afford to do it then I would go flying first...you're right, you'll have more hours that way and be able to go to an airline straight after college. Age will be more on your side too as you won't need to waste more time in the wilderness building hours. Also, if for some reason you decide not to pursue a professional flying career after college, you can go straight into a "conventional" job but keep instructing as you wish as a hobby.
Also, you'll be the coolest person in your class if you work as a flight instructor while everybody else is pouring lattes or flipping burgers.
