Career Advice Question

[Pilotboy100]

Hello. I am a 19 year old college student and 120 hour private pilot. I am an aspiring professional pilot, preferably for a national or major airline someday. I do not attend an aviation college because I feel a degree in something else other than aviation allows for a backup career if flying does not work out, especially after 9/11. Heres my problem:

As a result of me not attending an aviation college I can not find time to pursue further flight training with so much schoolwork. During the summers I work full time to to be able to fly twice a week in Cessna 172s and 152s to build up cross country time. Despite me not pursuing further flight training at this point I still read instrument, commercial, and multi engine flying books.

I know that I am in competition with many pilots my age who attend flying universities. Therefore I am trying to do what I can to make myself just as competent and successful as them in the aviation industry. Do you think I should earn my instrument, commercial, multi, CFI, CFII, and MEI ratings during the summers in between college semesters by taking out loans or should I continue to fly once or twice a week as a private pilot and wait until graduating to go to an accelerated flying school, like ALL ATPs? ALL ATPs offers Instrument through MEI ratings in 95 days and 130+ hours of multi engine time. I also may have the opportunity to flight instruct for them in Seminoles upon completing their professional pilot course. If I earn my CFI at a regular flight school while still attending school I could instruct for a part 61 school part time nearby my college, although stressing myself out due to a high academic workload. My goal is to get on with a regional by age 23 or 24 assuming the industry is in better shape in 2006. Thank you for the timely response. Scott

 

[chawbein]

Sounds like you have your options laid out pretty well. Only you can make a decision like that. Weigh the options, and remember that any loans you take out you will have to repay probably when you don't have any money (working as a CFI or even as a regional FO).

My $.02

 

[darien]

Have fun

You'll have to make many tough decisions as a pilot or in any other career, so try not too get too stressed. One definate thing I've seen posted repeatively on this board is to get your degree and have something to fall back on for that day that you are furloughed. Don't rush it and don't feel pressured that you need to be a regional pilot at a set date. Are you trying to be in the majors before your thirty Many guys out there did not want to instruct any longer than the mins, but a lot had to Persistency does pay Ask around a lot of the guys out there did years of instructing when they were your age and older ? Best luck to ya your young and you'll be flying for the big boys before you retire

 

[Dan CFI/CFII]

You're not competing with the same crowd you think you are. At my FBO, the youngest CFI is 26 (other than myself--but I'm an exception to the rule), most are right around 30 years old or so.

I was very much in your position, a few years ago. I didn't get a flying degree (I don't particularly see any real value in one). I was just out flying for fun, and eventually I had enough experience to get my instrument and commercial certificates, with the CFI being just a short step behind it.

Trust me here, it is a great position to be in. I've been out of college a while now (but I was busy climbing mountains and working in youth ministry for a while before I decided to get another flying job), and the guys that got their ratings at a real quick place (like ATPS or FlightSafety) are always kind of playing catch up if you will.

Not that they aren't decent pilots, but I've been flying since before I started learning to drive. It's hard to compete with that when you've only been flying a year and a half at the most. There is some experience gained from the passing of seasons, even if you aren't flying a whole lot during them. In fact, some of the most formative times for me as a still young pilot were when I didn't have the money to go flying, so I just hung around the airport. I really shows up to me now too, just having been around the airport longer than most of the planes at our FBO really helps getting the most fun flying. Case in point, this past week the Avionics shop on the field needed a Bonanza with a brand new planel taken back to the owners a few states away. He came right to me with the flight, and I'd only flown Bonanzas (and never that model) a few hours, but I still got to tool around the sky in an absolutely beautiful Bonanza (430, MX20, Sandel EHSI, SL30, STEC 55X...).

I'm not trying to sound like a big shot or anything (I'm still young and learning a lot), but I really don't regret the route to the cockpit I took. Long, liesurely, and not particularly structured. I know I had more fun that my buds that were wearing slacks and ties in the Florida or Phoenix sun, not to mention the fact that I have no student loans to pay back (a GREAT feeling as a CFI).

So basically, I don't think you need to worry about the way you are taking. In fact, I would tell you to try to get a job as a mechanics apprentice or a lineboy to help pay the bills, but also to play around with airplanes a lot more. I relish the days I get to cover for a lineguy--I get to spend the day outside, tow airplanes around, talk to pilots when they first pull in, and when they ask if there is an A&P or a CFI available, I always get to have a fun chat with someone I probably had never met before. Fun all around!

Dan

 

[bobbysamd]

College now

You certainly shouldn't sacrifice college for flying, although being around airplanes is a major temptation when faced with hitting the books.

I think that if it were me, I'd concentrate on finishing college and then concentrate on finishing ratings. So many people finish their ratings while in college and find they can earn money as flight instructors, so they drop out of college. That's a big mistake for a number of reasons, the primary one being that a four-year degree is your meal ticket for the majors. People without four-year degrees find out they don't amount to much in this business, so they try distance learning or going to school part-time, get discouraged, and never finish.

Get college out of the way so you can concentrate on your flight training. I do agree with Dan on the benefit of experiencing all seasons of the year while learning to fly. As strongly as I vouch for the program at FlightSafety, you don't get the benefit of seasons if you spend six months in Florida learning to fly. I do believe in a structured program, though, because it imparts a measure of discipline which will benefit you later in your career.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[gsrcrsx68]

Flying First

Fly First, get all ratings, always make your money from aviation...if you want to be a pilot. It really shouldn't take all that long to get all your ratings, plus it will be way more fun to be an instructor in college than it will to flip burgers or whatever.

 

[Vik]

Finish college. Try to go to a state college if you can so you can get your 4yr degree and graduate with no debt. Work part time and make sure you graduate with no debt.

Once you graduate, take loans out and crank out the ratings .. Instrument, Commercial, CFI .. start working .. then get your CFII, ME and MEI.

If you are currently flying to stay current, make sure the hours are going towards some goal. Fly 50nm x-c's. Get some VFR night solo time in (you'll need 5hrs for the commercial).

Don't blow all your money flying too much. Pay for college so you don't graduate with debt. I took a 2yr break between my private and instrument and it wasn't that big of a deal. You'll remember more than you think.

 

[uavchaser]

I would suggest getting all your ratings out of the way first and get a flying job. You can always goto school part time or ERAU has Distance learning on the Internet which is what I do. I started a little earlier than you but I still can't legally drink and I have 1400 hours, a flying job, and am half way done with my BS. By the way ERAU gives you 33 units if you have Comm ASEL AMEL Inst with 1000 PIC. That's over 2 semesters worth of work just for getting ratings and logging hours. If you have anymore questions feel free to email me.

 

[nimtz]

Bro I was in the exact same spot you were just four years ago. You are on the right course right now, trust me. Doing the degree on-line or part time school experience cannot compare to what you'll learn and see in college. In this downturn we're going through there is absolutely no reason to rush to have 1200 hours by the time you're 21. I wouldn't worry about competing with others who went to aviation schools. I have yet to see that make a difference in the career track of a pilot.
I got most of my ratings during college mainly by working my arse off at the local FBO during the summers. During the school year I would do things like writtens or read general system books. It's a little tough to study outside class, but hey its your career so just treat it like another major. It worked well for me, because I was the second youngest guy in my new hire class. Whatever you do just keeping moving foward with your ratings, whether its building x-c time or buying sim time for your instrument.
My first two years of school I thought I was making a huge mistake by not going to an aviation school, but by my senior year I was so glad I got to focus on other things during college. As I said before with our job market getting tighter you're better off enjoying your college years to the fullest. By the time you get out the airline side will be alot more brighter.