?? for the ERAU students

[DX Rick]

I have a question for all you Riddle boys and girls. During your education there, do they happen to mention salaries of a regional pilot?
My old instructor went there, and when I told him what our pilots start at his jaw hit the floor. He surfed the net and saw what other regionals were offering as pay and he nearly puked on himself. I thought he would have known.
Well, a year later and I meet another guy from Riddle. We were shooting the Sh!t about flying obviously, and he asked what our pilots start out at. I gave him a round about number and his eyes went wide open, and turned pale white.
I asked him if they talked about pilot pay at Riddle while going through school, he said they only mention what the Major Airline pay scales were.

My question to you people is. Do they normally keep you guys in the dar about regional airlines pay and schedules?

My younger brother went to a 4 yr aviation college, and he also said they never talked about regional lifestyle, just the majors.

 

[milehigh6080]

ERAU is very very focused on Major airlines. If a major airline was the star quarterback, Riddle would be the sorority girl who follows him around and drops her panties for him whenever he wants. I definately can't remember the payscales of regionals being discussed in any class while at ERAU, but to not find out through other channels just demonstrates a completely tunnel visioned approach on the student's behalf as well- there are students there with United Airlines pajamas and a United Airlines teddy bear and you'll never get through to them. Starting pay in this industry is definately very common knowledge and an often discussed topic around campus, I find it hard to believe that there are many people there who don't know what they're getting into.

The admissions (i.e. Marketing) department is the one and only efficient department on campus and they do a very good job of selling their product. It's definately fair to say that they highlight major airline salaries and convince a large portion of applicants that they'll be making $150,000 a year in the right seat of a 747 within months of graduation. A lot of brand new freshmen have that misconception, but it doesn't really take long once you show up see how things really are, it's a rare student who has been there more than a semester who doesn't know what they'll be making at the regionals.


-Milehigh

 

[BoilerUP]

It's definately fair to say that they highlight major airline salaries and convince a large portion of applicants that they'll be making $150,000 a year in the right seat of a 747 within months of graduation. A lot of brand new freshmen have that misconception

That's not exclusive to ERAU, either. Its like that here at Purdue too, with students choosing not to get their CFI or fly outside of school. They see the regionals are hiring like mad, yet fail to realize thats because of the contraction of their mainline carriers. I guess they think they are going to get hired with 280/20???

Our professors tell us about the low regional pay, ie "Don't go out and get that nice car the first couple years after graduation. Hope you like ramen the first year. If you are based in SJU for Eagle, hope you like fruit - its cheap there".

 

[jaybird]

Why should ERAU tell anyone about payscales. I would think this should be researched before jumping into something like this.

However I do remember them being advocates for PFT when I first got there.

 

[mattpilot]

http://www.airlinepilotpay.com/

 

[Nikes]

There is a class that covers regional airline operations, and a professor at the PRC campus flew for a major regional airline prior to teaching at ERAU. In all honesty ERAU doesn’t place emphasis on any pay scale, but more of the style of operations at the major airlines, and how to operate as the pilot of any complex aircraft which could be found in the airline, military, regional, and corporate world. For example some of my friends have the regional as a final career goal and I’m sure they researched the pay scale before they made that decision.

 

[Steveair]

Forget ER! Go to UND... half the price & more ratings. Don't have to deal with Hurricanes either!

 

[SAEflyr]

Let's not make this another pissing match....

Not like UND is racing to get that information to us either.

 

[mattpilot]

forget ER And UND! go to spartan ... 1/4 the cost (and more ratings )

 

[dash8driver]

does UND still hide all your certificates from you until you finish their final flight course?

 

[SAEflyr]

Yep...Instrument, Commercial, Multi all in one final checkride.

 

[flyer172r]

Don't have to deal with Hurricanes either!

No, just the absolute freezing cold for over half the year

 

[banned username 2]

Forget ER! Go to UND... half the price & more ratings. Don't have to deal with Hurricanes either!

They have Hurricane's in Arizona???

 

[Steveair]

Ohh you poor misguided souls.... it may be cold, but at least we have women at our school... blonde haired norweigans who need to be kept warm at night! We also get done with our flight courses because we have airplanes available and we don't have a union or upgrade classes to use your CFII or MEI. 135K or 60K... hmm.

 

[FlyChicaga]

Silly... why would Riddle need to talk about regional pay scales? All their graduates go straight to the majors.

 

[BoilerUP]

I'm suprised it took this long to turn this into a pissing contest, so I'll just throw everything out there.

UND: Too far north, too cold for too long (so women are always covered up), NO TOPOGRAPHY WHATSOEVER. Less expensive than some contemporaries
ERAU-DB: Too far south, too many students and not enough airplanes or airspace, hurricanes, no women (but it is Flordia)
ERAU-P: No money because DB gets it all, in the hot-azz desert, more women than DB but not by much, decent roadtrip distance to PHX
Purdue: Too many airplanes for one primary runway, miles upon miles of corn, but lots of women, close to IND and Chicago
UIUC: BA only in Human Factors, have to write an essay for admission, its in Illinois, any Cherokee flying around CMI is "Archer xxxxx"
SIUC: Old fleet (but being updated), one hell of a party town, its in Illinois, whats a saluki?
Auburn: Relatively small aviation program. LOTS OF HOT WOMEN, decent football team, not Alabama
Western Michigan: Cold, weird setup of program, its in Michigan

The perfect location would be Austin, Texas. If UT had a decent aviation program, I'd be down there faster than you can say HOWDY DAMMIT! Alas it does not, so I chose Purdue. And yes, I was accepted to ERAU and UND, and refused to write the essay for Illinois.

[/thread hijack]

And YES, people need to be informed of what they are getting into in this career field. Thats why its so important for graduates to GO BACK AND TALK TO CURRENT STUDENTS ABOUT THE INDUSTRY!

 

[FracCapt]

Auburn: Relatively small aviation program. LOTS OF HOT WOMEN, decent football team, not Alabama

I recently spent a weekend in Auburn...and went to the football game....and all I have to say is.....DAM!! If I were starting out now, I would go to Auburn! Lots of SMOKIN hot women! Supposedly the ratio is something like 3 women per guy!

Those of you that are considering flight schools.....DEFINITELY look into Auburn! It may be in Alabama, but the chicks make it worthwhile! Remember - it's all about the chicks!

 

[IP076]

They have Hurricane's in Arizona???

Didn't get that memo....maybe I dont want to go back out there.....

In reference to those blond norweigans...they keep warm with what some would refer to as 'Winter' fat....my only question is, why does it remain all year around?

Prescott....hot-azz desert? I lived there for 6 years, probably count the days it got above 100 on two hands. I'd take a 100 in PRC over 85 or 90 in LAF (Grew up about 2 hours from there).

 

[Riddle19]

At least here in Prescott, they don't hide the Regional pay scales. They're not discussed in depth, but neither are the pay scales for the Majors. We all know that it's going to be rough starting out. I don't think any students have false assumptions after their first year here. We have heard stories of a small handful of students getting hired directly to a major airline after graduation. However, that was when the industry was booming, and only after doing an internship with the airline.

As far as the discussion about the campus goes, I must admit I like the environment here. I believe the hottest it got all summer (this summer) was 95 degrees. We have very few days where we can't fly. The weather is almost always great. We don't get much actual instrument time, but there are a few days (primarily during the winter) where we can get in a few hours of actual on a cross-country.

The school is adding new degree programs. More students come in and the male to female ratio is slowly decreasing.

Prescott is primarily surrounded by forest. The airport is kind of in the desert so it doesn't look too great at first glance, but once you get into town and go around the area it looks pretty nice. I like how, if you wanted, it could be February, and you can drive 1.5 hours north and go skiing, or drive 1.5 hours north and go swimming outside in 100 degree heat. It's really bizzare but quite unique.

Just my share of life around here.

 

[DX Rick]

Hey

Hey thanks for the info though guys. I just wanted to make sure that these guys i know have their "heads in the clouds" about this industry.
Sorry that if any way I started a p!ssing match between any of the 141 schools.
Bu then again, my dad can beat the p!ss out of all your dads

 

[DX Rick]

142???

Are you serious? never even heard of such a thing.

 

[mattpilot]

Are you serious? never even heard of such a thing.

142 is a "training center" .... whatever that means

 

[DX Rick]

Thanks...

How long has this been around? This 142 you speak of.

 

[Northern Lights]

1996

according to a quick google search for "FAA part 142"

Part 142 provides an alternative means, through the use of approved training devices and simulators, for meeting the experience, training, and testing requirements of parts 61, 63, 121, 125, 127, 135, or 137 and others. This rule was implemented in August 1996 as a result of an increasing use of advanced technology that has proved capable of replicating the functionality and handling characteristics of high performance, turboprop, and turbojet aircraft. These simulation devices have eliminated the need for pilots to perform certain maneuvers in aircraft. They afford pilots experience in normal and unusual flight situations, such as recreated real-life emergencies, in order to develop skills and effective recovery techniques without the risk of harm to people, objects, or aircraft. There are approximately 70 Part 142 approved training centers and satellites at domestic and international locations.

The National Training Center Program Manager supports the agencies program through the development of guidance, and approximately 80 Training Center Program Managers, Assistant and Partial Program Managers oversee the centers and satellites within their geographic area.

http://www.faa.gov/avr/afs/afs800/afs840/PART142/index.cfm

 

[FN FAL]

Not to pick on the majority of graduates from und or erau, but they are 1 for 1 as far as beating the props off of 182's at dropzones that I have been a member of the staff at.

I can cite two cases where und and erau grads caused property damage to airplanes at skydiving operations.

I can also cite a case where an FAA employee totalled out a 182 at our dropzone as well and he is a supervisor at an FSS station. It never made the NTSB reports, even though the plane was totalled. I would go into more details, but I am affraid that a letter carrier with tennis shoes and a suppressed MAC 10 will come knocking on my door...

 

[RRF985]

Yeah uh I've been here for a couple weeks and I haven't heard anything about pay scales. Everyone here knows that regionals pay sh!ty anyway. It's not like it's a huge secret. As far as going to UND, how can there ever be flying time there? It's got to snow at least 3 feet a day. A Cessna in icing conditions? HAHAHAHAHA!!! You've got to be kidding me. I'll take ERAU over UND or any of the others any day.

 

[DX Rick]

Ok...

Yeah uh I've been here for a couple weeks and I haven't heard anything about pay scales. Everyone here knows that regionals pay sh!ty anyway. It's not like it's a huge secret. As far as going to UND, how can there ever be flying time there? It's got to snow at least 3 feet a day. A Cessna in icing conditions? HAHAHAHAHA!!! You've got to be kidding me. I'll take ERAU over UND or any of the others any day.

I have to say something here. I didn't go to a 4 yrs aviation school. I opted to major in business. Besides that. I did all my training in Chicago, especially during the winter months. Just because there are icing conditions, doesnt mean there is icing. I probably picked up ice twice in all my winter flying. It's being smart, and the knowledge of where you're going to pick up ice, and where you won't. That came with my training. I would much rather do my flying in a place where we have all 4 seasons, such as the midwest, Western Mich, SIU, U of I, Purdue, UND where you can have the expirence of having blistering cold days, heavy snow, and hot humid summer afternoon. Rather than the fair weather at Riddle.
But I guess you can learn all you need to know about icing in your books down at Riddle, right?

 

[SAEflyr]

Yeah uh I've been here for a couple weeks and I haven't heard anything about pay scales. Everyone here knows that regionals pay sh!ty anyway. It's not like it's a huge secret. As far as going to UND, how can there ever be flying time there? It's got to snow at least 3 feet a day. A Cessna in icing conditions? HAHAHAHAHA!!! You've got to be kidding me. I'll take ERAU over UND or any of the others any day.

Ahhh to be young and naive again......

 

[unreal]

The big message from them was, fly off campus...they both said they'd do it that way if they did it over, Riddle takes all the fun out of flying.

Yeah, fly off campus. Give me business. Pleeeease?

Kidding.

Anyways, I'm an AS senior at the ERAU-PRC campus. As far as regional pay scales go, I've seen ONE professor present them in detail. The rest will usually present life as it pertains to major airlines. Because of this, I see too many students at this university going into this career with blinders on. If you ask your average AS student what they plan on earning directly out of college, a good number really have no idea. They might tell you that they plan on instructing, which is the usual path, but they really don't understand what sort of pay they can expect. Of course not everyone is like this, but the number I've seen is surprising.

Oh well...they'll learn.

 

[bobbysamd]

Riddle ivory towers

I'm an AS senior at the ERAU-PRC campus. As far as regional pay scales go, I've seen ONE professor present them in detail. The rest will usually present life as it pertains to major airlines. Because of this, I see too many students at this university going into this career with blinders on.

I remember two issues from instructing at Prescott several years ago. (1) Very few, if any, campus faculty had civilian real-world experience. Any professional experience they had was military. As a result, few on-campus people had a clue about non-majors airline flying. I do not believe the department chairman at the time was even a pilot. (2) Some of these campus people filled our flight line students' heads with strange ideas. And, some of those people who occasionally taught on the flight line trained our students in ways that conflicted completely with our official flight line standardization. These same individuals told our students that we were wrong and our standarization was wrong, and likely filled their heads with false hopes.

I recall one gal whom TWA hired not long after she graduated from Riddle. This was about 1988, during that hiring boom. Except for a few big-egoed and/or delusional Riddlers, most were realistic about their post-Riddle employment prospects. Their plan was to get on at Riddle as instructors, if possible, with the regionals or freight being the next step. In those days, regional airlines picked up a great number of ERAU grads who had ERAU instructing experience only as their professional experience.

Finally, the ERAU CAPT program proves that its ivory tower inhabitants still have not seen the real world of regional airline hiring.