Is ERAU worth it???

[Flying Ninja]

If I go to state school, and just get all my ratings at small, local flight-schools, will I be at a disadvantage compared to someone who went to ERAU???

Short answer: No.
Long answer: Don't waste your money at ERAU.

 

[KingAir1985]

I go to Louisiana Tech. I got my INS-CFI in less than one year. I will have taught for 2 years before I graduate. In addition I have been co-piloting on 2 King Air's in the area (not saturated by too many multi-builders). The kicker: I will only have about 40K in loans to pay back. We have females as well, always a plus! PM me if you are interested.

 

[KingAir1985]

I forgot to ad. All of our CFI's have been hired as of late. The average student in Professional Aviation graduates in 3 1/4 years. This equals you getting a job when you are 21 for a good regional airline. Our CFI's usually have about 1000-1200 / 130-200 multi when the graduate. Just my .02.

 

[CLR2LAN]

Gets a four year in something useful
bulids base time (time to ATP) while in college
gets a UPT slot in the guard
gets on with a 121 airline after graduation
goes to UPT
comes back from UPT to fly 121 and guard
take all his/her exp and get dream job
flies dream job and guard until 50 then builds retirement house and kicks back.

Yup....just need that UPT slot now

 

[Waldom]

I can't comment on the acedemic quality or cost/benefit ratio of ERAU, but I can honestly make the following statement.

I have worked with over twenty Riddle grads in the course of a thirty year career. Contrary to what they were led to believe, the majority were not well prepared for this profession and upon graduation their flying skills were at best "fair". There were three exceptions in the group but I feel that the school had little to do with their ability.

I should point out that those that remained in the industry recognized the deficiencies in their preparation, took pains to correct them, and went on to a successful career.

 

[SIG600]

Speaking from an ERAU grad perspective...


ERAU will give you a solid FOUNDATION for all things commercial aviation. You'll touch on subjects that you won't see again (transatlantic flight?) for years, but you'll at least have seen it when you get there. You will be well versed in all aspects of nothing more than commercial aviation. Your degree will be pretty much useless beyond that

Ratings: Whether you go to Bob's Flight School, or ERAU... everyone gets the same ticket from the same FAA with the same privledges. Everyone is just as equally dumb and inexperienced regardless of where you go.

My PERSONAL opinion? I loved my time in Daytona Beach. I had a blast. Made a lot of good friends and you'll make a lot of connections in the industry. You'll have friends at every airline that can hook you up.

Would I go back and do it all over again? No. I would go to a state school, get a degree in something else (probably still aviation, but another aspect thats more useful) and had the well rounded experience of not always haning around flying nerds like myself all the time.

 

[Goose Egg]

If I go to state school, and just get all my ratings at small, local flight-schools, will I be at a disadvantage compared to someone who went to ERAU???

In a word, no.

You could also do what I did, which is graduate from an aviation program at a state school (women everywhere--not that it helped me.) There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to doing it that way, which I'd have no problem discussing with you if you wanted.

As far as backup goes, I think it is probably wise to have something other than "aviation science" to fall back on. I'm thinking about a 2nd BS degree, and right now I'm leaning towards nursing. Although, I think I'm more focused on my interest level in the subject area than I am a back up. I've always gotta be learning stuff. It'll probably be a few years anyway and I'll have to chip away at it.

Business, real-estate, or any other misc. office/selling job have no interest for me. They make me want to hurl.

-Goose

 

[gkrangers]

For future Riddle attendees...look into the other degree programs.

Safety, Human Factors, Engineering, Business, Meteorology....

You can always minor in Flight which is the same flight courses as the Aero Sci degree...just without the degree.

Or major in something else and fly off campus. This is what I do...and I've enjoyed it so far.

 

[Metro752]

Go to college, during one of your summers, go to ATPs

 

[kf4amu]

Go 2 years at a state school and take general ed. Get drunk and have fun. Get your ratings over the summer. Transfer to Riddle and buckle down, finish your flying (if you have any left), get a job in the area to build connections and you'll be in good shape.