Making fun of ERAU guys is fun!!!!!

[Waldom]

In the interest of full disclosure before stating my opinion, let me say that other than a tech. school for aircraft mechanics, my formal education only went as far as a high school diploma. My flight training through the commercial licence was completed at a literal mom and pop operation at a small airport with sod runways. Instrument, multi-engine, and ATP ratings were all completed at acceclerated schools of less than one week duration.
I realize the limitations of this scheme and acknowledge the value of a formal education with organized and structured flight training. If my kid wanted to fly professionally, that's the route I would recommend to her.

After thirty years in this profession, during which time I have worked closely with more than twenty E.R.A.U. graduates, I have formed this opinion of the school; If you're a good pilot who is well prepared for a flying career after graduating from Riddle, its in spite of the school, not because of it.

 

[A Squared]

What company is this? I'll add them to my list of companies I'll never work for.

Uhhh, maybe you missed it, but you don't need to add them to your list, they already won't hire you, so you don't need to worry.

 

[unreal]

Uhhh, maybe you missed it, but you don't need to add them to your list, they already won't hire you, so you don't need to worry.

Is this really necessary?

 

[SIG600]

I know three people who go to the school personally. They have all told me basically they will be hired for a flying job right after graduation, will have preference over other people applying and that ERAU Flight Training is the best in the CIVILLIAN world.

So when the students who go there stop being total spoiled brats, and the faculty stop lieing to them and making insane promises, CAPT program, etc maybe someone will have a little more respect for the joke of a school ERAU has become.

Their drinking the kool aide dude... give em 2-3 years after graduation, and some real world experience and they'll figure it out. You gotta understand that a lot of the guys there, Riddle is all they've ever known of the aviation community, and based soley on a decent reputation, they listen to all the propaganda, and believe it all. ERAU produces a decent product, I just wish the school would stop trying to tout itself as the end all/be all to the new kids.


Waldom's quote a few posts up sums it up quite well...

 

[gkrangers]

I agree with Waldom.....Riddle has helped me....but in the fashion Waldom described. Oh and thanks also to flightinfo, for trying to destroy the dreams of young aviators everywhere!

 

[USMCmech]

I've interacted with three Riddle grads recently and two of them had serious gaps in theit understanding of some basic concepts.

One even told me that he wasn't intrested in what I was trying to teach him about piston engines since he would be flying jets soon anyway.

Attitude goes a long way as well. I am very humble in my position and realize every day how much I DON'T know.

You are abosultly correct, and that attitude seems to be getting rarer amoung Riddle grads.

 

[Bjammin]

I hate to bring this up and I am not going to point the finger, but come on fella... if you are going to defend your higher education institution it would probably be a good idea to proof your post a little better for spelling and grammar mistakes. Just a thought.

Who me? I didn't know the language police were out in force today. Flightinfo is the ONLY typing I ever do anymore. I've passed all the english courses in order to get a B.S. and now I just don't write much anymore. I'm sorry you think that it's just SO important to be a grammer god, but I just really don't care about being language perfect on this board with a bunch of fellow avaitors. Who REALLY cares?


Some kids do drink WAY too much Kool Aid at ERAU, but that's the same at most universities. It the age and lack of real world experience. They will find out soon enough, but if you want to get some very good knowlege about airplanes into your skull then Riddle is a pretty good place to do it. The flying, I'm sure you can get the same if not better instruction in other places for less money, but I think the courses on aerodynamics, aircraft preformance, W+B, modern systems, autoflight and others truly helped me have a better understanding of aviation in general. I also took many courses in ATC and the additional situational awarness I get from that is valuable every day I go to work. I seem to have a better overall understanding of the technical aspects of aviation then other guys I fly with. Does that translate into a better pilot? Not really, if someone sucks at stick work, has a bad attitiude, or has problems making decisions he might as well become a bank teller.

 

[It will roll]

Erau

Wow. That was painful to watch. With some of those power ballad 80's classic rock songs it seems like you should be watching F-15's do low altitude high speed passes, not cessna 152's doing short field landing. I dont blame people for making fun of Riddle with those types of goofball movies out there. After 4 years there, I can say first hand there are alot of tools there.

After graduation I took my degree and got the hell out. I learned alot, got some good training, and didn't look back. It was a great school, but they are a little too high on themselves. I sat next to kids from ATP flight school with degrees from community college in my 121 ground school so was it really worth it?? Beats me.

 

[siucavflight]

YAWN Are people that stupid to think it reflects the majority of ERAU?

Yes!!

 

[navigator72]

Wow, I kind of liked the video but that could be the mild case of heat stroke from being outside mowing the lawn. I'm sure if I check it out later when my body temp lowers, I'll hate it like the rest of you.

 

[SIG600]

Who me? I didn't know the language police were out in force today. Flightinfo is the ONLY typing I ever do anymore. I've passed all the english courses in order to get a B.S. and now I just don't write much anymore. I'm sorry you think that it's just SO important to be a grammer god, but I just really don't care about being language perfect on this board with a bunch of fellow avaitors. Who REALLY cares?

Ya seriously...

 

[navigator72]

Assuming no prior flight experience and no college, How much does it cost to get a degree and all the standard flight training up through CFII, MEI at ERAU?

 

[Bjammin]

Back in 88' through 92' it was $3000 a semester plus about 70/hour for the C-172 and PA-28 with IP. I think all told I spent about 50K and got 310hrs with 100hrs multi and all my ratings except ATP. Housing and food ticket included.

This info doesn't mean squat now.

 

[timeoff]

Assuming no prior flight experience and no college, How much does it cost to get a degree and all the standard flight training up through CFII, MEI at ERAU?

$168,280

http://www.erau.edu/pr/admissions/costs.html

This is just tuition, flight and room and board. Does not include summers, student fees and spending money for those four years.

I was there in the late 90's and it was around $4200 a semester.

http://www.erau.edu/pr/admissions/costs.html

 

[timeoff]

$168,280

http://www.erau.edu/pr/admissions/costs.html

This is just tuition, flight and room and board. Does not include summers, student fees and spending money for those four years.

I was there in the late 90's and it was around $4200 a semester.

Just as a reference, this is higher than Yale, Princeton, Cornell and Harvard.

I guess when they say "...Harvard of the skies..." they meant the price tag.

 

[gkrangers]

Tuition is on par with many private colleges, (~12k per semester)..but the flight costs are outrageous...and I think students are lucky to graduate with 200 real flight hours (but plenty of sim time!!)

 

[gkrangers]

Just as a reference, this is higher than Yale, Princeton, Cornell and Harvard.

I guess when they say "...Harvard of the skies..." they meant the price tag.

I'm sure if you don't count flight its not....gotta compare apples to apples here.

 

[gkrangers]

Hey, I wonder if there are PFT type lawyer programs out there?

Most law firms like to see experience before they will hire!

 

[navigator72]

What's the cost of flying at ERAU?

 

[timeoff]

I'm sure if you don't count flight its not....gotta compare apples to apples here.

True, but what good is an aero sci degree without ratings? In terms of gaining an employable skill set....Riddle has to be one of the most expensive institutions in the country.

It's like getting a degree in IT or CS and never getting any standard certifications along the way.

 

[gkrangers]

True, but what good is an aero sci degree without ratings? In terms of gaining an employable skill set....Riddle has to be one of the most expensive institutions in the country.

It's like getting a degree in IT or CS and never getting any standard certifications along the way.

AS degree is worthless.

There is a job market for Engineering, Human Factors, Safety, Meteorology, and ATC, and Business tho.

All good programs that will in all likelyhood land you a job upon graduation, if the flying doesn't work out.

I think more students are starting to realize its a good idea to major in one of those, and minor in flight or fly off campus. I'm a Safety Science major and I've done all my flying off campus.

 

[gkrangers]

I would just like to add that I am also delusional from mowing the grass in this heat.

 

[gkrangers]

Its also refreshing that this is a good discussion about Riddle instead of the usual bash fest....

 

[Simon Says]

The facts about my post.

I should of said it is fun to make fun of idiot pilots that think they are all that. I did go to Riddle in Prescott for Aerospace Engineering. Well after 3 years I flunked out. I wasn't smart enough. So I became a pilot instead. If any young aviator thinking of flying for a living you can get the same if not more of an education at a mom and pop FBO for less the %20 of the cost.

For you current ERAU A.S. Grads let me ask you this. Does riddle let you fly IMC....I think the answer is No.

I just think Riddle might as well be Gulfstream or that Mesa school. Good luck to all.

 

[Metro752]

Isn't it cute they call their instructors IPs.


SALUTE YOUR IP!

 

[Bjammin]

Its also refreshing that this is a good discussion about Riddle instead of the usual bash fest....

It is. Thanks people for getting it on track with some good discussion.

I can think of a lot worse ways to spend a nice weather day then out with friends and co-workers having a spot landing contest.

 

[IP076]

More like 40k.

Tuition/room/board is on par with many private colleges who charge around 30k a year for that.

The flgiht will probably run you over 10,000 per year...its highway robbery when you compare it to flying at an FBO where you will get more flight time and pay less...You pay as much for a simulator at Riddle as you can for a real airplane elsewhere!

I enjoy it as a school, it has good degree programs (look outside of Aero Sci)...but the flight program can kiss my ass...FBOs all the way.

Well GK, I'll provide some numbers from my part of the country, you show me some from yours.

ERAU-PRC
Cessna 172S (2001 or 2002 Models) Wet - $113/hr
Cessna 172S FTD - $65/hr
(I haven't found a 172S for 65/hr like you mentioned in your post)

PA-44 (2002 Models) Wet - $226/hr
PA-44 FTD $112/hr
(Do you know where to get a new PA44 for 112/hr?)

Instructor Rates are $48/hour

North Aire Inc @ KPRC
http://www.northaire.com/html/courses_and_pricing.html
Cessna 172S (2002) Wet - $130/hr

PA-44 (Early 80s? Turbo) Wet - $230/hr

Their "Wet" rate I believe is kind of limited, they will only reimburse for fuel expenses up to the "per gallon" price at PRC. If you go on a XC to Vegas, you could still be responsible for up to $2.00 a gallon!!!

Their Instructor Rates are $50/hr
(And I know their Instructors see less of that than Riddles)

 

[gkrangers]

I'd rather fly a real 152 (67/wet) than a 172 FTD. (I said airplane, not brand new 172SP) This is in New Jersey.

Where I fly in Florida was as low as 72/hr for a new 172SP wet and I took advantage of that for a while...now its close to 90-100/hr wet, with instruction at 45hr...going up to 55/hr. But other schools charge less, maybe ~30s for instruction. 152s can be found for in the 60s I believe. Now whether you look down on the 152 or not for some reason, its a real airplane and an FTD isn't.

I paid ~165/hr wet for a Duchess near Daytona as well, as recently as May.

Riddle flight costs are high, and above most FBOs, BUT are below a few.

I really dislike all that sim time, as it is plentiful and expensive in the Riddle Part 142 program...its a real deal breaker for me.

I don't know the exact wet rates at Daytona, but I do know Instruction is 54hr, maybe 60 now.

 

[vetteracer]

I am sure they are fine pilots when they are done with there training at ERAU, but, could you stand flying next to a dude all day long that does not have some fun college stories?

 

[IP076]

Well, I was just trying to compare apples to apples, not oranges.

I don't look down at 152s, and probably the largest percentage of my total time is in a 150.

Nobody said that the FTD is an airplane. Nor is it supposed to be. It's a supplement to the airplane for training. You can do scenarios and situations in the FTD that you could not safely do in the airplane. It's also a procedures trainer that can be used so you're not wasting time in the airplane.

Yes, I'm sure you'll find FBOs cheaper than riddle, and I've found some that are more expensive.

I'll have to do some checking, but I dont think the rates at DAB we're quite that high.