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Newbies freak at abbrev.

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tibb000

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2003
Posts
7
I have truly appreciated all the ".02" and tidbits of wisdom that are posted throughout this board.
I am more of a newbie than even the word can imply. I am finding that in the three different careers I have lived, (including pre-medical), pilots are the most proliferant users of abbreviations. To a newbie this can be terribly daunting.

I am a twenty-something-white-guy diving into all the research and information that is available out there in finding a flight school, advice, and information into this incredibly exhilarating "occupation". If I can even call it that--getting paid to play.

I am looking forward to falling bass-ackwards into a field I absolutely love, healthfully fear, and know very little about (but learning quickly).

Dream job would be to fly for a regional and eventually Southwest. Have researched a lot of schools including the obvious ones, Mesa, TAB, EmbryR, etc. Have about 6 or 7 at the top of my list, but am in no real hurry to start crossing any out.

My biggest concern, of which I am finding more on this board, is the over-saturation of the market with pilots, furloughed or not, trying to get into their hopeful positions of employment.
One can imagine my concern with falling bass-ackwards into a field that will set me back a good bit off cash knowing this.

I am from NE Texas by the way, so if anyone knows of any great schools or instructors they would like to recommend, I'm all eyes and ears.

Any thoughts on Tyler Int. School of Aviation now Oxford Aviation?
I've also checked into Spartan which seems to be a great school.
I already have a B.S., so no need for that. Mesa was a top choice for me, but no need for the BS, which also somewhat excludes University programs unless I go for my Masters.

Thanks preemptively!
 
Why not?? With some caveats . . .

Hey, you know, some of the medical records I read at my job have a few hard-to-fathom abbreviations, too! Such as ICD codes! B.I.D. Q.I.D. A "C" with a line drawn over it, etc. :) :D

You are at a decent age for starting an aviation career. Also, believe it or not, you would be starting training at a good time. Based on my experiences during the last recession and war, it will take a good few years at least for the economy and hiring to pick up (I read and heard that the economy may pick up next year, but don't expect aviation hiring to pick up at the same time.). So, if you start training and build time now, in a few years you will be in prime shape for the regionals. Schools are looking for students, so chances are you can get some real individualized attention.

I instructed at ERAU, FSI and Mesa, and interviewed at Comair. So, I feel I've experienced a good cross-section of flight instruction. MAPD indeed works. You finish with 300 hours, an A.S. in Aviation Technology (and there's no harm in another degree!), and perhaps a Mesa interview. It's a good program, but can be problematical if it isn't hiring. Unless you know you will go to class immediately you could be placed in a pool and never know when you'll get a class date (run a search for the Freedom Air complicating factor). In the meantime, you should be flying. There aren't many non-instructing opportunities for 300-hour pilots, which means you may have to circle back and get your CFI so you can be employed.

TAB has a similar conundrum. This thread includes very candid comments from a TAB instructor regarding its program.

I would recommend Mesa, given the caveats above. However, you need credentials that will get you employment the fastest. So, you should consider seriously a program that will train you through all your CFI ratings.

If you haven't heard it already, one downside to bear in mind is there is no pilot shortage. It is not even an old wives' tale. It is a sophistry. Except for extremely brief periods there has always been a glut of pilots and too few jobs. But that does not mean that you can't find a job. Just beware of some of these so-called direct-hire, fast-track programs that promise shortcuts to the airlines. There are no true shortcuts in the business.

You might consider the active military or National Guard flying if you meet the age and physical requirements for an honored way to get to the airlines. There is plenty of input on the board on those opportunities.

I'd say you should go for it, bearing in mind that learning to fly might be the easy part. The hard part comes after. You will sacrifice plenty, put in plenty of hard work, and experience plenty of frustration along the way.

That's my .02. Best of luck with your training.
 
NE Texas here also,

Since you have your 4 year B.S. go to Spartan, ALL ATPs or something else that can get your ratings quick, quick, quick.

There is a school in Norman, OK that can get you from your private to your Instructor in like 8 months called the AIRMEN. <---Believe the city and name of school are right.

Go to one of em, don't get involved in too many extracuricular b.s. and get your flying done quick. Instruct till ya get enough hours to interview at a regional. I bet 2-3 years from now when it's time for you to interview things will have gotten a lot better.

If not instruct till ya get 1200 and get ya a 135 freight job flying barons or 402s or something. Great experience, I should know, then you'll easily get ya a regional job. Then when you get your coveted PIC turbine at the regionals, the cycle of craziness which is this aviation industry will have gotten better, and SOUTHWEST or some other major is gonna love to have ya.

Keep your head high and hang in there. This stupid industry is cyclical and will only get better. All of the airlines will be in better shape, atleast the ones that survive, several years from now.

Good luck and don't give up on your dreams,
Jet
 
Thanks

I have information from both Airmen and Spartan. Both seem to be really great schools. I need to find out a few more specifics, but along with Tyler, now Oxford, and a small place in Addison called Classic Aviation, they are at the top of my list.
Plan on visiting Tyler Mon. and Classic Sat.
I have a contract to fulfill with the school I teach Chemistry for, so until June or so, I'll be in a holding pattern.
Thanks again for the .02.
 
Thanks

I have information from both Airmen and Spartan. Both seem to be really great schools. I need to find out a few more specifics, but along with Tyler, now Oxford, and a small place in Addison called Classic Aviation, they are at the top of my list.
Plan on visiting Tyler Mon. and Classic Sat.
I have a contract to fulfill with the school I teach Chemistry for, so until June or so, I'll be in a holding pattern.
Thanks again for the .02.
 
All ATPs

Speaking of All ATPs, I received some spam today about this new 10-month program the place now offers.

It makes sense. The learning doesn't come at you quite as fast and there is no reason to feel pressed to finish during these times. However, unless you live in or near any of the school's locations, you'll burn up a lot of time and money commuting.
 
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ATP's

This "looks" like a deal that is too good to be true.
Does anyone know anything personally about the ATP program or know anyone who has been through it?

I'll call them first thing Mon. morning.
Thanks for the heads up.
 
I've heard nothing but great things about the ALL ATPs process. I've met several people that have gone through it and they've all been really happy. You get a ton of multi time and you get done with the whole process really quick.

I recommend one of the accelerated programs like ALL ATPs, etc. When I was a flight instructor, I saw how easy it was for students to only go to the airport twice a week, which then turns into once a week. They get bored, don't study, come unprepared, and you have to reteach more than teach most of the time. These people take 3 years to get it all done!

I say take time off from life, go to Airmen, or ALL ATPs, and fly away. I don't know if Spartan has an accelerated program. People in ALL ATPs get done QUICK, and so do the guys at the AIRMEN.

Good luck to ya,
Jet
 
I agree. Immerse yourself in flying and in the end it will be less expensive and you'll learn more and faster. USAF pilot training is like that also. You're there to learn to fly. That's all. Everything else is noise level. When you go into an intense program, you've got to perform everyday. Hopefully you'll get an instructor that will set high standards for you and not be shy about letting you know it if you don't meet them.

My point in all of this is that in a civilian school, you'll not likely get that kind of pressure to perform consistantly everyday. But, I'll bet if you tell your instructors that you want to be the BEST, they'll make sure you are.
 
I went to Spartan, it was a good school and met a loot of life long friends. My advice is if you have your degree, go to All ATP! You'll build lots of multi time really fast, and its an accelerated school. Thats my .02 for ya.
 
I too suggest ATP, I visited them down in Dallas and they were very professional and friendly as well. They hook you up with a ton of multi and the time it takes to finish is fast.

Good Luck, keep us informed on your decision.
 
ATP

It is at the very top of my list.
The only trick is that their prerequisits are 85 tt with 25 PIC Cross Country, so I'll have to get that first.
 

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