Top Schools

[Flightjock30]

Many Delta Airlines pilots graduated from Auburn. I talked to a Delta 757 copilot that was an Auburn grad and highly recommended the program. You will get a more well-rounded college experience there than a Riddle, UND, but then again those are good flying colleges and give you the resources for success in this competitive industry. My brother got hired by American Airlines at age 25 without any internships and a degree from a state college in New York. He was a private pilot since his senior year of high school and flew on weekends his first two years of college. Then during the last two summers of college he went full time to flight schools down south and came out with all his ratings to start of his senior year of college plus about 75 hrs multi. From there he instructed part time his senior year and graduated with around 600TT/100 multi. Upon graduation he went to Arizona to instruct at Accelerated Flight Crew Training, where he previously earned his Commercial Multi and MEI ratings. This school had all twin engine Apaches so he was logging all multi time. In 6 months he was up to 1300TT/800 multi and got hired on with Comair at 22 1/2. 3 years there and then got on with American at 25 1/2. The key is to work your butt off during your college years and a few years after and youll be seeing success by age 30 in whatever realm of aviation you want to embark on. Good luck wherever you go!

 

[bobbysamd]

More food for thought

Good post. Interesting points, but it also helps a little if the airlines are in hiring mode, as we saw during the latter part of the '90s. If there is no hiring, everyone is mired in the muck while the clock ticks. Some people try for years to get that airline job and never get hired. It helps to have luck on your side, too. Without luck, you could be Class Member Number 1 at Top Gun at Nellis and still not get hired.

They say that all things cometh to he who waiteth . . while he worketh like he11 while he waiteth. Sometimes.

 

[AWACoff]

I hate to break it the kids still attending ERAU who think they are the "greatesth"...but ERAU isn't the center of the universe and no, the sun does not revolve around you. I'm sure there are a lot of levelheaded people at ERAU but the majority of the ERAU people on this board are arrogant, egotistical, and obtuse. I went to Parks College of Saint Louis University. It's a small school. The people on our flight team were total prima donnas...not necassarily the best pilots by any means. Just the ones that kiss butt the most. Private schools are also not that expensive once you figure in grants and scholarships. I paid my own way and graduated with less than 25k in loans. The only in state school for me (Wisconsin) was Winona State and I wasn't impressed with the school so I chose to attend out of state. Even with my non-ERAU education, I managed to land a job at Great Lakes shortly after graduation (with low flight time). I spent my time there and moved onto a more stable (pre 9/11) carrier (AWAC...which is essentially a bunch Lakers anyways). Interships are a great thing that Embry-Riddle has. Lots of schools have internships. Many offer guaranteed interviews. But a guaranteed interview is a bit different than an interview they have chosen to give to an applicant. They are interviewing you because they have to...not because they "want" you. The only way to get a job is to know how to sell yourself. Going to parties, socializing, "getting laid", etc. helps you to grow as a person. You become a more rounded person I believe which will help you sell yourself at an interview. Of course this could all be a lack of braincells due to indulging in alcohol and the fairer sex when I should have been playing with my E6B. DOH!
Just my $1.50 and a ham san'wich

 

[73GDog]

The only way to get a job is to know how to sell yourself. Going to parties, socializing, "getting laid", etc. helps you to grow as a person. You become a more rounded person I believe which will help you sell yourself at an interview. Of course this could all be a lack of braincells due to indulging in alcohol and the fairer sex when I should have been playing with my E6B. DOH!
Just my $1.50 and a ham san'wich [/B]

AWACoff is obviously a smart man. May be you should have been a high school/college guidance counselor!

 

[Slug]

USAFA

USAFA ---whooooo pep rally

 

[Flightjock30]

For the last time. IT DOESNT NOT MATTER WHERE YOU WENT TO COLLEGE OR RECEIVED YOUR FLIGHT TRAINING. All successful stockbrokers on Wall Street did not go to UPenn, Duke, Stanford, etc. I bet there are tons who went to colleges like Beaver College, Chico State, Siena, etc. Its how hard you work. Once you are at a regional you are equal to the guy next to you, regardless of what college or flight school he went to. The only advantage an ER grad may have is an internship connection. But you can meet airline pilots on your own and get recommendations from them. My .02 once again.

 

[cessna_driver2]

Not to rattle any cages, but Spartan School of Aeronautics in Tulsa, OK gave me solid training. The only fault I had was upper mange and the fact they completely changed aircraft twice while I was there. They've got a long history going back to training WWII pilots. School logo was also a sqd patch from the same era. They are cheaper than ERU, FSI, COMAIR. The way the classes are set up make it a lot easier to schedule flight time and working (if you have to do that).

Like some one said before just my .02 worth.

 

[Air1980]

I completely agree, when I attended Sierra Academy in Oakland I too thought I, and it, was the you-know-what, but now I'm in the real world of aviation I have realised that it doesn't mean much - its you as a pilot and a person that matters. The training was good but expensive and all you are is a big dollar sign. Its funny now when I go back to see buddy's who are instructing there still, and some instructers won't even talk to you just cause you don't wear little silver epalettes! It doesn't make you a better pilot just because you know the ATIS frequency at 3 airports by heart. Choose a flight school by talking to people who attended the place and have moved on - they have a wider perspective and its something I should have done.

 

[Air1980]

I completely agree, when I attended Sierra Academy in Oakland I too thought I, and it, was the you-know-what, but now I'm in the real world of aviation I have realised that it doesn't mean much - its you as a pilot and a person that matters. The training was good but expensive and all you are is a big dollar sign. Its funny now when I go back to see buddy's who are instructing there still, and some instructers won't even talk to you just cause you don't wear little silver epalettes! It doesn't make you a better pilot just because you know the ATIS frequency at 3 airports by heart. Choose a flight school by talking to people who attended the place and have moved on - they have a wider perspective and its something I should have done.

 

[Birddog]

I suppose I will throw in my two cents as well. From what I have seen, a degree is a degree is a degree. I have never heard of anyone not getting a job because thier degree wasn't in aviation. In my new hire class, we had a range of people from master's degrees to high school diplomas taking courses via the internet. Find a good flight school with half-way decent aircraft and a good instructor. Get a degree in what interests you at what ever school works for you. From there your training is what you make of it. Get a library card and an ASA catalog. There are enough books there to provide all the academic knowledge you will need. The only difference between a person who does this and a Riddle/UND grad is the ink on the diploma and the size of the student loan payments. In a way, it goes back to the old line about "What do they call the guy who graduated last in his class at medical school? ..........Doctor". Good luck and fly safe.

 

[Flightjock30]

By going to a non-aviation college it will naturally be more difficult to find time to study aviation when you are overwhelmed with other courses in your major area of study. To ensure your proficiency is maintained while attending a non-aviation college you need to find time to fly on weekends and setup set times to "stay in the books" and sustain and enhance your aviation knowledge. During the summer months back at home fly, fly, fly and read all you can about flying. As well as pursue further ratings. Its hard work to do it like this, but you will end up as equal as anyone else after you graduate if you can keep this disciplined. Instructing part time senior year is great if the school near you college will hire you Good luck to all.