University of Illinois

[Joshrk22]

Information please... Does anyone know if I can become an Instructor there my freshman year? How is the flight program there? What are the pros/cons? And, would you go there or somewhere else if you had the chance to go again.

 

[ChiFlyer]

I'm not sure if you can your freshman year. But there is a class Avi 250 or 350 I think, in which you are a part-time instructor and they give you a couple of students. If you do a good job there they'll keep you on part-time and give you a few students every semester. It's a good way to build up time and make SOME money on the side while working towards a degree.

I would call up the academic advisor there, you can find the number on the school's website and talk to her about it. If you have any other questions PM me and I'll try to help you out.

 

[Dubya]

No, you won't be an instructor here your freshman year...nor your sophomore year. Maybe part time your senior year. What are your ratings? Good program here. Pros....newer fleet with outstanding maintenance, great staff (pat self on back)..good facilities, great alumni network, great campus with the finest Chicago co-eds, great education opportunities OUTSIDE OF AVIATION. Cons...no affiliation with regionals (flow-through agreements), boring landscape (Illinois isn't flat...it's topographically challenged), part 141 program can be challenging for some..very regimented schedule. Can't think of anything else offhand. I liked it as my first choice...Purdue and SIU were 2nd and 3rd choices. Good luck with your decision.

W

Information please... Does anyone know if I can become an Instructor there my freshman year? How is the flight program there? What are the pros/cons? And, would you go there or somewhere else if you had the chance to go again.

 

[U of I Tweak]

U of I

Lets see what I can do to answer some questions....
If you have a CFI when you show up you'll have to go through a semester 'refresher' and/or do a CFI ride with one of the check instructors here...but it is possible to be a CFI as a freshman. Other than that, flight training is pretty good. I'm not a huge Piper fan, but the fleet here is very well maintained and are overall nice planes. You are assigned a flight slot which is a two hour block three days a week. Flying outside your flight period is done on an as an airplane is available basis. The system works pretty well, but having never flown at another school, I don't know how it compares. It gets tight toward the end of semester if there has been a lot of bad weather and a lot of people are behind. Overall I've enjoyed it here and wouldn't go any place else if I had to do it all over again.

 

[BoilerUP]

I liked it as my first choice...Purdue and SIU were 2nd and 3rd choices.

The *only* reason I didn't apply to U of I was because I was too lazy to write the 500 word essay - Purdue didn't require one! I was very interested in the Human Factors program.

 

[1800 RVR]

Man, I miss U of I!

'95 grad here.

I thought the flight program was good. I was very happy with it. Did my private through MEI, had students part-time for my last three semesters. After I graduated, I was hired by Parks to do CFIing, as there were no full-time jobs to be had at U of I. Let me tell ya, back then, our program at UI was SUPERIOR to that of Parks. There were lots of good instructors down there, but the "management" left something to be desired. One of the biggest differences was how you paid. At UI, you knew in the beginning of the semester the cost of your course and its content (i.e. how many flt hrs, sim hrs, supplies, etc.). At Parks, this wasn't necessarily so. It seemed to be more of an FBO-style payment plan.

I also LOVED the Sundowners. What a great first airplane. Great tailgating during football season, great b-ball (now, not then), lots of women (not necessarily all good looking), great bars, etc. I killed many-a-brain-cell while there, and don't regret it at all!

Personally, you can't go wrong going to U of I!


I - L - L

 

[flyboyzz1]

Great school! Fun town! Good flight program... although we have no "ins" with airlines...no help getting a job from the flight program like other schools

 

[Dubya]

INI!!!
...now...about that alumni network (wink, wink, nudge, cough)

'95 grad here.

I thought the flight program was good. I was very happy with it. Did my private through MEI, had students part-time for my last three semesters. After I graduated, I was hired by Parks to do CFIing, as there were no full-time jobs to be had at U of I. Let me tell ya, back then, our program at UI was SUPERIOR to that of Parks. There were lots of good instructors down there, but the "management" left something to be desired. One of the biggest differences was how you paid. At UI, you knew in the beginning of the semester the cost of your course and its content (i.e. how many flt hrs, sim hrs, supplies, etc.). At Parks, this wasn't necessarily so. It seemed to be more of an FBO-style payment plan.

I also LOVED the Sundowners. What a great first airplane. Great tailgating during football season, great b-ball (now, not then), lots of women (not necessarily all good looking), great bars, etc. I killed many-a-brain-cell while there, and don't regret it at all!

Personally, you can't go wrong going to U of I!


I - L - L

 

[FN FAL]

Cons...no affiliation with regionals (flow-through agreements),

Look at the pro side, no "flow-back" agreements with regionals, either.

 

[1800 RVR]

I like the way you think...

Hey Dubya,

My mind used to work just like yours is now - always looking for a glimmer of hope! :laugh: We do have an alumnus who used to come to our career nights; she is a CA here at UPS, and I know she is still active. In fact, there are more of us alumni here. I would help if I could, but right now, well... you know how the industry is stacked up. How I got on at UPS is still a surprise to me!

 

[Joshrk22]

Does a college having connections with the airlines really matter? Won't you be doing a good deal of instructing after college anyways? Look at UND and ERAU, they arent necessarily "Airline Magnets." If I can't do any instructing for the school, are there any FBO's around that area where I could instruct while going for a degree in Computer Science? I really want to instruct while at college so I can shoot up a Regional Job right after college. If I start instructing at age 18, graduate when im 22 or so, that will give me 4 years of instructing, plus doing other flying jobs in my free-time, then throw free-time flying for fun in there, and I should have quite a few hours logged by the time I graduate. Is UI pretty strict when it comes to using their planes? Do they allow you to take one up whenever its not in use, or is that not allowed? What about any other good flight universities out there, that will let me major in something other than aviation, and let me become an Instructor early in my college career. I wouldnt mind going to WMU, but I don't think they let you major in something other than aviation. Thoughts...

 

[ChiFlyer]

Is UI pretty strict when it comes to using their planes?

They might as well have Joanne sitting in the back with a shotgun when you go solo.

Do they have a program that will actually help you with getting a job after college yet over there? I remember that was lacking heavily when I went through their program.

 

[BoilerUP]

Does a college having connections with the airlines really matter? Won't you be doing a good deal of instructing after college anyways? Look at UND and ERAU, they arent necessarily "Airline Magnets."

I'd say that depends whether or not your school had a program like that, and if you were one of the pilots hired at TSA/CHQ/Piedmont/Skyway/Horizon recently, or Comair/ASA/ACA/Mesaba a few years back with 500-800 hours. I think it mainly means the opportunity of a seniority number at a young age, with relatively low flight time, dependant upon the quality of training and industry reputation of your school (this is NOT A KNOCK on schools with no program). That's a big draw to some people, a huge selling point for the school, and a potential "leg up" when vying for employment.

If I can't do any instructing for the school, are there any FBO's around that area where I could instruct while going for a degree in Computer Science? I really want to instruct while at college so I can shoot up a Regional Job right after college. If I start instructing at age 18, graduate when im 22 or so, that will give me 4 years of instructing, plus doing other flying jobs in my free-time, then throw free-time flying for fun in there, and I should have quite a few hours logged by the time I graduate. Is UI pretty strict when it comes to using their planes? Do they allow you to take one up whenever its not in use, or is that not allowed? What about any other good flight universities out there, that will let me major in something other than aviation, and let me become an Instructor early in my college career. I wouldnt mind going to WMU, but I don't think they let you major in something other than aviation. Thoughts...

You might consider Lewis University around Chicago; I think their CFIs make a decent salary, plus you can 'rent' their planes as instructors. Its a small school but I think your majors can be somewhat diverse and still be involved in aviation. Indiana State is another in the region that comes to mind; I'm unaware of SIU's policies.

If you are in a position as an 18 year old freshman to have your CFI, good for you and more power to ya! Good luck!

 

[Dubya]

I'll second Boiler's response. Lewis has turned into U of I North with a gaggle of our part-time instructors now full time there. They all have good things to say. As for local FBO instruction...not much opportunity around here.

W

 

[JSky26]

SIU will be looking for part-time instructors in the fall. You don't have to go through any standardization or anything. Just apply for the job and go to the interview. There was one kid that comes to mind who did that last semester and got hired on. He had a few students and took classes at the same time. He was a sophomore at the time and did most of his training outside of the program. That's why he had an early start. But they wouldn't treat you any differently, as long as you have that rating.

In terms of nightlife, obviously Champaign is a bigger school so there is a little more going on. Don't get me wrong, Carbondale get's goin' but not like Champaign. I think the girl/guy ratio is a little better at U of I. I think here it's 43% female and you DO notice it when you are out, unfortunately. Influx of dudes here....

SIU used to allow students to take planes out for leisure back in the 90s but too many abused the privilige and it caused scheduling conflicts. There is an FBO on the field where you can rent and also instruct. It seems to be fairly busy. There is another airport in Marion about 15 miles away that has an FBO and I know they are always looking for instructors. There are also a few airports a bit farther away that some kids go to on the weekends to fly skydivers. It's what you make of it. I have a good time here and I'm glad I didn't go to one of those "pilot factory" type schools. Atleast here I'm not going to school with a bunch of aviation geeks...you'll need a break from all of it and it's nice.

In terms of connections with airlines, we have formal internship agreements with a handful of airlines, but I think where you are going to get the most luck in getting a job afterword is keeping track of friends and instructors that left before you. Stay in contact with those people...but I'm sure you know that.

PM me if you'd like more info...

 

[IfIHadABoat]

Good place to go to school/work

You can instruct for four years if you come in with your CFI and take the refresher course like U of I Tweak said. Also, as was mentioned earlier, there is an AVI 350 "Practice Teaching" course in which you are given 1 or 2 students and then meet to talk about them with other new instructors twice a week. After that, you can be hired on a part-time basis with probably 1 or 2 students. That can continue on each semester if you do a good job.

We recently lowered the number of students that full-timers get (makes it nice), so there were more part-timers to hold up the load. I think there are around 40 part-timers total.

As for nearest FBO with instructors you are looking at Rantoul (KTIP) about 20 miles to the North.

You cannot rent the airplanes, they are only used for course work and a few special things every now and then.

As far as connections with other airlines, we have a few internship possibilities, I know it's not "flow-through programs" but they have helped some people out. If you work hard to build your time (especially multi) while in school and can instruct all 4 years, you should be in nice shape when you graduate.

It's a good fleet with fairly new airplanes (~7 years old) and great maintenance. It's a very good academic school, with a good reputation for pretty much every major/program of study. Big Ten football and basketball. Those things were really all I needed to want to come here. I would recommend it.

All this being said I haven't experienced a different part 141 school so I don't know how they compare. I have done a fair amount of part 61 instructing and training and I think U of I is quite a bit better in my experiences.

Good Luck, PM if you need more details.

Boat

 

[Flying Illini]

'02 grad here.

Don't listen to Boat...I taught him everything he knows!

IMHO, the Institute (of aviation) was and is a great place. Top knotch maintenance (can't say enough about those guys), instructors, and management.

Part-time instruction can turn into full time instruction if positions are available when you finish school. When I finished there were no positions available as the airline hiring had stagnated and there was no movement. UofI was nice enough to let me stay on part-time for one more semester even though I wasn't enrolled in any classes (a requirement to be a part-time instructor). Nothing opened up within that time but I was fortunate enough to get on with the management company next door (which is where I still am today).

It's an excellent place to fly/teach. A towered class C airport with light airline traffic and moderate transient/business jet traffic. You are about 5 minutes away from a grass strip, a short, narrow strip, and numerous non-towered strips. Plenty of places to take students depending on the lesson you are working on. You are also in close proximity to Chicago, Indianapolis, and St. Louis. All of which are great places to take more advanced students when they are ready for that type of environment.

Students have been hired to instruct at Danville (35 minute drive East) and Mattoon (45 minutes South), in case you were looking for anything else. Other than that, really nothing nearby. Decatur is 40 Minutes West and they supposedly have a large flying club. There are numerous based aircraft at CMI as well as several flying club aircraft that you may be able to get access to and do pt. 61 instruction in.

 

[washout]

Hey man....

If you want to go to a REAL aviation college, forget U of I. SIU is the place to be!

That is all.

 

[TWA Dude]

Gawsh, some of you guys are young. UIUC '91. Got my Private at FlightStar. Real student pilots flew Tomahawks. Yes, I spun it, and I liked it!

 

[LewisU_Pilot]

I'll second Boiler's response. Lewis has turned into U of I North with a gaggle of our part-time instructors now full time there. They all have good things to say. As for local FBO instruction...not much opportunity around here.

W

Yeah, we have become overwhelmed with U of I instructors. Id say 80% are from U of I.