What should I do im 17

[Lilbirny21]

So i'm 17 and I have my PPL. I've always kind of wanted to go to embry riddle becasue it has sounded so great. after talkin to people i find out many different things. I hear lots of different ideas on what to do and I really have no idea. I want to one day fly for an airline but i know it will take lots of hours flight instructing and flying cargo, which I would have no problem doing. I know it's impossible to go right out of college and fly with the airlines, but alot of kids my age think you can do that but it's not true. If anyone could give me any schools or advice on what to do that would be great. Or any flight training facilities in florida or south east, that could help me out?

thanks, nick

 

[Lazy8]

Take it from somebody who went there - Avoid ERAU at all costs and any "Aviation College". ERAU is nothing more than a flashy brand name. Overpriced and overhyped.

The best advice anyone can give you is - Go to a in-state public University/College, get a degree in something non-pilot related, enjoy the big college life, and fly at a reputable local flight school/club/FBO. Do your best to avoid student loans.

Best of luck,

Grove

 

[Lazy8]

I hate to reply to my own post - but what the heck - i may as well avoid the impending irrational flame...

Since I'm sure someone is just going to drop in and call me a Riddle Hater.... ERAU, UND, Pan Am Intl, ATPs, DCA, etc... all the same in my book.

No, I don't hate ERAU.
No, the training isn't inadequate at ERAU.
BUT there's no justifiable reason to go there with their insane tuition and flight training costs. Even if you get a great education, you can get the same or more elsewhere for MUCH less (ie. in-state public university). And having ERAU on your resume doesn't help you one bit in the industry!

If you're dead-set on all the glitter and glamour that is 'ERAU' or 'UND' then go tour the schools, talk to actual students (not the tour guides), and spend a little time in the area. If it can make financial sense to you then by all means - go for it. If mom and dad don't flip all your bills... well.. you'll find out the meaning of Forbearance in about 4 years.

Research and make a smart financal plan before you make a decision.

Again - best of luck!

g

 

[elcid]

First of all, good on you for thinking this far out, setting goals, and getting smart on the whole process.

I just want to throw out the military option. I'm sure you've thought about it already, but there are a lot of different paths in the military itself. You didn't mention it so maybe you've ruled it out for one reason of another. By the way, Air Force takes laser eye surgery I believe.

One mil option a lot of people don't know about (I didn't) is the Air National Guard. It's the best of both worlds in my opinion. You rush a unit of your choice, get picked up, then send you to flight school and about 2 years later you're a reservist pilot. One of the great deals about this route is that you get to basically pick what you fly. Active duty guys do not. For them it's luck of the draw with some choice for the top one or two in their class. You can do airlines and military, have a fall back for furlough protection, extra income, a fun, rewarding side job, serve your country (if you're into that), and collect a pay check for the rest of your life.

Active duty is another great way to get into the biz. They have full scholarships that to a lot of great schools. The academies are another great full ride option. No guarantee you get to fly if you go active duty though! You'll move every few years and have little control of your future. Still many people stay for 20 and have great careers and retire (50% of base pay for life + medical) at 42 years old!

The civilian route you are exploring is good too. Timing and luck are the most important factors in my opinion. They say you make your own luck, and that's true to an extent. However you should know that in this industry anything can happen no matter how well you've planned. That being said you could be like the 29 yr old in my SWA new hire class. He will be set if all goes well.

You're doing the right think trying to get the gouge. Explore all of the different options. There's a lot of ways to skin this cat. Best of luck to you!

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Go to a "real" university where you can get the full college experience. One where Homecoming involves a Football game instead of a Soccer game.

 

[Sawmill]

I hope you find what you are looking for. Heres a little input on the airline goal. It has been said here a million times but just want to give a little first hand experience. I changed careers and started flying for an airline this year. After making 50-80K per year for the last few years, I got burnt out and decided to fly for a "living". I just got my second paycheck after IOE and it was for a whopping 800 dollars. Add that to the 600 from the first paycheck and I am making right around 17K per year. I know it is not all about money and I knew coming in that the money would be scarce...but I realize now that it is just not worth it and I will have to quit sooner than I had planned. Im actually not bitter here...dont get me wrong, but this whole industry is majoryly messed up. The unions, the whinny high seniority pilots, the fact that anyone with the minimum requirements can get hired regardless of the pay (Im in that last group) add up to a seriously damaged profession. It will take some time but I am sure the industry will work out its problems and to be a pilot, will again one day,not be an embarresment. Mean while, I am going to go back to my old profession and make some some money so I can afford to fly for fun. My leaving will open the doors for another pilot, hopefully someone like you, to realize their dreams of flying for an airline. Good luck what ever route you take.

 

[RockbrigadePC1]

What state are you from?

 

[pilotyip]

My advice is go to school part time or community college and fly, pilots get hired because they have flight time. Flt time moves you up the food chain to better jobs; the degree is not needed until the last step. You can go to school part time with a full time flying job, you cannot build real flight time while going to school full time. I have seen non-degreed guys go to the Nationals in their mid-20’s. It has been posted that I am anti-college degree. Nothing cold is further from the truth. The country needs all the college-educated citizens it can have, its raises the level of knowledge to keep this as the greatest country in the world. Real degrees in business, engineering, the sciences, math, and medicine provide a graduate with marketable skills. If you are going to go to college, get a real degree from a real university. Do not spend four years getting a degree in Women’s Studies. The college degree has nothing to do with flying an airplane. Many have posted they agree it has nothing to do with the mastering on an airplane. I have admitted that the possession of a degree may open doors at a few select places of employment in the airline industry. If a potential pilot feels they will only be pleased in life if they get an interview with FedEx, then that prospective pilot should go to college. Air Inc advertises that 172 airlines and assorted aviation companies are recruiting right now; I only see four that make the degree a showstopper. My assertion that runs contrary to the ‘College is a must” crowd, is that to be competitive for the other 168 places the degree is not necessary. If a prospective pilots just loves flying airplanes, and would be happy making $70-$100K per year with no debt from college loans, a college degree is not necessary. Many prospective pilots may be steered into attending college when they are not college material, not because of a lack basic intelligence, but because it is not important to them. These pilots want to get on with their lives flying airplanes. I have seen too many non-degreed pilots reach a good career position with out a degree. But then my focus is on job satisfaction and not upon pay, respect, and prestige. It is about the joy of flying an airplane. Others out there may feel the same motivation I do. Hey its after Easter, I can post this stuff again. Oh! were is Bobby when you need him.

 

[LeadSolo]

Go to college. Do well enough to get into a reputable business school. Enjoy a career in which you pay someone to fly you around.

OR

Join the Marine Corps under an aviation contract that guarantees a shot at flight school. Challenge yourself to do well in flight school. Experience the world, albeit sometimes from the deck of a grey ship. Work with some of the finest 18 and 19 year old warriors out there, all while flying multi-million dollar aircraft you'd never get to fly on the civilian side. When you are satisfied with your service to the country, you can move on to another career on the outside. Your service to country and time as a Marine is something that can never be taken away.

 

[pilotyip]

Leadsolo that is great recommendation, he can also do that in the Army without a college degree as another option. We have a number of fantastic Army trainind pilots working for us, they are great guys