Originally Posted by
bcrosier
I don't believe an "aviation university" is the only or necessarily the best way to accomplish this. I would look long and hard at state schools with good aviation programs. If you find one that fits the bill, I'd go there and get a major in SOMETHING OTHER THAN AVIATION! You'll probably save some of those $$$ by going that route.
Take the aviation classes as a minor or second major. My personal experience was the the courses which were most beneficial weren't the actual flying courses (though they were good), but rather the ground school courses, turbine aircraft systems courses, CRM, meteorology, and simulator courses. These are the subjects which you typically won't get as thorough a background on at a "Mom & Pop" operation. You can do the flying at a Mom & Pop's, odds are they do a decent job at that, and you'll likely save a good amount of cash.
The "enticement" should come from the fact that you will be getting a more solid educational foundation upon which to build, and that the experience you gain as you move towards ATP minimums will make you a better, more knowledgable, and safer pilot; which in turn should put you at the top of the stack of your peers when it comes to being selected for an interview. Then you will be able to explain how your background and experience makes you the best candidate for the position.
First, I am aware that what I'm about to say is something taught in Flamebait 101, but here goes.
I would wager that between an Embry-Riddle pilot straight out of college with 1,000 hours and experience as an undergrad CFI at Embry Riddle, and a pilot who trained at a Mom and Pop school and graduated from U Anytown, flight instructed at said flight school after graduation and has 1,500+ hours, the ERAU pilot gets picked.
If you can say one thing about Embry Riddle-type schools, it's that they produce a uniformly proficient pilot. This doesn't mean the best aviator in the world, but it means a general group that regional hiring managers can depend upon in terms of skills and knowledge.
I challenge your statement that your mentioned education route produces a "better, more knowledgeable, and safer pilot." The chart I posted above in this thread proves otherwise, and dramatically so.
-Skylover