BeaglePilot

Well I don't post here very often as I am flying much.... but just wanted to put my .02 in.

I graduated in Dec. 04, and spent 3 1/2yrs at the Daytona Campus. Alot will say I was very fortunate due to the fact that my first semester at ERAU was 9/11, guess it was a good time to be in college huh? I bit the bug flying in high school, and I will say ERAU's marketing campaign caught my attention. Although I was also intrested in attending at perdue. I started my first semester with allready a private and instrument in my pocket. Unfortunately my freshman roomate had no experience and the flight department kept pushing back his training, which forced him to leave.

I have heard of some horror stories about students taking forever to complete a rating. I was averaging about a rating and a half a semester (only due to the fact that I was constantly putting pressure on my instructor to fly) And I did an internship at Continental in the fall of 2003. Instructed and did summer semesters as well. I really busted my a$$ over there and stayed very proactive. I wound up graduating with around 550TT and 120multi. Let me say that the average student will leave ERAU with only about 250hrs and a Commercial multi.

I had some great mentors that really pushed my limits, and I was able to absorb every resource that the university had to offer. Unfortunately there are alot of people out there drinking the cool-aid and think that ERAU is the best place to be and the greatest pilots of out of there, this is by far the case. Riding the wave and going along with the flow at ERAU will get you no job by the time you graduate. Most students will work various jobs for about a yr or two before getting on with a 121 carrier.

I was VERY VERY fortunate and able to interview with a 121 carrier during my last semester in college. I really knew I wasent going to get the job due to the fact that I had several friends that had double the time I had and were turned down. I dropped off the face of the earth for three weeks while I prepared for the interview. The extremely hard work and persistance paid off and I was offered a job the day I walked! I knew absloutely no one and had no connections at all, I was able to do all my networking in a matter of a week.

There are many facets of aviation and people come from everywhere. ERAU might not be the best choice financially or for other reasons for individuals, but I guess it worked out for me. I just think that ERAU is able to provide more resources to the student than some other insitiutions, but does not mean you can not get better flight training or an education else where.

I can say I was not well liked by certain people at the insitiution, and definitely created some waves while I was there, but it all worked out in the end!

Good luck to all of you seeking a future in this industry, keep your chin up and stay positive!

Beaglepilot