Originally Posted by
Indyflyin
Thanks Sliceback! You said if I went to college part time and flew at the same time I could get around 5,000 hours when I turn 25. Would I get that experience through being a flight instructor or would I work for a regional airline? Thanks for your reply!
That is an example of about the fastest you could advance. It takes a lot of effort and timing. Possible, but you need to realize it's not the normal pace.
Yes, licenses, CFI, regional. My buddy's son just did that - a year to get his ratings, another 18 months to get 1500 hrs and hired by a regional. He could have been a little faster than a year getting his ratings but changed schools. Even on his timeline you could graduate in 1.5 - 2.5 yrs(depending upon what grade you're in), spend 6-12 months getting your ratings, another 18 months getting to 1500 hrs to get on with a regional. So you're realistic looking at about 2.5 yrs from start of training to regional job.
In flight school you can't do college courses. Your focus should be on learning the flight and ground requirements. But with advance work, and AP testing out(?), you could have some college requirements done. The 18 months getting up to 1500 hrs could include college courses (2-3 semester, year round, 3 is better). About 40 courses gets you a degree. That's five years at 8 courses/year.
So 18th year is flight school.
19th is working towards 1500 hrs and starting college courses. That means graduating at 24 yrs old with a degree (8 courses/year).
Achieve 1500 hrs at 21? Get a regional job? Get 3500 hrs in 4 years (900/hr average) at the regional, for a total of 5,000 hrs TT, and you're at 25 yrs old, four year degree, and starting fifth year pay/longevity at the regional. By then that might mean an upgrade to Captain.
This is a hard time line to achieve. It won't be easy.
If you're at an airline with a guaranteed flow through agreement to a major airline you could join the ANG during that time and attend the USAF training. You'd keep your seniority (and your flow through date/number??). That's an aggressive but achievable goal. And wearing the uniform of your country, and supporting the ground troops in any capacity, is something to always be proud of.
Flying has risk. All of it has risk, especially when you're building time and experience. You can't avoid that. Getting good training, like the military provides, should reduce your overall risk over the length of your career.