Hello, forum...
I'm currently late 20's with a 4-year degree in Finance that I completed in my early 20's but never really pursued since I began pursuing a career in acting after college.
Anyhow, the acting stuff can be hit or miss and I love it as much as I love aviation. The main reason that I decided against aviation after college is that I graduated at the same time that all the airline furloughs were happening and at the time it didn't seem like a good option.
Things have changed a bit since then and I'd like to begin working my way through all the required licenses in hopes of setting myself up for a career as a professional pilot with a major airline.
A goal of mine is to stay in the Los Angeles area since that is where I mainly generate acting and commercial work that can help me pay for the flight training. Also, I will pay for my training as I go through it even if it takes a bit longer since I don't want to incur any debt on this venture.
I was looking at this flight school in Long Beach:
Career Pilot Program | Pacific Air Flight School it is part 61, I've read on here mixed things about Part 61 vs 141 and I'm leaning towards the camp that says it doesn't matter as long as the training is solid and I don't fail any check rides. Anyways, I'm open to more suggestions of schools around the area. I have plenty of airports to choose from (LGB, FUL, EMT, POC, CPM, TOA, HHR, SMO, and VNY although VNY is the furthest away from where I am at.) The only school that I am not considering is ATP, I've read many bad things about them here and in other online reviews.
I'd also like to get a headstart on the ground portion of the training since I feel that I pick up things quicker if I am already familiar with the concepts, and I tend to be a bit of an autodidact so I don't mind pounding the books by myself, I actually prefer it to classroom training. For this I was leaning towards ASA or Gleim... the King School stuff seems good as well, and then the Sheppard stuff as more of a finisher. Any others that you guys would recommend?
As for the class one medical, I have problems with the Ishihara Plates but I've been to the airport and I can clearly see the green from the red, from the white lights. Even looking at the planes over my house flying at about 3 thousand feet I'm able to tell them apart but anyhow, this is another hurdle that I'll have to discuss with an AME before starting training. I've already poured over countless old threads here discussing that topic...and it's the main reason why I never considered the AF but that's neither here nor there.
As for my 4-year degree, I have it but my interest in business waned drastically and along with work and the distractions that one has during those times it all compounded to my GPA being less than stellar, plus it's more like a 5-year degree since I went to a state school and this was during the financial crisis and they didn't have enough classes, thereby extending my stay. I hear that majors like a four-year degree to be finished in 4 years with a good GPA, therefore, I was considering doing masters program to counterbalance that fiasco from the past.
I'm clear as far as the other stuff that could be detrimental, no DUI's, no recent speeding tickets, I don't do drugs, and only have one traffic accident and one ticket from back when I was 18 years old.
Sorry if this post is a bit long, any advice helps. Thanks!