Originally Posted by
rakma
Hello, my name is Grant, I'm from Denver and i’m a freshman at ERAU Prescott. I eagerly enrolled here with the intentions to get a degree (aeronautical science) as well as acquire all my hours and certifications to become an airline pilot. Being an airline pilot has interested me for a while and i made my decision to pursue a career in the airlines in my sophomore/junior year of high school because I am fascinated with flight, the lifestyle interests me, I have family and friends in the industry, and of course it can pay well down the line.
The 2.5 months I’ve been at Riddle so far have not lived up to expectations in the slightest. I know the school is very accredited and I’ve heard a lot of good things… really only from staff/alumni/people associated with the school. The living situation, food, campus life, college experience, etc is awful. I knew before hand this wasn’t a party school and wasn’t expecting that. I’m at Riddle to get a education and learn to fly/get my certification and hours.
After being here and not feeling entirely welcome, being enrolled in all classes I feel take no skill to teach or to learn (freshman classes are kinda like this i know) I decided to start looking around at other options, reading about more student experiences here, talking to pilots I meet at phoenix sky harbor and DIA, on my way home to Denver, I’m starting to think that Riddle may not be the place for me.
I HAVE YET TO START ANY FLIGHT OR BE ASSIGNED AND INSTRUCTOR. I’ve reached out to my academic adviser and the flight coordinator and just been met with “you’re on the list to be assigned an instructor.” “You’ll get an email when you’ve been assigned an instructor”
-I’ve read about students not being able to finish Riddles flight program in the projected time and i already feel behind.
-With the shortage of instructors for their students i wonder if there’s a reason Riddle grads don’t chose to fly for their Riddle for their hours?
-Riddle is very expensive for the schooling. one year here would be more (not accounting for flight cost on either end) than what i would be looking at for four years at MSU Denver.
-The only positive i see at Riddle is the R-ATP certification. but the cost saved in this is more than canceled pout by the tuition and flight costs
vs other schools.
-Is having Embry-Riddle Graduate and a R-ATP going to matter or give me and advantage getting hired regionally or when i move up to major airlines?
Sorry for the long read but really i just would like some help/opinions/advise on if staying at Riddle or I should explore other options, for example, going back home to Denver, attending MSU (direct partnership with united) and fly out of Centennial airport through ATP or something similar.
There are a lot of options between Riddle and a mom and pop flight school; many that offer R-ATP. I strongly suggest you look at the following programs that are scaled and cap admissions appropriately to ensure their students fly regularly:
(In no particular order) MTSU, EKU, Purdue.
Someone telling you the difference between R-ATP and ATP mins is “3-4 months” is either a lie or a grossly anecdotal theory. 500 hours of flight time can be accomplished in 3-4 months but it’s going to be very difficult and at most flight schools impossible. So I’d wager that an average of 6-12 months is more accurate, but it greatly depends on where you teach.
The other huge factor that you need to consider are the other benefits these programs offer their students. This includes internships with major carriers (aka a guaranteed legacy job when you get a year or two of regional experience), CJOs with regionals, huge scholarships to cover some of your flight training costs (because you can use almost any general scholarship to pay for what gets billed as tuition fees, where you cannot do this at a mom and pop shop), networking opportunities, course credit for flying, and an education that will better prepare you for an airline interview and your first air carrier. I’m well aware that the market is in pilots favor but that doesn’t mean you’ll always get your pick of the litter for employers; your chances are much better by ensuring you get the education needed to pass every checkride on your first try and nail every interview question when the time comes.
There are R-ATP bachelor degree programs where students finish flight training on time or even early because the program is scaled and designed to offer that. These programs cost less than half of what Riddle charges as well. The course and degree program structure is almost identical to riddle too because it legally has to be to meet the Advisory Circular requirements set by the FAA for RATP.
Long story short, I strongly suggest you look for another RATP school.