Originally Posted by
BunkerF16
My son has decided he wants to be an airline pilot. As a military directly to JetBlue, one and only airline path, I have to admit my experience is lacking as to the best way to guide his path. I've done some research and I'm trying to figure out which is the best way to proceed. Seems to be a few paths out there but the two I'm contemplating recommending to him are as follows. Keep in mind, he doesn't have any desire to go the miltary route, so the pure civilian options are what I'm going back and forth.
1. ATP. He's a current junior. I was going to get him his PPL locally, to make sure his desire isn't because his old man does it. Also, I want to ensure he has the aptitude to do the flying, oral and written exams and handle the stress of checkrides. All the basic stuff that is ground level requirements to make this a career. After he completed his PPL, I believe ATP requires 78 hours not to have a 2 year degree in order to enroll in their program. After the ATP, I guess it's 2 years of instructing before applying for a regional airline then get in line like everyone else, while completing his online degree, to acquire the necessary experience to apply for the Majors.
2. We live near Western Michigan University. The other option would be send him to WMU to get his 4 year degree while also attending the local flight school associated with the college. After the 4 year degree, he's move on to instruct to get his hours before applying to the regionals, and ultimately the Majors.
3. ?? Any other options I'm missing that would be beneficial to investigate you could recommend.
If you're me, besides tell him not to become a pilot, what route would you recommend and help your son pursue if he really wants to become an airline pilot?
Thanks in advance for any advice. I'm going to repost this in the Majors section to get more views, so sorry for the duplicate posts if you see it there too.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Rick
I did the ATP no college route. Currently a CA at regional at 23. I’ll say there’s pros and cons. I went to the ATP in PHX and got my PPL in high school, recommended getting the PPL before going in. I was lucky to have a solid foundation before ATP which is needed as ATP is a pilot mil and will get your ratings but is up to the Studnet to study the ground material.
Pro: got my time quick by going to a location with good weather. There we’re good instructors down there which helped me immensely I credit them only busted 1 ride which was a fault of my own. Granted the quality of CFIs could have changed as its been 3 years. ATP has a tuition reimbursement which will pay 11000 back to your loan, just have to be with airline you sign with for 2 years otherwise you have to pay the loan back. I got done with the program at 19 and instructed for 2 years and then went to the airlines. Pro is you’ll get done quick a job lined up but I am still
working on my degree online. ATP also has the tuition reimbursement program with every airline. Doing lot CFII stuff at Atp helps in their life transition as you know airline Flying is all IFR So being fresh o procedures makes the transition easier.
Cons: no degree. A younger naïve me thought I would not need a college degree to get hired in major but alas I came to the realization I would and realize how important it is to have when we get hired at a major. If you you guys choose to go to ATP I recommend starting classes once there a CFIs. I waited till I was about a year and at my regional to start my degree, my regret was I wish I started sooner. If you guys choose to do the student housing Atp they have two and three-bedroom apartments in which you share a room with other student (I guess this could be a pro because you’ll get your college style experience of living in a dorm style and the friends I made there I’m still good friends with today). Atp doesn’t really provide much ground instruction it’s all up to the student to study so they’ll need to develop good study habits if they do not already have good study habits. It’s expensive when I went through I took out a 60 K loan but from what I hear from other people the prices of gone up quite a bit so you will be forking over and a good amount of money.
at the Atp in Phoenix we taught ASU‘s 141 program. Some students there really put their nose to the grind stone and graduate with their degree their ratings in three years. Me not doing the college route but seeing other people do it it’s can say it’s also not a bad route, I can’t speak much on it as I do I have a first-hand experience with it.
as a whole I was happy that he chose to go to Atp route so I was able to get in with the airlines young and had a good time and if you guys do choose to go to atp route my only regret was not starting college sooner to get that degree. If you do go to the Atp route I know it’s a little more convenient not going somewhere close to home but I would look into locations with better weather as that will cause less delays in training and expedite the instructing process to build hours.
Best of luck, let me know if you have any other questions on the ATP route.