Originally Posted by
Mary Edwards
Excellent points from everyone.
Already have PPL through one of the expensive accelerated programs out there, through a scholarship that paid for all of it the summer before HS senior year. Did JROTC. Academies are a possibility but Embry's timeline for commitment is sooner than the academies make their offers. They have another accelerated program to get IR this summer (no scholarship), before freshman year starts, and that's the offer that expires soon. ROTC scholarships not posted yet either. Sounds like there are great opportunities to do really cool things in the summers with AFA. Landing on aircraft carriers with USNA is obviously unique.
Doesn't sound like there is any stigma against or preference for going through an accelerated program (Embry, AA, ATP) vs ANG/reserves vs Academy, which is great. Maybe that's because there's such a pilot shortage right now, no room for elitism. Have also read elsewhere that accelerated programs are available within the military route too, if the aptitude/ability is demonstrated.
Thinking if a door opens for an Academy, should go through it, because that window of opportunity is small, vs. Embry that will be there for those who can afford it for a much longer window of time. The advantages of the ANG/reserves option is worth consideration too.
If you go to an Academy or ROTC, keep in mind that you're an officer first and pilot (very distant) second. 4 years is too long to fake it, so you'll have to genuinely believe it. The govt always gets their pound of flesh, and the roughly $2M price tag of UPT commands a pretty hefty cut of flesh. Also, the military has a number of pit falls (or design features, as far as the govt is concerned) that are aligned with what's best for their mission, not your future airline career. Keeping the two aligned can be very difficult. Personally, I didn't sign up for the military so I could waste my 20s in the rural Midwest in exchange for a steady middle-class paycheck, so I volunteered for some pretty dangerous jobs and it almost got me killed a few times. I won't sugar coat the military as some "coming of age" story I fondly remember, however, the military is a calling and I know if I wouldn't have joined, I would've always regretted it. If that's how you feel, then I'd recommend going the military route. If not, the civilian route is likely the shortest path to the majors.
ERAU is extremely expensive and from what I can tell, doesn't count for anything more than checking the boxes for a college degree and ratings, but it does have laser focus on getting you from zero to airline FO. Mom and pop flight schools are much more affordable, but there is very limited quality control, you're subject to all of the typical small business rip-off shenanigans (milking you for flight time, lack of oversight, etc), and they typically have a smaller group of peers and instructors for mentoring. A network of informal mentoring/studying goes a really long way. Also, most people have a much harder time following through with "pay as you go" programs vs a structured 141 school. I don't have any specific guidance here, just food for thought for your personal situation.
I'd recommend getting a degree or having a skilled trade unrelated to flying so you can hedge your bets in case the industry tanks, which has been known to happen, and will likely happen again in the next 40 years. Also, whatever you get your degree in, make sure it adds value to your resume and can functionally get you a job. Lots of universities will gladly sell you a degree in art poetry for 6 figures of debt that will never pay for itself, so buyer beware. Everything in the US is subject to supply/demand, so good deals don't last forever and vice versa. Right now, being a pilot is a great deal, so the sooner you can get your foot in the door, the better IMO. You can also always do your pilot training first then go back for your bachelors once you're in the regionals, as opposed to piling flight training debt on top of student loan debt. I'm sure a degree is a leg up for getting an interview, but it's also 4ish years of time and a heavy financial investment, so I'll let you weigh that cost/benefit.