Originally Posted by
AviationAl
I understand that a pipeline program looks like a trap to most, from my perspective I would be the first in my family to pave a way for an aviation career. I also am on the older side of being 28 so I have a late start into getting in early. I flew back in 2015 and without the proper financial set in place I was able to make it to my solo by paying for all the training to myself. The program comes off as being really affordable and a guaranteed job with the airlines that I wanna be attached to. I grew up in the PNW so Alaska has always been the premier airline in the region, so I have some bias that I would definitely be more interested in working with them especially since their bases are in the areas I would like to live in. I guess I like the pipeline programs cause they are stream lined to be a year and then you have the perspective licenses you need to time build to make it to the airlines. I have seen a bunch on how bad pilots are need and I’m in a way better financial situation to be working towards this career that I’ve always wanted to be in but, what are the general routes do you recommend if not ascend? My options that seem most affordable and appealing are Ascend, local flight school but cost for all my licenses is 100k, big bend which is a two year program and 60k, Lift academy which is 60k but have to move and be working for republic for 5 years, or HAA without Alaska and be around 75k. I would love to connect with some pilots and hear some ideas from y’all. Aviation is a huge commitment in general but this is absolutely the field I wanna be in.
We all took different paths to end up at the same place, here at Alaska. Some paths are quicker and cheaper than others, however I’m sure most of us would have done things a little differently if we could go back. I went to Embry-Riddle and paid a lot more than I feel like I would have if I had done my research and gone to a state school and done local flight training. Then again, maybe I would have become one of the statistics of people that begin flight training and stop halfway through.. who knows. I slogged along in Part 135 charter for 8 years when my friends at the regionals were building 800 hours a year.. it set me behind flight time wise, although I did start earning TPIC time earlier than them, but at a slower rate.. who knows which way was better.
My point is that even though to some people here the path doesn’t look to be optimal, it will still get you where you want to go. Sounds like it will work out great for you, if you want to work for Alaska and be based in the PNW. Be yourself at the interview, and be honest, and just tell them what you told us… that you really want to work here, and you’re getting a later start in your career and could use the financial assistance.