Originally Posted by
hassan60665
Hi,
I'm 14 years old and I have loved airplanes all my life. I used to live in Arlington, VA near Reagan National Airport, and now I'm living in Beirut, Leabnon right in front of Beirut International Airport (that tells you why I love airplanes
). I know I am still very young, but I want to get a good first step, and I don't want to make any mistakes that would leave me having to work 2 or 3 jobs when I'm older. I will move back to the USA for college, so I don't want to worry about International Regulations right now. Thanks to everyone who offers advice!
Arlington, VA to Beirut International Airport??? I won't even ask what kind of cool stuff ur dad gets to do for a living
Are you a U.S. citizen??? If so, you would probably be better off doing your training here...it's usually cheaper than anywhere else...and believe me, I mean anywhere else. I've looked into schools in Pakistan, Phillipines, Ukraine, Slovenia, Hungary, and Croatia, assuming that I might be able to take advantage of the exchange rates with those countries...every school outside the U.S. seems to be more expensive--even in countries with cheap oil (Venezuela).
1) Don't major in Aviation in college--no reason to. It will have zero impact on your ability to get an airline job once you have your ratings.
2) Don't go to Embry-Riddle University, no matter what U.S. News says about their status as the "#1 aviation college" in the U.S. (they don't compare Embry Riddle to the thousands of other non-college flight schools in the U.S.--which makes it the most misleading statistic in that ignorant publication).
3) If you're a U.S. Citizen and medically qualified, go to college near a major Air National Guard base that flies KC-135 tankers or C17s, and major in something that will get you a high paying job with flexible hours. Do a minor in USAF Aerospace Studies (but don't join ROTC).
4) Summer after your Sophomore Year, knock out your PPL & Instrument
5) As soon as you have 90 credit hours (Junior year, and will be graduating within a year), apply to the Air Guard Unit for a KC-135 or C17 pilot slot.
6) (Hopefully) you get a pilot slot. Go to USAF pilot training (1.5 years), start logging heavy jet time at only 300-400 hours TT.
7) Once you have enough heavy jet time to get a regional job, get a regional job.
8) Once you have enough heavy jet time/regional jet time to get a major job, get a major job.
9) Fly for a major, finish out your guard committment, be happy.