I'm a private pilot (with about 110 hours - got most of them while training for my Instrument Rating).

I am not your average kid seduced by the (empty) promises of sparkles, shiny jets and hot flight attendants.

I know about the 15 hours days, I know about the instability of this industry and I am familiar with the fact that I will be working for peanuts.

Truth be told ... I've seen the "other side". I don't like working in sales, I don't like the degree I am going for right now (International Relations) and I DON'T LIKE ****ty flight schools.

I've seen a few ...

- I've studied at a flight school in PA that had good instructors (well, actually it was only one person) but it was always threatened by bankruptcy. Old airplane, well they had two ... but one of them got grounded because they didn't have the money to overhaul the engine.

I love scraping ice from the wings (10 F) because they couldn't afford a hangar (it goes without saying that sometimes I couldn't remove all the ice, and as a student pilot ... that didn't know any better, I didn't say anything about it ...the results were not always pleasant - I did learn my lesson after I got scared ****less while taking off ... and the CFI was pretending that nothing happened)

- I've studied at a flight school in TX. I know there are some very nice places in Texas, and even though this place was only about an hour north of Dallas ... it felt like the redneck capital of the world.

Very shady outfit ... even though it was part 141.

- no 50 hours inspections
- I am pretty sure I was more up to date with the IFR flying than the CFII (or with the regs)
- It did have the coveted G1000 avionics ... but what's the use for that when the CFII doesn't teach you the systems?

"well ... uh ... you'll learn it on the go"

"fair enough but for my piece of mind, I want to buy the G1000 book"

"Uh ... we ain't selling that here" (say it with a Texan accent ... so texan that it was hard to understand)

I want to be a professional pilot, I love flying ... it is an amazing experience. I also want to be a very good pilot (I know ... you will say that I can learn to fly anywhere but from my experience that is not the case)

I don't want mediocrity ... I want to be the best pilot I can possibly be, and get the best training I can possibly get.

* I am not rich, I will have to take loans.

The plan:

I want to transfer to an aviation college, here are my choices:

1) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (many people told me that they are the best, they are also rather expensive ... but I am willing to pay if the quality is good.)

2) UND (I have a friend that graduated from there ... it seems like a fine school. I am not too excited about living in North Dakota though)

3) Kent State University (this is the backup plan)

I think (from my calculations) that UND is about 10000$ cheaper per year (I might be wrong, the part of their website that states the price for flying is not working for some reason, so I am estimating). I am willing to pay the money if I get a better education at ERAU.

What do you guys (and girls) think about this three schools? Am I completely nuts to be forking this much $ considering the state of the industry?

I know only one thing ... I am done with your Mom 'N' Pop's flight schools!