ERAU Prospective
 

Hello,
I have been accepted to and will be attending Embry Riddle in Prescott, Fall 2019. Although I understand the school part of things, I don't quite understand what happens after. If there are and ERAU alumni or pilots, in general, that would have answers to these questions I'd greatly appreciate it. Also, I must note, I am just using this as a basic gathering of information so I will obviously consult people whose job is to answer questions like this but I wanted to do this to walk in knowing something.
- Does graduating from Embry Riddle have an inherent benefit in terms of seniority? I've heard that some airlines base seniority off a number of different things including being in a "pathway" program.
- How often do people get hired while still going through school so that you just start when you graduate.
- Does having gone there help when getting towards the majors?
- Finally, any advice for me?
Thank You.

Bottom line up front: ERAU is very expensive for what you get. I would not recommend that school unless money is not really a concern for you. I know some good folks who came from there and most regret the debt they are in.

If you're quite wealthy, then it's a fine school. Although the location is not really great for typical college life IMO. I went on camping trip once, and stayed at two campgrounds very near prescott... it was a very nice outdoor area, but I didn't see many coeds.


No. All airline CBAs (pilot union contracts) forbid granting seniority out of date of hire order. You could not be granted seniority ahead of someone who is already working there and then "cut in line" when you arrive. You will start at the bottom. Some pathways may give you priority in your new-hire class, which might guarantee 10-30 people below you on day one.

You may be granted "longevity". Longevity is used to determine certain benefits like pay rate, vacation, bonuses, 401k, and possibly priority for nonrev travel. All employees have longevity.

Pilot seniority is most important. It determines aircraft and base assignment, when you upgrade (very significant pay raise), and your monthly schedule. Again nobody gets to "cut in line" for seniority.

Right now regionals will generally hire folks who are within a few hundred hours of 1500 (or 1000) hours. Some pathway programs might give you a job offer while still inschool.

But the good news is you don't need any pathways... all regionals will hire almost anyone these days. I would pick a regional based on what works best for you, and then if you can get into a pathway program which offers some benefits, take it. But don't lock yourself into a less than ideal (for you) regional just because of a pathway program.

Today it seems to help for some majors. Also you will have an alumni network to possibly help you along.

Let me put it this way... Riddle grads tend to be highly regarded among themselves, but tend to be the butt of jokes in the broader pilot community. There are some stereotypes, which are of course not true of most people.

^^^^THIS^^^^^

Hahaha. I would not go there.

Given the amount movement currently and forecast to happen, paying ERAU prices for an education is ridiculous. It will not get you where you want to go faster than another top-notch 141 school. If you live in a state that has another well-regarded 141 program go there and save a buttload of money.

Investigate the term "riddle rat."

It's never complimentary.

I went thru C-5 RTU with a recent UPT grad in the reserves, who had the year prior graduated from ERAU. This is about 30 years ago. The SQ/DO was out IP. He innocently asks how much it cost to go to ERAU—then it was 90k, where upon the Lt Col spit out his coffee and said, “you could be a doctor or lawyer for that kind of money”.

Seniority is whenever you start at the airline as a pilot. The only potential advantage is the reduction to 1000 hours for the restricted ATP vs 1500, to get you to start faster. There are a lot of other schools, most cheaper, who offer the same reduction.

Years ago when regionals were in a very different environment, the minimums to get hired were set by the airline. Some would allow ERAU students to be hired with lower hours. But Riddle was not the only school with that kinda agreement.

About the only real college type advantage for a major would be if you interned at that company. ERAU is going to definitely have contacts with all the internship folks and will probably have the highest percentage of students interning. But there will be plenty of students from other schools who will have intern too.

My big point is ERAU has some very small advantages, but all that they’re offering could be found at other college aviation schools too. If you really want that 4 year aviation college experience, there are options other than Riddle.

Thank you for all the replies, great insight.

I graduated from Riddle in Prescott. I am not the “average” student though. I had all my ratings and several thousand hours before attending Riddle. I went there to finish up a degree and did zero flying with Riddle.

I would absolutely NOT spend the money to get an air science degree with ERAU. You can get all your ratings and a degree much cheaper.

Prescott was a fun town with plenty of outdoorsy stuff to do. There were very few co eds on campus. I did my hunting off campus and never had any problems in that department.

Your seniority questions have been answered correctly above.

Different people want different things, which is a good thing. And I don't know enough about you or your situation to give definitive advice.

But have you considered a state university with an aviation program, or a state school located near a reputable Part 141 school?. Either approach would be more cost effective, but more importantly provide you with straightforward options in case you decide that aviation is not really your thing.

And while I don't put any stock on the value of the "college experience" as it is commonly meant (I was not paying for my kids to party), there is something to be said for being surrounded by lots of people who are not like you. It helps you learn and grow as a human being. And at ERAU everyone is going to be pretty much like you.

The good news is that you have lots of options, many of them good ones. It is a great time to be coming into the industry, and I don't think that the next recession [and there will be one] is going to change that.

Finally, whatever agreements/pathways that exist right now are probably going to be very different in 4 years. So don't get too far ahead of the process.

Additionally something to be said for working together to achieve goals with people who are not like you.

Also not paying for the kids to party, they have to meet the academic threshold I determine (in a field of study I approve of). Once that's accomplished, I hope they find time to have some fun.

Class of 2017 graduate Aeronautical Science degree at Riddle and dual rated CFI. Don't recommend attending unless someone else is paying for it, PM me for details.

ERAU has no advantage. I graduated 25 years ago with an aeronautical scince degree. There is absolutely no advantage. Date of hire is what is used for seniority. Only go to Riddle if you can graduate with zero debt. There are so many other great options.

I have a buddy who went to riddle and came out with over 200k in debt. I came out of a small college and did my ratings on the side with 60k in debt. We are both in the exact same place in our careers and we got there at the same time. That story has been told again and again.. dont go there unless you have someone to pay it off.. even then why have someone pay over 3 times the amount for something they could pay cheaper for.