USU can be a great college experience, maybe not your flight experience. If I could, and perhaps more so because of a possible medical issue, look into their amazing college of engineering. If this bet (and it really is an issue of timing and luck, like many bets) doesn't work in your favor, you are a mechanical engineer with an emphasis in petroleum, a very lucrative career. AND, you can still be a professional pilot.

meh, what do I know.

 

I would suggest against going to an aviation school... it makes no difference.

I started working on my private in high school, and got it summer after I graduated. I went to Florida State and got my instrument my freshman year. Summer after my freshman year, I got my Commercial Multi-engine. Sophomore year, school was crazy so I couldn't fly as much, but got most of the work for my CFI's done. Got my CFI/CFII/MEI the summer after my soph year, and got hired at the FBO in Tallahassee when I came down for college to start my junior year.

The company quickly started using me for charter work as well as CFIing, so I was able to snag King Air, Navajo, and Saratoga time. I worked basically 7 days a week my junior and senior year and graduated (degree in Philosophy/minor in Geology) on time with 1500 hours.

I got picked up by Pinnacle (with about 1700 hours and 350 multi-engine) later that year, and made CRJ captain a year and a half after that.

I flew as captain for about 2 years, and got picked up by Delta after that with 5000 TT time and about 2000 jet PIC.

 

Got hired at Colgan in 2005, left for XJT in 2006, I am still an FO.........
6,000hrs TT, 4,500 SIC Jet......

I haven't made it, that's for sure, lol....... I won't feel like I made it until I get on with a legacy etc...

Just get a degree,non aviation preferably, luck and timing has more to do with this "making" it then anything else...........


Some guys got hired at XJT, upgraded in under 2 years on went to a Major within 6 months of Upgrading, some guys have been here for 10 years and can't get an interview.....

I am due to upgrade in the next class, if I can't get on with a Major within a year, (during this next wave), I'm going to leave flying and work for the family business. The ability to drive to work and make good to great money will be worth it , still can't believe Inhavent left yet, but Inguess knowing its always there means I can be patient

 

Graduated College (Non Aviation) in Dec 2010, Hired at a regional in April 2011. Started flying in 09, CFI/CFII a year later then 1 year of instructing. Got lucky and instructed at an extremely busy school. Flew so much almost wanted to quit flying, be careful not to burn yourself out.

 

That is almost unanswerable... if you had unlimited funds, you could buy 1500 hours of multi engine time and go from college to a regional airline job (assuming they hire you, and there are a few of them, so the odds are good).. or you can do like I did, and flight instruct for about 2 years before you had the hours... or some fly checks, do traffic watch, etc.. all have one thing in common, low wages, long hours, and significantly more danger than a FAR121 flying job..

best to get that out of the way before you even go down this road.. GO and get a 1st class medical, and DISCLOSE the illness to the FAA... see what happens..


A normal 4-year, after 2 years at the JC... I didn't attend a top tier university, nor did I major in Aviation... for me, everything I knew about flying I was going to learn thru the process of getting my ratings and by self motivated study.. I wanted a degree in something outside aviation as a fall back, and it has served me well TWICE now...

none sense.. I learned more about the basics of flying by being a CFI than I ever would have if I'd gotten a job with 300 hours in my logbook working traffic watch, pipeline, etc.. and more than likely, you are going to need 1500 before anyone will touch you for a normal "commercial" job anyway... PLAN to be a CFI for 2-3 years during/or after you graduate college and you'll be a lot happier..

Also.. best bit of advise.. PLAN to be an RJ captain for the rest of your life (no necessarily a bad thing).... there are only so many jobs at the legacies, Fedex, UPS and Southwest.. etc.. the majority of jobs are outside of those companies.. you plug away at it, but don't think it's a sure bet. Took me 12 years with 4 companies, two bankrupt airlines, etc.. to get to my career job with Hawaiian..

 

you could always tell guys who never CFId, they usually where terrible sticks......

 

Agreed .

 

I don't know if I'd blanket statement/stereotype to that degree.

If the person was a banner/glider tow or something similar their instrument scan may have had a catchup point, but they still seem to be able to fly.

Those that may have done a pay per view program or were simply meat in the seat for a 135/corp gig can be another story.

Like I said, "can" being the key word. It's usually ones bragging with the "so there we were" type stories, etc.

 

agreed...............

 

What does that really mean anymore? Making it to a jet? Not all that hard.

Making it to a good stable career that pays a wage that is worth all the hardship? You have to hit 65 and be able to look back before you really know that.

Famous Last Words in Aviation: "I have finally made it".

Eastern Airlines, Independence air, Comair, TWA, Reno Air, National Airlines ...ect.. You never really know what tomorrow will being in aviation. Most likely however it will not be good news.

To me making it means having considerable control over your life and earning enough to be able to support your family in a manner that they are well cared for.

Skyhigh