Should I go to Texas?
10-26-2013, 09:34 AM
#21
KC-10 Crew Dawg
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: Student
Posts: 79
Originally Posted by DFWAviatior
If someone is going into aviation and plans to take out loans to pay for college/flight training to fly for a regional...be prepared to move in with your parents or marry a wealthy girl who won't mind you making little to no money while being gone quite a bit. Hate to sound negative, but the regional pilot quality of life and pay seem to have taken a severe beating over the past decade. While there will likely be a decreased supply of future pilots coupled with an increased demand from regional carriers to fill seats...it will still be a tough road...
10-26-2013, 09:58 AM
#22
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2008
Position: Cessna 150
Posts: 655
Originally Posted by Montey
What does the admission process look like? How many hours do the instructors fly each month?
While the upside is that the program is very structured, the downside is that it is very structured. There will always be rumors of guys getting their private, comm., etc. before you at another training facility. I prefer quality over quantity.
You will be required to be put on the flight schedule 3 times per week, but with the crazy weather in the midwest, your completed flights will vary greatly by season. You can elect to fly twice a day if you prefer as well.
Instructors can instruct as much as they want per the FARs based on the availability of their students. Unlike Joe's Flying Service, a made up part 61 flight school, some of the students are there because daddy flies for SWA and he's going to get them a job after they get their private. They're not all lovers of aviation who are willing to make the minor sacrifices to get the job done. It can be difficult to fly a bunch if you can't get your students motivated. I instructed there for a little over a year and a half before I got 1,000 hours and moved on to a 121 carrier.
As enrollment numbers vary, so does airplane availability. They have an aging fleet, but that is also the reason costs are probably better than anywhere else. I haven't compared them lately.
With all that said, there were times training was slow, and there were times where you can seize the day.
Discalimer: I am on the aviation alumni BOD. I have nothing to gain or lose whether you decide to attend or not. I just want to help keep a great program alive. It is not a well known school, but has a very very strong alumni presence who will bend over backwards trying to help you. You've just got to stand out enough to get noticed.
PM me for any information. I would be more than happy to set up a tour for you.
10-26-2013, 10:04 AM
#23
KC-10 Crew Dawg
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: Student
Posts: 79
Originally Posted by pokey9554
If my memory serves me right, the admission process is simple. Go and admit yourself. The program is not a piece of cake though. It's run by a retired AF guy with the help of a retired DAL pilot, another retired AF guy, and two GA pilots. It is very structured.
While the upside is that the program is very structured, the downside is that it is very structured. There will always be rumors of guys getting their private, comm., etc. before you at another training facility. I prefer quality over quantity.
You will be required to be put on the flight schedule 3 times per week, but with the crazy weather in the midwest, your completed flights will vary greatly by season. You can elect to fly twice a day if you prefer as well.
Instructors can instruct as much as they want per the FARs based on the availability of their students. Unlike Joe's Flying Service, a made up part 61 flight school, some of the students are there because daddy flies for SWA and he's going to get them a job after they get their private. They're not all lovers of aviation who are willing to make the minor sacrifices to get the job done. It can be difficult to fly a bunch if you can't get your students motivated. I instructed there for a little over a year and a half before I got 1,000 hours and moved on to a 121 carrier.
As enrollment numbers vary, so does airplane availability. They have an aging fleet, but that is also the reason costs are probably better than anywhere else. I haven't compared them lately.
With all that said, there were times training was slow, and there were times where you can seize the day.
Discalimer: I am on the aviation alumni BOD. I have nothing to gain or lose whether you decide to attend or not. I just want to help keep a great program alive. It is not a well known school, but has a very very strong alumni presence who will bend over backwards trying to help you. You've just got to stand out enough to get noticed.
PM me for any information. I would be more than happy to set up a tour for you.
While the upside is that the program is very structured, the downside is that it is very structured. There will always be rumors of guys getting their private, comm., etc. before you at another training facility. I prefer quality over quantity.
You will be required to be put on the flight schedule 3 times per week, but with the crazy weather in the midwest, your completed flights will vary greatly by season. You can elect to fly twice a day if you prefer as well.
Instructors can instruct as much as they want per the FARs based on the availability of their students. Unlike Joe's Flying Service, a made up part 61 flight school, some of the students are there because daddy flies for SWA and he's going to get them a job after they get their private. They're not all lovers of aviation who are willing to make the minor sacrifices to get the job done. It can be difficult to fly a bunch if you can't get your students motivated. I instructed there for a little over a year and a half before I got 1,000 hours and moved on to a 121 carrier.
As enrollment numbers vary, so does airplane availability. They have an aging fleet, but that is also the reason costs are probably better than anywhere else. I haven't compared them lately.
With all that said, there were times training was slow, and there were times where you can seize the day.
Discalimer: I am on the aviation alumni BOD. I have nothing to gain or lose whether you decide to attend or not. I just want to help keep a great program alive. It is not a well known school, but has a very very strong alumni presence who will bend over backwards trying to help you. You've just got to stand out enough to get noticed.
PM me for any information. I would be more than happy to set up a tour for you.
I'll do some more researching, and I'll make sure to PM you if anymore questions arise.
10-26-2013, 10:51 AM
#24
KC-10 Crew Dawg
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: Student
Posts: 79
Originally Posted by pokey9554
If my memory serves me right, the admission process is simple. Go and admit yourself. The program is not a piece of cake though. It's run by a retired AF guy with the help of a retired DAL pilot, another retired AF guy, and two GA pilots. It is very structured.
While the upside is that the program is very structured, the downside is that it is very structured. There will always be rumors of guys getting their private, comm., etc. before you at another training facility. I prefer quality over quantity.
You will be required to be put on the flight schedule 3 times per week, but with the crazy weather in the midwest, your completed flights will vary greatly by season. You can elect to fly twice a day if you prefer as well.
Instructors can instruct as much as they want per the FARs based on the availability of their students. Unlike Joe's Flying Service, a made up part 61 flight school, some of the students are there because daddy flies for SWA and he's going to get them a job after they get their private. They're not all lovers of aviation who are willing to make the minor sacrifices to get the job done. It can be difficult to fly a bunch if you can't get your students motivated. I instructed there for a little over a year and a half before I got 1,000 hours and moved on to a 121 carrier.
As enrollment numbers vary, so does airplane availability. They have an aging fleet, but that is also the reason costs are probably better than anywhere else. I haven't compared them lately.
With all that said, there were times training was slow, and there were times where you can seize the day.
Discalimer: I am on the aviation alumni BOD. I have nothing to gain or lose whether you decide to attend or not. I just want to help keep a great program alive. It is not a well known school, but has a very very strong alumni presence who will bend over backwards trying to help you. You've just got to stand out enough to get noticed.
PM me for any information. I would be more than happy to set up a tour for you.
While the upside is that the program is very structured, the downside is that it is very structured. There will always be rumors of guys getting their private, comm., etc. before you at another training facility. I prefer quality over quantity.
You will be required to be put on the flight schedule 3 times per week, but with the crazy weather in the midwest, your completed flights will vary greatly by season. You can elect to fly twice a day if you prefer as well.
Instructors can instruct as much as they want per the FARs based on the availability of their students. Unlike Joe's Flying Service, a made up part 61 flight school, some of the students are there because daddy flies for SWA and he's going to get them a job after they get their private. They're not all lovers of aviation who are willing to make the minor sacrifices to get the job done. It can be difficult to fly a bunch if you can't get your students motivated. I instructed there for a little over a year and a half before I got 1,000 hours and moved on to a 121 carrier.
As enrollment numbers vary, so does airplane availability. They have an aging fleet, but that is also the reason costs are probably better than anywhere else. I haven't compared them lately.
With all that said, there were times training was slow, and there were times where you can seize the day.
Discalimer: I am on the aviation alumni BOD. I have nothing to gain or lose whether you decide to attend or not. I just want to help keep a great program alive. It is not a well known school, but has a very very strong alumni presence who will bend over backwards trying to help you. You've just got to stand out enough to get noticed.
PM me for any information. I would be more than happy to set up a tour for you.
10-27-2013, 06:33 AM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2010
Position: BE-20, LR35
Posts: 266
Originally Posted by Montey
I guess I would live at base then.. only thing is regional bases are always changing, so theres that to worry about. As for relationships, I dont plan on having anything last after college. I do not want them to suffer IMHO.
10-27-2013, 09:37 AM
#26
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Back in the right
Posts: 118
To add to this discussion, check out thetruthabouttheprofession.weebly.com. Both my husband and I are pilots-he's at a fractional and I'm at a regional. Whenever he runs into a line guy who is interested in flying professionally, he points them to this website.
As a previous poster said, flying is fun, but having good relationships and a happy, content life is always better. If you can combine the two, that's optimal but it can definitely be a long hard road to that point. You don't want to look back when you're older and lonely with a hopefully great career with regrets in your personal life. It would be even more depressing if your career doesn't pan out the way you envisioned it to and you're still old and lonely.
Also, if you do find yourself wanting to pursue both a flying career and a personal life, be careful who you choose. It's probably a good idea to be careful no matter what line of work you're in. There's a pretty long thread in the cargo forums that's pretty funny but true about characteristics to look for in a spouse that will lead to the best chances of a happy life.
As a previous poster said, flying is fun, but having good relationships and a happy, content life is always better. If you can combine the two, that's optimal but it can definitely be a long hard road to that point. You don't want to look back when you're older and lonely with a hopefully great career with regrets in your personal life. It would be even more depressing if your career doesn't pan out the way you envisioned it to and you're still old and lonely.
Also, if you do find yourself wanting to pursue both a flying career and a personal life, be careful who you choose. It's probably a good idea to be careful no matter what line of work you're in. There's a pretty long thread in the cargo forums that's pretty funny but true about characteristics to look for in a spouse that will lead to the best chances of a happy life.
Last edited by flygirl556; 10-27-2013 at 10:18 AM.
10-27-2013, 11:32 AM
#27
KC-10 Crew Dawg
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: Student
Posts: 79
Originally Posted by Fr8Master
Try to learn early on that relationships will always be better than flying ANY airplane (regional, major, military, business jet). The quicker you learn this the happier you will be.
Last edited by Montey; 10-27-2013 at 12:03 PM.
10-27-2013, 12:01 PM
#28
KC-10 Crew Dawg
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2013
Position: Student
Posts: 79
Originally Posted by flygirl556
To add to this discussion, check out thetruthabouttheprofession.weebly.com. Both my husband and I are pilots-he's at a fractional and I'm at a regional. Whenever he runs into a line guy who is interested in flying professionally, he points them to this website.
As a previous poster said, flying is fun, but having good relationships and a happy, content life is always better. If you can combine the two, that's optimal but it can definitely be a long hard road to that point. You don't want to look back when you're older and lonely with a hopefully great career with regrets in your personal life. It would be even more depressing if your career doesn't pan out the way you envisioned it to and you're still old and lonely.
Also, if you do find yourself wanting to pursue both a flying career and a personal life, be careful who you choose. It's probably a good idea to be careful no matter what line of work you're in. There's a pretty long thread in the cargo forums that's pretty funny but true about characteristics to look for in a spouse that will lead to the best chances of a happy life.
As a previous poster said, flying is fun, but having good relationships and a happy, content life is always better. If you can combine the two, that's optimal but it can definitely be a long hard road to that point. You don't want to look back when you're older and lonely with a hopefully great career with regrets in your personal life. It would be even more depressing if your career doesn't pan out the way you envisioned it to and you're still old and lonely.
Also, if you do find yourself wanting to pursue both a flying career and a personal life, be careful who you choose. It's probably a good idea to be careful no matter what line of work you're in. There's a pretty long thread in the cargo forums that's pretty funny but true about characteristics to look for in a spouse that will lead to the best chances of a happy life.
10-27-2013, 12:20 PM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by Fr8Master
Try to learn early on that relationships will always be better than flying ANY airplane (regional, major, military, business jet). The quicker you learn this the happier you will be.
Early in my adult life, my flying goal was definitely more important than any relationship at the time. I had one shot at that goal. Plenty of fish in the sea.
10-27-2013, 12:57 PM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Back in the right
Posts: 118
Originally Posted by Montey
Thank you for the input. If you dont mind me asking, how does your husband deal with you being at regionals? Is it hard on the relationship? Thank you in advanced.
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