To make a long story short, I am considering changing my career path to become a pilot. Currently I have no flight experience, but I do have a Bachelors Of Science In Business Administration. Since flight training is expensive, I was considering enrolling into Embry-Riddle in their Bachelors Of Science In Aeronautical Science program to get my ratings and build time. This way I should be able to get student loans to fund training. Does anyone have any recommendations on which specialty and flight track I should choose if this is what I decide to do? I was thinking about choosing the airline pilot specialty, and the multi-engine flight track, but I am open to any and all input. Also, I was considering a Minor in Air Transportation or Aviation Law, but if anyone has any better ideas, I am open to input.
At one time I was considering joining the Air National Guard, but I exceeded the age limit for pilot. That led me to discovering that the Army National Guard has a higher age limit, but fewer fixed wing aircraft. Also every Army National Guard recruiter that I speak to keeps trying to get me to go the Enlisted route. While I have nothing against enlisting, I am four years from the max age limit, and there would be no guarantee that I get into flight school if I enlist.
My goal is ultimately to get on with a legacy, preferably United Airlines or American Airlines. My plan was, once I get my ratings and build time, to apply to a regional, either CommutAir, Mesa, Air Wisconson, or Piedmont, and work on getting into one of the legacy airlines. I chose those regionals since I live in Annapolis, Maryland, and they have crew domiciles close by. If there are others that I haven't found yet, please let me know.
Can someone tell me where UA and AA have their crew domiciles, and what aircraft are at each? I haven't been able to find anything current, other than UA has 767-400s in IAD. That would be a perfect fit as IAD is close, and I do like the 757 and 767, but I am almost certain that a new-hire would not be able to get a wide-body!
If someone can tell me what they think, and provide me recommendations and feedback, I would appreciate it! Also are there any websites, books, iPad apps, ect. that I should study? I welcome any and all feedback and recommendations.

 

Welcome. Good luck with your pursuit. You have a tremendous amount of research ahead of you and will receive about 560 opinions on this website. However, you will resoundingly hear don't go to Embry-Riddle. I agree. You have a degree already. Airlines do not care what your degree is in, so getting an addition degree in something aviation related is a complete waste of time and money. What you need are your ratings. How to get them....

If you are still open to the US Army, i highly suggest the WOFT program. It is available until age 35, it is for flying exclusively, and you enter as a warrant officer, which has plenty of benefits. The downside is you'll be a rotor pilot, but again, that has pros and cons. I suggest you check it out and research it. It's a good route if you are open to the military.

Strictly civilian, it all depends on how much time and money you have. If you have the money, AllATPs or something similar will the most effective and fastest route. I'm not sure how financial works for that, if at all. I'm pretty certain you'd either need to money or a non-financial aid loan. Less money is to find a flight school close by that has fast track options. Or, you could take your time, say two years, and pay as you go. Lastly, many will suggest buying your own Cessna 152 and simply hiring a flight instructor and selling the airplane later. That's the most cost-effective.

 

Also, the airline specific questions can be answered at Home | AirlinePilotCentral.com
Don't worry where aircraft are based. You are wayyyy too far off to even remotely worry about it. It will have changed three times by the time you get even close to applying.
Also, I know I didn't mention it, but realize that getting hired by a legacy (United, AA, Delta etc) is still a long shot. Even though they are hiring a lot right now, many, many pilots with thousands of hours (think 10 years and 10,000 hours experience) are still desperately still trying to just get an interview.......

 

Thank you for both the welcome and input, PotatoChip! I know that I have a lot of research ahead, but I don't mind, and I do value the inputs that people give me. I was only considering Embry-Riddle to get my ratings with student loans as I am not sure if there are other options that will let me use student loans.

I am open to the Army, but getting a recruiter to talk about anything but enlisting is difficult. While I have nothing against enlisting, I am sort of on a time crunch. I looked into the WOFT before I finished my degree, and it looks like a great program. I would prefer fixed wing, but I am not against rotary wing. I know that both Pennsylvania and Maryland have C-12s, but I am not sure how difficult that is to get.

The time and money are the issues that I have. I never heard of "AllATPs," so I Googled it. Is this the link atpflightschool.com because if so, I will look into it. I will search flight schools in the area that have a fast track option.

Thanks for your input PotatoChip!

 

I knew that the odds were slim about getting into a legacy, but I didn't know that they were that slim! Thanks for bringing that to light.

 

Yeah. That's the school.

Getting a fixed wing slot in the army is notoriously challenging. Head over to the "Military" sub-section and ask. There is also a thread over there about the WOFT program if you use the search tab in the upper right to "search this section" or whatever.

I'm assuming you are 30-31. If so, time isn't extremely critical. If at at all possible, find ways to avoid loans to get your ratings. This is not a career you want to get in debt for. Find ways to pay for each rating as you go, even if it takes you an extra year.

The great thing about the WOFT program is that you can get hired at a regional very quickly with helo time and then build your fixed wing. However, you also have to open to long deployments, and Trump's new world order, wherever that may send you.

 

I would seriously only consider this option if it is something you truly want to do. As a means to an end - getting to the airlines - I definitely wouldn't recommend it. I spent a career doing it and loved most of it, but there are some serious caveats that come with it. A few:

1) as you said, fairly tough to get FW slots. People don't go Army to fly planes

2) you do a lot more than fly - this is probably not as significant on the Guard side. All my time was active, so this may not matter in your situation

3) it's a pretty long timeline - application, board, WOCS, flight school, etc. Total guess at this point, but maybe 18-24 month total process just to get to an operational unit...?

4) being new and untracked, you may fly a lot less than you're thinking. I think you could meet your goals way quicker on the civilian side.

I'm not saying any of this to discourage you. I loved flying helicopters and being in the military (for the most part) However, I would never recommend mil rotary wing strictly as a way to get to where you want to go.

 

I will check out that link then, thanks!

I will post in the "Military" section concerning this as well, thank you for the input. I know that the WOFT is very competative.

I'm 28, so I guess I have more time then I originally thought! I am looking to make a career change, and really enjoy aviation which is why I want to be a pilot. I know Envoy does a program for Military helo pilots, does anyone else that you're aware of?

 

I don't mind joining the Military, but I would prefer fixed wing compared to rotary wing, but I am not against rotary wing.

I know the Army National Guard had several C-23s, what happened to them? From what I can tell, the C-27J was supposed to replace the C-23, but that got cancelled. Also is it difficult to get a fixed wing slot in the Army?

That is about what I was expecting for the WOFT pipeline.


Thanks for your input 60av8tor!

 

At 28, you have more opportunity to fly in the military than just the army. Look into the Airforce and Navy as well. Hurry up and do not wait as you are beginning to come up against the age restrictions. However, remember even those are waiverable. Look at USA Jobs and you will see a host of guard flying gigs.

Best of luck