!!I Need Help!!
11-25-2017, 08:22 AM
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2017
Posts: 3
!!I Need Help!!
I’m 17 year old High School student, on my Jr year. And I need some help becoming a secsessfull pilot. (My parents don’t want to support me because if I **** up somewhere in the future, there no coming back they said/ but rather they want me be a plumber) Anyways After 3 month of research I made a decision, and my map is- {Join the Air Force-BA in Computer Science-Flight School get my 1500 hours. Then get an interview with an airline.}
This is map of mine is really wild in my opinion. I can feel that I’m missing out something, I have never bee near an experienced person to ask question. Been sitting on google for over 3 months reaserching and to find the way that will be easy and fast. I still have YEAR and a HALF to learn. Then comes college. That’s were I need YOUR help.
So I came here to seek some knowledge. I have read many forums, seen people fail and I don’t want to make those mistakes they made through the process. If you guys would leave tips like reading books or to take any classes that’s will help me out that you recommend me to do/ Please leave it down here.
Overall I’m an B+ Student.
I have never flown a plane.
And I live In New York.
Thank You.
This is map of mine is really wild in my opinion. I can feel that I’m missing out something, I have never bee near an experienced person to ask question. Been sitting on google for over 3 months reaserching and to find the way that will be easy and fast. I still have YEAR and a HALF to learn. Then comes college. That’s were I need YOUR help.
So I came here to seek some knowledge. I have read many forums, seen people fail and I don’t want to make those mistakes they made through the process. If you guys would leave tips like reading books or to take any classes that’s will help me out that you recommend me to do/ Please leave it down here.
Overall I’m an B+ Student.
I have never flown a plane.
And I live In New York.
Thank You.
11-25-2017, 09:19 AM
#3
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2017
Posts: 285
Air Force enlisted full-time or reserves?
Bachelors degree is a good step, they are just expensive.
You are young and have a lot of options and it sounds like your parents are not really helping you out too much- so they probably would not co-sign or support you with school loans and such so the military may be your best option to pay for flight training after you serve your commitment.
As far as your parents helping- this is the scenario my father started with me when I went to paramedic school and college. He would co-sign loans for me as long as I made the grades and completed whatever programs I was in. He would never sign for more than 1 semester at a time, because if I **** up he was done helping until I payed off everything to that point. Now I have a career that allows me to pay for my flight training to give me the option for a second career. Lifetime earnings increase with each level of education. Currently I think trade career skills are better bang for your buck when compared to a bachelors degree when deciding what kind of education to get. However you cannot forget that almost all the major pilots hired do have a bachelors degree of some sort.
So your goal is to work for a major airline and there are a few paths to get there.
1. Take out loans and finance your flight school through CFI. All while at the same time going to Community College and get enough credits to transfer to Bachelors Program so you have a bachelors around the same time you get to ATP or ATP-R minimums.
2. Go to military and continue working on your Bachelors as much as they will let you depending on your commitment and MOS. When you get out you will have the GI Bill that will pay for flight training after you pay out of pocket for your PPL.
First path will get you there faster and in more debt- that you can pay off when you get to the major airline in a few years and you will have more years and therefore more lifetime earning potential.
Second path will take longer but will get you there with less student loan debt.
There are other ways to do it too, and do not be too mad at your parents. A skilled occupation (such as a plumber, electrician, mechanic, etc) are in high demand and wages for them continue to increase. It might be a good job to get you through community college and flight training without having to take on debt.
I remember when I was 17- no way I would listen to parents, and it took me until I was about 26 to figure out that they were right
Bachelors degree is a good step, they are just expensive.
You are young and have a lot of options and it sounds like your parents are not really helping you out too much- so they probably would not co-sign or support you with school loans and such so the military may be your best option to pay for flight training after you serve your commitment.
As far as your parents helping- this is the scenario my father started with me when I went to paramedic school and college. He would co-sign loans for me as long as I made the grades and completed whatever programs I was in. He would never sign for more than 1 semester at a time, because if I **** up he was done helping until I payed off everything to that point. Now I have a career that allows me to pay for my flight training to give me the option for a second career. Lifetime earnings increase with each level of education. Currently I think trade career skills are better bang for your buck when compared to a bachelors degree when deciding what kind of education to get. However you cannot forget that almost all the major pilots hired do have a bachelors degree of some sort.
So your goal is to work for a major airline and there are a few paths to get there.
1. Take out loans and finance your flight school through CFI. All while at the same time going to Community College and get enough credits to transfer to Bachelors Program so you have a bachelors around the same time you get to ATP or ATP-R minimums.
2. Go to military and continue working on your Bachelors as much as they will let you depending on your commitment and MOS. When you get out you will have the GI Bill that will pay for flight training after you pay out of pocket for your PPL.
First path will get you there faster and in more debt- that you can pay off when you get to the major airline in a few years and you will have more years and therefore more lifetime earning potential.
Second path will take longer but will get you there with less student loan debt.
There are other ways to do it too, and do not be too mad at your parents. A skilled occupation (such as a plumber, electrician, mechanic, etc) are in high demand and wages for them continue to increase. It might be a good job to get you through community college and flight training without having to take on debt.
I remember when I was 17- no way I would listen to parents, and it took me until I was about 26 to figure out that they were right
11-25-2017, 09:30 AM
#4
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,211
Despite being young, and still having a great many things to learn, you are off to a good start in that you are thinking ahead and doing your research.
An important point: getting hired at a major is competitive, and not everyone ultimately succeeds. There are a variety of factors which improve your odds, and with enough good data points I could essentially guarantee success. One of the best predictors is military fixed-wing aviation experience.
Four general paths ahead...
1) Get a ROTC (or service academy) scholarship, which pays for college, and then compete for a military flight slot. Pro: Free college. Con: If you don't get a flight slot, you still owe them typically five years. Also scholarships are pretty competitive, you'll need some combination of grades, test scores, athletics, and leadership credentials.
2) Do ROTC, or OCS after college, without a scholarship and try to get a flight slot. No free college, but if you don't get a flight slot, you're free to go the civilian track.
It's significant that an active duty flight slot will incur at least a ten year active duty obligation... historically military pilots would still get to major airlines as soon as or sooner than civilian pilots, but with the current hiring trends, the civilian track could very well be faster.
3) Civilian Route: Go to college, then flight school, or attend an aviation university which provides flight training during college. Pro: No delay for active-duty obligations Con: You have to pay for it, and you're not as competitive without military wings.
4) Civilian Route + Air National Guard (or USAF reserve). Do the civilian track until you get hired by a regional, then join a guard/reserve unit. This allows you to progress down the civilian route while also having military qualifications. A little slower perhaps, but very good odds of success. Personal references are important, and a junior guard/reserve pilot will work with many senior pilots, most of whom will be major airline pilots.
Hopefully this will help focus your planning and research (always have a plan B, and C).
Need to point out that military service is rewarding, but not easy, and you should not go down that road just to get an airline job. Also you get enlist out of HS to earn the GI Bill which would largely pay for school, as well as give you a leg up if you wanted later apply for a military pilot slot.
An important point: getting hired at a major is competitive, and not everyone ultimately succeeds. There are a variety of factors which improve your odds, and with enough good data points I could essentially guarantee success. One of the best predictors is military fixed-wing aviation experience.
Four general paths ahead...
1) Get a ROTC (or service academy) scholarship, which pays for college, and then compete for a military flight slot. Pro: Free college. Con: If you don't get a flight slot, you still owe them typically five years. Also scholarships are pretty competitive, you'll need some combination of grades, test scores, athletics, and leadership credentials.
2) Do ROTC, or OCS after college, without a scholarship and try to get a flight slot. No free college, but if you don't get a flight slot, you're free to go the civilian track.
It's significant that an active duty flight slot will incur at least a ten year active duty obligation... historically military pilots would still get to major airlines as soon as or sooner than civilian pilots, but with the current hiring trends, the civilian track could very well be faster.
3) Civilian Route: Go to college, then flight school, or attend an aviation university which provides flight training during college. Pro: No delay for active-duty obligations Con: You have to pay for it, and you're not as competitive without military wings.
4) Civilian Route + Air National Guard (or USAF reserve). Do the civilian track until you get hired by a regional, then join a guard/reserve unit. This allows you to progress down the civilian route while also having military qualifications. A little slower perhaps, but very good odds of success. Personal references are important, and a junior guard/reserve pilot will work with many senior pilots, most of whom will be major airline pilots.
Hopefully this will help focus your planning and research (always have a plan B, and C).
Need to point out that military service is rewarding, but not easy, and you should not go down that road just to get an airline job. Also you get enlist out of HS to earn the GI Bill which would largely pay for school, as well as give you a leg up if you wanted later apply for a military pilot slot.
11-28-2017, 10:35 AM
#6
Super Moderator
Joined APC: Jul 2006
Posts: 5,544
New York has quite a few Air National Guard and Reserve squadron. I would go check them out. Most states offer 100% tuition, plus GI Bill, bonuses and other benefits. Work part time while going to college full time and graduate debt-free. I was even able to pay for almost all of my flight fees to get my CFII. Apply to be a pilot in your ANG squadron, or anyone one of the numerous ANG stations all over the NE. Build your hours in the ANG and go to the airlines when you can.
I did this route and got to the airline WAY before any of my active duty friends and almost all of my civilian friends from college...many of which had internships at their respective airlines.
I think New York (ANG/Reserve) has like multiple C-130 squadrons, C-17 squadron, a UAV squadron, and an HH-60 squadron. I'd go after the C-17 and C-130 squadrons if the airlines are your goal.
Best of luck.
I did this route and got to the airline WAY before any of my active duty friends and almost all of my civilian friends from college...many of which had internships at their respective airlines.
I think New York (ANG/Reserve) has like multiple C-130 squadrons, C-17 squadron, a UAV squadron, and an HH-60 squadron. I'd go after the C-17 and C-130 squadrons if the airlines are your goal.
Best of luck.
11-30-2017, 10:03 AM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2013
Position: Left
Posts: 636
Welcome. One trait not always mentioned to get things rolling towards a piloting profession is a good dose of long term motivation. For all of us there were(are) obstacles in the way towards the desired goal down the road. Of course $$ is one of the biggies.
I’d go to AOPA and sign up for a FREE student pilot membership. Yeah it’s not much, but it’s a small step towards more aviation association.
I would consider enlisting in a somewhat nearby Reserve or Guard unit. One with an aviation mission would be best, but not essential. That would help with $$ for college and amp up the motivation level. If $$ were to get to tight, you could entertain active duty down the road. This assumes you can be the ‘military type’, yes you could be deployed at some point too. It can be hard finishing towards a degree on active duty, time will be tight.
No need to try to nail down courses of action years down the road. Right now do the best with the rest of the H.S. years, but start dipping your toes into aviation.
Mostly towards Spring & Summer, but many smallish airports have open houses and air show activities.
I’d go to AOPA and sign up for a FREE student pilot membership. Yeah it’s not much, but it’s a small step towards more aviation association.
I would consider enlisting in a somewhat nearby Reserve or Guard unit. One with an aviation mission would be best, but not essential. That would help with $$ for college and amp up the motivation level. If $$ were to get to tight, you could entertain active duty down the road. This assumes you can be the ‘military type’, yes you could be deployed at some point too. It can be hard finishing towards a degree on active duty, time will be tight.
No need to try to nail down courses of action years down the road. Right now do the best with the rest of the H.S. years, but start dipping your toes into aviation.
Mostly towards Spring & Summer, but many smallish airports have open houses and air show activities.
12-29-2017, 01:09 PM
#8
Line Holder
Joined APC: Dec 2017
Position: Paper Airplane Expert
Posts: 59
If you're a smart kid and you have the ability to take a flight aptitude test, you can always go Warrant Officer right out of High School for the Army and fly rotary. I was accepted as an Army Aviation Officer for the UH-60 back in the day and I know the Warrant Officer program turns out great pilots. 18 years old and straight to Warrant Officer Candidate School and then Flight School. It's not easy to get through it, but if you're squared away and determined you can make it.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-j...-officers.html
(hopefully we're allowed to post links on here?)
I know this isn't fixed wing, so I'm just throwing it out there. But it's something to consider doing in lieu of college. You'll get to serve your country for a bit and get paid to attend flight training and be a dang helo pilot. When you've done that for a bit, you can transfer to reserve/national guard and do a Rotary Transition program into a commercial fixed wing with a regional.
https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-j...-officers.html
(hopefully we're allowed to post links on here?)
I know this isn't fixed wing, so I'm just throwing it out there. But it's something to consider doing in lieu of college. You'll get to serve your country for a bit and get paid to attend flight training and be a dang helo pilot. When you've done that for a bit, you can transfer to reserve/national guard and do a Rotary Transition program into a commercial fixed wing with a regional.
