Zwibby

I am currently a student at Riddle looking to get out. Its just too much money for me. Im looking to go to a public school here in Florida so the state can cover the bill of a degree. Ive been looking at FBOs near these schools im considering and im getting disheartened. I must say that while the flight training at an FBO would differ little from Riddle, I am impressed with how there are recruiters from ASA and other airlines here every couple of months sitting down to countless interviews and snatching up pilots with little to no hours and I know this will not be the case if I go the FBO route.

Are there any pilots out there who went the FBO route who can share how long it took you to get to an airline and how many hours you had? If I go the FBO route, am I going to have a difficult time and need more flight hours to compete against Riddle, DCA, ATP, and pilots from other professional schools? Keep in mind that I will not have an aviation degree but rather a UF or FSU Business degree for a backup (maybe).

Sorry for the loaded question but im at a big fork in the road and need some opinions to help me make my own decision. Thanks for your insight

Uncle Bose

Regional minimums are already low. Too low, many would say. Is the possibility of getting to that regional with "little to no hours" worth the $12,745/semester cost of attending ERAU? Not in the least. Sure, you may be able to shave 8-10 months off your time spent flight instructing, but you'll be paying off those student loans for decades. You're making a wise decision. The state university system of Florida is extremely inexpensive (around $1600/semester), and UF is one of the nation's premier universities, public or private.

As someone who's attended all three universities in question (ERAU, FSU, and UF), I think you'll find the atmosphere of the public schools much more enjoyable in terms of diversity of the student body, an actual "collegiate feel," a nationally-renowned athletic tradition, and a better-than-50/50 male/female ratio.

A word of warning, however: you've been babied in that silly-ass aero sci program--be prepared for genuine collegiate academics in either the UF or FSU business programs. The pride in accomplishment is worth it, rather than having your grades given to to you.

taylorjets

I agree... I went to a tech school and transfered to a liberal arts college. I found the experience to be much more enjoyable. Lynn University and Jacksonville University are both good schools, and they offer a wide range social activities. You can also get quality flight instruction... just my opinion.

Zwibby

The "collegiate feel" is something I really want and yea no need for the warning. I have a 3.92 GPA and I rarely had to open a book (My one B for those of you who want a laugh was in UNIV 101- College Success). Its pretty frustrating with the lack of challange here. As someone who has been to UF and FSU, did you do any flight training there. I've been looking at the FBOs at KGNV and KTLH and im kinda uncertain if they offer everything I need. I think the only multi at KGNV is supercharged and would therefore cost 175 per hour without instruction. Has anyone done there flight training at these airports and can comment on the quality?

de727ups

Here's what you do. Go to the school/university of your choice. Get your CFI and a four year degree. Get out, get a job as a CFI. Work a year. If you do that, you'll have no problem getting a job at a regional.

Will some riddle guys or bridge folks beat you to the shiny jet? Yeah, maybe by a bit. It takes four years to get a four year degree. So, a riddle guy might beat you by a year at the most. Was that worth the money? I don't think it would be for me (and I'm a riddle grad).

Take the extra year (max). Get some seasoning and life experience. Save some money. I don't think you'll go wrong.

CaptainMark

i went to erau and also the fbo route....got my degrees in business and management and flew outside the school...it was cheaper and got me to where i wanted to go sooner!

BURflyer

Poor guy he's afraid that if he doesn't buy his interview he won't get a job. You don't need to spend 100K for a job at ASA, just go to your local fbo. Regionals and others don't care if you can spell Riddle as long as you can make it through training. The only reason they go there is because of SJSers like you who are afraid that you won't be cool because you weren't hired with 200 hours. Did you think it was because of the training you get there?

de727ups

Cut the kid some slack. He's just asking a question. When you're in the Riddle bubble you don't know any better.

Zwibby

Please I hardly consider myself from having SJS. I didn't come to Riddle because I wanted to get hired for the least amount of training I came because I thougt it would allow me to be the most knowledgable with my desired profession. Now I know I can do that elsewhere for far less the cost. The idea of flying a jet at 200 hours is far from my perception and I would rather have more experience before taking to that kind of flying. I was only questioning about competition with Riddle not to know whether or not I would need more hours in order to "buy my interview" but in hopes of finding out whether or not their Aero Sci degree will put them ahead of me for a job at any point in time even if I had the same number of hours as them, 200 or 20,000. Some here claim that the Aero Sci degree is only good for wiping your a$$es and I just wanted to see what others thought.

highnpressurizd

In my opinion, worse than the expense, Riddle takes the fun out of flying. I attended Riddle for three years and left when I ran out of money. I worked a few different jobs and ended up cleaning up some GE at CC and then finishing my degree through ERAU extended campus only because I had so many credits that were usless anywhere else. I earned my private at Riddle but did the rest at a local FBO at home in Oregon. Meanwhile the guys who I would have graduated with were hired on at the regionals with 600 hours or less. While working through the rattings I worked the desk at the FBO taking phone calls. For this I received dicounted A/C rental and by the time I hit my comercial training, my instructor/friends were giving me some free dual here and there. I made more contacts sitting around drinking coffee on the couch of the FBO then I ever did at Riddle. I flew an Agusta 109 and an H-1 (tried anyway), helped with parts of a Mig-17 and F-104 restoration and did more flying "just because" than I did instructing. When I left I had keys to a few airplanes that I was given permission to "exercise" when I wanted to. One gentelman I met and flew with about once a month was one of the "done it all" pilots. He got me hired flying in Alaska. That experience was a dream come true and I shouldn't even get started on it......That job led me to a new friend who eventually got me hired flying Metros with only 65 hours Multi. I upgraded in four months and have passed my 1000 multi-turbine PIC. I still haven't flown a jet and I'm still not where I want to be as far as a job goes, but I now have friends who fly for FedEx, UPS, Alaska, Delta, Continental, Net Jets, CitaitonShares, and a few pretty cool Part 91 gigs. None of this assures me a job at these places, but the point is that none of these guys went to Riddle, I met them while building my career. One of the guys who got hired after graduation with less than 600 hours just got hired at Alaska (not my inside guy). In college he had a model Beaver and books about flying in Alaska. One of things we used to talk about was someday flying the Beaver. Before Alaska he was at Independence, before that ERAU. To my knowldedge he still hasn't flown a Beaver. I have. The beaver is something riddle couldn't give him. You dont seem like your trying to buy a career. The guys who do never get they're moneys worth. Aviation can be one hell of a ride if your game. But you cant buy it with cash, the price is hard work and time. Do what you love, and things will fall in to place with time, maybe not on your time, but it will happen.