Questions from a pilot prospect.
 

Hi there everyone!

I've always wanted to be a pilot, and up until a few years ago that was my plan and career goal. This was my plan up until I realized the cost of flight programs and training. Just last week I saw an article talking about how extensive the pilot shortage is and how many airlines are in need of pilots. This article resurged my interest and passion for a career in aviation.

I'm currently in my first year of college majoring in a business related degree, which to my understanding doesn't really matter in the eyes of getting hired as a pilot. I figured this would work just in case my pilot career doesn't work out for what ever reason, I would have my major to fall back on. My question is, how should I go about private flight training in the midst of being a full-time student with ideally, a part-time job? Do as much as I can over the Summer? Spread it over the school year on weekends I'm home? I'm also heavily interested in the Envoy cadet program, is this doable while being a full-time college student in a non-aviation major?

I have a couple local flight schools that I found that I am interested in and have already begun to contact.

If y'all don't mind, I would also like to DM some of you guys the flight schools I'm interested in so that y'all can tell me if I'm getting ripped off or not.

Anyways, thanks for reading and any help will be greatly appreciated!

What general area are you at now? I had a close relative transfer to an aviation college after the 1st year in the medical field, loved it from the get-go.

Do you want to go ‘all-in’(funny mention as the General was all in)?

I don’t see how a general business degree is all that special, even compared to ‘aviation management’. Do you have any skeletons in your closet? DUIs, head meds & the like affecting a medical?

A big issue can is usually funding? Once you start looking at planes the cost goes up.

Yeah, you can muddle around at the local FBO and start training. You can also transfer to UND, Perdue or one of the others & get on the ‘fast track’. At your age you have plenty of opportunity to steer your course.

Share some dreams with your parents, maybe they can help. You gotta put some effort out if you want it, quite doable with a high motivation level. Just some random thoughts.

Right now I'm basically just taking my general requirements, so it wouldn't hurt me if I were to change my major to something completely different. However, the reason why I'm choosing business is because that is the career I would want to work if me being a pilot somehow doesn't work out.

I heard that going to an aviation college isn't necessarily the best route because local flight schools are cheaper in the long run than aviation colleges.

Yes, as of now I am committing to a career as a pilot.

So like I said above, I figured having a business degree would be something nice for me to fall back on. And no to any skeletons.

Yeah funding is a huge issue. Once I get back home from college finances will definitely be something I will talk to my parents about. When I talked to them about this potential change they did sound pretty optimistic so that does give me some hope :)

Knock out your PPL starting now and enroll in a college aviation program that is partnered with Envoy. That’s the best deal out there.

I have three words for you—Air National Guard.



Gf

There must be a guard unit some where near you. At least go talk with them.

Thanks for the response! The private flight school I'm looking at is already participating in the Envoy cadet program so I figured that would suffice, would it not? I just really like the idea of getting a business degree as a fail safe.

The military is definitely something I have considered. I just have one minor medical issue that I would need to get a waiver for, as well as I would need to lose some weight. I'll definitely continue to look more into it though.

This is just my perspective so it doesn't necessarily mean it is the right advice for you. I was in the same situation as you a few years ago. All advice I was given was to knock out my bachelors in something else as a backup plan and then pursue flight training. I thought this was a great plan up until i graduated, got a job and realized just how expensive flight training really is. If i were able to get a loan for flight school this wouldn't be a problem. However, unfortunately in the STL area there are no career schools that offer loans. Now i am stuck in an office job that i dread waking up for every day Monday through Friday, thinking non stop about how I could be a pilot right now.

My advice would be, if you know that flying is truly what you want to do, why wait? If I could do it all over again i would have transferred to an aviation school to pursue aviation. Just my .02 cents, best of luck!

Thanks for the advice! This is definitely something I'll consider.

So did you do any flight training during college?