Greetings,

I am currently at a part 141 college trying to finish up my instrument training that I have been in since March of this year. I earned my PPL during the last year of my 11-year military career that I left to pursue flying professionally.

I chose this college because I felt it was the best utilization of my GI Bill yet I am running into issue after issue. Next, I find out my commercial and cfi training will end up taking over 1.5 years in addition to the almost year I have spent thus far. I am in my 30s and feel like this was not the wisest way to pursue my ratings.

My question is should I pack up and try to go another route like American Flyers or do I suck it up and sludge through? I understand no one will have a magical answer but advice is appreciated.

How valuable does restricted-atp become versus the ability to complete my commercial/cfi training a year sooner? My end goal is the airlines.

I really appreciate any and all constructive advice.

 

Airlines don't care at all about the R-ATP. If flight training at a university is going to drag out for years, that would wipe out the benefit of the R-ATP and cost more to boot.

Some majors DO care about where you went to school, but assuming you can finish the degree program without the flight training you'd still get any benefit afforded to graduates of the school in question.

I wouldn't drop college unless you're committed to doing an AA owned regional with flow. Otherwise you'll go nowhere fast.

 

Thank you for this!

 

As Rickair mentioned you will have an uphill battle making it beyond the regionals without a college degree. I’ve also seen on here that some advise to not get a degree in aviation but anything else you might be interested in, in case of an economic downturn (cyclical airline industry furloughing pilots). Based solely on the limited information you provided (because I can’t possibly know your whole situation)- consider finishing your degree in something other than aviation if it wouldn’t cost you too much extra time and money to switch majors (online degree?). Pursue your certifications and hours away from a ridiculously slow and bureaucratically bloated college program which, if you are a go-getter, will still be faster having to get 1,500 hours than your current path. This was the case with myself and another CFI colleague. We both had degrees in other disciplines. He went back to college and took 2+ years to get his aviation degree. I went part 61 and got to CFII in 8 months (granted I literally busted my tail off). I needed 1,500, he needed 1,000. I still beat him to the airlines.

 

Thank you!! I can see what you mean but sadly the degree I’m in is Aviation Science. I am using my GI bill. I have a ton of transferrable credits from the military so I know finishing up a bachelors wouldn’t take long. As you stated, you beat your friend that was going the route I’m going. And that’s where I’m concerned. I’ve got 1.5 years left here or I can pack up and go 61 and start teaching sooner. I just don’t want to end up choosing the harder way like I think I already have with this college 141 route.

 

I can understand the frustration, slower than desired progress. Factor in how long it will take to get your ‘sea legs’ back after a switch.

With 1.5 years to go, the end of the tunnel should almost be visible. Yes, you really should get that 4-yr degree, even if it’s in aviation science or basket-weaving.

Can you speed things up? Many flight colleges offer flight training about year round? Any options at the local FBO?

Back in the day I went through in 3.5 years, another finished the 4-yr program in 3 years, both non-aviation.

There should be some tweaks available. Switching isn’t out of the question, though there will be time lost with the transition. Without specifics it’s hard to do more than generalize.

 

It seems like it would take longer to get your B.S. degree if you left your current college program now and started taking classes online while simultaneously flying to get your ratings. You may get your flight ratings faster, but not the degree.

Your college program is combining the two and if you only have 1.5 years left to finish all your ratings and have your degree, then I would stay and finish if it were me.

I doubt your college program gives you credit for flying certificates and ratings earned outside their program.

You could transfer credits to Riddle or a number of other online programs and get credit for pt. 61 flight certs., and finish a new aviation degree that way, but like I said, I think that would take longer than 1.5 years; You would no doubt loose some credits in the transfer and may need different gen or core classes etc.

1.5 years is not that long in the grand scheme of things. A recognizable University flight program Bachelor's degree looks better on the Resume than a 61 school added with a lesser known online University. Not saying I agree with that philosophy, but that's the way it is

 

I don't know if you're at Liberty University, but if you are...and you want to push through training faster, take everything in the 8-week format. When you are doing your commercial single training, just push through it. Fly a lot. You can typically get it done with just doing COM 1 & 2 and can skip over COM 3. Remember, to get the R-ATP, you only have to do IR and COM to get it. Everything else, do part 61. It will be much faster. When it's time for me to do Multi, i'm doing the 3-day accelerated training class. Same for CFI-A and CFI-I. Do the american flyers 30 day class for instance. There's always a way.

 

I am doing the Liberty University program, my flight affiliate is Phoenix Flight academy in Indy. Good advice. Maybe we can private message for more helpful advice. Are you finished with the program?

 

You are going to have to take a hard look on how much additional cost it will be to get the ratings on your own vs. sticking it out with the program where the GI Bill will pay for it. Either way, not a great situation.