Hey guys,

**Long post sorry in advance, just want to introduce my background**

I just stumbled upon this site while researching flight schools and have some questions, although I have been reading lots of good information the last couple of days.

I am 24 years old, married with a 3 year old son currently working for an Air Medical/Emergency Transport company in Texas as an EMT. I have been thinking long and hard of what I want to do with my "career", and have decided I would like to pursue a career as a pilot, maybe one day flying air medical fixed wing or similiar, although any pilot job I would be happy with starting out obviously, until I get hours and much needed experience.

I have always wanted to be a pilot but was pushed away from it by my family into computers which I pursued from an early age through high school and worked in the field for around 5 years at various programming companies.

I felt a void as I was not doing what I wanted to do instead what I was pushed into. I talked long and hard with my wife and various other people and had an interest in Air EMS so that is what I pursued and got certed in so I could work in a field I loved around aircraft.

Now, I have been doing this for 3 years for the same company and have decided the next step I would like to take is to become a pilot as my true lifelong career.

I know it is hard work, but I am used to that in the current business I am in, and I have a passions for this like no other.

My questions start with the fact that pay in EMS stinks and I could probably make more working retail, but I love helping people and being around the aircraft. I have looked at ATP and there financing, and $50K seems like a good deal when I actually calculate the hours you get etc., but it is still a huge amount to finance.

I am working full time so if I did ATP it would be the 10 month self paced not the 90 day. Are there other options I should look into? I don't want this process to drag out for 10 years, I would rather bite the bullet and eat Ramen for 3 if it was possible, because on my current wage, any extra money going to anything means Ramen anyway.

Another option is a 2 year course at a local community college, which is 2 years but you come out with your instructor and an Associates. What are your thoughts? Would loan rates be better going through the college way? Should I just bite the bullet get it knocked out and start doing my time?

 

welcome thecure7
Look in to utah vally state college, you can go thru there program online do all of your flight training at a local FBO and finish with a AAS degree.
going this route will allow you to get student loans and qualify for federal financal aid and you can do it around your work schedual.

 

You might look into rotorcraft training too. They you could potentially do helicopter work for LifeFlight, etc. or law enforcement. Not sure what pay is, but it might be worth looking at. Rotor training is expensive so just a heads up there.

 

What part of texas are you in??? if you are anywhere near central...look into Central Texas College (CTC)in Killeen.....Im doing my 2 yr thru CTC and going thru their flying program...its a 141 school and the prices are unbeatable....there celebrating like a 40 year anniversary so they are well established. i think its 3200 for PPL plus a few for books, medical, E6B etc...dont quote me on exact prices but it was like under 3500 and they had a payment plan that you pay half up front then 2 payment throughout the semester....then ofcourse your regular courses for college....But all in all its really the best deal Ive come across in Texas....

www.ctcd.edu/aviation

Hope that helps....got any questions PM me...Im 25 and married myself so i understand your situation...

Shane

 

Thanks for the info guys and understanding my situation, very much appreciated.

I never really had much interest in flying rotorcraft, although I have always loved working around them and do think they are pretty cool. Plus I always heard they were super expensive to learn to fly just like you said. I know the majority here at work are ex-military, as opposed the fixed wing pilots who have no military.

SiShane ~ I am from D/FW area, but I will still look into it. Killeen is down by Temple?

As for this local community college program, what is your thoughts, and what should I be looking for? I know it is a 141 school, and I don't even have prices. It is at a Dallas Community College called Mountain View. I will check out Utah and CTC first. Thanks again guys.

 

very generally speaking, I would certainly advise you to start working on your Private Pilot's License through an FBO and if possible try to pay it as you go. I am not sure if I am in favor of the community college option since, in the long run, if you want to be hired by a major, a bachelor's degree requirement is almost a given. I feel that a 2 year program in a community college might be a waste. Please feel free to disagree with me here. In your case, perhaps a distant learning program like Utah Valley might just work for you (which will enable you to gain your bachelor's degree). Finally, I think it is important to emphasize that, you are still 24 and it is not necessary for you to be in a rush and spend a lot of money to get your ratings done in a hurry.

 

try monarch aviation in mckinney or any number of flight school at arlington and denton. Go as cheap as possible, smaller schools are sometimes more personalized too. No body cares where you got your ratings. All you want is your cfi then cfii mei, with those you can build the required time and make the contacts to get you the job you want. Dont be sold on the big school advertising, try a small one first, it's cheaper that way and then if you don't feel like you're getting what you want then go to the big school.

 

I will look monarch up and see thanks!

Has anyone heard of or used Skymates Inc., they look to be out of Arlington?

Total pricing through MEI looks to be close to $30K for them going 61, more like $36K going 141.

The thing is it doesn't look like you come out with the hours like ATP. Is that normal? I thought the hours were as important as the training? Do you just go on to instruct and build the hours while getting paid?

 

Skymates has a very good rep at the other forum I frequent. There is nothing wrong with ATP, either, if you go self paced, though it's quite expensive. A lot would depend on your CFI. Is it someone who's been around a while or someone who just graduated the 90 day program. Personally, I think it's nuts to pay top dollar at a school where you're gonna get an inexperienced CFI.

ATP is big on safety pilot timebuilding, so that may be where you're seeing more hours in their program, and maybe a higher cost. It's hard to compare apples to apples but it's important that you do what it takes to get that info. An in person visit is a must.

If you're goal is simply EMS fixed wing, don't get a degree. A degree is only necessary to move into the upper level pay jobs in aviation, which part 135 EMS stuff will never be. What you need is ratings and experience to work your way into the job you want. Whether it be a larger academy, like Skymates or ATP, or a smaller flight school, you just need to work your way through the ratings and build time. If you don't understand the process, I'd recommend the home page at www.jetcareers.com

There is no reason your couldn't train part time as you work your current job. Take your time and take on as little debt as possible, you're still young. Work your way up through CFI and instruct part time to build up your hours. Get a job at Skymates for the multi time, they are screaming for CFI's at the other site I mention and pay $17/hr. Maybe more than you make as an EMT.

Find out what the mins are at some of the places you want to work. Make that your goal. More importantly, make friends with pilots that work at these places and let them know you're interested in flying. Find out how they got hired and where they trained. Don't tick anyone off. It's a small world in aviation, and people talk.