Flight schools - High Schooler need help
 

My dream is to become a A Commercial Airline pilot for a major company.

I am currently taken honor courses at my current high school and I am doing very well in them. My original plan was to finish highschool, take a year off perhaps and save a years worth of money. Apply for Embry Riddle with an Air Force Scholarship. Enroll in their capt program (Commercial Airline Pilot Training). Finish at eru, then head to the Air Force for 6-7 years, mainly for flight experience. Then apply.

Well, now that I've been browsing around these forums, there seems to be much more alternatives to Embry, lots of other colleges and the AF Academy.

For the goal I am seeking, what would your opinions be on a college I should head to.

Also, what are you opinions on:
Air Force Academy
Embry Riddle

If you can get into the AF academy, then go for it. Riddle is a waste of time. You would do better majoring in another area of interest as a fall back career.

There are two different tracks you should look at. Military and non-military. Miltary is great if that's what you want and you can get it. Non-military has many sub-options. Riddle, UND, and the aviation universities, are an option but most will say there is a better way. I'm a Riddle grad, by the way. A four year degree is important, though, if you seek a top tier job in aviation. It's really just a matter of putting in your time and paying your dues as you work your way up the ladder.

You should be working on your PPL as we speak. You only need to be 17 to be a licensed private pilot. I had my IFR rating before I graduated from high school.

I'm a graduate of Middle Tennessee State University. I heard about them on a forum like this and never regretted attending. I graduated with an aerospace degree which included all my ratings. It took me four years to get all my ratings but it can be done much faster, especially with the new syllabi they've just started using (combined private/instrument training (both check rides combined into one) and commercial training, both with no minimum time requirements. All you have to do is complete all of the lessons).

I've been instructing for them for 1 year and just started teaching multi-engine students so I plan on getting hired by a regional very soon. If the industry plays out as forecast, this route will get you into a flying career faster than the military route if you ask me.

Here are some links:

www.mtsu.edu
http://aerospace.web.mtsu.edu/home.htm

you'll want a college degree so don't be in too big of a hurry to go to one of those quick aviation programs. A degree will take 4 years, at least, and don't be in such a hurry that you miss out on all the fun. I did the FBO route while attending a big twelve school (non-aviation degree) and had a blast. Had about 2000 TT and 600MEL when I got out of school and was hired at the place I wanted to go before I even got out of school. There are plenty of routes you can take but you should just decide what you're interested in the most. I'm really glad I took the route that I did. Also the state school combined with the FBO is gonna be about the cheapest way to do it, in my opinion.

I went to riddle for a year, and it was just too expensive for what I got. Its a solid place, but there are a ton of other options out there that I think are better. Riddle Extended would be the only Riddle I would do. Its much cheaper, and you get to fly on your own and get college credit for it.

Get a non-aviation degree, I can not stress that enough. An aviation degree is, sad to say, worthless in the real world. Get a degree in whatever you would want to do if you lost your medical or furloughed.

Oh and stay away from DCA...nasty place. Went there and saw it for what it was.

Tim has a point. We are doing some cool stuff. If you are serious about the AF and that's what you want to do, go for the Academy. But if that doesn't work out, there's always AFROTC and getting commissioned after school. I think Riddle is overpriced. I loved MTSU and the flexibility I had, but it was structured enough so that I could move at a good pace for learning.

Now I'm not familiar with the Air Force Acedemy much, except I was born there. How does it differ from other schools in regards to education? Are you suggesting I head to the Acedemy to get at least a 4 year degree? How hard is it to get into the Acedemy?

Edit: I'm look for a route that provides me the best chances of becoming an Airline Pilot? Military is the way to go?

To get into the USAFA you need an appointment by the President, Vice President, or a congressman. You must have very good grades and be well rounded: sports, community activities, etc. It is very difficult and many do not make it. Hundreds quit and some even commite suicide. It is a great school. You get paid to go to college and get a degree. If you qualify for pilot training, they pay for that too. While in the USAFA, you can fly gliders and Cessnas and get civilian certificates. You have to decide if the military life is for you. You will owe the AF a few years after you graduate. Military academies are better for people who are thinking of a military career. You can always do ROTC at civilian schools. Good luck.

Otto and de727, which paths did you take?
If you could do something different, what would it be?
Who do you fly for?