Punkpilot48

I love how people speculate things which they dont know about.

1. carbon monoxide.....four "problem" the rest were all judged at the level of second hand smoke.

2. the time off thing was in responce to many students taking weeks and weeks off not feeling like flying but still complaining that its costing too much money and taking to long. (I am not exagerating)

3. Airlines not hirring 300 hour guys......see AWAC, Express jet, Eagle. All are hiring low however express jet and eagle want 500 and 100 with the type.

4. I went to riddle for one year. they put me on a three year waiting list. most students take a year for each ratting there. Students at raa fly as much as they want.

5. The airplanes are older to help keep the price down.

6. Going to ERAU makes you a safer pilot? While Ill admit ERAU has some of the best grounds schools out there. Its all stick and rudder skills. A lazy eight and ILS is the same no matter where you learn it.

7. New rules are due to current reorginaization. All companies go through this from time to time.

8. You dont have to due the type rating. You can stay and build time. I have a few friends that are riddle instructors and It sounds like I am having more fun with my studnets and learning more than the numerous things they complain about. I usually build 70 to 100 hours a month.

9. RAA lets you fly in adverse weather. Think everybody lets this? Explain that to the two ERAU Capt progam guys I ran into last night in naples. They had been there 27 hours. They had a plane that could handle the winds better than our seneca but still wernt allowed to take off. Real-world experience.

FLYBOYMATTHEW

I completed my 4-year degree, Private, Instrument, Commercial, and Mult-Commercial in 20 months at Riddle. For me, the key to saving money was transfering credits in when I started. If the money is a big concern, consider attending a state school, or even a community college for 2 years to get your generals out of the way first. Make sure you are taking classes that would transfer to the flight school you wish to attend. When/if you decide to get your ratings at one of the big flight schools, take a light class load, and fly as much as possible. The more you fly, the quicker you get done. The quicker you get done, the more you save. You will still end up with an aviation-related degree if that's what you are looking for.

If you get your ratings before you go to a big flight school, they may make you jump through a bunch of costly hoops to be to be admitted to their flight program. I know Riddle really started cracking down on that a couple of years ago, and they wouldn't let you into their flight program until you flew to their standards on whatever tickets you already had.

I recently spoke to a couple of Riddle CFIs, and the rates there have gone through the roof. I believe a C-172 is going for about $150-160ish an hour for dual time. Whatever you decide, make sure you do your homework...it's a HUGE amount of money to lay out on the table for a career in an uncertain market. And be VERY careful about signing up for a program where you have to put the money down all at once. I know of a few cases where guys have put down tens of thousands of dollars for a training program, and the school closed a couple of weeks later and ran away with the money. Pay as you go if at all possible.

Punkpilot48

FLYBOY when did you go to school there? I started the semester of "well if you want to be in AS you had to fly only on campus." So I couldn't just go across the airport and fly like all my uperclassmen friends were doing.

In my opinion it is not worth it to transfer in. My advice would be to get your rattings at an academy (whichever one that fits you) then enroll in an online school (University of Pheonix, ERAU extended campus, UVSC, etc.) to defer the loan payments. Sure intrest will hurt you but most loan payback options are any where from 500 to 800 dollars a month. would be pretty hard to do while making 20 dollars an hour in that rj right?

FLYBOYMATTHEW

I graduated from ERAU in 2001.

Regardless of how you go about it, it will cost you a boatload of money to get a 4-year degree and all of your flight ratings. You have to make the individual decision as to whether or not it's worth the investment to you.

As far as loan repayment, it's my understanding that you can get some relief from the ridiculous monthly payments that you will be expected to start paying once you graduate. If you can show that your debt to income ratio is below a certain level, you should be able to get those payments reduced to a more manageble level. Unfortunately, the interest will just have more years to accrue then, but at least you may be able to get through the first few lean years of flight instructing and flying at a regional.

Fawkes

I might be a little late in replying to your post but just wanted to add that RAA is truly one of the best ways to that airline job. Granted, they have their problems and they do seem to work their way to a rather strict policy. But let's get real. There's no such thing as a perfect aviation school. Every single one of them have their flaws and pitfalls. I have a lot of student/instructor friends at various schools, all over the country. And when we occasionally put our heads together, every one of us has something to complain / praise about.

Now, what matters though is that RAA does have the best placement in the shortest amount of time. That's given the fact that you do complete their first officer program with type rating. I have to say, their $88k will probably not cover the whole deal. You will end up paying more, depending on how meager you're willing to live outside of school. But even then, the $88k is assuming that you will not fail one lesson and/or checkride. I can guarantee there's little to no chance that will happen unless you're a true super pilot! Well maybe you are! Nonetheless, all schools advertise the lowest price and it's very well known that you better add some more to cover those extra expenses for failing a ride and living a little more than modest.

Having said all that, the type rating is truly the way to go if you want to go to the airlines fast track. I personnaly have seen people getting hired with little as 500 TT - 100 MT at RAA, all jet type jobs. I haven't seen that happen at other schools.

Welcome to aviation! You'll be spending alot of money and you'll be hearing alot of different stories/opinions no doubt. Good luck!

greedyairlineexec

you can get your licenses at any 141 school for lress money in 6 months and get a real degree at a state college for little.
take the 40k you save and buy a couple rental properties or some vanguard index funds. then cfi for 18 months, fly night cargo for 6 months and you'll get hired at the regionals without a 100k debt.it will take 6 months longer doing this way that one of those scams . remember those rj type ratings are useless, specially with no time on airplane (at least 100 hours).
dental school cost 20k a year for 4 years and those clowns wan to charge 90k for 14 months to help you get a 15k/year job? if you are even considering doing that you seriously lack of comon sense.

MikeB525

Ok, this is my third post in the last 30 minutes. I'm on a roll I guess.

I like RAA's 9 week First Officer's School (FOS) which takes students who have commercial-multi/instrument and train them in jetliner systems, airline procedures, CRM, and tops it off with a CRJ type rating. I toured the Phoenix facility last summer and it looks very good. The staff was friendly, and the students I talked to (privately) spoke positively about it. I got to sit in their fixed-base twin simulator (I think a Seneca) and observe a student & instructor for a few minutes. It looked relaxed but very professional. The facility at the time (june 2005) was very new and they are in the process of expanding the facility. Currently they send you to Denver to do the CRJ level-D sim, but I believe the guy there said they hope to get one in-house. And I believe he also said the Florida facility has the level-D in-house.

But here's the real topper: at PHX waiting for my flight back to EWR, I started up a conversation with an ExpressJet ERJ first officer who was about to make his commute to IAH. I asked about how he liked the ERJ and regional flying, and he spoke highly of ExpressJet.
Then I asked about his history, and guess what:

HE WAS A GRADUATE OF THAT VERY SAME RAA PROGRAM!!!! HE INDICATED THAT HE HAD HIS JOB OFFER FROM EXPRESSJET **BEFORE** HE EVEN COMPLETED THE PROGRAM!!!!TWO CLASSMATES HAD JOB OFFERS FROM AMERICAN EAGLE, ALSO BEFORE THEY EVEN GRADUATED!

Because of X-Jet rules this gentleman had to do about a month or 2 of additional timebuilding to get the needed 500 hours. His classmates went right into training at AE, the lowest one having like 350 hours TT.

He spoke incredibly highly about the RAA 9 week program and said that it made his training at ExpressJet a breeze. He also said that RAA will be offering an ERJ type rating that he may actually be helping to write the training cirricula.

Thats just my obervation.

Punkpilot48

The florida campus does not have a level d sim.

MikeB525

I stand corrected. thanks.

atpwannabe

Oxinatah:

Do your research. Visit the schools. Get a feel for the faculity, fellow aviatiors, campus life. I recommend going with the school that you feel most comfortable with, if that is the decision and route you wish to take. It's your money. Spend it how you want to. If you are able to get the same level of trng @ a facility that will cost you 1000's less, do it. Explore your options!!!!

I have received info from FlightSafety in Vero Beach, Delta Connection Flight Academy in Sanford, and AllsATP in Jacksonville. At my age, 44, regional flight academies (schools) is the way for me. Regardless of what any body says on these forums, TIMING IS EVERYTHING. It's not only what you know, but who you know as well. As a Riddle grad, (Fall of '87) ,and having spent a "few" years in the aviation industry, I know what I'm talking about.

Best wishes and maybe one day you'll be my FO!!!: