Pilotpip

We can use more good CFIs. If you have a passion for education, this may be right up your alley. The pay isn't great (in either profession) but you could find it really fulfilling. It could be a great part-time job after you start teaching because you'll have free time during summer breaks.

JMT21

Couple of things:

If you go the civilian route, you might want to look into going to a part 141 school. They allow you to get some of your certificates with fewer hours, saving you some cash. Most also offer a pretty structured training program and it's much easier to take out loans through these schools if needed.

Look into going to a military acadamy. I can't speak for all the acadamies, but at the USAFA you are all but guaranteed a flight slot upon graduation (Assuming you are willing and able). On top of that you are getting an outstanding education for free (they actually pay you to go to school- $820/mo). During the summer you get a chance to be stationed at various bases around the US and world (kinda like a internship but better), and get a chance to do exciting stuff like skydive all on the governments bill. It's difficult to get in and they treat you pretty rough your first year, but it will pay dividends in the end. Oh, and they will pay to have PRK surgery done (Again if you are willing and able).

Rick-PFT gets tossed around pretty broadly. What do you consider to be PFT programs? MAPD, UND (won't hurt my feelings), ATP, Pan-Am, ERAU, etc.? You've always given out what I consider to be outstanding advice. You seem very down to earth, I have quite a bit of respect for you. Whats your story, how did you get to where your at?

BusinessAsUsual

Like I said, Im graduating really soon, and Im getting all my letters back around now. Im perfectly willing to have the vision surgery, considering it only makes life easier. But about the military academies: Im not the most outstanding student, I got decent SATs (1380), but my grades were in the tank at 3.3 weighted, 2.8 unweighted. Do academies take kids like me?

How easily could I get my PPL? Im going to start working again (recently took a furlough because I didnt need the money and wanted to have more fun, but with this on the table, I would gladly go back to working 20+hrs/wk, more in the summer. Do you guys think I could get it done by the time I move away for college? Im not going to start until I land a job (obviously), but I should be working by the end of the month.

Also, I dont know if you guys have answered this, but is it really an industry that isnt impossible to break into? It seems pretty volitile, and Job security is something thats important to me.

de727ups

PFT is MAPD or FSA direct track, with some grey areas and debatable points. PFJ, which is worse, is Gulfstream. No grey areas or debates, it's just plane wrong.

Pilotpip

BAU,

Don't worry about the GPA. I was the classic underachiever. 2.5 GPA in highschool, 30 on the ACT. The only school that I didn't get into (applied at 4) was UND, and I think I missed the application deadline for them. It was too long ago for me to remember anyway.

Getting your private during the summer shouldn't be a problem based on two factors. One, you are willing to study on your own time and be prepared for lessons. Second, the weather cooperates. You can't control the second one. Also, if you're looking for a job, try finding one at an FBO. This is a great way for timebuilders to gain experience, and network in the industry. More often than not, the pilots that pass through will be willing to share their experiences with you. I did this while in school, and still do a couple days a week to save up a little extra money. The words of wisdom have been priceless.

JMT, I wouldn't even speak of accredited universities like UND and ER (unless you're speaking of CAPT) in the same breath as MAPD, Gulfstream, et al. Much more respected, and there are other majors at those schools aside from aviation to persue.

rickair7777

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I don't want to lose my anonymity by giving specifics, but my background is a combination of military/civilian CFI. I'm currently an RJ driver with major airline options in the works.

PFT would be something you pay for that gets you an airline job with way less than 1000 hours and no CFI. I think a 700 hour CFI might be barely above my threshold of pain. There's just so much to learn from doing the CFI thing, and there's a certain type of non-leader/non-people-oriented slacker that is usually scared away by the concept of teaching. This type seems to thrive in PFT for some reason, maybe because no people skills are required. Even people who don't have leadership skills can learn them...they just have to be willing to make the effort.

ERAU, UND, ATP, all produce CFI's who go the traditional route (if somewhat abbreviated at times). They amy have side programs that qualify as PFT (CAPT).

I would also prefer that folks don't get preferential hiring by virtue of paying for aircraft specific training...I believe the employer should pay for all aircraft specific training. But hell Southwest does it, so who am I to say... but I will not work for SWA myself.

jetjock_b777

Well CRJ like I said I just turned 21! No I did not make that comment to prove any superiority. I did it for his benefit.

FAA licences are not valid in too many countries as far as I know. All Asian countries including mine (Sri Lanka) follow JAA or CAA. I'm sure you would agree, being far more experienced, that the training provided by a CAA or JAA syllabus is quite superior.

As far as flying is concerned you are right. Not everyone has the opportunity to fly a supersonic aircraft in their lives. I envy you for that! The only two types of supersonic aircrafts that my country has are Kfirs and Mig-27s. I am hoping to join the force in a couple of months but only the most seasoned pilots get those slots. The average Sri Lankan air force pilot has more than 3000 hrs and most of them in combat.

As for your comment about CAA and JAA guys getting into 767s with very few hours, I guess you are right. However, please do note that nothing bad has come out of it. Take as many airlines in my region for example. Emirates, SIA, Etihad, Qatar, Sri Lankan, Thai, Malaysian. Has anyone heard any complaints about bad pilotting techniques? The reason is that the backbone of each of these airlines are held by seasoned veterans like ex-forces pilots.

At the same time, do keep in mind that some of us do have to pay for the training that we undergo. The only way of balancing that cost is to land a sound job somewhere as soon as possible!!!!!

And by the way, try taking off in an air field where there is a forest of towering coconut trees about 150m away from one threshold and landing on the same rwy with a high tension power line running across about 100m from the other threshold. Add to that a stiff x-wind and constant wind shear and you get a reasonably accurate picture of what a basic PPL student goes through when he does his training in my country!

Linebacker35

Do you know how hard/the process it is to change into JAA licences from Canadian or FAA licences? Im Canadian so it would be very easy for me to live and work in another commonwealth country.

BURflyer

I don't want to discourage you but being a pilot is a highly unstable job. Plus right now there is a situation where there are more commercial pilots than seats avialble for them at the major airlines. Cargo airlines are even worse as far as chance of being hired. Since every applicant now has 5-10,000 of PIC, the only way of finding a job at the majors is if your a freind of the chief pilot. It's really bad.

That being said, you might say that your not going to be a Major airline pilot right now but maybe 10+ years from now so things will improve. I hope that's the case but it could also be worse. If you asked an airlne pilot in 1996, what the industry would look like in 2006, I don't think he would have predicted what is going on right now.

rickair7777

The FAA license is valid anywhere in the world...as long as you are a flying a US Flag airplane.

There are essentially zero pilot jobs for Americans in Europe, and the only way an American can take advantafe of asian opportunities is by accumulating experience as a US airline pilot first. Therefore a US citizen needs to get the FAA stuff. If he gets hired by an asian airline, they will provide the license conversion training in evry case that I know of.

I taught at a JAA school, the requirements are much more intense academically, but not so much as far as the actual flying goes. This makes sense because the reality of a US commercial pilot license is that it allows you to work as a CFI (once you get that rating, and CFII & MEI). In order to get an actual pilot job flying an airplane you will need close to ATP time requirements in most cases. In the US experience is what counts, not ratings.

Actually, experience counts in asia too...instead of hiring locals with a brand new JAA license, the asian carriers tend to hire Americans/Brits/Aussies with previous airline experience...hmmm.