Ewfflyer

I'll take a slight difference to RickAirs opinion on the night freight. Honestly it will make you a better pilot, whether forced or by choice. You are the PIC, you are the end decision maker on whether or not a flight is completed or not, and safely. It's a great way to build hours quickly, and the experience can't be matched anywhere. Some operations are shady, but so are many airlines. You just have to keep your safety in mind at all times.

My path is as follows
-0 hours, went to Purdue for the flight Fall 00'-Spring 04'
Graduated 04 with 380hrs, Inst/Commercial Single/Multi, CFI ratings with 120hrs of dual given

-May 04'-Oct 05' I flight instructed at a small airport in Michigan, built 1000hrs total, about 900-ish dual-given, and some other hours flying right-seat for a charter, and some fun flights. Learned tons about myself and how to teach people to fly. 11 sign-off's with 100% pass-rate

-Oct 05'-Jul 07' Flew for one of those Small-piston(twin) freight operators. Flew mainly cancelled checks, but also on-demand freight and passengers. 1300hrs my first year, next year slowed down a little. My whole time there I avg'd 100hrs/month of flying. One of the best and challenging experiences I've had!(I do miss the flying portion, not the hurry-up and wait). Left there with 2000hrs of C310 time.

-Jul 07'-present Work for a Piper and Socata distributor, including full Mx and Avionics shops. I get to fly all Piper's, and TBM's. I also fly just about anything that comes through either of the shops also, including Cheyenne's. My first year I flew about 600hrs, but when you're only doing .3 test flights it slows that rate down. I could milk the times, but I don't see it as necessary, and saves everyone money. So I don't always fly the shiny and new aircraft, but it's a varying experience that I really enjoy, and the people I work with are great(which has been at each job I've been at).

There's 100 ways to get to the same place, so good luck and enjoy!

WhiskeyPilot

What do you consider "decent" money? And does it also rely on how many hours you have and what company you can get hired with?

KJSWA

Don't get to focused on an airline gig, their are thousands of different jobs in this industry and the best paying is not the airlines. From where your at I'd get a job working the ramp and find a 141/2 year school and do the ratings and degree at the same time. When your done you'll have learned a lot from ramping and have the opportunity to be hired at a FBO or Flight school to fly. I can't say enough about getting single pilot/multi/135 time, do that then your well on your way. The company you work for determines a lot considering quality of life.

WhiskeyPilot

What is a 141/2 year school? Explain lol

KJSWA

A communtiy college thats got a flight program, your ground school, flight time gets you credit toward your degree

rickair7777

This is incorrect.

A college or university can grant you credit for anything they like, including flight training. This has nothing whatsoever to do with the FAA.

FAR part 141 and 142 (actually 14 CFR 141/142) training organizations have FAA approval to conduct training in slightly fewer hours than is normally required and/or using more simulator time instead of actual airplane time. They are required to have a rigid syllabus, which you cannot deviate from (this is bad).

It is true that many universities utilize 141/142 programs, but it is not required for a degree program.

rickair7777

It depends on who and where you are...

It is enough money to allow you pay your bills, live comfortably, afford toys and vacations, max out the 401k, own a home, and invest in something (real estate, etc).

If you are single and live in the sticks, $75K might do it.

But if you have a spouse and kids, it would be more like $120K - $180K. Of course the spouse's income counts toward this if they work.

A good way of describing it would be so that you can live better than the average working man, on a par with your college-educated peers.

An aviation career is a progression...as you gain flight experience you move to better companies and larger airplanes. It will depend on who you get hired with, very much so. FDX and UPS pay the best for example, other companies which operate similar airplanes pay much less.

Don't plan on getting to your final and best employer prior to age 35-40 (unless you fly military). By that time you will probably have all the family baggage.

KJSWA

No, its correct I did get college credit for ground school and flight training, and your right any academic institution can grant you credits for your ratings, etc. I didn't say it had anything to do with the FAA just that it got you credits which you also make a point about. However unless you go to Embry Riddle, a four year school is not likely to take any of those credits when transfering, only if you have finished the entire degree will it have a better chance at transfering. I made the mistake of bailing out of school to work full time before finishing my degree then when I transfered to a four year school I lost 35 of those credits because they would not execpt them. Thats right a whole damn year of school in the crapper. Obviously this is my personal experience and there are plenty of exceptions, just be carefully and make sure you graduate that piece of paper they give you is worth way more then you might think.

N0315

"I may be moving to northern Virginia in about a year with my mother and girlfriend, near Richmond. There is an ATP school at Richmond International which I was thinking about enrolling in. Yes it'll be expensive but it'll also get me the job of a lifetime once completed."

Try several years AFTER you are done with ATP. There is no quick way there, its only earned.

rickair7777

No, it is not correct. The guy asked what 141/142 was. It is an FAA regulation which sets standards for flight training, and does not necessarily have anything to do with college. There are many 141 schools which simply do flight training.

In your case, your community college had a 141 program, but that does not mean that those programs are only used by community colleges...they are also used by universities and various flight schools. You do not get college credit unless you are a college/university which specifically offers that.