AgonzAPC

Hahaha I guess you are another Brain Washed Military Aviator. Dude I love Military Aviation it doesnt matter whether its in CHINA or in the USA. I always wanted to be a NAVAL AVIATOR, but I know they arent going to let me fly. I have friends in the NAVY that have seen the what goes on in there. I just said that an IQ of 160 is not needed (Or very smart), I wasnt trying to insult anyone. If any of you Military aviator felt insulted I apoligize, but if you are the smart one, you would have ignored what I said, and made it a constructive outcome out of whats been said. It would be idiotic for the NAVY or AIRFORCE to give me a Pilot possition being an Engineer, wouldnt you agree? Have you Military Aviators have had an experience similar to mine (known some one)?


Alex

ryane946

I was in a very similar situation not all that long ago. I graduated with my bachelors in aerospace engineering, and I am now working as a CFII, and I'm about 2-3 months from flying for a regional.

Two big differences:
1. When I graduated college, I had all my licenses and ratings. So I immediately started to flight instruct and be paid.
2. I had all my money saved up from summer jobs to pay for all my ratings. I never went into debt.

So I have a recommendation for you. You should start getting your ratings as soon as you graduate. Get your private, instrument, commercial, multi, CFI/CFII/MEI as soon as possible. Once you graduate, I would recommend taking an engineering job for about a year. While you are working and making good money, you can get your ratings.
Instead of already being in debt, adding about $30-40k more debt from flying, and having to pay the bills without a job...
You will be getting paid good money, enough to pay the bills and probably pay off a chunk of your flight training costs.

Once you have all your licenses and ratings, quit your engineering job and become a CFI. From this point, rickair's post is completely right. You can probably skip over the night cargo flying (go from CFI to regional), but otherwise he has a good layout of where to go.

So I highly recommend getting an engineering job for about a year, and doing your flight training while you have a job. It will make your life a lot easier because instead of debt mounting up, your debt will be decreasing. Also, if you happen to be furloughed early on in your career (it may happen), you will have the job experience in the industry to be able to go back to that as a backup.

AgonzAPC

Thanks for all the info guys.... I am 90% sure that I might get a job as an engineer and get my ratings while working. I was thinking on working for the airforce (Officer maybe, or civilian) and getting my ratings while working for them, if I cannot fly for them (most likely they wont have me fly). I could even try the airforce academy for my masters in Aerospace which I want to get someday.... First I have to make sure I pass a Class I. I already have a Class III. I have 8 months to think about it. While time passes I keep being a geek and fly on my computer..


Alex

rickair7777

You would probably need the citizenship to fly. The military WILL give you a guaranteed flight contract...they might TRY to talk you into something else, but if you are competetive they will give the guaranteed contract. Your engineering degree is a plus.

US Military flying is so competetive that you have to be smart; many military pilots have engineering or science degrees. I assume that you are suffering from some kind of Hollywood misconception about the US military, most officer jobs (including flying) are very competetive, some are extremely competive. They want smart, well-rounded, educated athletes with good vision and health, and they can afford to be selective. If you do get in, I suspect that you will find yourself scrambling just to keep up with evryone else.

Jakob

Hey guys. I just have one quick question and I don't want to start up a whole new thread for this! If you sign up with the Air Force (or Navy, or...), can you be sure to be able to fly? Or do they just tell you: "You have good chances... We'll see..."?
Thanks.
greetz

ps: Sorry for off topic! I wish good luck to you with your career!

Oh fu*k. My question has been answered before! Sorry guys. My mistake...

AgonzAPC

Thanks for the well put info.... Well God only know how long the INS will take to do the paper work. I know of alot of military pilots that went in and fly for the Air Force/Navy without any degrees. I have friend in the Navy that have told me its competitive, but being a Cuban and an Engineer might not help you. What should I do. I wouldnt mind give time of my life to the Armed Forces.

Alex

rickair7777

I guarantee you that there are absolutely NO pilots in the Navy, USMC, USCG, or Air Force that do not have 4-year degrees. The army has a lot of helicopter pilots without degrees, and the navy may be running an experiment to allow enlisted pilots to fly, but it hasn't happened yet. Anyone who says different is lying or ignorant.

Cuban is fine once you get US citizenship (I assume you're anti-Castro). The engineering degree will help you get a military flying slot.

If you don't know how long the citizenship will take, go for civilian flight training, then when you get the citizenship, you can decide on military.

AgonzAPC

Again thanks for all the information. You have been very helpfull... If I have any more questions can I ask you derectly?




Alex

rickair7777

Sure, pmail me.