This is great advice.

 

Disclaimer, I'm not an ERAU grad, so I can't say definatively.

However ,this has not been my experience in the interviews I have had or the recruiting people I have spoken with. Those I have talked to are looking for a four year degree from a recognized and accredited school (practically anything with "State" in the name meets this criteria). ERAU does also, but at a VERY high price premium.

It probably also has some bearing on where you are coming into the market - if you are planning on being a puppy mill pilot, then the airlines probably do appreciate you're having gone to a pilot school. I had my ATP before I was hired into the right seat of a 135 jet charter operator, and over 3000 hours before I was hire at a 121 operator, so that makes a difference.

Depending on what congress does, those days may be over. If that turns out to be the case, then I suspect the emphasis will be more on the fact that you have a four year degree and that it's from a good school than that it's from a pilot school. More importantly, get a degree that is in something practical other than aviation - odds are you'll need it at some point.

 

So do you guys think this applies to getting a Bachelor's in Aviation Management too? Is it better to get a generic business degree than one specializing in aviation?

 

Do your research! ERAU may be a good school, but consider the costs. Listen to all the people saying get a degree in anything other than aviation. Don't spend $150K to get your ratings, you will regret it.

 

Hey I would suggest you go to American Flyers if you are planning to spend that much amount at Embry. The biggest advantage at AF will be that u'll get your licence within 4-6 months and they do it real professionally. I did my CPL from their Fort Worth Meacham airport branch.

 

Prescott Riddle grad, DEEP in student loan debt almost 20 years later.

Tried any flying job (graduated with CAMEL, instrument rated in a twin, and CFI) but couldnt get anything close to allowing me to live indoors and eat on a regular basis.

The riddle "career center" was a joke. The students that worked in there funneled the great opportunities (and those were pretty rare) to friends. I dont think I ever got anything other than an offer to fly a banner from a 150 in Florida (I moved to PHX). The guy was nice enough to let me know when not flying, I would have to clean airplanes and hangars. I passed on that opportunity.

I did have a great time flying skydivers, that was enjoyable, if only a time builder in a complex aircraft.

Ultimately, my Aeronautical Science degree on the wall does serve a purpose. It hides a hole on the wall. (ok, thats a sarcastic remark, but one I use frequently)

I took a job at a city police department, and since then Ive had health insurance, a decent income (75K) and I havent had to worry about a furlough or base displacement.

Do I miss it? Hell Yea. Every time I go to an airport on vacation, I drool through the terminals and follow the crew around like a lost puppy.

Im still waiting on the 'pilot shortage' that the ERAU recruiter teams spouted was on the way when they came to my high school aviation class.

I was lucky enough to get my aviation start in high school. I wasnt old enough to get a drivers license, but I could fly an airplane through New York Airspace..... figure that one out.

As I watch everyone loosing their jobs in this economy one has to dig deep to see if they can stay the course to get into a major airline seat.

I did enjoy the classes (well maybe not the math and physics) at ERAU, but the location in Prescott just plain sucked. The campus was a downtrodden group of buildings, and the airport was a few miles down the road. When you are one of the guys without a car, it was pretty difficult.

Would I reccomend anyone spend the cash ERAU wants? NO WAY.

If you want a Riddle degree, get as many classes as you can that will transfer at a local community college. I got there with my private and got credit for a couple flight classes too. If you can get at least that before you start there, it will help.

I got about half way through when I figured out that they were way overpriced for what I was going to get out of it. I chose to finish rather than loose what I had already had completed.

Just be aware, I dont think the Riddle name will get you into any airline seats. I know of 3 guys in the years I spent at Riddle that actually fly for an airline today. The rest that graduated gave up and took other jobs.

Good luck.

 

Hamburgler ..

Do not put all of your eggs in one basket. In other words, DIVERSIFY your knowledge.

Don't go to Embry Ridiculous and get a degree in aviation at a premium price. Go to a reputable school that is acredited and get a technical degree (engineering anything, chemistry, physics, computers, etc). If you don't want to do a technical degree, go to a good business school and get an MBA.

Trust me on this. If you lose your medical, you don't want to be in a bad job environment trying to land a good job with Aviation degrees as your only educational background.

 

dont do it, send me fifty bucks instead

 

I am an Alumni and can say... YES IT IS A GREAT SCHOOL! It is NOT worth the money! If I had the chance to do it over I would go to a good state college and get my Certificates at the local FBO. If you really want a Diploma that says E-RAU on it do it on line at 1/8 the money.

 

dude take it from someone that's been feroled from your dream job. This job is NOT worth 150K in debt. The best that you can hope for with in 10 to 20 years is 60-80K from regional to major. You can make that starting out if you spend 150k on any other career. Would you spend 150K to become a bus driver?

Someone I talked to said the male/female ratio is WAY off at Riddle that is why you have to BEWARE of Female Riddle graduates. No doubt that preferential treatment will affect them forever.

You schooling has NOTHING to do with flying, keep it separate. Go to your local FBO and study at a local college or university.