Any Advice for a Beginner?
 

I'm currently a high school student and very interested in becoming an airline or corporate pilot. I'm looking into the most cost effective way to get my ratings and degree. I'll be done school in 2015 so the economy and airlines should have returned to normal and the age 65 rule will have left many openings. Here's my plan so far...

• High school - PPL and Instrument
• Go to University for a B.S. in engineering (which was my plan before I became interested in being a pilot anyways.)
• During University get as many other ratings as I can afford. From commercial to MEI and build time.
• After University get any other ratings I haven't gotten immediately and build time in entry level job.
• Hope for the best at getting into the majors

Any suggestions on how I could do this better, be more competitive, and cheaper? And does anyone know of any good flight schools in Northern ON or Northern Michigan?

Or, if money is an issue and I won't be able to go to university alongside flight school I could go to my local college's training+degree program on big scholarships, but this is last case scenario.

A few comments:

1) getting an engineering degree is an EXCELLENT idea. I would suggest that every aspiring pilot get a degree in a NON-AVIATION related field. Unfortunately you'll probably end up needing to use it when you are inevitably furloughed.

2) I wouldn't plan on 2015 returning to normal. Not to be a Debbie Downer, but even "normal" in this business isn't that great. There has been a huge oversupply of pilots in this business for decades and I would expect the same in 2015. That translates to low wages, undercutting, and unfortunately difficult career progression. You'll probably be earning 1/2 of what your future engineering buds will be earning when you all graduate together for many years.

3) Flying on the side while you're going to school is probably a pretty good idea if you can afford it. I typically tell guys to get your flight ratings as cheaply as possible as no one cares where you got them from- only that you got your ratings. A school that will hire you when you complete your CFI/I/MEI with them would be ideal and/or one with connections to a regional airline for a F/O seat.

It looks like your plan is pretty well thought out.

Some people might disagree but I would recommend waiting till college to get your instrument. I say this because since instrument has so much material, you might forget some things and become rusty by the time you get to college. I would recommend getting your private and then getting extra ratings like complex, high performance and private multi engine just to get those out of the way. Just a thought and it is something I decided to do. I figured that a part 141 program is much more structured than a part 61 school and therefore would benefit me.

That is what I decided to do. Going for Aerospace.

I would suggest going to a school with an aviation department as most have engineering programs as well and would save you money for commuting. Just a thought. Everyone has their own opinion on the mater.

You seem to have everything thought out. Good for you.

Good luck.

Well if I can't get in I could resort to engineering while building more time.

I'll look into the flight school more thoroughly maybe give them a call if I can't find the info.

On average how much do those extra ratings cost? The complex, high performance, and private multi engine. Without those ones with the research I've done it's going to cost me $40,000-$45,000 for all of the other ratings. I've got some single engine time building worked out for yard work and I'm planning on washing planes for multi engine time building to cut down on costs.

One step ahead of you, the university I'm hoping to attend has an aviation department, and a skydiving club (might be able to fly them up for some more time building).

Thank you both for the quick feedback! Very helpful community here.

The ME is just an addon and the complex and high performance are endorsements, not ratings (I know I called them ratings). You can get the complex and high performance in only a few hours so it might not even cost you $1,000 for both.

The ME is expensive due to the fact that renting Multi Engine aircraft is expensive. You don't have to get this rating but some universities require their students to get both the ME private and ME commercial, so its double the cost and usually more expensive than a mom and pop school. It would also help you immensely for your ME commercial, since you already know most of the stuff. That is why I am saying this. Talk to your university and see how much they charge for ME aircraft.

You should check their policies. I believe most universities require their students to be in their curriculum, either majoring in aviation or minoring in aviation to be able to fly with them and rent their planes. Just a thought.

If you can possibly find a way, after your private, I suggest to find a plane to buy (172, 152, whatever). Then find an instructor, and knock out the rest of the ratings from there, and sell it when you feel like.

250 hours for your commercial cert. Look at rental prices for yourself and see what it takes pricewise to rent from there versus if you had your own aircraft what it would cost you.

I know two guys personally who did this. Racked up a lot of hours for less.

I still have two years to go before university but I will contact them about all the details. I could minor in aviation, that's always an option if necessary. Thanks a lot!

I don't think I'll be able to buy an airplane along with paying for training and school, but I will look into it! I may be able to rent my neighbours for a lot cheaper. Thanks for the info!

I'd say get your PPL if you can afford it now. After that I would say concentrate on learning engineering b/c it really takes time and dedication if you want that degree. Fly for currency and take your college buddies on some spring break trips. Have them split costs to make it cheap for you while building hours towards the commercial license.

Go out and make some money as an engineer as a college intern and do a little more work after school. Get some experience so when that one day comes where you are looking job when the economy goes south you can put that degree to use again. Meanwhile, work towards the CFI and then make a career change.

Might as well get paid well for working hard, right? You won't find that immediately in an aviation career.

If money is not an issue then no need to follow this, just jump into aviation. If it is an issue then don't be like the rest of America and take huge debts... Just my $.02

Most loan companies want 10% down on a plane.

A 40K note @ 6% for 15 years is ~ $350 a month.

Factor in operating costs (gas, insurance, cost of an instructor, etc) and you may find it cheaper than continuing at an FBO. There are plenty of web sites out there that will help you find the right plane for you.

And just to clarify...Im talking about a used plane. Tradeaplane and Controller have nice and easy sites to navigate on. No sense in droping $250k on a brand new one when youre looking to train and get your time.

Honestly sounds like you're a smart kid. You probably should be designing airplanes rather than driving them. Fly for fun on the side.