slipped

It is overpriced, but everyone thinks EVERYTHING is overpriced. I want a new M5 BMW, its a sweet car, and I would like to get it for 23k. Its a personal decision(sp?)

USMCFLYR

Are you saying that your military pay - especially with all the extra pay and tax incentives that you accued while serving for those 15 months overseas - amounted to minimum wage in the civilian world; or are you commenting on the fact that our junior service members ought to be paid more?
Thank you for your service.

USMCFLYR

Slice

When you can get that same exact M5 for 20-30K less, the higher priced one(ATP) is overpriced...poor analogy IMO.

Michken

I made a total of 35k for 15 months of suffering. Though I do think that our service members are under paid thats not what I was commenting on. I was mearly saying since the civilian sector will require me to work as an instructor for little pay I shouldnt have any issues since its somthing I enjoy doing.

chuck416

Hi Michen,
I have a degree of empathy for your situation, as I am former enlisted USN (1979-1985, ship's company, USS Forrestal CV-59). Currently work for Northwest Airlines since 1995. DC-9 left seat.
Someone earlier recommended WOFT. I think that's excellent advice. Get in touch with a guard unit, be transparent with them and let them know what your desires are, see what they'll offer. It is my understanding that guard units really prefer to send their own enlisted to helo school at Ft Rucker, as their own men are a know element.
OR, and this is up front the more risky idea, look in the market and find an aircraft that'll meet your needs thru the CFI checkride, bite the bullet and buy your own aircraft (C-172, late '70s early 80s model, low time engine, lowest time airframe you can afford or finance), and trust me, glass does not matter. You'll be trained on glass at the commuter airline level when your total flight time will yield a job. At the end of your flight training, you can recoup a lot of your investment on the aircraft, that you'll otherwise spend on rental. There are a few not-so-insignificant expenses. Maintenance is all on your dime. Insurance. Tie-down fees at the airport, and the list goes on. Put a very sharp pencil to this and see if this is for you. Either way, you're looking at approximatly 200 hours of flight time. If this is your chosen profession, keep pressing on, and God's speed to you.
Regards,
chuck

Michken

I actually looked into WOFT about 3 months ago. I went to the briefings, spoke with 2 CW5s and started prepairing my warrent packet. Unfortuantly I have a slight stigmitizem in my left eye which prevents me in the Army from getting a Class 1 medical cert. I still have 20/20 vision in both eyes because I gess they cancel each other out. I sent the medical packet to ft rucker hoping for a waver but it got denied. Regardless it ended my military flight training before it started. So the 2 CW5s I spoke with teach a flight school near my post and they took me in for my private license. I am now 2 months in and have 37.1 hours. Im about to do a short cross country today and a long one tomarow. JUST ABOUT THERE!
Not to much longer and ill be out of the military and on my way to a flight school, hence why I need all this great info you guys are givin me.
Thanks again to everyone for posting.

Roll Inverted and Pull

Run, do not walk away from the aviation industry. I think that I understand that you do not have a 4 year degree. When the big boys restart hiring, you would be left at the starting gate. What you would have, if you are lucky, is a job with a commuter and a huge pile of debts. Go get a real job and fly on the weekends if you must get an aviation fix. I never thought that I would ever agree with "Sky High", but there you go!

chuck416

Michen,
There are a lot of guys posting on the forum who give some pretty discouraging advice with respect to your career goals. Nearly every one of them are due to "the job not being what it used to be", i.e. less pay for more work, etc. Pray tell, can anyone tell me of any job, anywhere, where TODAY, the grass is greener on this side of yesteryear??? I don't think we'll get too many answers. IF flying airplanes for a living (and yes, it could end up being less than your "ideal") is your goal, you CAN get a job that'll support you & your family. Wife may have to work, or family make sacrifices. As I indicated, I was USN enlisted (as were several others at my company, but not the norm) but persistence, determination and a bit of hard work (didn't seem nearly as hard as 8 month Med cruises in Uncle Sam's canoe club) paid off. I EAOSd in Nov'85, finished college in May'87, hired at Simmons Airlines (precursor of American Eagle) in Dec'88 on the Shorts 360, then American Airlines on the F/E panel of the 727 in Oct of '92 and furloughed Jan'94. Then got hired at NWA Dec of '95 and been here since. I have been fortunate, and timing is pretty important. If you listen to the reasons why you should not do this or that or the other, you will end up some place where somebody else thinks you should be. Practically every factory worker has a story about how "they got a job someone else thought would be just the thing for me". Not disparaging factory workers, just trying to make a point. If factory working is your gig, man, I really am all for you. Same with flying airplanes. If that's what makes one happy, that's what you should do. Best of luck to you. As a young man, the path you set out on today will determine so much of how your future plays out. If I can be of any help, PM me, and I'll do what ever I can to help shed light on anything I can, to help you in your decisions.
chuck

bervin

There are still a few private lenders out there that have agreements with schools, but money has all but gone away for vocational aviation programs, and what is out there is expensive to get.

You might consider going to a school that has a degree seeking aviation program, that seems to be where the money is available. There are several out there, even the school I'm at right now (Ari Ben Aviator in Fort Pierce Fl) has received accreditation and has joined up with the local college to start a AA degree program. I think they are waiting on final paperwork from the state too start classes.

You'll need a degree anyway, might as well get started on it. There are those out there that poo poo an aviation degree. But it don't mean you have to get just that, once you have all your required classwork out of the way, work on a BA in something else.

PM me if you'd like
Good luck

rickair7777

There are significant drawbacks to an aviation degree, but it is certainly better than no degree at all. Also if you are limited by the new GI Bill rules, which only pay for flight training as part of a degree program, it may be your best option. Sounds like you have been in long enough to be grandfathered under the old vo-tech rules though.