Veteran looking to get into aviation
02-10-2010, 09:10 PM
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 17
Veteran looking to get into aviation
Let me start by saying that I just turned 30. I don't have kids-only a serious girlfriend. I've been reading up on these boards for a couple of months so I know about the "reality" of the airline industry right now.
In doing my research, I've found that the best way for me to approach it is to attend a local community college that offers an Associates in aviation science with PPL, instrument rating and CPL. It takes 2 years and since the flight training is part of the curriculum I can use the post 9/11 GI bill to pay for it. I have about 45 college credits already and I was thinking of finishing up in a different major once and if I decide to transfer to a 4 year school so I can have that fallback degree.
This is a link to the program I was looking at.
Dutchess Community College: Aviation Science: Pilot (A.S. Degree)
They work with a local flight school called Richmor Aviation. I did an intro flight with a flight instructor for $100. I absolutely loved it. The problem is that I can't start until the fall semester. I'm dying to get up in the air again but I can't afford to keep paying the $100 bucks all the time right now.
What should I be doing to prepare in the meantime?
Does my plan sound feasible?
My goal is to get paid to fly. I'm not in it to make money but just being able to pay the bills doing something I love would be nice. If I end up making decent money, even better.
Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.
In doing my research, I've found that the best way for me to approach it is to attend a local community college that offers an Associates in aviation science with PPL, instrument rating and CPL. It takes 2 years and since the flight training is part of the curriculum I can use the post 9/11 GI bill to pay for it. I have about 45 college credits already and I was thinking of finishing up in a different major once and if I decide to transfer to a 4 year school so I can have that fallback degree.
This is a link to the program I was looking at.
Dutchess Community College: Aviation Science: Pilot (A.S. Degree)
They work with a local flight school called Richmor Aviation. I did an intro flight with a flight instructor for $100. I absolutely loved it. The problem is that I can't start until the fall semester. I'm dying to get up in the air again but I can't afford to keep paying the $100 bucks all the time right now.
What should I be doing to prepare in the meantime?
Does my plan sound feasible?
My goal is to get paid to fly. I'm not in it to make money but just being able to pay the bills doing something I love would be nice. If I end up making decent money, even better.
Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.
02-10-2010, 09:35 PM
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by Yoke Head
Let me start by saying that I just turned 30. I don't have kids-only a serious girlfriend. I've been reading up on these boards for a couple of months so I know about the "reality" of the airline industry right now.
In doing my research, I've found that the best way for me to approach it is to attend a local community college that offers an Associates in aviation science with PPL, instrument rating and CPL. It takes 2 years and since the flight training is part of the curriculum I can use the post 9/11 GI bill to pay for it. I have about 45 college credits already and I was thinking of finishing up in a different major once and if I decide to transfer to a 4 year school so I can have that fallback degree.
This is a link to the program I was looking at.
Dutchess Community College: Aviation Science: Pilot (A.S. Degree)
They work with a local flight school called Richmor Aviation. I did an intro flight with a flight instructor for $100. I absolutely loved it. The problem is that I can't start until the fall semester. I'm dying to get up in the air again but I can't afford to keep paying the $100 bucks all the time right now.
What should I be doing to prepare in the meantime?
Does my plan sound feasible?
My goal is to get paid to fly. I'm not in it to make money but just being able to pay the bills doing something I love would be nice. If I end up making decent money, even better.
Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.
In doing my research, I've found that the best way for me to approach it is to attend a local community college that offers an Associates in aviation science with PPL, instrument rating and CPL. It takes 2 years and since the flight training is part of the curriculum I can use the post 9/11 GI bill to pay for it. I have about 45 college credits already and I was thinking of finishing up in a different major once and if I decide to transfer to a 4 year school so I can have that fallback degree.
This is a link to the program I was looking at.
Dutchess Community College: Aviation Science: Pilot (A.S. Degree)
They work with a local flight school called Richmor Aviation. I did an intro flight with a flight instructor for $100. I absolutely loved it. The problem is that I can't start until the fall semester. I'm dying to get up in the air again but I can't afford to keep paying the $100 bucks all the time right now.
What should I be doing to prepare in the meantime?
Does my plan sound feasible?
My goal is to get paid to fly. I'm not in it to make money but just being able to pay the bills doing something I love would be nice. If I end up making decent money, even better.
Any comments or suggestions are appreciated.
Welcome to APC and we are glad that you have decided to join the community. One thing though - if you have been reading these forums for a few months like you say I'm thinking that you should know that you are probably going to take some heat for the bolded statement above. It makes you sound like one of those guys that will take those lower apples on the tree. You be sure to get some good advice on this forum, but be sure to take everythign with a grain of salt and grow (maintain) that same thick skin that I am sure you had while you served in the military.
USMCFLYR
02-10-2010, 09:56 PM
#3
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 17
I hear ya USMCFLYR. I mean I respect the sacrifice and time that the members of this board have put into achieving their career goal. And I'm eternally grateful for all the wisdom being passed out in this forum but in the end I have to do what I have to do to be happy in life.
With that being said, I'm always going to shoot for the highest paying job I can get while staying in the same field but if worse comes to worst then I might have to take one of those "lower apples" for a bit until the economy get better. Who knows. By the time I'll be employable things might be very different out there. The high cost of becoming a pilot and the low demand in the industry might create a shortage of pilots in a couple of years. There's always been a boom and bust cycle in aviation and hopefully we're due for another boom.
Nobody knows what the future will hold. That's why I want to get bachelors degree in something other than aviation. My mind is made up and I'm going to go after my dream before it's too late.
The reason for that statement now in bold print is so I didn't get those other comments trying to talk me out of it because of the pay or lack there of.
With that being said, I'm always going to shoot for the highest paying job I can get while staying in the same field but if worse comes to worst then I might have to take one of those "lower apples" for a bit until the economy get better. Who knows. By the time I'll be employable things might be very different out there. The high cost of becoming a pilot and the low demand in the industry might create a shortage of pilots in a couple of years. There's always been a boom and bust cycle in aviation and hopefully we're due for another boom.
Nobody knows what the future will hold. That's why I want to get bachelors degree in something other than aviation. My mind is made up and I'm going to go after my dream before it's too late.
The reason for that statement now in bold print is so I didn't get those other comments trying to talk me out of it because of the pay or lack there of.
Last edited by Yoke Head; 02-10-2010 at 10:08 PM.
02-11-2010, 07:50 AM
#4
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,261
The sentiment about "not being in it to make money" is very, very common with entry-level pilots. I can honestly tell you that essentially everyone gets over that after a few years in the industry...and some of them come to the realization after they are stuck in a not-so-good job. Also don't forget to take QOL into account...that ends up being more important than money for many of us.
I would probably assume that you too will have a change of heart...you don't sound any difference than rest of us 5-15 years ago.
With that said, you plan sounds pretty good...you leverage the GI Bill for flight training and then get a practical non-aviation degree.
You financial goals should focus on what you mentioned...being able to pay the bills. But you might want to do some further analysis as to what exactly those bills will consist of...especially down the road. Unless you are dead-set against marriage and kids, life is going to cost a lot more than a single guy might expect. $80K is just getting by for a guy with a mortgage, car payments, retirement accounts, kids, etc.
Also stay in the reserves if you can...everybody I know in aviation who did is damn glad of it. And I know several UAL pilots who have come BACK to the reserves to finish out their 20 after their airline retirement was eliminated.
I would probably assume that you too will have a change of heart...you don't sound any difference than rest of us 5-15 years ago.
With that said, you plan sounds pretty good...you leverage the GI Bill for flight training and then get a practical non-aviation degree.
You financial goals should focus on what you mentioned...being able to pay the bills. But you might want to do some further analysis as to what exactly those bills will consist of...especially down the road. Unless you are dead-set against marriage and kids, life is going to cost a lot more than a single guy might expect. $80K is just getting by for a guy with a mortgage, car payments, retirement accounts, kids, etc.
Also stay in the reserves if you can...everybody I know in aviation who did is damn glad of it. And I know several UAL pilots who have come BACK to the reserves to finish out their 20 after their airline retirement was eliminated.
02-11-2010, 09:04 AM
#5
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 17
RickAir, you're 100% right about quality of life. Let me clarify. I'm obviously going to shoot for the moon as far as salary and position. But if I end up making just enough to make moderate living and never become wealthy, I won't be dissapointed.
Also, I don't think I'll ever be into a regular 9-5 so I think I'd enjoy the pilot lifestyle. My girlfriend is 110% supportive-God bless her.
I will take your advice into account about staying in the reserves. It stinks that many of you older guys here that are veterans had to go into so much debt to pay for training. I figure it's the least they can do for us for putting our butts on the line.
So is there anything I should be doing in the mean time to prepare? I just want to get the ball rolling already. I want to feel like I'm making forward process.
Also, I don't think I'll ever be into a regular 9-5 so I think I'd enjoy the pilot lifestyle. My girlfriend is 110% supportive-God bless her.
I will take your advice into account about staying in the reserves. It stinks that many of you older guys here that are veterans had to go into so much debt to pay for training. I figure it's the least they can do for us for putting our butts on the line.
So is there anything I should be doing in the mean time to prepare? I just want to get the ball rolling already. I want to feel like I'm making forward process.
02-11-2010, 10:35 AM
#6
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,261
A lot of aviation training is academics...get a private pilot textbook and start reading.
The FAA publishes several handbooks...they are either cheap at your local pilot store (cost of printing) or free if you download the pdf.
Airplane Flying Handbook
Aeronautical Knowledge Handbook
Instrument Flying Handbook
As far as the pay goes...I think many of us would be OK with a reasonably moderate payscale...if training were paid for and the payscale was consistent. Many of the "greedy" pilots who want solid six figure incomes spent their youth "paying dues"...school loans, training loans, low pay. They need the large dollars at the end just to catch up. People starting out never seem to understand the "opportunity cost"...the countless hours of of your youth spent on reserve or "productivity breaks" could have been utilized making money in another career field. Or home with the family, whichever.
The FAA publishes several handbooks...they are either cheap at your local pilot store (cost of printing) or free if you download the pdf.
Airplane Flying Handbook
Aeronautical Knowledge Handbook
Instrument Flying Handbook
As far as the pay goes...I think many of us would be OK with a reasonably moderate payscale...if training were paid for and the payscale was consistent. Many of the "greedy" pilots who want solid six figure incomes spent their youth "paying dues"...school loans, training loans, low pay. They need the large dollars at the end just to catch up. People starting out never seem to understand the "opportunity cost"...the countless hours of of your youth spent on reserve or "productivity breaks" could have been utilized making money in another career field. Or home with the family, whichever.
02-11-2010, 04:11 PM
#7
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 17
Hey USMCFLYR, I was trying to PM you but I didn't find that option anywhere. I wanted to know if it was possible to change my handle to something else. I didn't see it in the option under user cp so would I just join again using the same email address? Do I have to be deleted first? I would like to change it to Yoke Addict. Sorry. I know this has nothing to do with the thread.
02-11-2010, 04:23 PM
#8
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: FAA 'Flight Check'
Posts: 13,837
Originally Posted by Yoke Head
Hey USMCFLYR, I was trying to PM you but I didn't find that option anywhere. I wanted to know if it was possible to change my handle to something else. I didn't see it in the option under user cp so would I just join again using the same email address? Do I have to be deleted first? I would like to change it to Yoke Addict. Sorry. I know this has nothing to do with the thread.
You're stuck with the current screen name because there is no option to change screed names. Also - you don't have enough posts yet to have the ability to PM. Keep building your post count with meaningful posts and you'll be PM'ing soon enough.
USMCFLYR
02-11-2010, 06:55 PM
#10
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2010
Posts: 17
I am essentially a truck driver. I got deployed for six months to Iraq in '03 at the beginning of Enduring Freedom. The second time was in '04 to '05 also in Iraq for 14 months to do convoy escort work. And now I hear we might mobilize to help out in Haiti.
N6724G
Are you taking pretty much the same route I'm taking or did you take a different path as far as your flight training goes?
N6724G
Are you taking pretty much the same route I'm taking or did you take a different path as far as your flight training goes?
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