Hello everybody! I'm a non US citizen, an ambitious 19 and a half years old man and consider launching my dream of becoming a Pilot in the states.
I've been surfing the net for months now and all what i could get beside the headache is the mixed reviews about every flight school and college out there ... but i mad my mind and decide to take a tow year degree in aviation science (associate) along with flight training mostly because from what i've read holding a degree would increase my opportunities of getting a job and by getting an associate in aviation science i can in the future take most of the credits and get a bachelor in a non-aviation field.

Now I've been lookin for colleges who gives associates along with flight training and passed along Aviator College of Aeronautical Science & Technology and found their degree program very interesting specially that in their degree program they offer alomost 500 hour of multi engine no simulators time!!!!
but i need other options so please if anybody have any suggestions for similar degree and flight training colleges ???? I'd be thankful

 

Where are you located? or are you planning on re-locating to the school?

 

I'm not in America and i don't care much where the school\college is as long as it's a good one.

 

Another Big part of the equation is what do you want to do? Do you want to become an Airline Pilot? Do you want to be a pilot working in Aviation while not necassarily flying for your salary. When do you want to start does it matter how much it costs and when do you want to start?

 

Of course i want to become an Airline Pilot and i hope to start at least in the last quarter of this year that's if i find the right college, as for the money my budget goes around 60k.

 

IS that 60K a year? Also I think you need to look for a bachelors program. While it is fine and dandy to say you have a college degree and you have an Associates its not gonna fly in the industry today. There are so many college grads out there that you probably should have an Bachelors in something. The other thing that has been brought to my attention is that airlines will look at what your minors are or if they can get one what classes you took. I know that they want to see that you have taken stuff out side of aviation. There are a lot of good flight schools. witht eh new rules going into effect with hour requirements and all that it probably seems like the best choice to do something that is going to get you a ton of time. The one thing people have been forgetting is that there is a clause that lets the administrator assign credit for higher education to go towards your total time requirements. with you being 19 and a incoming freshman you will want to look into that. there are a lot of schools in the midwest and the south of the coutry that are very good. I currently go to Purdue and am doing an internship at Alaska Airlines where they have said and I havew seen in the simulators how different programs compare. You go to Purdue they immediatly assume that you are extremly bright and smart and all of that...(iam not all that smart got out of high school wiht a under 3.2 gpa) but its assumptions. Its just like saying i fly an airplane. some people who don't know much about flying immediatly think of something big like airliner style its the same you could go to duke and graduate with a .001GPA and all you would have to say is that you went to Duke. when I applied to colleges I applied to 9 different flight schools. I would be glad to share any info i have on them with you if you would like. just shoot me an e-mail anytime.

-Chad
[email protected]

 

Do you have the legal right to work in the US? If not, research how well an FAA license will transfer into the country in which you plan to work. If you're in the EU, you may be better off going the JAR route. See pprune.com

If you can work in the US, be aware that the law is changing to 800, possibly 1500 hours to be considered "entry level". How will you get the additional flight time?

Also, be aware that there are tens of thousands of pilots on furlough from US airlines.

My honest advice is learn to fly as a hobby (sport license) and spend your money going to school for a degree in which you can earn a reasonable salary without having to sacrifice for many years after graduation.

 

I did the flight program at the aviator, they are a pretty good bunch of people with some excellent instructors and good prices.

That being said I did not do the degree program so I can't say a lot about it.
They did move into a huge facility just recently and started the degree thing this year. Their on-campus housing is very convenient as well.
My best advise would be 1. visit the schools your interested in, go with your gut feeling.
2. If your goal is to get a bachelor degree, talk to the university that you are interested in after your associates degree and see what will transfer in terms of credit hours... this is important.... Your 2 year degree will literally be worthless if the credits don't transfer and you have to take a bunch of classes again.