gacri

I have done alot of reading on this site and see that it is mostly centered around those wishing to become pilots in the industry. I once, years ago, wanted to be a commercial pilot due to my love of aviation but instead chose a career in law enforcement. After approx. (15) years in this field conducting various assignments from patrol work to investigations, I am ready for a change and am researching the areas of aviation/security. What I am lacking, I feel, is that college degree...I have obtained credits in the area of criminal justice (approx. 12). I have applied to numerous TSA positions and am waiting to hear if I will be selected to move one in the process. I have read alot of negative things about ERAU and I can see the valid point of the costs vs "what you get" if pursuing a airline pilot career...BUT, I applied to ERAU online, was accepted, they transferred my (12) CJ credits as electives toward the Professional Aero. Degree (2 year) and I am heavily contiplating attending there online program. I've doen some comparisons and found that ERAU online is actually cheaper than my local state university where I live! ERAU is about $100 per credit hour less. Now I realize this is the Worldwide Campus, but being married with a family this may fit the bill best? Also I chose Professional Aero Degree because after reviewing the courses offered I can somewhat cater them toward the airport/airline security focus. Also, I feel, like it or not, ERAU is well known in the aviation world and may separate me from others when trying to get into the security end of things. Does anyone have an opinion on this taking into accoutn my background and also my career desires. Would attending ERAU be a wise choice in MY specific situation. On another note, I also wish to pursue becomming a pilot (as a hobby) and am contiplating getting my LSA rating. Any thought on this? Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any input.

Grumble

Before you pull the plug on your law enforcement career I would ask if you're department has an aviation dept.

When I went through ERAU, I became really good friends with an older guy like yourself that was going back through and getting his degree. Exact same back ground... law enforcement. However his dept put him through flight training, after he completed his private license on his own. He quit to go get his degree and I think he's flying for Customs now. He showed up at school with a butt load of turbine helo time.

You have to ask yourself in this economy why you want to give up a job that's providing a decent living for you.

If I were in your shoes, I'd find a local FBO to fly at, pay for your training as you go and avoid going into a huge mountain of debt. Look at a distance learning course. If you're near a military base I can almost guarantee you there is an ERAU campus there. Phoenix is also an option.

ERAU does provide a great education, they just shovel a lot of BS and extort starry eyed young high school kids. I know a lot of guys in the military that went Pro Aero as enlisted troops growing up through the distance learning program, and used that degree to get commisioned.

mswmsw

I would agree heartily with this advice. Stay away from the "pilot mills" and save some money, take flying lessons at your own pace at a local FBO...... and add your college degree however you can. If your law enforcement agency has a 20 year retirement, I would strongly suggest that you stay there at least that much longer, and pick up your ratings, flight experience and college degree over the course of the next five years in your off-duty time. This will be advantageous in two ways: I am guessing that you will walk away with some reasonable LE retirement income after 20 years on the job; and maybe pilot hiring will look better in five years..... cuz it don't look good now or for any time in the near future! Now is not the time to chuck a steady LE job for a pilot job (since there are so few out there anyway).

BTW, I went the other way: I left a good 135 job flying decent equipment back in 1976, at age 22, and became a cop. I am now looking at retirement from my LEO job after almost 33 years with my Dept, and am very thankful I made the switch all those years ago. I have steady employment, good pay (I am with a very big County Sheriff's Dept), slept at home virtually every night, and will have an excellent retirement when I "go" in a few months. I even was lucky enough to make it to my Dept's Aviation Unit where I have been flying F/W and helos for the last 12 years. But I would have still been happy in any of the variety of LE jobs I have held with my Dept, even if I had not made it to my Dept's aviation unit....... cuz I always kept my hand in aviation "on the side", part time CFI'ing, bought a little Cherokee to fly the family around in, etc. Just think long and hard before you actually say goodbye to a 15 year LE career, especially with that retirement income right around the corner.

Grumble

Wow yeah, I totally glossed over the benefits of hanging out for another 5 years and getting that retirement. In 5 years, you could earn the ratings and finish your degree while you close out your career. Then, not only do you have a HUGE safety net under you, but then you'll be poised for a follow on career.

For God sakes DO NOT punch out that close to a retirement only to take on a mountain of debt and a 19K/year job.

mexipilot84

I do recommend Utah Valley University. They have an online collge program. Any flight ratings you can apply towards your degree. The staff is really nice and helpful and there is a variety of online aviation classes you can take. They have a BS in Aviation Science and a BS in Aviation administration i think its called. Makes for a great compliment to your ratings, after all sometimes now a days without any degree they think you're straight out of Burger King.

I did ERAU when I started college, I quickly got out of there and transferred to UVU, haven't had a problem yet.