Help me please!! Expert advice needed
 

Hello, iam enlisted in the air force, getting out in 3 weeks. I have the gi bill to go to pretty much any school that is va qualified. Where should I go and what degree should I get if I would like a future in flying? I can get a free ride through embry riddle but have heard nothing but bad reviews. Can you pilots give me any advice? I have like 6 hours in a cessna and I love it. I would of posted in the training section but there are like 2 people viewing. Thanks a lot!!

First of all thank you for your service.

The advice you will get from most on here is to get a degree in anything but aviation. Airlines do not care that you have a specialized aviation degree, just that you have a four year degree. So my advice is to pick something else you like to do, go to school for that. You can still fly and try for an aviation job, but if flying doesn't work out for some reason (medical, financial, family, etc.) you have a back-up.

I don't know if you can use your benefits to pay flight fees, but if you can I suggest looking into a university that has a flight program. Several out there have programs that have associate degrees/minors in aviation while rolling that credit into a four year program. Off the top of my head--Purdue, Auburn, Southern Illinois, University of Illinois, University of North Dakota, Western Michigan, FIT all have programs--there are many others. Each is different, find the one that fits you best.

Good Luck.

I agree on the "get a degree in something useful" department. Having the option to work outside the field (pilots on average get laid off at least once, I know a guy who has been laid off 6 different times [more than normal by a long shot])

The only useful thing about the aviation degree is the chance to land an internship with an airline and make contacts for the time when you can finally get hired to fly. Everybody will have hours when you get to the interview; so knowing people and having letters of rec. or having your application "walked in" by a contact can sometimes mean the difference between getting the interview or not.
(If you get the interview, they've already decided that they WANT to hire you, just don't give them any reason to think otherwise and you'll probably get the gig.)

You have to spend your own money to get your private pilot's license, but instrument-MEI can be paid for via VA funds, so make sure you have 4-6k put away for the private....I recommend AF or Navy flying clubs for the best prices....Also, only certain flight schools are eligible to be used for VA funded training, make sure the one you want to use qualifies.....Some of the on-base flying clubs have that capability, some don't, but I still suggest using them for your private.

Good luck, and thanks for your service.

I agree with the previous reply. Yet why not be on a aviation campus? It was an amazing experience to be surrounded by other aviation enthusiasts - all with a common goal - to someday work in the aviation business.

People will argue - you may not be able to fly/work for one reason or another (medical, restricted to living in one state/city) - so do not get an aviation degree. But if the government is paying and it truly is your passion - Embry-Riddle is the best of the best. I went for electrical engineering and completed flight training through a local flight school. If I had the money I would have trained with the Embry-Riddle. They train their flight students to airline standards - pass/fail. The alumni base is exceptional in the industry. Guys and gals that love aviation like you who look to Embry-Riddle to hire. When I went tuition at Embry-Riddle was average $$$ compared to other private universities. The flight training is more expensive than most flight schools. Yet the training is again exceptional (I took 2 flight classes while going to college there and they were tough/thorough - better than any training I had in NC, PA, AR, and AZ - all places I lived/worked and paid for 'cheaper' flight training.

Those who went to ERAU love the school. Yet you don't need a degree from ERAU to get hired with the airlines. A non-aviation degree from a local state university is a better decision. But if you are like me, you'll get lost in all of those thousands of students - potentially loosing focus to your flying dreams. It really depends on your focus/ability/etc.

I was furloughed (it will happen to you - it happens to all of us) and was thankful to have gotten the engineering degree.

This is a personal experience - apologize for not helping more. But let me give you some advice. Whatever you decide to do, if you want to fly for the airlines, you need live your life like an airline pilot - integrity, hard work and over acheive in everything you do. The industry is very competive. If youre pationate enough, you will do it! Don't give up and work hard. Be the best that you can be - you'll dreams can come true!

OH - and talk to as many people in the industry as you can. Keep a contact list of all those whom you meet and ask as many questions as you can. We love helping those who want to be in our shoes. We were where you were too!

Get a degree in computers, business, or pre-med. Then go back into the AF and let them pay for your training. If you get medically DQ'd you still have a good degree to start a career with. Better yet, join the guard while going to college and get them to send you to UPT when you complete your education.

Gummer hater I'm definetly not going to pay attention to your post, how can you crush my dreams like that. It ain't gunna happen. Getting a degree in something else sounds cool though. I wonder if I could go to a college flight program and get a non aviation degree at the same time funded by the gi bill hmmmm. Thanks everyone for your posts!! Best help I've gotten on any forum. Gummer hater are you having a bad experiance as a pilot?

Man, have you got some reading to do! :D

Aviation is not for the faint of heart, Gummer is not the only pilot who would say run don't walk. I can't encourage anyone to pursue a career in aviation.

Gummer hater...what kind of plane do you fly? So what if I don't become an airline pilot, are there other ways to generate income with a commercial license? Are there other flying jobs that are easier to come by and still be able to feed myself?

If you're in the air force, look to see if your base has an Aero Club. MWR can give you that info.

Personally, if I were you I'd re-up for another 2-4. It's going to take you at least that long to get through college and flight training, plus you can use your bonus money to pay for it. Might as well hold on to a paycheck and benefits while you're doing it. If you're worried about deploying, moving around, go ANG or USAFR. PM me for more detailed advice.

I see your point... I'm just fed up with loading planes for 12 hours a day. I want to experiance college life and get on the fast track to be a pilot...there is no flying club here.

Our ta money can't be used for flight training and I would like a degree.

+1 This would be the best route IMO. Spend your GI Bill on something practical and let the military pay for your training. You never know if you will loose your medical in 20 years.

Pre-med or Computer Science are good building blocks. Cant go wrong with an engineering degree as well.

G,
I'm living the dream by mine and many other aspiring pilot's standards. Flew Vipers, got hired by UPS, now in the training pipeline to fly CSAR -60's. I wouldn't recommend anyone get into the biz these days by going the civilian only route. Too much risk and debt for not enough reward. Oh, did I mention that my company is making billions in net profits each year and I still got a furlough letter this year? Not jaded, I love my job(s) most days...but I am a realist. For every guy that got lucky like me and 'made it' there are hundreds that get stuck in an RJ or worse. Is there anything wrong with an RJ? Off hand no, but if your goal is a 'major' it's like never getting past AA as a minor league ball player. It will affect your QOL unless you marry up!

The fast track to being a pilot, is stay in the AF, rock your job, get your degree, and apply for a commission/pilot slot. Get the gov't to pay for everything, and get the best flight training in the world. You're making more money now than your first several years at as a CFI/Regional FO. Why not keep your paycheck and benefits, and let uncle sam pay for it all?

Stick with the AF. It's either load planes, which you hate doing, or fly regionals outside of AF which isn't much better.

Timmy, is that you again? Tell 'em about the time you saved people in the World Trade Center...

;-)

Ok... After talking to a bunch of people and listening to you guys, my best route is stay in the af, get a bachelors, pursue all my own flying interests at my Local school, then get a commission, while making 55,000 a year. How does that sound? Just talked to my flight instructor, he makes 400$ every 2 weeks!!! That's horrible!

Yes, by all means get a degree whatever else you do. If you even think you might want a to be a civilian pilot someday, get a 4-year degree which provides a useful, marketable skill.

These degrees do not provide a marketable skill other than being a college grad. The problem with that is they hire these folks for very low wages in low-end white-collar jobs...there is long-term potential to make an edquate living, but you have to climb the ladder for years.
-Liberal Arts
-Aviation degrees of any sort (except engineering)
-Most science degrees (you need a PhD or MD to do anything other than lab assistant/technician)

These degrees provide a marketable skill, which you can jump right into if you maintain currency in your field.
- Engineering: Demand is rising, but most new grads in the US are foreigners...if you are a US citizen and can hold a US security clearance the defense industry will have a job for you the foreseeable future.
- Business/CPA (for a pilot, I would go with CPA it's more marketable)
- Computer Science (if you have the knack)
- Graphic Arts (if you have the knack)
- Pharmacy/Physician's assistant: More school but very high flexibility, easy to stay current, good pay, and you can work as much or as little as you want so you could stay current while holding a flying job.

If you are young enough, you could shoot for a military flight slot. Normal cutoff is age 28, sometimes waiverable a few years if you have prior service. Best bet here would be to stay in the guard/reserves, preferably a squadron. Those guys love to promote motivated enlisted from their own ranks.

I'm kind of like Timmy but I can actually spell... :D