Hello again AptKid,

What I meant by this route being "more costly", was that after spending $55k at the ATP school, you would then spend $5000 a semester at a state university. This is roughly what I paid. If you go to a CC or some other cheaper route than that obviously doesn't apply. Another costly decision is to go work for a cheap Regional that hires 750 hour FOs (e.g. Great Lakes), and pays you less than 20k/year. This is a cost in my opinion because you could get your degree, and build enough time to work for a Regional that will pay you 30k-50k as an FO. At a minimum you will make $40k more in the first 4-5 years as an FO at a better Regional, if you waited, built more time and got a degree.

I know it sounds like I am putting a lot of emphasis on getting a degree first, unfortunately many jobs prefer you have one (including Great Lakes). It may not be required, but it can help a lot!

It's no easy decision.

 

Just one more bit of my .02, you can probably defer the loans by doing their college option. I believe they have partnered with Mountain State Online. You cant just choose any online school and have the loans deferred. At least that's how it worked out for me, having already been in that situation.

 

Considering most regionals require you to be 21, it doesn't matter if you have three moon landings. If you don't meet the MINIMUM age requirement they won't even consider you.

 

No, it is not.

 

For a 15 year old, you know what you're talking about. Honestly, that's something I regret the most. I joined the USAF immediately after graduating HS and I'm proud of what I've done and who I am today and I've learned so much yadda yadda yadda... but I regret not going to college after HS. My friends in college (i'm 21) seem to be living the life while I forced to cut my hair and shave my face everyday. I was forced to grow up and I feel like I missed out on the college lifestyle, an important part of life.

So yeah, get your PPL on your own money and go to college after HS. Don't try to accelerate growing up. It's not as fun as it sounds.

PS, I regret missing out on college so much that I am joining the AF Reserves in August to move in with my friends in college and to go to school full time. THATS how awesome it is, don't miss out.

 

Hey guys, thx again for all the responses.

Okay... So I guess it looks like this might not be the most practical plan of going about getting my licenses. Plus if I cant even be hired at a regional until 21, it wouldnt matter anyways...

There is another option though that was my first choice before I heard about the whole ATP thing... I guess I might of gotten a little too excited about it before learning EXACTLY what going that route entitled.

My next plan is to attend a somewhat (about an hour away) local community college, who has a pretty good aviation program.

The pluses to this route are:

1) I get my PPL - CFI, MEI, II etc. in 2 years, not 4.

2) Federal loans! This is very important cause not only are they significantly easier to get, but they definately CAN be deferred until graduation.

3) Aviation will be my AA degree, and not my bachelors. Which means I can go to the 4 year university in my town, where my mom works and I get 75% off of tuition.

So basically, I will get my gen eds out of the way at this CC, while being enrolled in the flight training program. With your guys help I think this will probably be the best option.

This way I can live a regular life, do all the fun college stuff, get all my ratings relatively fast, instruct throughout my last two years of college to build time and make a little money on the side, and since its federal, the laon will be deferred until i'm done with my Bachelor's.

Then I guess after that, I will just have to build time after I get my degree, which unfortunately will put me a little behind the hiring curve, but I guess thats a reasonable sacrifice to live a somewhat normal life. As Skyhigh said, the jobs will always be there...

Thoughts?

 

Oh and tylervet, there was never any question of IF I was going to get a degree. I have to get a degree, I just couldnt decide what was the best way of going about it. Hell, my parents would kill me if I didnt... lol


And here is the link to the school that I am looking at... As a matter of fact I am actually doing a campus visit tomorrow to check out their aviation program, so that should be a good experience.

http://www.indianhills.edu/courses/t...tionpilot.html

 

50K for a FO at a Regional??

Who do you have to murder for that slot?

 

The only pilot shortage will be the economic one.... pilots who won't work for cheap. But more than enough will to keep the price pathetically low.

Lets start with the basics. Can you pass a 1st Class medical?

 

I think this is a much better plan than the first one you posted. I do advocate getting your ratings quickly (including your CFI) so you can be getting paid to build time rather than paying to do it. You can easily work as a CFI while in school and contrary to what some say, you are gaining valuable experience while doing it.