What should I do?
 

Well, I just recently had a tour at my state university, and I found out about their simulations. However, I finally broke to the news to my parents that I wanted to become a pilot and work on a private pilots license. It didn't go so well, since its $68,000 for training not including extra fees, books, or dorm room. I was thinking of doing a double major, both in Air Traffic Control and in private pilot. I just can't think of a good reason to persuade them to let me become a pilot. Money is the only thing that is separating me from becoming a pilot. My parents told me they would have to sell the house if I wanted to major in flying. Unless I can get a good scholarship. Basically, I would like to fly than be in a building directing planes. What do you think?

a) what university? b) save yourself some money, major in business or under water basket weaving, and learn to fly at your local FBO.

Arizona State University. I can't do out-of-state as that would cost even more.

I was afraid you were gonna say that. I'm at ASU right now. Mesa Pilot Development is who ASU contracts for Pilot Training. I greatly dislike them. Granted I am not training with them, all my friends are. They are way over priced and the procedures and their way of doing things, in my opinion, are ridiculous.
Now I ask you this: Do you want to be an airline pilot? If so, then MPD might be the way for you. They literally are an airline, and their students go off of how they run their airline. In regards to training, it is pretty much a pilot farm (though not as bad at ATP). They teach you nothing but how to go from Point A to Point B. Like an airline. They use their own dispatch frequencies, departures, etc. It's not a stick and rudder school that will teach you how to really fly an aircraft. They even have to wear a uniform.
If you love flying and are just looking for you PPL, INS, maybe your COM, then go to some of the local fields and talk to some of the flight schools. (Falcon Field, Chandler, etc.) You will be able to find a much more friendly , much less expensive environment to fly and be just as, if not more proficient, than the guys at MPD.
ASU offers a bunch of great majors, and as you all ready know it's quite the school to party at. Lot's of girls, lots of social events going on all the time. If you chose to go with MPD, you are required to live at the Polytechnic campus (unless you live at home) which is nothing like the main campus.
Any other questions just post them. I don't think you have PM rights yet.

:eek: Anyone else think thats a big problem???

I thought MAPD shut down? Do they really still do the ASU training?

re.
 

Don't overspend for school. Do a bit more research and then bring it up to your parents again or you'll give them a friggin heart attack.

Shop around and check out some of the lower-priced colleges out there. You'll even get some good deals with online colleges. Check out FAFSA (www.fafsa.ed.gov) and look at their funding options. Pick a major not aviation-related so you have a backup. Research career fields that are always in demand (nursing is one). There is a saturation of ATC people out there right now and I hear their training is overpriced as well.

Once you are in school, you can also work and pay for your own training at your local airport.

Yea, even thought they are in bankruptcy.

Their contract is until 2013. But they will probably renew it...again. Unless someone else wants to buy in.

Thanks for the reply. I don't plan to become an airline pilot. Just get a private pilot license or maybe commercial. Something I could use for a job side-by-side with my Air Traffic Control Training. My mom is currently talking to one of the lead-professors at ASU for Flight Training. We are trying to get me through a dual-major. My dad recommended a sport license which has a few limits. Unfortunetly I wouldn't be able to fly the Piper Warrior that ASU has if I went that route. Chandler airport is very friendly and I could get trained there too. I just thought it would be more fun to use ASU's aircraft. :) And I don't think a sport license will get me a job for a local airport.

I don't know if this is the proper way to word this, but how exactly did you get through? (Without being to personal) Scholarships, Air Force...?

Actually, I am a current student...

I am not in the flight program. Like I said, practically ALL of my friends are. I am an out of state student that, because of my specific major, I get a discount on tuition-though it is still much more expensive that in state.

I am on loans, and money I have saved etc etc. I will be AFROTC next semester, though they are not offering any in college scholarships at the moment (I just talked to them a couple weeks ago and they don't have any money to give out). Being a high school student though you can still apply because it's a bit different. Two of my friends here are on scholarships they received from the AF for ROTC from high school.

Like I said before, and I hate to be so negative, but I am not impressed with the training at ASU. It's over priced and it's too much of a "let's suck you dry of money and get you through as quickly as we can" type of feel. Flying should be fun and enjoyable, and from what I see through my friends, they are all ready lacking the enthusiasm that I still have. (I am a private pilot and I rent out of Chandler, and will continue to get my ratings there next semester).

If you still want to "be apart of ASU aviation" but not fly go into Air Transportation Management. It's basically Business with aviation tied into it. That's the program I am apart of. You live with all the flight guys, take some of their classes, but are more a business major.

Hope this helps. Keep it coming with any questions, I am happy to answer them.

I would suggest majoring in something else other than aviation, but from what I can see you wan't to do the airport controller thing.

Fine. Major in the airport controller thing, but add another major outside of aviation. I would suggest business since it's so versatile, and it'll give you options later in life. In case airport controller jobs run scarce.

Lastly, from what I read you don't want to fly professionally, so your best bet is to go to a local airport and take lessons from a local school, it'll be cheaper and more personal, and it won't break your parent's bank account, or you can even pay for it yourself. (PPL)

The point is, go to ASU and have fun. Forget about hanging out with the ASU pilot guys. LOL. Make friends, meet girls, and fly on your own. Party! And most importantly enjoy your time there.

Assassin, this is a pretty intelligent thread with good questions and good information. Statements like these ones you made above don't do anything positive for anyone...:cool:

The second one is especially. Unlike other aviation colleges where guys sit around and play flight sim all weekend, here at ASU we enjoy all sorts of social events. The Pilots especially...

Why wouldn't you want to go here?

http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/194...utempe12cc.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Haha, nice picture. But really, could I go anywhere (get a job) with a private pilot license? Or would I have to go up to commercial? Like to fly for Era Alaska (the T.V Show people). I want Air Traffic as my Main Major. But I still have the joy of flying. And I think my parents realized it when I stepped into the cockpit of a Beechcraft Baron. Also, I wouldn't fly for Southwest or any big-name people. Just a small company if I did. ASU is really overpriced but I'm limited on my options as far as in-state colleges. I could have joined Jr ROTC at my high-school but its kind of late know. And my parents would most likely not want me in the Air Force (even though it would really help). And lets say I stopped at the private pilot, when I get more money, can I go back and continue where I left off or would I forget the stuff I learned? And my mom told me it wouldn't be worth it for a sports-license. If we are going to spend the money, we minus while get a private pilot license. (And the nice thing too is that as you stated, a lot of my classes are similar with the pilots.)

And then I have to find out if that is even possible to take only private pilot courses instead of going all the way up to the CRJ simulations. I am also worried that if I came back later to ASU when I am older, that I would not be able to get a job because of health reasons. Medical exams are also needed. My point is that it is nice to have two careers so if I can't get hired in one, then I have another career and visa-versa.

To fly for money yes you need Private, Instrument, and Commercial. At the very least...

I can't make the decision for you, but I would strongly recommend flight training through one of the FBOs at one of the airports in the Valley. Start looking up the different airports and figuring out pricing for different flight schools. Call them up, see what they are about, etc. You can do this for NAU, UofA, really any college you're interested in going to. Use Google Maps to find the local airport, then Google the airport and see if any of the businesses on the airport offer flight training.

As for wanting to be ATC. It's kind of a worthless major. Basically they teach you what the FAA would teach you, they hand you a degree, and say good luck with a job. You have a bit of an edge on the people that are just applying normally but if they do hire you, you still have to go to Oklahoma City and receive the same training the hires off the street are receiving. It's a damn easy major. I swear those guys have way too much free time. Kind of a waste of money. In my opinion.

Don't even get me started on the CRJ simulators...What a waste that is. You spend so much more just to receive extra "training" in a CRJ. It's a class that you go over all the systems, all the books, etc etc. And you don't even get a Type Rating. Which means if you go fly for someone that does have CRJs, what you learned at ASU doesn't apply towards your TR. You may be ahead of the curve but you still have to go through the airlines version of CRJ training. It's a huge scheme to suck you dry of money! I swear I can't believe people buy into it...

MPD also just opened up their flight training to non "Professional Flight" Majors. Meaning if you are a communications major you can go to MPD and get your PPL and your INS rating, but not your Commercial that I am aware. But you all ready know my opinion on MPD training...

So would I need all three (private, instrument, and commercial)? I guess I could contact Chandler Municipal Airport and ask about their flight training. I see people getting trained all the time. I just wouldn't be in a plane that says ASU on the side (I have no clue whats so special about it but it just sounds better to say I got an actual degree in private pilot at ASU's campus).

That is so true about Air Traffic Controllers sitting back and doing very little. At Chandler, they just sat back and only said a few words every 25 minutes or so. They were bored out of their minds.

It doesn't make a difference. ASU is a Part 141 school. So is Chandler Air Service. So in regards to their syllabi's, they are very similar. And nothing on your license will say anything about where you got it. If you go for a pilot job ever, they won't care about where you got you certs, just as long as you have them.

I see, so it doesn't matter where I get my license. Is it possible to go all the way up to commercial at my local airport?

Correct. And there are plenty of other topics just like this one, where more experienced pilots have said the exact same thing. :)

Great. :) I wonder if thats why I was being sucked in by the professor to do the dual major route. She also payed more attention to 2 other girls on the tour since they were out of state (ASU gets double the money) Just wondering, did you go to boot-camp for ROTC?

By any chance were the two girls any attractive? This campus needs more girls... :D

I am not in ROTC yet. I will be next semester. And if I work hard enough, and they like me, then I will get a slot at FT (field training). ROTC and the AF is a whole different beast...:p

Not unless you got them from Uncle Sam.....but then you said that your parents would not be happy with that chosen path. Of course once you are 18, it isn't really the parent's decision anymore is it? ;)

USMCFLYR

Well good for you. I bet you'll get to field training :) One of the girls was hot enough to stop a student pilot on the tarmac with his plane so he could wave at her. The instructor didn't seem to happy but he didn't mind. He was working towards his multi engine license.

Yes, but my parents are paying for EVERYTHING. I don't work.

davyvfr, check your PMs. If you have any more questions shoot me an email.

That is very good that your parents are paying for everything.
It is wonderful, as a parent, to be able to do that your their child.
At some point it becomes your life and you will have to make choices.

USMCFLYR

Yep, as I will have to pay if I wish to get a higher rating. I might later go up to commercial and instrumental. In the mean time I plan to get my degree in Air Traffic Management at ASU and work on a private pilot license at Some University/Airport. As I don't really plan to go professional in flying, I am not majoring in Professional Flight. Well I save up, I can rent a plane to keep my skills up to par and save up to continue the program.

I found out I would need a second class medical exam (required for Air Traffic Management and Commercial Pilot) My question is, do I need to renew this every few months? Lets say I get diabetes, will I not be able to continue my job? (or be a pilot)? Diabetes does run through my family so I don't know if it will impact my career.

Do not waste your time on Air Traffic Management unless you plan on going into ATC. That door closes when you turn 31 and the degree is useless after that.

Go for something marketable, physics, engineering, math, etc. Then drink your face off and date every chick you can at ASU. Get a job and fly on the side, unless your parents really want to front the cash for all that flight training. Get your CFI as fast as you can, and spend the rest of your time in college working part time as an instructor. Then you can impress all the girls in Tempe. Oh how I wish I could be you right now....

Check out this site for just about any medical question that you might have.
Aviation Medicine Advisory Service -- FAA Medical Expertise -- Our Physicians...Your Solution!

USMCFLYR

What about community colleges?

I went to a 2-year school and saved tens of thousands on my Private through CFI. After that, I took the money I saved and got a B.S. degree down in Florida.

This is a national college flight team website that lists all the competing schools in the nation. Untitled Document

These schools all have flight teams but they may not offer flight training. I've been competing in this circuit for 5 years, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to post.