Following My Dream
07-29-2011, 10:53 PM
#1
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Following My Dream
My dream was always to be a professional pilot, sadly enough a couple of things stood in my way to achieve that dream. I am currently a Corporate Restaurant manager, but i have decided it to finally make that dream come true and attend Embrey Riddle University. I am currently 34 years of age with no flight training, lots of Computer simulation training, know about the subject a lot, don't have a college degree, and that's why I decided it to attend ERAU, to receive a bachelors in Aeronautical Science, Any thoughts, comments, tips, opinions. Throw it at me!!
07-30-2011, 06:46 AM
#2
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Originally Posted by afraj
My dream was always to be a professional pilot... and attend Embrey Riddle University..... Throw it at me!!
I'm not sure how important spelling will be. Good luck; ERAU needs your money. I'm sure they'll promise (or imply) some really good stuff.
07-30-2011, 09:05 AM
#4
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Bad, bad idea. Don't quit your real job.
First off, you need to educate yourself about the profession and take some flying lessons at your local airport, if you like it, get a PPL and do some flying on your own and only then decide to pursue a career. Also work on core curriculum requirements at your local community college or online.
There are a lot of relevant threads on here, read ten of them. Make sure the info is newer than 2008 (different world back then).
Bottom line up front: At your place in life if you have wife/kids you will need an independent source of income or finance to make this work.
First off, you need to educate yourself about the profession and take some flying lessons at your local airport, if you like it, get a PPL and do some flying on your own and only then decide to pursue a career. Also work on core curriculum requirements at your local community college or online.
There are a lot of relevant threads on here, read ten of them. Make sure the info is newer than 2008 (different world back then).
Bottom line up front: At your place in life if you have wife/kids you will need an independent source of income or finance to make this work.
07-30-2011, 10:10 AM
#5
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Look, I finished Riddle way back in Fall 0f '87. I paid $25K for 4 yrs. That included tuition, books, housing & meal plan. Got a B.S. in Air Studies.
Don't get me wrong, I wanna see Riddle to continue to grow, expand and increase their realm of influence within the aviation industry. However, the cost to attend Riddle is outrageous. The Air Science degree will run you roughly 250K-300K. That's ridiculous.
Go to a state university, get your degree in Hospitality Management and fly on the side. What's the rush? You've waited this long. Even if you completed your deg requirements by age 39 and had all your licenses & ratings, you're still golden. You'll have at least 25 yrs on the flight deck.
atp
Don't get me wrong, I wanna see Riddle to continue to grow, expand and increase their realm of influence within the aviation industry. However, the cost to attend Riddle is outrageous. The Air Science degree will run you roughly 250K-300K. That's ridiculous.
Go to a state university, get your degree in Hospitality Management and fly on the side. What's the rush? You've waited this long. Even if you completed your deg requirements by age 39 and had all your licenses & ratings, you're still golden. You'll have at least 25 yrs on the flight deck.
atp
07-30-2011, 11:48 AM
#7
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Not to dissuade you from your dream. I had that same dream (airlines), got hired 4 years ago, quit due to NO MONEY, lousy lifestyle, etc. Take the advice of reading a lot of the other threads on here to get an idea of what it is like today to fly for a living. Especially starting out. It took me, at the time, 34 years to get to that point (wife, kids, mortgage, etc.,etc.). By the time I did, it was not worth it to me to continue. I still fly (CFI), but on my own terms and with who I want to fly with. Good luck.
07-30-2011, 05:35 PM
#8
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Originally Posted by afraj
My dream was always to be a professional pilot, sadly enough a couple of things stood in my way to achieve that dream. I am currently a Corporate Restaurant manager, but i have decided it to finally make that dream come true and attend Embrey Riddle University. I am currently 34 years of age with no flight training, lots of Computer simulation training, know about the subject a lot, don't have a college degree, and that's why I decided it to attend ERAU, to receive a bachelors in Aeronautical Science, Any thoughts, comments, tips, opinions. Throw it at me!!
I have said this a lot of times & believe in it myyself....
Being 34 or 38 or 44 doesn't matter.....
Make a plan, make sure U Plan it right & then stick to the plan........
Definitely ONE THING WHICH IS A BIG NO, NO to ERAU or any FANCY AVIATION SCHOOL......
I don't know what exactly these schools give you but I definitely know that these schools take a lot of money ...... Not worth it if all U want to be is a Pilot........
07-30-2011, 05:52 PM
#9
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Not to be the meaningless echo in the chamber...but like everyone said, knock out some courses locally at a community college, as much as you can. Read everything you can find. Pick a school that levels with you and tells you "look...this is what it could cost, at minimum, but this is what you're realistically looking at". Don't drop a quarter of a million dollars to go to Embry to get out, have to instruct for peanuts a year or two, then go get a regional job making well less than you are now. That's the sad state of the industry you're jumping into.
07-31-2011, 01:18 AM
#10
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How about moving outside of the USA, i do speak arabic as well as french. How about a Fast track course at ATP. and than get a bachelor degree on my own time while building hours. it will cost 60,000 VS 200,000 at ERAU, plus it will be a lot shorter.
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