University vs. Flight School.
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Posts: 1
University vs. Flight School.
I'm currently attending Louisiana Tech studying aviation. But I got a late start on college as I took some time off to work. I'm 22. And about to be a sophomore. But I know that airlines are starting to hire and I don't want to miss the window. It's going to take about 3 more years to be completely done at Louisiana Tech. And I've already poured about 11,000 in and still don't have my private. It's aggravating. Anyway, schools like ATP and Aerosim have said you can get it all done in like 4 or 5 months at a flat cost. The only downside to that is I wouldn't have a college degree. Advice?!
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2009
Posts: 474
My advice would be to get your college degree, preferably not in something aviation related. While you are young. While you don't have a wife and kids. Hit AllATPs or whatever program after your degree is done.
There will be windows in the future, too.
There will be windows in the future, too.
#5
I'm currently attending Louisiana Tech studying aviation. But I got a late start on college as I took some time off to work. I'm 22. And about to be a sophomore. But I know that airlines are starting to hire and I don't want to miss the window. It's going to take about 3 more years to be completely done at Louisiana Tech. And I've already poured about 11,000 in and still don't have my private. It's aggravating. Anyway, schools like ATP and Aerosim have said you can get it all done in like 4 or 5 months at a flat cost. The only downside to that is I wouldn't have a college degree. Advice?!
I think you are at a crossroads where you really have to think hard. Let's say you are 11K in debt due to your private (yes, I realize that may not be the case). 11K in debt compared to 100K+ in debt (university program, flight training, etc) is NOTHING. If you want to get flight training done efficienctly, you need to fly pretty often, that requires a lot of money up front. If you want to spread the cost out, then it requires even more money, but spread out over a longer time. There's no correct course of action here, just what is right for you.
Are you going to be a good pilot if you get "all done" in 4-5 months? I think about students I train and how when you add up their hours, it's literally like they've only been flying for a few months after they get their commercial, and it's obviously not the "hours" that count, but the overall experience, how many things did you encounter? Difficult situations? Challenges? Having to remember stuff and knowing where to go back and find that stuff?
So when you go back and think about the crossroad, think about this: How much do you love flying? Enough that you want to be able to do it on your own terms and have fun? Enough that you might search and find some aviation related fields and areas (insurance, engineering, management, ATC, etc) and have enough money to fly yourself?
I think I'd say: Take your time. Better to spread the cost and experience out. Along the way you may see better opportunities. I don't think the "window" thing is valid, sure they are on and off with hiring, but at no point have all the regional pilots gone to majors in the last 10+ years, it just doesn't work like that. The hiring stops and starts, little spurts.
#6
I'm currently attending Louisiana Tech studying aviation. But I got a late start on college as I took some time off to work. I'm 22. And about to be a sophomore. But I know that airlines are starting to hire and I don't want to miss the window. It's going to take about 3 more years to be completely done at Louisiana Tech. And I've already poured about 11,000 in and still don't have my private. It's aggravating. Anyway, schools like ATP and Aerosim have said you can get it all done in like 4 or 5 months at a flat cost. The only downside to that is I wouldn't have a college degree. Advice?!
I went to Aerosim it is not a flat cost. The cost depends on you, how fast or slow you can progress through the program. They gave me a quote I finished a little bit over. I did my IR - All Instructor Ratings at 62K. Just some food for thought.
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