VanDriver208

Vito,

Has your son looked at any state schools that the state you live in may have reciprocity with? The flight costs are always going to be high, but if you can save on the general tuition costs it will add up a bunch in the long run. Also...a few guys I knew through flight school went into a 4 year program with a PPL already in pocket that they got at a local FBO...they said it saved them about 10K over doing it through the school...just a thought.

kentguy13

I graduated Kent... I enjoyed it, have nothing bad to say about it. The weather in NE Ohio will delay him and cost more. I know you said you've heard it before, but... Encourage him to get a degree in something other than aviation. I'm not saying he shouldn't pursue it, just major in a back-up plan. My $.02. I currently work 121, I've instructed at national schools in several locations in the country.

Emb170man

I think this advice (major in something else) was great last month, this month, with the FAA's new NPRM out, it is no longer valid. In order to get hired at a regional (and begin living in hell) you have to have 1,500 hours...not easy or cheap for someone who is buying it themselves or slugging away as a CFI. If the new rules go into effect, you have to graduate from an approved college aviation program in order to get the 1,000hr minimum. ( I got hired at just over 1,600...yes, paying your dues is great, but why put yourself in a position of disadvantage).

Vito

VanDriver208 Thanks for the advice but I live in Jersey, and nothing is cheap here!!! plus no flight schools. Unfortunately the way the flight program is structured makes it difficult to "major" in another subject, plus its my opinion that aviation jobs will start to materialize around the time he graduates. He is currently pursueing his PPL and should have it before he starts.
Emb170Man, you hit the nail on the head, those new rules are a game changer and the kids going to "approved 141 college programs" will have an advantage. It will be very difficult to hit the job market with 250 hours TT with a little MEL time and work your way up to the 1500 hours!

kentguy13

Agree to disagree. I had 1500 hrs when hired 121, and as a cfi that's not very difficult. The NPRM from my understanding is not set in stone. I don't care how many degrees you have or books you have read, a 250hr wonder should not be in the right seat of an RJ.

Another question (I don't know the answer, and refuse to look it up from my iPhone): does the NPRM specify an aviation degree, or simply a degree and 141 flight training from an accredited school? It the latter is the case, I still suggest a field of study that would be a back up plan. Whether a major, minor, or double major.

Emb170man

Kentguy. I agree 100% about 250 hr wonder children! I got hired with 1600 hours, over 1000 of it dual given. The reality is that the sooner you get on a list, the better... And the NPRM is going to allow those who graduate from an Approved Aviation Degree Program ( not business degree and do part 141 flying) to get on 500 hours sooner than those without that education.

Bbourne2009

Vito,

I'm super late on this thread but I'll give my inputs just in case you still haven't decided. I'm currently enrolled at FIT as an aviation management w/flight major. I'm just about finished with my junior year. I wouldn't trade my school for any others. The friendships I have created with numerous people have been more than rewarding. Flying wise, yes it's expensive but it's worth it. My instructor was very in depth and helpful throughout all my training. I came to the school with 70 hours and a private pilot cert. I then came back for my 3rd semester (start of sophomore year) as a flight instructor employed at the flight line. Starting junior year I had well over 500tt and 100 multi. Starting senior year in the next couple months I'm glad to have a very light schedule where I can continue to flight instruct more now and I will without a doubt graduate with over 1000hrs which puts me over the new NPRM. Having flight trained and instructed here for the past 3 years I can without a doubt tell you numerous times I've had to use good ADM skills to navigate "around" thunderstorms and make ils approaches to minimums or even flying in 3 hours of light to moderate turbulence at night in imc over the Atlantic on trips back from the Turks n Caicos. I personally feel that my inflight weather experiences are just as much a good lesson learned as compared to other schools from up north. It may not be icing conditions but no training aircraft are certified for known ice anyway. (just popped into my mind two times of reported ice in ktlh which is always in ifr conditions. One of the times I actually picked up some trace. This was a non FIT flight in an Aztec with de-ice boots of course though. Point being you can still get ice and good imc in Florida but its usually always up by Tallahassee.)

With all this being said, I'm by no means the average flight student coming out of FIT as far as amount of experience but the opportunity is there for anyone who really wants it. Or maybe they just need to be crazy enough to sign away their social life as a freshman to get ahead the next three years.

On top of that, I agree with everything emb170man has said too. Good luck to your son and his decision.

Brandon

chrisreedrules

I live in FL and I've experienced icing conditions here twice in the past year... if you fly often enough, you will find the ice.