You wouldn't do it?
#21
Only you can answer this question. In five years will you be able to look up and see the beautiful contrails overhead and accept the fact that you chose something safe and secure? If, on the other hand you would have regrets that the person in the cockpit is not you, perhaps you should go for it. I personally think the anquish and regrets for an entire lifetime are far worse than making $16,000 your first year. Sure there is a price to pay and risk involved, but how do you accomplish anything truly worthwhile without either? If Benjamin Franklin, Orville and Wilbur, Thomas Jefferson and many others said "this seems crazy to me", we would all be living very different lives. Airlines will continue to hire pilots to fly their airplanes. The question is: Will you be the one flying them or the one on the ground wishing you were? Good Luck!
_LAFF
#22
Consequences
Only you can answer this question. In five years will you be able to look up and see the beautiful contrails overhead and accept the fact that you chose something safe and secure? If, on the other hand you would have regrets that the person in the cockpit is not you, perhaps you should go for it. I personally think the anquish and regrets for an entire lifetime are far worse than making $16,000 your first year. Sure there is a price to pay and risk involved, but how do you accomplish anything truly worthwhile without either? If Benjamin Franklin, Orville and Wilbur, Thomas Jefferson and many others said "this seems crazy to me", we would all be living very different lives. Airlines will continue to hire pilots to fly their airplanes. The question is: Will you be the one flying them or the one on the ground wishing you were? Good Luck!
Calcapt,
I hate to contradict your brilliant post, however it is often the case that famous people in history lead train wreck personal lives. It demands a high price to achieve greatness. People need to realize what they will have to give up in order to become a Ben Franklin or Abe Lincoln. The 9 to 5 stooge gets a lot in return for supplanting a few dreams. The pain of a failed dream will fade over time however a failed life will haunt you to the grave.
In my opinion often the pursuit of youthful frivolous dreams is natures way of culling the herd.
SkyHigh
#23
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 9
Calpilot is right...At least you made the right decision to attend ATP. Which location? Sac? Don't look back now - just work at ATP -get your ME time and apply to the regionals. Girfriends come and go...I should know I lost one in the WTC. I found another one that walked away and across the Brooklyn bridge that morning...Life is full of surprises...
_LAFF
_LAFF
Do you get a commission from ATP? In all of your post's you mention ATP but have not yet told me why I should attend ATP & not learn from the FBOs!
#24
-LAFF
#25
Out of all of the big schools, ATP seems to do a decent job of entry-level training without ripping you off.
But before you relocate to one of their facilities, do check your local FBO's...if you can live at home, do your training, and get a cfi job at the local patch that may be a better option. You have to be careful, there are a few great FBO's/local schools and a whole bunch of not-so-great ones.
But before you relocate to one of their facilities, do check your local FBO's...if you can live at home, do your training, and get a cfi job at the local patch that may be a better option. You have to be careful, there are a few great FBO's/local schools and a whole bunch of not-so-great ones.
#26
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 9
I have done a little research (more to do before I decide) & I'm not knocking them, but I still don't understand how they would be any better to go to ATP then it would an FBO. Learning is learning correct? I'm not saying that the FBOs are better… I don’t have the slightest clue… Just yesterday I didn’t even know what "FBO" was. I'm just trying to get someone to tell me why he or she thinks ATP is better then FBOs or any other school for that matter.
#27
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Oct 2006
Posts: 9
Out of all of the big schools, ATP seems to do a decent job of entry-level training without ripping you off.
But before you relocate to one of their facilities, do check your local FBO's...if you can live at home, do your training, and get a cfi job at the local patch that may be a better option. You have to be careful, there are a few great FBO's/local schools and a whole bunch of not-so-great ones.
But before you relocate to one of their facilities, do check your local FBO's...if you can live at home, do your training, and get a cfi job at the local patch that may be a better option. You have to be careful, there are a few great FBO's/local schools and a whole bunch of not-so-great ones.
#28
Thanks! This is more like what I wanted to know about local schools.... So basically some local schools don't give CFI jobs to students, so that type of school wouldn't be a good one. But as long as they do & have steady enrollment numbers then they may not be a bad place to train!
As always, R777, says it better than I could. I'm bringing emotion into it...
Sincerely,
LAFF
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Position: Flight Instructor
Posts: 623
ATP is NOT for everybody. I myself know that I dont learn that fast. No way I could get a CFI, II, and MEI in 14 days.
Ther eare very good FBO's out there. AL FBO's are not created equal. AL FBO's do not have depressed CFI's. Find a flight school or find an older experienced CFI that enjoys teaching people to fly. They are the best
Ther eare very good FBO's out there. AL FBO's are not created equal. AL FBO's do not have depressed CFI's. Find a flight school or find an older experienced CFI that enjoys teaching people to fly. They are the best
#30
Still not sure
Let me ask you guys this. How many of you (airlines pilots/ex-airline pilots) found out after following your dreams to become a pilot that your dream was ruined by the low pay and lack of time with your family. I mean I love flying but I'm afraid that going into debt and living in poverty for the next 4 years will turn flying into a bad dream.
This statement might be out of line but being a former manager of over 50 employees why don't the pilots get rid of the unions? Is competition for jobs so bad that they have to lock in low pay rates. Does airline management put down pilots that much. Not to be a union basher. It just seems to me that a pilot that puts over $50,000 into training on top of a college education and then operates one of the most complicated pieces of machinery that man can develope, along with holding the lives of all his passangers in his hands should make more money then a high school drop out. Or am I wrong? Do pay rates increase fast after the 1st year and you can afford to support your self?
I'm just looking for some input. If seems very foggy to me how people are surviving and why don't pilots demand to get paid accordingly for the highly professional jobs they do?
This statement might be out of line but being a former manager of over 50 employees why don't the pilots get rid of the unions? Is competition for jobs so bad that they have to lock in low pay rates. Does airline management put down pilots that much. Not to be a union basher. It just seems to me that a pilot that puts over $50,000 into training on top of a college education and then operates one of the most complicated pieces of machinery that man can develope, along with holding the lives of all his passangers in his hands should make more money then a high school drop out. Or am I wrong? Do pay rates increase fast after the 1st year and you can afford to support your self?
I'm just looking for some input. If seems very foggy to me how people are surviving and why don't pilots demand to get paid accordingly for the highly professional jobs they do?