Yes erau handles private pilot training for a number of students at Colorado Springs. When I was at ERAU they had just started this, it was only ppl training. Maybe things have changed but when I was there I met high school drop outs with nothing more then a GED. ERAU didn't seem to ever reject anyone, instead anyone who paid got accepted. At the time Colorado Springs wasn't such a "walk in the park" as far as gaining acceptance. As far as the school goes, all they ever care about is your money, and they seem to tell you they are the best of the best just to sell it to you. I don't believe they are the best of the best as they say they are. Their Aero Sci program is a joke. It's not even college level work. The material they teach to the Aero Sci students is incredibly easy. Nothing you can't learn by reading the jepp texts.

never heard of any flying place that turned down money. i dont think riddle is the only place that accepts cash from anyone who has. By the way I still think they are an inferior school to other college flight programs around the country.

i went to riddle, and i cuold not agree more with you. i wish someone would have mentioned this to me few years ago...

Why pay for aviation related courses? You can checkout the books at the local library. Study at home / library and pass the written tests on your own.

www.allatps.com is the way to go after you get your 4 year degree at a state school.

-LAFF

Why pay for college at all? Why go to school at all? All the knowledge is at the nearest library anyway?

LAFF, if you have not attended an aviation university and are a weekend PPL as your profile states, I agree with you that most of the knowledge you need can be found at the local library.

However, I can guarantee you that there is A LOT to learn at aviation universities, if you are motivated and study a lot. There ARE good reasons to attend aviation universities. ERAU was not too expensive until 2002 or so, and I think many excellent pilots graduated from there. I doubt they would have the same knowledge had they attended a regular FBO or even worse one of the 60-day Private-to-ATP courses. All ATP is a disgrace to the industry as a whole. 90 day zero to MEI...yeah, sure! 2 weeks CFI-CFII-MEI...sure! I can't believe anyone in their sane mind would go to a place like that. I put it on the same level as Jet University....

Bottom line: LAFF, I already answered the question you ask here on one of my previous posts. If you did not have the privilege of attending any of the universities with a flight program I believe your opinions don't have much value on this subject. (no offense intended)

There is no reason to attend a aviation university. A 4 year degree from a state school is just fine.

ATP is not a disgrace to the industry. Regional HR departments are pleased with and like the product ATP produces. Customers like ATP for the fixed price, ME time, and opportunities to get into 121 world and start working up their way up the career ladder.

I am a PPL / weekend warrior. However, I've done a lot of research in to flight training and ATP is the best deal out there for someone interested in a pilot career.

-LAFF

Fine. As an ERAU alumni, I have an opinion of some value, as does the vast majority of other aviation degree holders on this site who routinely admit that the program was a waste of time and money, and completely useless for anything other than filling a box on an application.

Just to play devil's advocate, there is no reason to attend ATP. Ratings from a local FBO is just fine.

Also, I decided to put to the test the claim that ERAU costs more than going to a normal college and doing the ATP 90 day Fast Track Course (since that seems to be on par with the average cost for an FBO), here is what I found, using the websites of different colleges:

ERAU Total Estimated Cost (Including Flight): $137,680
State Univeristy (Resident) + ATP: $120,995
State University (Non-Resident) + ATP: $155,015
Private University + ATP: $178,995

(This is assuming you graduate in four years at each college)

It seems that the costs are fairly close, with the cheapest being a Resident attending a State University and going to ATP. Either way it is expensive, no matter how you look at it, but ERAU, and possibly other Flight Universities, are not so outlandishly expensive, in comparision. This is not including debate about whether or not a Flight Degree has a meaning. This is just a pure comparision of costs. It also does not include that you may be able to get the ratings for less at an FBO.

I am also assuming you get the same ratings at ERAU that you get in the 90-day fast track. I did not dig too deep into all the program details, was mainly looking at cost.

Good work...Thanks...You're right the costs are close - if its your parents money. For me 17K is a lot...I would look for ways to reduce the cost of a four year degree anyway I could. Consider on-line , community college for two years, etc...

I was fortunate - the USAF paid for my BS (University of Minnesota) and I still have the GI Bill to use for a MBA / MS if I want. I plan on getting one on-line in the next few years...

My only cost will be flight training. I looked at two things when I decided on ATP. 1st - the fixed price / time frams. 2nd - the CFI options with them.

As I see it - its best to get the training and ratings as quickly as possible and start working (earning PIC time, especially ME PIC time) as a CFI to make it to the next step. Keep working till your final goal is reached....You have to - it seems one bad move or poorly timed step could set you back years.

Recently I've started looking / researching Fractionals because of their stability. I use NetJets as my fractional expample. I understand no one shoe fits all and every organization has issues...Overall it seems NJ guys / gals enjoy their jobs / QOL / pay.

-LAFF

Well yea, it all depends on your specific situation, what type of scholarships you are able to get, financial aid, etc. Like you said, no one shoe fits all, same with the path you take. There are a number of things you can do in each situation to help reduce costs.

My main point with the numbers was that ERAU is not the most expensive route to go. The most expensive would be a Private Univeristy, follwed by a State Univeristy (Non-Resident), then ERAU, then a State Univeristy (Resident).

I am also not advocating that people go to ERAU. I'm not advocating any path, just pointing out that what you hear on a forum is not nesscarily true.

In your case their would be no point to go to an Aviation Univeristy since you have a 4-year degree already, so it would be more effective to go the ATP route, that is what suits your situation, for those who need both, it may differ.