Kourosh

hello everyone.
i'm 18 years old and i've recently received my FAA 1st class medical certificate and i want to start my training as soon as possible.
unfortunately i really can't decide which flight school to attend.my father went to FlightSafety Academy and he recommends them to me.but i want to make sure that i'm making a wise choice.
it is really important to me to choose a school with a great reputation in the aviation industry.i also prefer not to get in 4 year degree programs.of course, it is also important to me to choose a school that provides a real direct path to employment, preferably to reputable regional airlines.

Thanks Everyone

MikeF16

I highly recommend you read everything at this link:

The Truth About the Profession - Home

Once you do, you might reframe your question.

rev4life03

If you want to fly for the Airlines, you need the degree, you may be ok with flying for the regionals now but it is because you haven't experienced it yet. Some regionals actually "prefer" a degree. Check out the link mikef16 put and read it thoroughly.

The school you go to doesn't really matter in terms of reputation, the only real advantage is if you flew in the military. Just get your licenses, build your time and go.

Kourosh

thank you very much.i have already read the articles and i've learned a lot from it.but i still believe that the school's reputation can make a difference.i don't think we can ignore the effect of the educational enviroment on student's training process.


thank you very much.
of course i will get a college degree other than my flight training.but i've decided to get a degree in a field other than aviation (as the website suggested by mikef16 says)

i have a question (not really connected to the topic,sorry) : i already speak 5 languages fluently.could this be considered as an advantage for my career and employment?

Twin Wasp

No school is going to be able to provide you with "a real direct path to employment, preferably to reputable regional airlines." Starting in a week you're going to need an ATP to work for a regional. Since you don't want to do the aviation degree (probably a smart move) that'll mean 1500 hours. About all any school can claim is you'll get an interview if you complete their program.

MikeF16

I'd like to make clear that I didn't write or discover that link, it's stickied to the top of this forum . That said, the link is very informative even for a military pilot with almost 20 years experience.

Since you've read the articles here are my recommendations assuming you are 100% certain you want to be a pilot.

If you have some money and no responsibility (ie family) then go to an awesome party school and have fun. Get your square filler degree and work a part-time job so you can afford to get going on your license. Goal should be your CFI before you graduate school. Get somebody to pay you for your 1500 hours and then get your ATP and fly for a regional until you can get hired by a major.

If you can't afford to fly while in college then you need to get a real degree so you can get a real job and afford to fly after college. Work a real job and fly on the side until you get to the point where somebody is paying you to build towards your ATP. Then pick up with regional/major.

If you don't like either of those, get a degree, and either rush a guard unit or join active duty with a guaranteed pilot slot. You'll pick up a 10 year commitment but you'll get the best training in the world and you'll be paid better than anywhere else to get the requirements for your ATP. If you cannot afford college, you could alternatively get an ROTC scholarship or go to the Naval/AF Academy if you really like pain. I highly recommend against any military school or academy if all you want to do is fly.

dl773

FlightSafety Academy is a great school. I am a current student there.

If I could start from zero again, I would probably do a glider rating before Private. It would probably have saved me some money and from what I read and talk to CFIs about, it's a great learning experience.

Rodger Wilco

I think that the military is the best option. At least try first. They will pay you to learn to fly, that is a darn good deal. If you are absolutely positively sure that you cannot do the military then think about a place with good weather and low cost of living that you would like to live (if you can live with mom even better). Now cross reference those places with a professional flight school that you can go all the way through CFI and CFII and then get hired on as an instructor. Yep, you will indeed need to be instructor or have some good friends. Entry level anything else is 1500hrs and an ATP.

Do not let these guys discourage you. Yeah, flying an airplane is now a middle class job. Bummer. Then again, so is real estate, selling insurance, school teaching, banking, boring, boring, boring. I choose flying airplanes. If you are in it for the money make yourself a lot happier and do something else!

USMCFLYR

I always like to make a point when someone says this.
The military PAYS you to be a military officer and professional warrior.
Flight training happens to be the weapons system that you have been chosen to employ.

Engineer413

Get a degree... get whatever you can to make you stand out in the interviews..... Trust me its worth it. And to have a degree to fall back on if you need to work other jobs for your student loans.