Poor kids.

 

Tristan:

I'll keep it simple:

Go to college & complete BS/BA degree requirements. I would recommend that you major in Accounting, Hospitality Mgmt; Electrical Engineering or BioMeds coupled with an ROTC program if you're able. Do not major in Aviation.

My reason for saying that is although I graduated from ERAU and my degree has served me well, I recently looked at the per semester cost @ ERAU and it is $42,000....which includes tuition, room & board; and textbooks. It normally takes 8-10 semesters to graduate given an average of 15 credit hours per semester. Do the math!

I paid less than 25K for a total of 4 years at ERAU...however, I finished back in December '87.

 

Well in real terms one year now is probably about equal to all four years in 1987

 

Wow, you're lucky. The price for ERAU is out-of-this-world right now. What do you think about majoring in Computer Science?

Or, what if I went Enlisted in the USMC, got my GI Bill, and used it to attend ERAU for free? Is that possible?

 

Thats not lucky. I talked to a friend who has a daughter that is getting a full ride to riddle. Her parents are pay for her private so she can become a pilot.

 

This really is the best advice. I would also add that there are some 135 operators out there (Seaport off the top of my head) that hire people with fresh commercial certificates (250 hours). A benefit of working at a place like this would be learning (somewhat) how airlines operate and working in an enviorment similar to 121. Also, a crew enviorment will be familar to you and make training much easier. With that said: flight instructing was an extremely valuable expierence (you see how not to fly an airplane everyday) and would not trade my time flight instructing for an equal amount of 135 time.

Good Luck! It really is a fun job...most of the time.

GHL

 

Hey Tristan,

Some great advice there for you. I work for a major airline in Asia and absolutely love my job. I'm 30 and have had a relatively successful career and thus have enjoyed every part of it. I haven't worked in the USA so unfortunately any advice I have is likely not valid.

I am, however, interested for my own curiosity, at this point in time, what are your biggest concerns/desires about a career in aviation? Eg enjoying your chosen career, making money, spending too long on my low income, not getting employed, spending too much money.

What would you say are the biggest ones?

Good luck whatever you chose.

 

Hi Tristan,

I went to ERAU...one of the greatest part of Embry Riddle is the fact that everyone there wants to be in aviation in some capacity whether as a pilot, mechanic, manager, computers etc. Living in the dorms, etc you will befriend people in all programs. It set a tone for the a professional environment, you will have contacts in aviation once you graduate, & they have a great networking system with alumni plus it looks good on a resume, you will not find this with other colleges.

Since you state you are planning on going to your local Jr College first see if they have an aviation program ie aero science (pilot) or aviation maintenance. Also check with Jr Colleges in near by towns to see if they have a aviation program. If not talk to your future 4 year collage that you want to transfer to about what credits will and will not transfer for the Jr College then see what program will transfer the most credits to your desired say ERAU program. For example the ERAU aero science degree (pilot) you need physics 1 & 2, calculus etc all of this you can take at the Jr College if ERAU accept these class which will save you lots of money so check now.

DO NOT worry about the money side of college...contact your desired 4 year college financial department now, get to know the head of that department, ask lots of questions to see what you qualify for. Since your dad was in the service have him check with his branch of service/base for scholarship programs for kids who had parents in the service...not sure what office on base has these scholarships but they are available. In addition your local jr college library has books in the reference section that list out scholarships/check with their financial department for future scholarships too. You may also qualify for grants which you will not have to pay back. Research the heck out of this NOW and apply as soon as the scholarship program (every scholarship) will allow in advance for your transfer to your 4 year college.


For ERAU back in the day for the Aero Science program (flight program) if you transferred with your Commercial/Instrument license you only had to take one flying class all your license and ground school transferred. Type of course you could take then at ERAU would be Certified Flight Instructors, Multi engine, crew coordination, turbine etc if you go this way. This is a huge savings if they are still doing this. Meaning you could fly at your local airport now to save money then transfer to ERAU. Call them or the other colleges you are looking into to see if they still do this.

Lots of student at ERAU joined ROTC ...mainly Air Force & Army but some Marines. They had most/all of their college paid for as long as they did not fail out of ERAU/flight training.

Get a job now at your local airport as a line guy/counter person to gain experience and meet local pilots. Make friends with the airline guys on the field.

For ERAU or other colleges look into their aircraft maintenance with flight college program (not sure the official name now) the reason why you should consider this program is you end up graduating with all of your aircraft maintenance licenses and all of your pilots licenses. Why do this? because you will have an unbelievable aircraft systems and flight knowledge great for every job you have in your future especially all of your airline/Marine ground/flight schools, looks great on a resume, opens lots of doors early in your career. It does not mean you have to become an maintenance personnel at all.

If your local Jr College does not have a flight program check with local flight schools, high schools, even the Jr College as some times they will have a summer ground school that is very inexpensive and you will get the signoff towards your license(s).

Buy the Jeppensen private pilot manual & private flight videos and start studying/watching. They are excellent and will give you a great knowledge base for when you start your flight lessons.

If you transfer with all your pilots license to a 4 year college get your flight instructors license and instruct while you are in college still...you will end up graduating with a few hundred hours even part time which is heading you in the right direction for either the commuter direction or for the Marines or other service direction.

call ERAU or the other Flight Colleges to see if they are going to be at your local airshow...usually ERAU has a Alumi tent/Recruits tent at the big ones where you can go and talk with them.

Best of luck to you!! Your picking a great career!

 

one last thing...

call your local airport FBO/flight school (FBO = fix base operation) to get a local Flight medical doctor number or you can start a new thread under the medical section and ask for one here on this forum for your local area...then go to him to make sure you can pass a first class medical needed to be a commercial pilot.

Dont stress if you are healthy with no medical issues as it's will not be a problem. if you have any medical problems you can look on the FAA.gov site to find the number for the FAA airman's medical department to talk with them about your issue (prior to going to get your flight medical) to see if it will be a problem for your future aviation career. Once you start your career it's important to have a doctor for when you are sick separate from your flight medical doctor.

Also on the FAA.gov site do a search on Flight medical requirements as it will explain the requirements such as eye, hearing, etc...but it's pretty basic exam.

The advise on here about going the US Military flight route is a good direction to go after college as most airlines prefer Military pilots...not saying you can get hired by going the civilian way ie commuters then major as many are hired this way too.

 

ERAU is a good school. It will cost you around $150,000-200,000 to go there. If you earn your ratings privately by purchasing an aircraft or just renting from an FBO you will save money. Any other flight program will cost less. Avoid debt in college. Avoid debt in college. Avoid debt in college. You will have a much better life if you get to the airlines without owing your soul to a huge debt that cannot be discharged. Every time I see somebody suggest financing as a route to pay for ratings I throw up in my mouth.