Flight Time
 

Any of you guys graduate from a flight school with a 4 year degree? I'm just wondering which is the best route to take, Military or the degree at a local flight school, and which I can build up more hours, quicker and get the most out of my time.

I have a 4 year degree from UND (BS/Aeronautics w/major in Commercial Aviation).

While I think that some of the schools out there that specialize in aviation have very good programs, I highly encourage you to look beyond just an aviation degree.

I have no problem recommending a 4 year university that has a flight program. But it should be a 4 year UNIVERSITY where you can study and major in other curriculum as opposed to aviation. My recommendation is a major in a business related field, with either a minor or second major in aviation, if you want to fly for a living. That way you have a fall back if you ever lose your medical or your job...

The quickest/cheapest way to get a full time flying job is probably by going to a local FBO and just training outright to get your ratings. A motivated student that has the money can usually knock out the Private, Instrument, Commercial, CFI, and Multiengine ratings in about a year an a half, if they are flying full time. Of course with this route you don't get a degree or have the benefit of some of the hiring agreements that larger flight programs have. Even so, after about two and a half to three years, you should have enough experience to get a job with a regional (which is about 2-3 years quicker than somebody that attended a collegiate aviation program)

Post a bit more and then use the search function. This topic has been debated too many times here

They don't even have to be useful posts. Just find one of SkyHigh's threads and post "rama-lama-ding-dong" or some other pointless BS. Whatever you need to do to hit 10!

I just graduated w/a four year aviation degree. It was ok, and I have a regional job 6 months after graduating. But in the long run, probably better to get a different type of four year degree for a backup, and do the ratings at an FBO. Wish someone would have told me this 5 years ago. Oh well, I'll just pray I never lose my medical...

Just get a degree, and then do as you chose. I would recommend a degree in something other than aviation. You don't need that to get a flying job. Military is a totally different topic. You will get the best training, at no cost to you, you will be getting paid to do it, fly some cool planes, but the military is less forgiving when it comes to training. Every flight is graded, you are on there dime, not yours. But in the long run, do what you want, not what I or anyone on these forums are saying.

I doubt that another degree would give you any type of advantage in getting a new job if you lost your medical. After about 5 years after you have a degree that hasn't been used (i.e. you did not work in that field) it just becomes a 4 year degree. If anything you are at a disadvantage, you are competing against people with either a brand new degree (meaning they have been taught the newest methods, on the newest technology, probably had an internship somewhere etc.) or someone who has worked in the field for 5 years, your chances og beating either of them with an old degree and not working in the field are not good.


The best advice is if you want to fly for a career, major in something YOU like, something that interests YOU. Something YOU will do well in. If thats an aviation degree, or a degree in Medieval History, or Geology, so be it, you just need a degree, so choose something you want to learn.

I recommend you research APT (www.allatps.com) flight school - you'll find they offer the best deal out there for your money / time.

I also recommend a 4 year degree. Get one before you start training. Go to college, have fun, drink beer, graduate then go out and fly...

Good luck. PM me if you need info on ATP. However, you'll find plenty of information about them on this site.

-LAFF

The good thing about an aviation degree is, honestly, its not that hard...

You must be getting paid for this.

Are you sponsored by ATP? I picture you with an ATP hat, ATP stickers on your car, stuff like that. You should try to get a free hour of flight training for every one that you refer to ATP from this site.

I agree with Josh. Middle Tennessee State University, (Among several other universities like UND) offer an aviation degree. But the best thing you could do at any of these universities is to convert you minor (Which is half a major) to a second degree. That is what I am doing and I will graduate with a Aviation degree as well as a finance degree. Taking summer courses along with moderate loads in the Fall/Spring Semesters, I will have 2 seperate degrees in 4.5 yrs.

Just a thought to those thinking of getting a aviation degree. :D

Or just get a real-estate licence for your backup

Turbinebound has a good point, I had a CFI who bought a house, fixed it up and sold it for a profit to buy some split multi time to build time. not that it really did anything for him, he's still flight instructing now. It does show, however, that having other skills besides piloting skills and being creative can help make learning to fly a more manageable task.

I suggest what many other people have been suggesting, get a college degree, if that happens to be in aviation then great, if its not, whatever. I moved half way across the country to go to college at UND and knew nobody in the beginning, now one semester later I've got my PPL and more importantly many good friends. To put it simply, if you find a college that fits you well, it's awesome.

The reason I chose to attend UND is because it is a university where i can focus in other areas besides aviation. I took a political science class this past semester that I loved and am considering getting a minor in political science if I can fit it into my busy schedule since I'm double majoring in both Commercial Aviation and Aviation Management. However, I still have many more resources at my disposal than my local flying club back home in New York. So I can immerse myself in aviation so I can learn the best I can, but I can also broaden my knowledge and become a more well rounded person. Also, I'm becoming a North Dakota resident so I'll only have to pay around $5,000 in tuition compared to something a much higher tuition if I went to a private school to do my flight training.

Learning to fly at a university is going to be more expensive than at an FBO, but universities hand out scholarships which make the financial burden bearable. I am fortunate enough to have gotten a very good scholarship from UND that has helped to make flight training possible.

Explore your options and find an option that fits you. I don't know a lot about many other flying schools or acadamies. Just make sure that you have fun along the way. Because that's why we all decided to fly.

I hope this helps.

Erik

hey hobo pilot, im interesed in UND, what is it like up there, if you have AIM or MSN, send me ur SN, i would like some actual student info man, thanx.

hey astec, my AIM screenname is: ehodge10

send me an IM sometime and i'd be more than happy to let you know about UND.

Erik

I did the 4 year aero degree thing and wish I would have just got a business degree and flew at a local FBO. You will get done with your training much faster and start building time quicker. Get your commercial asap and during your summer break go find a job towing banners or traffic watch...etc. You will build your total time up so when you graduate you have enough time to get a job other than instructing. Note: before I get attcked, nothing against instructing, I did it for a few years and enjoyed the experience.

As far as the military goes that could be a great avenue also. I enlisted in the AIR guard and they paid for my schooling and most of my flight fees. I was even lucky enough to get my unit to send me to UPT. I had my all my certificates/ratings when I came to UPT but many in my class barely had 20 hours when we started. When we graduate all those guys will get their commercial/multi/inst at no cost to them. It's a great deal for them but if your end goal to fly for a career, doing that is kinda putting all you eggs in one basket. Many things get people washed out of UPT, many times something out of their control. So if you wait and let uncle sam pay for your training and for some reason washout then you are way behind the game with no qualifications.

Goodluck with whatever you decide.

Are you at CAFB? which unit you in?

No I'm at Sheppard. My college roommate is at CAFB, he is with the 121 ARW out of Columbus, OH.