ok, i have this thought i got from 2 Xjt pilots one FO and one CA.
I talked to them, and they say i should do the whole ATP PP and ACP prgrams, and then just instruct for few months, then when i have my hours, apply for Xjt as early as possible, I was guessing i'd be about 19 at the time of applying, and then i would take online courses on Off times and overnight flights. Since I know seniority is everything inthe airlines, i figure i'd be an FO for about 4 years, and at the legal age of 23, i could be upgraded, makin a good sum of money, tell me what ya'll think, BTW, i'm currently 16 and a junior in Hi school, 17 in a few months

 

Correct me if I am wrong but dont XJT require a 4 year? (2 year maybe??? IDK)

Listen I dont want to bust your bubble but it will take a year plus to get the hours that would even make you competitive at XJT. Get all your certs, rack up the hours, get MEI when able......and pray.

 

no, as a matter of fact, they do not require a degree.

hiring mins thorugh ATP are 500/100, I if i go wiht my plans, i will get out of the prgram with ~ 350/190, therefore i instruct for a few months, and rack up hours like crazy hopefully, then apply, and do the whole online thing, after all I dont need a degree until I apply at a major. which i cant do until for a while, since i cant get PIC Turbine time till im 23, so i have 4 yrs to complete a BS in business admin

 

whats the rush?? why not go to a regular state college and enjoy your youth. You can fly and instruct through college and by the time you graduate, 21, you can apply to the regionals. If you make it into xjet isn't their upgrade around 2 years? You still upgrade around 23. Besides, what do you do if xjet doesn't hire you?? It seems like it's one of the better regionals, I think a degree is ''preferred''.

 

I agree with these guys... you have the rest of your life to work why not enjoy your youth. As far as you know by the time you are 23 (7 years) the industry could be in the dumps. It is great to plan ahead but try to have an open mind and not look at the final goal so much.

 

Go to college, (University) in a different part of the country. Grow up and date a lot of girls. Get a degree in something useful (not aviation) and then learn to fly. Your goal is to get on with a major by 30. If you short change your youth, you will regret it.

 

I think you have a perfect plan and I would follow through with it. I wish I had done things differently when I was your age...then I would not be in the position I am in now. I am 37 with a wife, kid, mortgage and a full time job trying to do what you want to do, and time is definately against me. I was to stupid when I was your age and didnt take advantage of opportunities because I thought my friends and partying were to important. Follow your dream and you will be ahead of the game.

 

At your age I'd suggest a more flexible path. In a few years XJet might require 3500 total and 1000 ME, or they might not be hiring at all.

Go to college, and get your ratings while you're there. You should be able to get the instructor ratings in three years, then teach the last year and you should be ready for a job at any regional shortly after graduation.

FWIW, I knew a guy who couldn't get hired by XJet (or any other regional) without a degree. He flew cargo for a year or two to get his twin time up and finally got on at XJet. That was a few years ago, and the hiring market has changed for the better, but it can (and has) change for the worse very quickly.

 

I know it's hard when you're 16 but you don't need to plan out your career in such detail. It's great to have general goals and take baby steps to meet them. Right now, I'd be looking at getting a leg up by getting your PPL at the local flight school and getting a job to pay for it.

Most guys will tell you going to a real college is a great experience. For myself, it was a time with a lot of important personal growth and I'm glad I did it, even though Riddle was a mistake.

In any case, keep learning about the biz from this site and also check out jetcareers, if you haven't yet.

 

It can be challenging to staying motivated to do correspondance/online courses once you're working full time. I don't see anything wrong with having a detailed plan, like you do. Just be ready to be flexible if it doesn't work out.

As one still paying for college and flight training 9 years later, I second the idea that you get a job and pay for as much as you can up front. (I'd recomend something in the building trades. It would make one more potentially great fall back job in addition to your college training.)

I remember the fuzzy math I used during my training which went something like this:

Every year I'm not working my way up the food chain is another year I won't be making $200,000 at the end of my career as a macho international Delta captain. Therefore going into debt $XX,XXX amount of dollars is a good decision. (I won't say how much training cost back then. You might find it depressing.)

Good luck!