I am currently a SSgt in the US Marines. I have been a turboshaft engine mech for the majority of the time. I get out in July of 2007 and would like to know the best way to become a airline pilot. I have looked at numerous academys mainly Delta Connection Academy and Pheonix East Aviation. I have my GI bill to pay for most of the tuition so I have to attend a formal school to get the benifits. My main question surrounds starting out. I have a wife and a 3 yr old daugter, am I getting over my head? I have always wanted to fly and I don't want to give up on my dreams, but if it puts my family at risk I don't want to chance it.

 

Flying is full of risk. You are assured of spending at least a few years of low pay and an uncertain future. Multiple moves are almost a given. One of my best friends was a SSgt in the Marines and was an aircraft mechanic. He and I slugged it out as pilots for a long time together. He quit flying after 4000 hours and has been a happy computer geek ever since. It is a difficult road.

SkyHigh

 

Consider All ATPs as well. Lots of guys in my new hire class were from there. It seems like a fast track to building a alot multi time realtively quickly. Which is a big thing to help you get on at a "regional".

 

There are numerous posts about different flight schools in the Flight Training section. Please do yourself a big favor and read some of them.

Be careful with the GI Bill, many schools raise their prices for GI Bill students. Try to get a quote without letting them know or suspect that you are military...don't go in with a high&tight.

Also consider taking out loans for flight training and saving GI Bill for college...you'll need a 4 year degree to get a major airline job.

You should be able to get all your ratings (PVT, IR, COM, ME, CFI, CFII, MEI) for about $35K. If somebody wants much more than that, you need to understand WHY? If they want to sell you any additional training, you need to research and find out what you will get for it.

All civilian flight training is the same, airlines only care about your ratings and flight time, not where they came from.

S/F

 

dont waste your time with Comair.there priorities are as follows
1.make money
2. make more money.
3. help students.
they took over training at my college, i hear some students are already 75K+in debt to them

 

You don't mention anything about what your log book looks like. It would be helpful to know exactly where "on the curve" you are right now.

You got your Private Pilot's license yet? How many hours in the log?

Since you are obviously at a MCAS, have you availed yourself of the (hopefully) resident 'Armed Forces Aero Club"?

Most NAS I was ever stationed at -or flown into, had a 'flying club'. You didn't say where you were stationed. . but if you are in -or near SAN, there used to be a very active Armed Forces Aero Club at Montgomery Field.

If all you have done so far is 'dream' about it . . . WHY????

One of the posters above mentioned the cold, hard fact that you MUST have your Baccalaureate Degree. There is NO way around it. That is one of the 'minimums' airlines require. You got one?

Getting to your destination is going to be a LONG, HARD slog. Having 'dependents' will make it even tougher. Many of us found it tough and did it as single people. I can't even imagine doing what I did having any body but myself to be responsible for. If you want it badly enough, it is attainable . .

 

Armed Forces Aero Club (AFAC) at MYF dropped the military club status a few years ago and is now America's Finest Aero Club (AFAC). Still the cheapest Cessna game in town, good maintenance, and membership limited to military/government for the most part.

 

Get commisioned in any service (Aim High), and let the tax payer pay for your training....like mine.

 

Don`t do it.

 

Learn new skills, travel to strange new lands, meet interesting different people...and kill them.


PS Please don't take offence. I respect the military pilots and would have tried to be one if I had perfect vision. I just remember hearing the above quote and thought it was funny.