uvmflier

Hi everybody I posted this under flight training when it probably belonged right here.

I've been doing UPT applications for a lot of ANG units and out of 5 applications submitted I was invited to one interview. I had no idea how competitive this would be. The unit was absolutely awesome and the interview went real well. However I was not selected as the primary (lost out to some RJ pilot) so the board strongly encouraged me to apply for the next board. It was very encouraging because the officer even gave me a phone call not just one of those form letters. It was so awesome to be so close.

The dilemma for me is that I'm getting up there in age (27) now and if you're not selected by age 28.5 you're pretty much not going to be eligible for UPT. Seeing how things are pretty competitive with no guarentees I was wondering what most of you would have done if UPT hadn't had worked for you?

I went down to Sanford FL once to check out the DCA Academy and it was crazy they wanted like 100k for the program and honestly it seemed like a shoddy outfit. ATP seems a little cheaper and those guys seem to be getting hired. Then I found this other place ran by Mesa (Mesa Pilot Development Program). However on the forums I constantly read about how bad Mesa is.

I'm just doing some long term planning and trying to see in the event UPT doesn't work out actually how bad are these expensive pilot training mills like ATP/Mesa?

I really enjoy these forums and thanks again everyone for their input

Triumph

The fact that your 27 is a definate issue, especially with the guard, because they move really slow. It would probably take between 1.5 and 2 years to finally get to flight school after getting hired, and that's if the process went fairly smooth. So, I would try to focus on ever possible unit you can out there.... ANG and AFRES.

As for paying all of that money to those "training academy" places, that's up to you. The cheapest way would probably be through mom and pops flight school at your local airport, but maybe not the quickest. Either way, you will be able to get to the regionals fairly quickly, as it seems all that's needed is a pulse to get hired these days.

Good Luck

Bernie

What Triumph says...

One of my best training experiences (and I've worked with several mom and pop FBOs and two training "academies") was a little FBO at Tucson International. My instructor was a retired Marine A-4 pilot. The instruction was great, and it was cheap. I think you can do well by shopping around and talking to several instructors at different operations.

The worst experience was a training academy for my ATP. I had to threaten to go to the better business bureau to get some action from their accounting dept.

There might be some guys better qualified to answer on other threads (regionals?).

Good luck with your guard and reserve applications. The military has some headaches, but I have had a blast for the last few years.

rickair7777

Yeah, look for a smaller school or FBO. Flight training is full of bottom-feeders so do your homework. There are a few golden-opportunity mom-and-pop schools out there...if you make the effort to find one it will be worth your while. Start in your local area, and always talk to some current students when evaluating a school.

Most of the big schools charge WAY to much and provide mediocre training...they get away with this because most wannabe pilots (and their parents) are clueless. ATP is the only exception that comes to mind, they seem reasonably organized and are not as expensive as other big schools.

sigtauenus

I went to IOC between TBS and flight school, so my backup to flight school not working out was being an infantry Officer.

Then again, it was more important to me being a Marine than being a pilot.

hoser073

Dude, I was 30 when I finished UPT..... There are waivers for damn near anything. I think you have to start UPT by a certain age, like 30 or 33 something like that. You should check it out and find what the age req. is.

Slice

You have to be in UPT by your 30th b-day. There are waivers but almost always they go to guys with prior service. If you go to an ANG interview board you are stacking the deck against yourself. Most would pick someone not age critical so as not to create more work for themselves or risk the slot going unfilled if the waiver is not granted.

JDriver

I highly suggest that you apply to more than 5 units. Also, the guard is not the only ticket in town. The AF Reserves are in almost every state. My unit selected a guy who lives 4 states away.

Apply to every unit and then follow up with a phone call requesting to visit the unit. Many candidates just send in resumes. You have to do something to make yourself stand out.

Visit the ANG and Reserves websites. There you can find a list of every unit in every state.

gasnhaul

I suggest you count yourself lucky for not getting into the military to start with...

Actually, the guard or reserves probably wouldn't be a bad gig. But, what else have you been looking for? One of my mom's old boyfriends flew a corporate Gulfstream IV. The guy they hired for the co had minimal time and the pay wasn't great, but not too awful. He had no chance of moving to the left seat (on a permanent basis), but was allowed to fly. He finally got enough hours, got the type in the jet and went from there. Basically all I'm trying to say is there is more than one way to get flight time without coming into the military and without costing you a fortune. Just depends on what you're willing to do to build time.

GNH

uvmflier

Thanks everyone for the posts. Gasnhaul you do have a very good point for time building and the military not being the end all. Considering my circumstance I will be looking at that route very seriously. With that said though its always been a dream to become an Officer and the learning you do at UPT makes even a low time Pilot a very competent Aviator in the system. I spent some time at a unit and a Captain let me sit in the KC-135 sim with him and it was absolutely phenominal. Then again maybe that was just me having a case of the Shiny Jet Syndrome who knows.

The regionals have really been a weird situation these days. Some of these guys are getting hired with 200-300 tt into EMB/CRJ's who would have ever thought? Thanks again everybody.