Irish Pilot

121 CA stands for a 121 airline Captain If you go into your profile the option is actually called "Aircraft & Seat:" not "Location:" I didnt notice that until now lol and obviously neither have many others

I dont necessarily want to turn you away from UND. I absolutely had the time of my life there and would still reccommend it to anyone. You can major in many things other than Commercial Av (Av mngmnt etc.) or many things outside of flying and still take the flight classes. UND is a great school outside of flying and there are many great opportunities there. If you do think you are better suited at home so be it! Make sure to get a 4 year degree whatever you do...and yes minor in Russian! If its something you love its an excellent choice and being bilingual shows that you have the ability to learn and look at things in several dimensions.

I think flying is what you make of it...instructors will have great influence over your training yes...but the best students I had as an instructor were those who took it upon themselves to be better. I would tell them to study one chapter...they would re-read the previous 3 as well. Just work hard. I have had the pleasure working in a 121 environment with many pilots that trained at the local FBO and many were great pilots. You will find just as many good/bad pilots at a university as you would at an FBO...it depends far more on the person than the environment.

As far as ERAU I cannot comment. I have flown with many top notch pilots and people from Riddle as well as idiots. The reason I didnt go to Riddle was that I wanted a more well rounded education and UND has 12ooo students with 2ooo pilots as to ERAU being just a flight school. At und you will get to watch a Division 1 National Champion hockey team and a Division 2 basketball/football National Champion team among other things (the GREAT Greek system!).

The point is...being a good pilot is a LOT more than the school you go to. The great thing about flying is YOU have the responsibility of being a good pilot! If you want to go to a "flight school" ie University go for it and work hard while you are there! If you want to stay near home get a 4yr degree and work hard to fly on the side. Either (there are MANY more options obviously) of these two will get you to the same place. Certainly DO NOT feel that you have to go to a University to get connected to the industry. I will be honest however...you will graduate from a University most likely knowing many many other pilots that will spread themselves throughout the industry. This gives you great resources...I know pilots in just about every aspect of flying that I have kept in contact with and good friends have lined me up with just about EVERY flying job I have had so far.

Work hard, support your fellow pilots, and keep your eye on the big picture and you will be just fine in this industry-world. Its not a competition..we are all going for the same goal here.

flyinhigh6165

I ended up recieving a B.S. in aeronautical science and a double minor in aviation safety and weather at ERAU. We had great professors from the military and from the airlines working there. One pro would be they keep the classes interesting and they are always there if you need a letter of rec. The training was excellent but you do get some runaround. Social life is what you make out of it. I know companies that use a point system when hiring and if you have an aviation degree or went to Riddle, Purdue, UND, and Auburn...etc you get another point. I know the training we recieved is a lot better than most of the FBOs i have been to....however, if you do your research their are flight schools that provide excellent training. Downfall as said before is I have loans out of the wazzu. Another pro is our alumni association and career center can help you get a pilot job way easier than if you just go to a small fbo flight school. About half the regionals out there will also offer an interview to you at 600hrs as opposed to 1000 if you come from UND or Riddle (the universities that i know of). Our universirty has strong ties for aviation/engineering related companies..boeing, raytheon, lockheed and NASA to name a few. I am not downing anyone elses training or education but this is just my experience. Just make a pro's and con's list and research the route that is better for you.

SkyHigh

You pro aviation college guys hopeless. Point system? What a joke. You guys are so far gone that no one can save you. Just wait a few years till you are waiting tables and then you will understand what a waste your college years were. Oh, and lets not forget the $982 monthly student loan bill you will have, but I am sure that the bank won't let you forget about it.

SkyHigh

KiloAlpha

I found the answer to when an aircraft requires a SIC. It is located in 91.531. You were correct, weight does play a role. I would type the whole thing but I'm too lazy.. if interested look it up in the FAR's

Irish Pilot

You just lurk and attack dont you? What the hell do you care? If you dont have anything constructive to say just shut it. Your not helping by attacking peoples posts. We know your opinion...leave it be. The rest is just making you look like an a$$.

For the record...you can go to UND and major in ANYTHING and still take all the flight classes (get all your ratings etc.)

flyerNy

If I were to do it again I would not major in aviation. Though I think its kinda helpful to have in some ways (but too few to be of logical value)- It will not determine you getting a job as a pilot or not. I realize now how not very useful the degree is outside of aviation. ( I left flying (regional) for a real job & am much happier but had to go back to school as a result of my "aviation degree"). Though you may argue the point that most employers look for any degree to hire you (outside aviation), you cannot argue the point that a lot of the "good paying jobs" will not even look at you. (Remember you owe it to yourself to treat your life as an investor would a portfolio - what is risky, what is smart.)
When (or If - but mainly when) the day comes you decide you want out of this mess that is "Aviation" you will want to get a real job. Go sit down at an interview for an accounting firm and they will ask you - what else can you do besides fly airplanes?
I know a lot of you just getting into aviation don't see the day - but one day you will see that flying for a living is a job. Also, ask many older pilots in the industry, they will tell you how many of their friends are still flying for a living - not many.
And yes - s#$t happens and you can loose you medical I have seen it happen to people!

Diversify - you'll see there is so much out there besides "Flying" and being a "pilot"

Just strictly my personal thoughts about it.

flyerNy

...and Kiloalpha, how can you fly an airplane and not know the operating weights of it?

You scare me man, not to beat on you but, you just downright scare me....

KiloAlpha

You're a tool, we were not talking about the weight of my aircraft. We were discussing when an aircraft is required to have a SIC, and part of the requirements is based on weight (large aircraft).

My plane MTOW 10100. Ramp 10160. Landing 9700.

Also, in response to someone's post that SIC requirement has nothing to do with weight,
here is a FAR quote:

91.531: Second In Command Requirements
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may operate the following airplanes without a pilot who is designated as second in command of that airplane:
(1)A large airplane, except that a person may operate an airplane certificated under SFAR 41 without a pilot who is designated as second in command if that airplane is certificated for operation with one pilot.

Last time I checked an aircraft deemed "large" had some type of weight associated with it.. yep it does 12.5... so apparently, mr. smarty pants, weight is a factor!

flyerNy

Ok fine. I made an assumption- i read through the posts too quickly and kinda skipped around a bit. sorry man...
Can you blame me? How many retarded pilots do you encounter daily??

Thanx for the tool remark.

KiloAlpha

I am building my savings account before moving to a regional. I want to have $15,000 in the bank to supplement my income for the first couple years. Some people can live in a shack, eat noodle soup every day, and drive a beater, but not I. For this reason I am not moving on yet.

Also, I still flight instruct and fly my boss's Lancair, so I am getting over 200 hours per year total.