College
 

This is somewhat of a loaded question, but, are there other options other than online schools/classes when you're flying for a regional?

Schedules are obviously not going to cooperate, but I wasn't sure if there was anyone out there that figured it out... or figured something out.

Not sure what you are talking about. Do you mean getting a degree? Do you mean learning about a particular airplane? Do you mean getting your ratings?

Looking forward to your reply.

Almost the Speed of Sound

Just do a degree online. The classes are flexible enough to work around your schedule. As long as you get your required work completed and submitted each week, you'll do fine. There are really no other ways to earn a degree outside of going to class on a physical campus or taking them online.

Oh, this was brought up earlier in another thread.... if you are looking for a quick fix, dont pay $500 and get one of those fake online degrees... They are all too obvious and a quick google search by your employer's contracted background checking agency will just get you fired. Dont do that to yourself.

If you are looking for something to fill in the box on your apps, sign up for some inexpensive classes online, complete the work, pass the classes and get your degree. Find a program that will give you credit for your flight ratings to minimize your total number of classes you have to take... it is possible to finish one in about 2 years in this fashion.

Or just go to regular college, and wait for this industry to pick back up. You'd be insane to join an airline right now (unless of course furloughed from another).

Do you already have a job with a 121 carrier? Do you expect to have one? You realize you are competing with a very pilot rich employment pool right now.

My advice to you is to sit back and physically go to a campus to attend college. Wait for this crap to turn around in 2011-2012.

Good luck, Diver's advice is your best option if you can't wait.

Yeah my bad, I'm talking about getting a degree.

I'm 22, and I would be a senior in college right now if I would have stayed there. I'm a full time flight instructor now, so I don't really have the time to go back to school.

However, I went home for Thanksgiving and realized how bad I wanted to go back to college. I just can't make myself take a step backwards, I have 900/50 right now (which yes, I know is nothing right now in the pilot pool) but it's still something and it's growing. If I go back to school I'm only furthering myself from my career.

I guess I could always go back and instruct part time, but I donno.

It's definitely possible to go to school while flight instructing full-time. I did it successfully and know a bunch of guys doing the same thing. The main thing to consider is how flexible is your schedule. Where I worked, I basically told my boss when I had class and they worked my schedule around it. I would imagine most flight schools would be similarly accommodating (assuming that you're a good instructor!)

I instructed for 2.5 years while also attending a "brick and mortar" university. I can't imagine not having that (life) experience. I look back very fondly on my college days.

I was able to schedule MWF or Tues/Thurs classes every semester. It was easy to find the time to devote to instructing when I only had class 2 or 3 days per week. Hell, I even had a corporate flying job during my last semester.. is can be done if you want to!

well you could instruct at an aviation university such as WMU where they gave you free classes if you instruct there. the only problem is that its tough to get a job there or anywhere for that matter.

Don't ever consider going back and getting your degree a step backwards. In 2002 (at age 29), I went back to school full time (18 credits), worked full time (40 hours/week), and got all my ratings through MEI/CFI/CFII. In 2005, I graduated and continued to fly for a couple years until I got hired last year at Mesaba. You'll probably have to work weekends, make sacrfices along the way, and bust your tail but you won't regret it.

Besides, you're going to need that college degree anyways if you want to seriously stay competitive with the hiring pool because most everyone has one.

I'm 22, and I would be a senior in college right now if I would have stayed there. I'm a full time flight instructor now, so I don't really have the time to go back to school.

if had doen it out of high school i would have had my bachelors this coming may and been on the regional 200 hour pilots with over 2,000 going in. but i just started 6 months ago and its still gonna take me 3 years. unless u wanna get stuck at the regionals forever. take some classes and push your way through it. u can only eat an elephant one bite at a time.