Those guys from the avia colleges are hopeless cases. They've had the SJS for a long time enough to go 100k+ in the hole. They will have to find a job, any job to justify their costs and get some kind of return on their investment. Hopefully this will reach out to the others out there, second career cases as well, at least to avoid the regionals untill pay and QOL goes above poverty rates.

I am not defending UND or ERAU. Although you receive a four year degree, which I am a big advocate for, I would never recommend any one major in aviation or go to predominately aviation related colleges.

I agree. Why get a degree you can't really use unless you intend to become airline management. Even then a BS in Business or Finance followed with an MBA in Business management will serve you better.

This is not the profession it once was when our fathers were flying. Back then, Airline Pilots were respected and thought of as well to do individuals. Pay was excellent and loads of time off to do what you want to do on the side. Now, airline pilots are just bus drivers. Even the aircraft being produced by Airbus is called just that.

Americans are rather thick to the concept of opportunity cost. It's an entitlement complex really. The problem is that we've degraded the labor market to the point where all that is required to sit on the right seat of a passenger carrying airplane is a good credit score. I am hopeful the constriction of credit will accelerate and further reduce the available debt the majority of people rely on for the purposes of going zero to hero to the cockpit of a commercial outfit. This is happening with undergraduate college degrees as well, aviation grads are just one corollary of the problem. The loan hose has to be cut off.

People don't police themselves, so by denying the vehicles under which they indulge their 'dreams' you can indirectly positively effect the issue of livable wages and working conditions that the industry is currently on a flat spin to the bottom.

It is unfair? Sure. Just like a regulated industry was 'unfair' by maintaining barriers to entry and keeping wages competitive at the expense of less people getting a 'shot' at being airline pilots. Life's tough, not everybody needs to be an airline pilot to satisfy their passion for flying. I much rather see a push to make GA affordable and thence provide people the ability to have a recreational outlet with which to satisfy their affection for flying that doesn't involve disregarding economic common sense for what "feels right". Those two at colgan were so behind the jet it's not even funny (they had no business behind that yoke) and if you don't think the underlying labor dynamics of the regional game are not the underpinnings of the reason those two were in the cockpit to begin with you're probably thick to the concept of optimism bias or saddled with 6 figures of debt on a job with a negative cashflow after cost of living yourself...

The dream is dead, people need to start claiming some responsibility for their economic fates. The difference between one whose passion is flying and one whose passion is nursing is pure timing and luck. One caught the short end of the stick while the other can gloat, for a little bit anyways. It's no excuse for going "see the problem, acknowledge the problem to others, aaaand choose to do it anyways...it's my passion though..."

I take it you're a rich boy who's parents paid for all of your training. Sorry some people who have dreamt of being pilots the whole life didn't have rich parents to pay for their training so loan companys have to. That loan is my loan, that I'm going to pay back. It's the only way I could get myself into aviation.

there is nothing wrong with taking loans out.... I am going to say I'm not a fan of the 90 day program pilots because I don't see how they know everything they need to know in 90 days. However at a college they at least get a better picture of aviation. Some people have to make it for themselves in this world, and want to attempt a career in aviation not starting at age 30 when they could afford it.

FTG

Nice article and pretty accurate (except for the United Connection, Delta Express).

I am happy to see the media now showing this is a regional airline problem, not just a Colgan problem

I suggest that you learn the true definition of opportunity cost and how it relates to business. You speak like you want to act like you understand business so I thought a little help might be good for you.

Well Said! I remember working 2 jobs to get my private! Diploma Mills=A.D.D. to the industry

I came from almost nothing and my parents definitely did not help me at all get any of my flight training. I did it piece by part 161 piece, working two jobs, living on "great value" mac and cheese, etc etc etc. Many of us have done it this way, without a loan. Some need a loan. To each their own. No need to berate someone with interesting points (thought perhaps a little callous) just because they didn't take a loan to pay for flight training.

I've had the kid on my jumpseat. Nice guy; Good for him !

update 2018 Hrs
The page is now coming up blank.... hummm.... even if you search it from the Times front page and click your way through... when you get there it's blank....
somethings afoot...